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diff --git a/old/51552-8.txt b/old/51552-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index d186b85..0000000 --- a/old/51552-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5713 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, War Stories for my Grandchildren, by John -Watson Foster - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: War Stories for my Grandchildren - - -Author: John Watson Foster - - - -Release Date: March 25, 2016 [eBook #51552] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR STORIES FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN*** - - -E-text prepared by Moti Ben-Ari and the Online Distributed Proofreading -Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by -Internet Archive (https://archive.org) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 51552-h.htm or 51552-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/51552/51552-h/51552-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/51552/51552-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/warstoriesformyg00fost - - - - - -WAR STORIES FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN - - -[Illustration: Major John W. Foster, Mary Parke Foster] - - -WAR STORIES FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN - -by - -JOHN W. FOSTER - - -[Illustration: Emblem] - - - - - - - -Washington, D.C. -1918 -Printed for Private Circulation -The Riverside Press Cambridge - -Copyright, 1918, by John Foster Dulles -All Rights Reserved - - - - -PREFACE - - -As they were growing up, I was frequently importuned by my -grandchildren to tell them of my experiences in the Civil War for the -Union; and now as the great-grandchildren are coming on, their parents -are asking that these experiences be put in some permanent form, as -their children may never have the opportunity to hear the narrative -from me. I naturally shrink from giving general publicity to my -personal experiences, especially as the field has been already so fully -covered by comrades in arms; but I have consented to prepare such a -narrative on condition that its circulation be confined to the family -circles. - -In preparing the narrative I have not thought it wise to trust to -my memory of events which happened more than half a century ago; -and fortunately I have at hand my many letters written to my wife, -giving in detail my experiences during my entire service in the army, -and while they are in some respects too intimate and confidential -for general publicity, they have the merit of freedom from studied -preparation and constitute an account of events as they occurred. - -In this preparation I have indulged the hope that through it our -children of this and coming generations may be inspired by a greater -devotion to the American Union, for which their forefathers hazarded -their lives and endured the hardships of war. - - JOHN W. FOSTER - - - - -CONTENTS - - - I. INTRODUCTION 1 - II. THE MISSOURI CAMPAIGN 5 - III. THE BATTLE OF FORT DONELSON 37 - IV. THE BATTLE OF SHILOH 52 - V. ON TO CORINTH AND MEMPHIS 81 - VI. GUERRILLA WARFARE IN KENTUCKY 95 - VII. THE EAST TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN 119 - VIII. WITH THE HUNDRED DAYS MEN 161 - APPENDIX 179 - - - - -WAR STORIES FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN - - - - -I -INTRODUCTION - - -After the inauguration of President Lincoln, March 4, 1861, much -discussion followed in Washington and in the North, and plans were -proposed respecting peaceable adjustment of the troubles occasioned -by the secession of the Southern States from the Union. But the first -hostile gun fired at Fort Sumter and the National flag, on April 12, -put an end to all peace proposals, and solidified the North in favor -of restoring and preserving the Union by force of arms. As one of our -statesmen of that day expressed it, yesterday there had been difference -of opinion, to-day there was unity. - -When two days afterwards the President's call for seventy-five thousand -volunteers for three months' service was issued, my first impulse was -to respond to that call; but before any movement for enlistments could -be made in our locality the quota of Indiana was filled to overflowing. -I was content for several reasons to await the progress of events. - -I cherished no desire for military glory, and distrusted my special -fitness for the life of a soldier. In my college days I had contracted -a horror of war and regarded it as the most terrible and futile of -human follies. Shortly before my graduation I had delivered a public -address for my literary society on peace and war, using as its title -Charles Sumner's well-known oration--"The True Grandeur of Nations." I -regarded myself as a peace man. - -I had only recently entered upon the practice of my profession, and was -ambitious to make a reputation as a lawyer. But, most serious of all, I -had just established a modest home with a young wife and our first-born -babe of less than a year old. It would be a terrible strain upon my -affections and hopes to break these dearest of all ties for a life in -the military service. - -I, with the great body of the people of the North, entertained the hope -that the seventy-five thousand men, who constituted the army so quickly -formed, would prove sufficient for the reëstablisment of the Federal -Union. But the battle of Bull Run, July 21, dispelled that delusion, -and the President's call for three hundred thousand afterwards -increased to five hundred thousand volunteers for three years' service -indicated that a long and bloody war was in prospect. I resolved no -longer to delay my entrance into that service. - -Two days after that battle I wrote my wife as follows:-- - -"I intended to have written you a long letter last night in reply to -your good one received yesterday afternoon, but I had no heart to -write. The terrible and disastrous calamity to our army has made me -sick. A thousand times rather would I have given my life and left you -a widow and my darling child fatherless than that this defeat should -have happened. I think I shall go to Indianapolis to-morrow to urge my -immediate appointment in our new regiment. I want to help retrieve our -lost fortune. I have no fear of our ultimate triumph." - -When the President's second call for volunteers was issued, a movement -was at once set on foot to organize a regiment at Evansville, my home, -and the Governor of the State had intimated his intention to appoint -me major of this new regiment. On August 9 my appointment as major was -made. The next day I sent my wife's brother, Alexander, to Glendale, -near Cincinnati, where she was visiting her mother, to notify her of -the event and give her details of the situation. He bore her a letter -in which I wrote: "Zan [Alexander] will explain the cause of his -coming. I want to be with my wife as much as I can before I go, so you -must hurry home _as fast as you can_.... While you are a loving wife, -remember to be a _brave woman_ and your husband will love you the more." - -I had gone to Glendale some time before to talk over with my wife my -intention to enter the army, and she had given her consent; but when -the time came for me to take the final step she seemed to hesitate and -draw back. It was a terrible trial to contemplate, her solitary lot -with her little babe and I away in the army. In answer to her letter -I wrote: "You seem in your last letter to be about to withdraw your -consent to let me go. That was the special reason of my late visit to -Glendale, and I thought it was agreed. I have a very honorable and, to -me, very flattering position, and in some degree removed from danger; -and of course I shall, for the love I bear my wife and child, be as -careful of my life as my duty will permit. The President has called for -four hundred thousand men, and of that number it is my duty to be one. -I regard this as important a war as that of the Revolution, the issue -is the life and maintenance of the Government, and I would be ashamed -of myself, and my children should be ashamed of me in after years, if -I declined so honorable a position as that tendered me. Be of good -courage." - -In response to my call she came at once to Evansville, and soon entered -into the spirit of my work in organizing and outfitting the regiment, -and, as will be seen later in these pages, she remained to the close of -my service my faithful and devoted supporter. - - - - -II -THE MISSOURI CAMPAIGN - - -The organization at Evansville became the Twenty-fifth Indiana -Infantry Regiment of Volunteers. On August 22, thirteen days after its -official staff was appointed, the regiment was ordered to St. Louis, -Missouri. It was a notable farewell the citizens of Evansville and the -surrounding country gave the regiment on its departure. The deportment -of my wife I refer to in one of my first letters to her from St. Louis. -I copy it at some length because it reflects the sentiments of hundreds -of thousands of other soldiers:-- - -"I felt proud of you as my wife and loved you the more for the manner -in which you acted on the departure of our regiment from Evansville. -While I know that no wife loves her husband more than you do me, yet -you could let me go off, for how long you know not, to brave the -dangers of the battlefield, because I thought it my duty, without a -murmur or reproach or entreaty. And now that I am away, I hope you will -be the true woman still. You know that our separation is not harder -for you to bear, surrounded by home and all its comforts, your darling -child and dear mother, than it is for me deprived of all these. You -must be hopeful and cheerful. I am here because duty prompts me, and -you would be ashamed of me if I were not here. - -"I will try to do all I can to preserve my health and so far protect -myself from dangers as my duty and honor will permit. You must remember -that there are tens of thousands of wives who bear the same lot as you -do. It would make me very unhappy to know that you were disheartened -and lamenting my absence and exposure to danger; and, on the contrary, -it would lighten my trials to know that you were bearing it like a -brave, true-hearted woman. I know you are my devoted wife, and I know -you will act your part nobly." - -Our regiment was ordered to St. Louis because the State of Missouri -was in a critical condition and in danger of being swept onto the side -of the rebellion. St. Louis had been placed on the side of the Union -by the daring and promptness of Frank P. Blair and General Lyon, the -commander of the arsenal and barracks, in the seizure of the rebel Camp -Jackson, and dispersion of the State Guards stationed in the city. -But before our arrival the Union forces had met with a disastrous -repulse at Wilson Creek, and General Lyon killed, one of the most -promising of the Union generals. Soon after we reached St. Louis, the -Confederate General Price captured Lexington, took the entire Union -force prisoners, and was overrunning the greater portion of the State. -General Frémont had been assigned to the command of the Department, and -troops were being rushed forward to enable him to clear the State of -rebels. - -The Twenty-fifth Indiana remained at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, for -three weeks, while Frémont was organizing his army to drive General -Price and his forces out of the State. How we occupied our time is in -part shown by my letters. James C. Veatch, the colonel of our regiment, -was appointed largely because of the service he had rendered in the -campaign for the election of Lincoln, but it proved a good appointment. -The lieutenant-colonel, William H. Morgan, had seen some service with -the three months' volunteers and as a member of a military company had -acquired some knowledge of drill and tactics. He was the only person in -our regiment of 1047 officers and men who knew anything about military -affairs. - -After being in camp at Benton Barracks a few days, I wrote:-- - -"Our colonel is doing all he can for the comfort and convenience of -his men. Ever since we arrived, he has been stirring up headquarters -in our behalf. In a day or two he will have us paid off, which will be -decidedly acceptable; and is now bent on having us supplied with good -guns before we leave here, and though good guns are scarce here, he -thinks he will succeed. - -"Colonel Morgan is invaluable as a drill and camp officer. He devotes -three hours each day to the instruction of the officers, and two hours -to battalion drill, besides his other duties. He has the officers -recite to him daily from the Book of Tactics. Our regiment is under -excellent discipline and very orderly, and I am satisfied if they will -give us a few weeks to drill and good guns, that we will do honor to -the State and country." - -In the same letter to my wife, I wrote of myself:-- - -"Although the place of major may be one of ease, if an officer desires -he may keep himself busy and be quite useful in regulating the camp, -seeing that the officers and men do their duty, looking after the -wants of the men, assisting in battalion drill, etc. And I am the more -busy, because in addition I devote from two to five hours in study and -recitation of the tactics. I accepted the position in our regiment, not -as a sinecure, but because I thought my country needed my services, and -I have resolved to leave nothing undone that will fit me to discharge -my duties properly, and so prepare myself that if it should ever happen -that the lives of a thousand men should be placed in my keeping, I -might, as Dr. Daily would say, be competent for an emergency. So that -now the time does not hang heavily on my hands. Personally I am getting -along very well in camp." - -A few days later I report that the regiment has received its first -payment, and I make a remittance to my wife of $130 in gold. - -My father, then in his sixty-second year, was an ardent defender of the -Union, and took great interest in the organization of our regiment, to -which he contributed two of his sons, my brother, next to me in age, -being the quartermaster of our regiment. He had ordered to be made the -flags of the regiment, and as they were not finished before it left -Evansville, they were presented at Benton Barracks, of which I give the -following account to my wife:-- - -"We had the ceremony of the Flags' Presentation yesterday at dress -parade. Colonel Veatch read father's letter and made some very -appropriate remarks, and the thanks of the regiment were unanimously -tendered to him for his appropriate and valuable gift. The National -flag is very fine, but I think the regimental flag is the best and most -elegant I ever saw. There is no regiment from Indiana and I think none -in the West that has as fine a stand of colors as ours. The men are -very proud of them." - -The following extract describes a treat at Benton Barracks, the like -of which we had more than once during the year, as we were on or near -the Mississippi, Cumberland, and Tennessee Rivers within easy reach of -Evansville:-- - -"Your box of good things came on Sunday and was opened immediately. -That evening we had what your Cincinnati cousin would call 'a sumptous -tea.' William, our cook, got out all his dishes and I furnished him -with a new tablecloth and he got up a table in fine style with your -dainties, with the aid of the bouquets and fruits our kind neighbors -here had sent. Not only Aleck and I, but all our _mess_ have enjoyed -your treat very highly." - -One of the matters that troubled me about giving up my affairs at -Evansville was the continued maintenance of a large Mission Sunday -School which I had organized and kept up in a flourishing way for some -years. I did not get encouraging news as to its condition, and I wrote -my wife about an efficient superintendent:-- - -"I hardly know whom you can get in my place. There are very few men who -will take the trouble and have the patience and perseverance to keep -the school up through the hot summer and cold winter successfully as -I have done for four years. But it ought not to go down." - -The school was maintained for some time, but it was discontinued long -before the war closed. - -Some of the embarrassments attending my new and untried duties are -described in the following letter:-- - -"I was detailed to-day as field officer of the brigade, and have been -kept busy all day, in the saddle almost continuously from 8 A.M. to -5 P.M., and am tired enough. I went over this morning and reported -myself to the general for duty, and the first thing he said was that -the adjutant-general was away and I would have to mount the brigade -guard. As I had never even mounted a regimental guard, you may be sure -it rather stumped me, but like a soldier I did my best, and in the -presence of the general, the officer of the day, and other officers I -performed the duty and passed the guard in review satisfactorily." - -After three weeks of instruction and comfort at Benton Barracks we -received orders to go to the front, and fearing my wife might be -disturbed by the movement, I wrote her a consolatory letter:-- - -"We have orders to leave to-morrow for Jefferson City. Of course we -are in great hurry and have very little time to write letters, even to -dear and loving ones at home. We left our homes to fight our country's -battles, and naturally we are glad to see a prospect of that kind of -work before us. You must not be unduly solicitous or alarmed. You may -hear reports of the Twenty-fifth being entirely cut to pieces or all -prisoners, even before we are in sight of our enemy. Don't place any -confidence in vague rumors. If anything serious takes place, Aleck or I -will send early word home, or some of our friends will for us, and if -you do not hear, you may be certain we are busy or out of telegraphic -or mail communication, and you need not think we are dead or prisoners. -Be a true, brave woman. Act worthy of a soldier's wife, and put your -trust in God, remembering that He does all things well." - -The trip to Jefferson City was one of many railroad rides the regiment -had, all more or less uncomfortable. I wrote, September 16:-- - -"I have only time to write you a pencil note at the dépôt. We arrived -here safely yesterday at noon, but tired and in bad condition. As -we began our march from Benton Barracks a hard rain set in and so -continued half the day. Reached the dépôt at 3 P.M., but did not get -off till 10 P.M., in crowded cars, little sleep, rain all night, with -leaky cars. It took us fifteen hours to run to this place, one hundred -and twenty-five miles. Just as we reached our camp it commenced to rain -in torrents again and so continued nearly all night. We got the tents -out in the rain. If we get through safely with our first experience in -hardships of soldiering we will do pretty well." - -Our regiment had been ordered to Jefferson City to form part of the -grand army with which Frémont was expected to sweep Price and his -forces out of Missouri, and for the next three months and more we were -engaged in marching and counter-marching with hardly any fighting -worth recording. One of the not unusual experiences of camp life, when -the enemy were supposed to be near, I gave my wife while at Jefferson -City:-- - -"The news here to-day is that Lexington is taken by the secessionists. -If that is so we are going to have some warm work in this part of the -country. Night before last several shots were heard in the direction -of our pickets two or three miles out, which caused the alarm to be -sounded and brought out all the regiments of the brigade into line of -battle. Some of them came out with a great deal of noise and confusion. -Ours came in perfect order and to our full satisfaction; a person fifty -yards from our line would not have known that there was any disturbance -at all going on in our camp.... - -"I get along tolerably well in daytime, as I keep so busy with other -matters I don't have time to get homesick. But last night I had such a -sweet dream about little Alice; and then when I woke and found it only -a dream, how I wanted to be at home just a little while to see you and -her. But let us be of good cheer and hope. I will be with you again." - -This is a frequent topic of my letters. A few weeks later I write:-- - -"The parts of your letters about our Alice were the most interesting to -me. The dear little darling, how I would love to see her walk. Don't -let her forget her papa." - -How my dream recalled one of Campbell's war poems with which I was so -familiar in college, "The Soldier's Dream":-- - - "The bugles sang truce, for the night cloud had lowered." - -In another letter from Jefferson City I write:-- - -"You say in your letter received to-day that you are so glad we did -not go to Kentucky, because they are going to have fighting there. We -were very much disappointed in not being ordered to that very place, -and just because there was to be fighting there, and we might aid -our brethren in Kentucky. If our Government is worth anything it is -worth defending and to maintain it thousands of our lives would be a -cheap price. We must all look at it in this light, and do our duty -fearlessly." - -A further extract from the same letter:-- - -"We have had considerable trouble in having our guards learn their duty -as sentinels. This week one of our sentinels was found asleep on his -post. We sentenced him to be shot, at a court-martial, but recommended -him to clemency; at the same time privately having the colonel -understand it was merely formal to make the soldiers more careful -hereafter. - -"So yesterday at dress parade the regiment was thrown into a hollow -square, the prisoner brought out and sentence pronounced with great -gravity, making to all who did not understand it a very solemn scene. -The prisoner was remanded to confinement to await execution. This -morning the members of the companies all cast lots to decide who should -be in the unfortunate squad to shoot him. The ten men who drew the -_black beans_ were brought up before headquarters this morning and -notified that to-morrow morning at daylight they would have a terrible -duty to discharge, without telling them what it was, they readily -imagining it. - -"To-day the young man was suffering greatly, but he would not tell -where his father or family are, for fear we should write them about -it. He says his father told him if he died in battle he would be -satisfied, but never to disgrace himself. And he promised that if we -would only release him, he would give a good account of himself on the -battlefield. He will be released in the morning, and we won't have any -sleepy sentinels soon again." - -Five days later I write from Georgetown:-- - -"We left Jefferson City Monday morning and came up to Lamine River, -fifty miles, where we joined the Eighth and Twenty-fourth Indiana, -and Colonel Veatch took command. Tuesday morning we heard there were -seven thousand rebels near here [Georgetown]. The colonels of the -other regiments wanted Veatch to stay at Lamine, but Colonel Morgan -and I urged him on, knowing that we were equal to two to one, or -even three, on the prairie with our long-range guns. It was greatly -through our urging that Colonel Veatch decided to go forward. We were -anxious to have a pure _Hoosier_ fight with the rebels, and were glad -of the prospect. We left at 3 P.M., all of us expecting to meet seven -thousand at night or in the morning. It was a race, we supposed, for -the possession of Georgetown, and by ten o'clock at night we passed -over the seventeen miles with our whole force, and entered the town -peaceably, without disturbing a citizen from sleep, and slept in the -court-house yard. It was our first march on foot and a hard one, but -we made it finely. The last two miles were very trying on the men. The -only way we kept them up was by riding down the lines and telling the -men it was only over the hill to the enemy, and we would have them -certain. But no enemy was near, none nearer than Lexington. I don't -know how I will feel on the battlefield, but as yet I have no fear of -going into a fight. - -"We are at last settled after hard marching, rainy weather, and various -hardships. I have been in the saddle nearly all the time for four days. -Yesterday I stationed the picket guards, and it took about forty miles' -riding, but I am standing it well. It is just what I need. I enjoy it -finely, eat largely, and have no dyspepsia [a trouble at home]. - -"Near to our camp is a neat little cottage all furnished with -everything, nice beds, furniture and carpets, dining-room and kitchen -furniture complete. It is the house of a young lawyer, who was married -this spring, was a secessionist, was taken prisoner, took the oath of -loyalty, violated it, and is now in the rebel army, and subject to be -shot if he is ever caught. His wife has fled to her father's. Colonel -Veatch has established his brigade headquarters in his house, and we -are living in style. I am writing at his desk, using his paper." - -While in Georgetown I gave this picture of the country:-- - -"For the first time we are really in the enemy's country, and are -seeing the effects of secession and some of the terrible results of -war. As we passed through the villages on our march here, the houses -were nearly all deserted, the doors closed, and very few persons to be -found. A sign of dreariness rested on everything. And when we arrived -here at Georgetown, the county seat and numbers about a thousand -people, at least one half of the houses were vacant, the stores closed, -and business suspended. - -"Georgetown has seen several reverses since the rebellion broke out, -being several times in possession of both rebel and Federal troops. -When the rebels came in, the Union men fled the country or took to -the woods and slept among the bushes. Many women so exposed on the -cold, damp ground lost their lives by the exposure. I took dinner a -day or two ago with a gentleman, a citizen here, who formerly lived at -Mount Vernon [near Evansville]. He had his store broken open in broad -daylight by a company of the rebel army, and fifteen hundred dollars' -worth of his goods carried away, while he was a refugee in the woods. -Many men have lost their all. - -"Such outrages have naturally enough begotten a spirit of revenge -among Union men, and those of them of more violent passions and lesser -principles have retaliated, until one wrong begetting another has -brought on a spirit of bitterness and enmity among the people which is -truly deplorable. I never want to see such a state of society again. -The dregs of the population are uppermost, and the honest and innocent -suffer. Surely it is a holy mission of ours to give peace, and safety, -and law to this country. This part of the State is the most beautiful -farming country I ever saw, and certainly it needs peace. Here truly -'only man is vile.'" - -In another letter from Georgetown, I report:-- - -"As to the enemy I don't know anything that is definite. We have a -report this evening that they are only twenty-six miles away, but we -have had them right on us so often before, that I hardly believe any -reports we hear about them. But we try to keep prepared, our men sleep -on their arms, and we station our pickets out five or ten miles." - -As already noticed, the first payment to our regiment was made in gold -coin, but the second one is noticed from Georgetown as follows: "I sent -you by the Paymaster to be expressed from St. Louis $150 in _Treasury -Notes_. I suppose the Treasury Notes are good, but when you can get -them changed into gold I would do it, to lay by for later use." - -This suggests that I had early anticipated the coming depreciation of -Government paper currency, and in later remittances I repeated this -injunction, so that when I retired from the army my wife had as her -savings from my pay a considerable sum in gold, which she converted -into "greenbacks" at the rate of two dollars and fifty cents for one -dollar gold. - -In her letters more than once my wife writes of the alarm created among -her neighbors for fear the rebel forces would capture Evansville, our -home. In a letter, October 13, I wrote her:-- - -"You say in some of your letters that the people were packing up to -leave Evansville when the rebels come. I do not believe they will -ever reach there, but if they should come I would not, if I were you, -leave your home or pack up. Your valuables you might put into a place -of security, but they will not injure peaceable and discreet women at -least." - -In a letter of October 15, I report a movement of our brigade to -Otterville:-- - -"We have come here to go into Major-General Pope's division of -Frémont's army in Davis's brigade. How long we will remain here is -uncertain, but I guess only a few days, when we shall go south in -search of Price. - -"The bad weather has made a large number of our men sick, and two or -three hundred were left behind. General Davis put me in charge of them -with orders to get wagons and bring them forward. The sick department -of our army is the most unpleasant, the most troublesome, and the most -neglected in the whole service. I would rather at any time encounter -the dangers of the battlefield than the hospital and receive the -treatment of privates. It is a shame to humanity and our Government -that it is so much neglected, at least here." - -A few days later I wrote:-- - -"I have no time to write you a letter. I am doing most of the business -of the regiment, both of the colonels being sick. All of our brigade -left this morning in the forward movement except our regiment, which -was left behind for three reasons--the brigade took all our wagons, we -had so large a number of sick, and a regiment was to be left to forward -supplies. We will leave as soon as we get transportation. - -"Aleck [my brother, regimental quartermaster] has been promoted to -post quartermaster of General Pope's division, and will be stationed -at Otterville, charged with the duty of drawing from St. Louis and -forwarding supplies to the division, a very responsible position, and -earned by his attention to his duties." - -Three days later I wrote:-- - -"The health of our regiment has been very bad. It is almost unfit for -duty. We could only turn out two hundred for company drill, and could -hardly march five hundred to-morrow. Diarrhoea, chills and fever, and -measles are prevalent. Our officers are almost all laid up. Colonel -Morgan has gone to a private house to recruit for a few days. Aleck and -I have been the only officers at headquarters who have been entirely -fit for duty for several days." - -Notwithstanding the condition of the regiment it became necessary for -me to run down to St. Louis by rail to bring forward our supply of -winter clothing, blankets, etc., and my wife met me there for a day. I -am answering her first letter after her return to Evansville, October -23:-- - -"I am sorry to have you write so despondingly, or rather was sorry to -know you felt so lonely (I always want you to write just as you feel). -But it was natural that you should feel badly after our separation, -for I know what my own feelings were. I trust you are more hopeful and -cheerful now. You must remember it is all for the best. I would be with -you in our comfortable home, enjoying all the happiness which you and -my dear and kind friends could bestow upon me, if I could. But it is -impossible. I should be a miserable coward to stay at home in ease and -luxury at such a time of national calamity and need." - -I wrote again two days later, showing that I had a clear vision of the -result of Frémont's grand march to destroy Price:-- - -"I hardly think we can get off before the first of next week, but it -doesn't make much difference to us. We will hardly have a battle at -any rate, and will only march down into the lower part of the State to -winter, or drag our weary way back again. If this expedition is not a -Moscow defeat, I shall be highly gratified. But you must not be alarmed -about me. The officer who has a horse to ride and comfortably equipped -will be well situated, but it is the poor foot soldier who has to -suffer." - -I at last chronicle our departure:-- - -"I have only a moment to write you that we are just about marching to -the South. I am very busy, both the colonels and quartermaster being -sick. I am colonel, quartermaster, and almost everything else. My -health is very good. I see you are secretary of the Ladies Soldiers' -Aid Society. You can't do too much for the soldiers, but their greatest -need is in the hospitals, good nurses, good cooks, clean shirts, -sheets, and kind treatment. If I am to die in the army, I want it to be -on the battlefield, never in the miserable hospitals." - -The following presents not an unusual phase of soldiering, but new to -me:-- - -"About this hour (3 A.M.) more than two months ago [the day the -regiment left Evansville] my good wife was up to give me a good -breakfast and bid me good-bye, and I ought to be able to write her a -short letter at the same hour. - -"We left Otterville day before yesterday with all our regiment that -could march, with a train of fifty wagons. We had unbroken, balky -horses, and have had a hard time with the train. Our division is fifty -miles below Warsaw, and about out of provisions, and we have to use -great haste to get them forward. To expedite matters I have taken -personal command of the provision train and have been working hard at -it. Sometimes it takes us two hours to get over one hill, then two -hours to get through one mud-hole. I am not much of a wagoner, as you -know, but I have the authority and the knack of getting a good deal -of work out of the men. I have two good wagon-masters along with me. -I take their advice, and then assume to know all about it with the -drivers. You ought to see me preside over the difficulties of a hill or -a mud-hole. When a wagon gets stalled, I just get off my horse and put -my shoulder to it. The men work twice as hard when I help them. We got -along pretty well to-day and reached our camp long before dark. This -morning we have two heavy hills before us, and are up at three o'clock -to have the horses fed and ready for a move as soon as it is light. -Breakfast is announced and we must be ready to be off soon. If I get -through with the provisions in good time it will be equal to a _small -victory_ for our division of the army. I am well and hearty; this kind -of work makes me fat." - -The culmination of this campaign is noted in a letter of November 7:-- - -"I have only time to write you a note to let you know we are safe in -Springfield, without a fight or loss of life. When we reached Warsaw we -received our orders from General Pope to come to Springfield by forced -marches with all possible rapidity, as the enemy were advancing upon us -in force. So for four days we marched twenty miles every day, which was -something unusual for any army, but our men stood it very well, and are -now much better for the exercise. - -"When we arrived here we learned that Price was seventy miles away -from us and that there never was any danger. Officers speak very -disparagingly of Frémont. The indications are that we will march back -again in a few days. 'Up the hill and down again.'" - -Sometime before the next letter was written from Warsaw, November 14, -on the march "down the hill," we had heard of the removal of General -Frémont:-- - -"Our Missouri campaign has been a very barren affair. It may suit a -fellow who likes long walks and heavy marching, but there has not been -much of war in it. The only time there was to my mind any prospect of -a fight was at Georgetown. If Price had ever intended to fight, it was -his best chance. We have been chasing him all through the southern -part of the State on long and forced marches, wearing out our troops, -and spending immense sums of money, and Price keeping fifty miles away -from us all the time, and he is now clear over into Arkansas. The -Springfield campaign is over at least, and Frémont's reputation and our -soldiers' feet have been the sufferers. However popular Frémont may be -his military glory is ended. - -"Our Colonel Veatch I regard as a man of unusual good judgment and has -been an ardent friend of Frémont, and yet says his removal was just -and needed, and such is almost the unanimous opinion of officers here. -Tell father if he has not become reconciled to the removal, a personal -knowledge of matters at St. Louis and here would satisfy him." - -My youngest brother, Willie, was eight years old at this time, and I -make frequent references to him in my letters. From Syracuse I wrote -November 18:-- - -"We arrived here yesterday from our march of two hundred and fifty -miles. We left Otterville on October 29 and arrived here yesterday the -17th, having had only one day of rest during the whole journey. If I -had time I would write Willie a letter (but you can tell him) of our -march, what a long line our division made, troops and trains of near -three miles, what a time the poor soldiers had with sore feet, how we -sat around big blazing camp-fires, how we got up before daylight and -ate our breakfast on a log, and were marching before the sun was up, -and give him a list of all the towns we passed through so he can find -them on the map I sent him. About these I can give him the details when -I come home. But this is only the least exciting of the soldier's life -stories. We can't come home till I can tell him something about our -experience on the battlefield, which we have not yet had." - -A week later I write still from the same place, expressing great -impatience that we are kept in Missouri, and the desire on the part -of myself and the men to be ordered into Kentucky, but I add: "I am -beginning to understand that the army is one vast machine, and the mass -of us need not trouble ourselves about our future, as our generals -will determine that. We have only to do our duty and execute their -commands." But I caution my wife if we are ordered to Kentucky: "You -must not flatter yourself that, if I get nearer home, I will have a -much better opportunity of paying a visit to the dear ones there." - -Then I entered upon a topic which seemed to be a familiar one in my -letters, about home:-- - -"The commanding officers at St. Louis will be very particular about -absence, and when we get into the active field again it will be -worse. And it must be so, if the army is to be kept in any state of -efficiency. How much I would love to come home. No one ever more highly -prized the blessings and comforts of a happy home than I,--a dear, -loving, and noble wife, a sweet, darling little daughter, and so many -kind kindred and friends,--but it must be otherwise. I am called to the -place of duty, away from all these. I would be a craven, a disloyal -citizen, if I did not do what I am doing in this time of peril to our -country. And I rejoice that I have a wife, with a heart so noble, so -patriotic and so brave, as to share this feeling with me, and who -submits to her situation without a murmur. This pleasant home which you -and I both long to enjoy together would be worthless and ruined, if -our once prosperous Government falls to pieces. It is far better that -we endure this separation and that our country suffer this terrible -war for a time now, than that we permit the whole nation to fall to -pieces, and for years and years after to see nothing but civil war and -continued bloodshed between little factious States. We hope and pray -that God will speedily restore the country to its wonted peace, so that -we may all return to our families and friends." - -A little later, in acknowledging receipt of one of my wife's letters, -I say: "I am glad you are reading Washington's letters. You will find -he was a good husband and loved his home, but he _went to war for seven -years_!" - -While waiting in suspense at Syracuse, I tell of another -court-martial:-- - -"I was all day yesterday engaged in a court-martial and until late last -night. A lieutenant in the Eighteenth Indiana was arraigned by his -captain for attacking and slandering him in a newspaper in Indiana, -and the lieutenant came to get me to defend him. I tried to beg out -of it, but he insisted so strongly that I had to undertake it. The -court was presided over by the general commanding, and was composed -of the colonels and other field officers of the division, and I was -somewhat abashed in appearing before it, the practice of the court -being altogether different from our civil law courts, and I being -unacquainted with it; but I thought I might as well learn now as at any -other time. I think I got through with it pretty well. If I keep the -lieutenant from being cashiered it will be fortunate for him." - -The coming on of winter made the generals, as well as the men, think of -winter quarters. In a letter dated November 24, referring to another -of the reports about a threatened attack on us by Price and the -probability of marching again, I write:-- - -"In the meantime we are shivering around our camp-fires in this winter -weather, and stuffing our tents full of straw, blankets, and buffalo -robes to keep warm. Last night I managed to sleep comfortably. I made -my bed right down on the ground. It is warmer than to have my cot up on -its legs. These Missouri prairie winds are such winds as Hoosiers don't -know anything about. - -"You ought to see some of the expedients we resort to for comfortable -camp-fires. At headquarters of the regiment we have a big roaring log -fire built, and have small logs propped up on the forks of saplings -for seats or benches, and then we barricade ourselves from the wind _a -little_ by tents and stretching wagon covers around the saplings.... -But at the best this winter campaigning is not comfortable for officers -or men." - -Notwithstanding the cold weather, I note in my letter of December 3, -that we are keeping up the drills:-- - -"Yesterday and to-day we have been kept quite busy, General Pope -having issued a strict order in reference to regimental and brigade -drills. We are out both morning and afternoon with the regiment, -notwithstanding that the ground has been covered with snow and it is -very cold. It comes a little hard on us, cold fingers and cold feet, -but it is all the better for both officers and men. As for myself I am -in much the best health when I am kept busy, and on the march or move. -This afternoon we had a review of the whole brigade, preparatory to an -anticipated grand review by General Halleck, Department Commander, in -a few days." - -It finally seemed settled that the army was to remain in this part -of Missouri, and we were to go into winter quarters. So our brigade -marched down to Lamine River December 7, preparatory to a permanent -encampment. I report:-- - -"We will have a large city of log huts, probably 15,000 or 20,000 -troops. We are commencing operations to-day by clearing off our camp, -preparatory to building our log huts. I shall be in command of the -working forces of our regiment and shall soon know how to build a log -house in the most approved style. So you see I am having a varied -experience in my army life." - -I seemed to be quite possessed with the project of building our -huts and getting into winter quarters, as I was planning to extend -hospitality to dear friends. I write my wife:-- - -"How would you and little Alice like to come out and live with me in -a log hut for a while this winter? If the little darling will learn -to say 'papa' right sweet and right plain, maybe I will have her come -out and see and talk with her 'papa.' That will depend on how long we -will stay here, and how well I shall be fixed up. But you must not be -certain of it, for a soldier's life is a very uncertain one." - -And sure enough all our plans and anticipations came to an end, as a -letter from Sedalia, December 21, relates:-- - -"After more than a week's silence I have only time to drop you a note. -The newspapers will doubtless tell you of our last expedition. We went -out in a hurry and came back in a hurry. We just missed by three hours' -march a rebel supply train with a guard of three thousand: but we -succeeded in capturing an entire regiment, with a full complement of -officers, and Colonel Magoffin, a notorious secessionist, and a lot of -other prisoners, making altogether about one thousand. - -"There was no fight of any consequence. The cavalry surrounded them and -they surrendered after a short skirmish. The Twenty-fifth was in the -advance of the infantry and would have been in the fight, if needed. -The only one of our regiment killed was Sergeant Ray, of Company G, who -was acting as a mounted scout. Our regiment was assigned as a guard to -the prisoners, and will have the post of honor in conducting them to -St. Louis. We will leave by train in the morning. I am very tired with -guard duty and marching for two days and nights, and must be up early -in the morning." - -This march proved the last of our campaigning in Missouri. Not a -glorious record, but a lot of experience and useful training as -soldiers. The regiment was assigned to quarters at Benton Barracks. I -write:-- - -"It is uncertain how long we shall stay here or what they will do with -us. We may be all winter or possibly only two or three weeks. They -have given the field officers of our regiment a little house just -outside the Barracks, four rooms, a kitchen, cellar, and attic for the -servants, and a stable. If we can arrange things to suit us and it is -agreeable to the other officers, I expect Colonel Veatch and I will be -sending for our wives. What think you of it?" - -A few days later I received her reply on which I made the following -comments:-- - -"You never wrote a more noble letter. I have read it over and over -again. You could have written in a way which might have been more -likely to have brought you over to visit me, but you could not have in -a way more surely to make me love and admire you. I know how much you -love to be with me and how much I would enjoy your presence. I have -been thinking, ever since we came back to St. Louis [seven hours by -rail from Evansville], about the propriety of having you come over to -spend a few days or weeks with me, and had hardly decided what to do -about it. - -"While in many respects it would be pleasant, in others it would not -be. If you took up quarters with me, it would be in a very comfortable -room for a soldier, but not very comfortable or attractive for a -lady--no furniture except stools, plank tables, and bunks with straw -to sleep on, and soldiers' blankets and buffalo robes for covering. -And then it would be in a house filled with officers,--gentlemen, it -is true, but _not at all times_ pleasant companions for a lady. If -you went with me to a hotel, I would have to neglect my duties, which -neither you nor I would desire me to do. And even in my own quarters -I could not pay that attention to you which I would desire without -some, at least apparent, neglect of duty. There are quite a number -of officers' wives here, and I know that they do not in any degree -promote the efficiency of the service. When I decided it to be my duty -to go into the army I anticipated I would have to give up my dear home -comforts and enjoyment, and when you gave your consent to my going you -so regarded it, and though we may both lament the necessity, we should -not complain. I believe under the circumstances you will agree with me -that for the present it is best that you should not come over,--will -you not?" - -When we returned to Benton Barracks we found that gallant soldier -General W. T. Sherman in command. I had only a formal acquaintance with -him then, but years after we were near neighbors in Washington and -became intimate friends. When at the Barracks he was under a cloud of -ridicule, and was known throughout the country as "Crazy Sherman." This -appellative was given him because, a few weeks before, while in command -at Louisville, he had told Mr. Cameron, Secretary of War, he would -require two hundred thousand soldiers to rid the State of Kentucky of -rebel troops. The sequel proved that more than that number had to be -sent into that State before it was free of Confederate troops. Sherman -was at that period one of the few _sane_ men who realized so early -the magnitude of the task before us. His "Memoirs," published years -after the war, show that at the time he was much distressed at the -appellative. - -Our stay at Benton Barracks was prolonged for nearly six weeks, and was -the usual experience of such soldier life. In a letter of January 14, -1862, I write:-- - -"It is now between eleven and twelve o'clock at night, and I am writing -you while you are sleeping with our little darling near you,--if she -hasn't waked you up! You may wonder why I am writing you at this late -hour. Well, I'm 'officer of the day' for the Barracks, and a part -of my duty is to make 'the grand rounds' of the guards at least once -_after twelve o'clock at night_. Rather than get a half sleep and be -waked up, I prefer to sit up and write my wife till the time comes. - -"We were very agreeably surprised this morning to have _Captain_ -Willie [my brother] step in on us, as we were not looking for him. I -am very glad he came. We will try to make it a pleasant visit to him, -and he will be much company for us. As I am 'officer of the day,' I -took him around with me as my 'orderly'! When I visited the different -guard-houses and sentinel-posts, he was very much interested in seeing -the guards 'turn out' and the other military civilities. It has been -very cold to-day, but both the infantry and cavalry were out for the -afternoon drills of battalions and brigades. Willie stood out in the -cold wind to see the maneuvers as long as he could. - -"We have had a very pleasant evening at our quarters to-night. At dress -parade Colonel Morgan invited all the officers over to take supper with -us. They came, about thirty of them, about seven o'clock, and at eight -we had supper. We had oysters fried, oysters stewed, oysters raw, and -oyster patties, with their accompaniments, followed by meats, pickled -pig's-feet and salad, and topped off with pound cake and champagne -wine. You would hardly approve of the wine part, but we could scarcely -do less at a soldiers' supper. Very few would have stopped at that. -Then those who smoked devoted themselves to a plentiful supply of -cigars. - -"In our regimental brass band there is a fine string band. I wish you -could hear it, as I know with your love of music you would enjoy it -very much. It gave us music all the evening. The officers got up a -'stag dance' and enjoyed it greatly. Then we had some first-rate songs, -and wound up the evening by the officers presenting Dr. Walker [our -regimental surgeon], in an _appropriate_(!) _speech by the major_, a -beautiful medical staff sword, belt, gold tassel, and green silk sash, -in token of a most faithful discharge of his onerous duties." - -About this time I reply to a letter from my wife, regarding some -domestic matters, as follows:-- - -"I was somewhat affected and a little amused at the account you give of -your household and financial troubles. You must not let a little gas -bill of fourteen dollars worry your life out of you. It is possible it -was a little exorbitant, but none to hurt. I don't want you to worry -yourself about these business matters. Where there are any troubles you -will find your mother and father safe and willing advisers. I know that -you are careful and prudent in your family expenses. I never thought -you spent a cent unnecessarily. I don't want you to be thinking you are -spending too much money; I just want you to get all you want to eat or -wear. - -"When I left home I got you a good house to live in, and I want you to -live in it in proper style and comfort. If I was at home you know I -would have broiled quails, stewed rabbits, roast turkeys, venison, all -varieties of oysters, and all kinds of good things for the table, and -there is no reason why 'a lone, lorn' wife should starve just because -her husband has gone off to the war. If I was at home I would have two -or three gas burners going to your one, if I wanted the light; and -there is no reason why my wife should grope around in the dark for fear -of a gas bill at the end of the month. I know you are not extravagant -and therefore there is no danger of useless expenditure, and no -occasion for troubling yourself on that account. I have no fear but -that you will save all the money you can conveniently with your family -wants. I am drawing pretty good pay, and therefore can afford to keep -my family in good circumstances." - -Frequent reference in my letters is made to the way in which the -Sabbath is spent in camp. In one of my letters I express the hope that -"I will not lose or forget my Christian standing. I want to come home -as good a Christian at least as when I left, though the temptations to -evil and bad habits are very great." - -Here is a description of one while at Benton Barracks:-- - -"Another Sabbath day has nearly passed, but before I go to sleep I must -write you at least a short letter. To-day has been a quiet and rather -profitable Sabbath, at least more so than most of those which I spend -in camp. In the forenoon Willie and I went to the First Presbyterian -Church, expecting to hear Dr. Nelson, but after we were in and well -seated, who should I see going up into the pulpit with Dr. Nelson but -Mr. ----, the Home Missionary agent who preached at Evansville last -year, you will probably remember him. And he gave us the very same -sermon to-day that he did then _verbatim_. The text was the same--'The -Kingdom of Heaven is like unto leaven which a woman took and hid,' etc. -Having heard it before, I was not much interested in it, so that my -visit to the city through the mud was not a very pleasant or profitable -one. - -"But this afternoon I read the 'Evangelist' [the Presbyterian Church -paper] all through, reading almost every article, and it generally -interests me, occupying most of the afternoon. This evening I read -several chapters in the Bible, the 60th of Isaiah, 1st, 2d, and -3d of John, and my favorite chapters, the 14th, 15th, and 16th of -John, and others. I also read two of the little books you sent us in -the Soldier's Library. So you see the day has not been an entirely -profitless one, but how much more pleasantly I could have spent it at -home with my dear wife and child! But when I come back the Sabbaths -will be the more pleasant and sacred with you, and we shall have an -added pleasure in teaching our little darling holy hymns and holy -truths." - -I had occasion often in my letters to thank the folks at home for the -useful things and dainties they were frequently sending to camp. The -correspondence shows that I was not bashful in making our wants known, -as, for instance, this extract:-- - -"You have written me several times asking what I wanted. Well, really, -we don't want much of anything but our wives and families, as we are -living very comfortably; but if you want to send us a present you might -send us a box or two of eatables. Say you bake us one of your good -jelly cakes, and mother try her hand on one of her first-quality fruit -cakes, and Eliza and Cassie [my sister and sister-in-law] see what they -can do on a lady cake or something of that kind. And then, if you have -in any of the various Foster families any extra supply of fruits, or -preserves, or jellies, or tomatoes, or such like, you might send them -by way of ballast." - -In one of my last letters from Benton Barracks I gave this account of -the Sunday inspection:-- - -"This forenoon I was busy at the Barracks. Every Sunday morning when -it is pleasant weather we have a general inspection. The troops turn -out in the best clothes they have, with shoes cleaned and blacked, -knapsacks packed and on their backs, guns brightened up, and looking -as well as they can. They are inspected by companies. Then the -sleeping-quarters, dining-room, and kitchen are visited to see that -they are kept in good order, etc. This inspection is sometimes made by -the general. When not made by him, it is made by the field officers. -Colonel Veatch and I made the inspection this morning, and it kept us -busy till near noon." - -Our marching orders came finally as recorded in my last letter written -from St. Louis at the Barracks:-- - -"We have been anticipating marching orders for several days, but have -at last received them. Orders came out from General Halleck this -evening that 'The Twenty-fifth Indiana would prepare to march to -Cairo.' The exact date of our departure is not definitely known, but it -may be early to-morrow. It is quite cold, but we can stand it as well -as any of this army. We are very willing to leave the Barracks and -get into the field, and especially as we are going down the river and -most likely will be sent to Paducah or Smithland. Barracks life doesn't -agree with me near so well as active work." - - - - -III -THE BATTLE OF FORT DONELSON - - -Greatly to our relief the Twenty-fifth Indiana was surely out of -Missouri, with the prospect of active campaigning in Kentucky or -Tennessee. Although we had orders to take a steamer for Cairo on January -30, we did not get away from St. Louis till February 2. On the steamer -I wrote my wife in a tone which indicated that I was taking a more -serious view of our future than I had in Missouri:-- - -"It may be that when we get to Cairo we shall find orders sending us -up to Smithland, but wherever we go you will have abundant rumors -of army movements and great battles fought. I trust you will not be -unnecessarily alarmed or solicitous. I will write you as often as I -can, keeping you as well posted as possible, but I expect I shall only -be able to write you at considerable intervals.... We will both pray -our Heavenly Father to be my guard and protector, and return me safely -to my home and dear family again. Let us have faith, and hope for the -best." - -On the 6th of February I write again from Cairo: "We are quartered -here in the barracks, in the muddiest place imaginable. No one who has -not been in Cairo knows what mud is. How long we shall remain here is -altogether uncertain." - -My next letter was written the 9th on a steamer going up the Tennessee -River:-- - -"We seem fated to make or commence all our marches on the Sabbath. How -often do I long for the enjoyment of one of our home Sabbaths. We were -ordered to go aboard the steamboat at nine o'clock Saturday morning, so -we had the men up before day to cook two days' rations and were packed -up all ready to leave. But we did not go until noon to-day and we -should be at Fort Henry to-morrow forenoon. We have six hundred barrels -of powder on board, which makes traveling a little dangerous, but shall -be at Paducah in an hour or two, where it will be unloaded. Our orders -are to 'join General Grant,' so I suppose we will be with the army as -it goes forward into Tennessee and South to victory. - -"I am just in the locality I have been wanting to be all during the -war, and I have only to do my duty like a soldier and a man. You must -not be unduly solicitous about my welfare, or pay much attention to -the rumors by telegraph, as they are at first always uncertain and -generally erroneous. If our regiment is in an engagement, I will see -that a carrier is sent to the first place to get the news home. So that -if you do not hear you can be satisfied that _all is right_. You will -remember me in your thoughts and prayers always, and have faith that -all will be well." - -This was the last letter I was able to write home until after the -battle of Fort Donelson. On the 10th our regiment reached Fort Henry on -the Tennessee River which had been captured by General Grant only four -days before our arrival. On the 12th we marched over to the vicinity of -Fort Donelson with the rest of General Grant's army, eleven miles from -Fort Henry, and situated on the west side of the Cumberland River. We -were a part of the division commanded by General Charles F. Smith, and -which occupied the extreme left of General Grant's army. That army, -when it went into camp on the evening of February 12, covered the -entire front of the Confederate forces. From our encampment the rebel -line of rifle-pits and fortifications could be seen, we occupying one -series of ridges and the enemy those confronting ours. - -The fighting began on the morning of the 13th, our picket lines being -pressed toward the enemy's front, mainly to develop their position. -In view of the eagerness of my own account in my letters, I quote the -part of the official report of Colonel Veatch, which relates to the -operations of the Twenty-fifth Indiana on the 13th:-- - -"At 10 o'clock A.M. we moved forward in line of battle to the top -of the hill which was between us and the enemy's breastworks. Here -I received orders to fix bayonets and charge the rebels, and, if -possible, drive them from their works. The timber was so thick that we -could only see here and there a part of the rebel works, but could form -no idea of their range or extent.... At the foot of the hill the enemy -poured on us a terrible fire of musketry, grape and canister, and a -few shells. The rebel breastworks were now in plain view on the top of -the hill. The heavy timber on the hillside had been felled, proving a -dense mass of brush and logs. Through and over these obstacles our men -advanced against the enemy's fire with perfect coolness and steadiness, -never halting for a moment until they received your order. After a -halt of a few minutes they then advanced within a short distance of the -enemy's breastworks where the fire from a six-pound field-piece and -twelve-pound howitzer on our right was so destructive that it became -necessary to halt and direct the men to lie down to save us from very -heavy loss. - -"After remaining under a very heavy fire for two hours and fifteen -minutes, with no opportunity to return the fire to advantage, the enemy -being almost entirely hid, and seeing no movement indicating a further -advance from any part of the line, I asked permission to withdraw -my regiment. In retiring, owing to the nature of the ground and our -exposed position, the men were thrown into slight confusion, but they -rallied promptly at the foot of the hill, and remained in that position -until night, when we moved back, as directed, to the ground we occupied -in the morning. We lost in this action fourteen killed and sixty-one -wounded." - -On the 14th the battle was continued almost entirely by our naval -forces, the army taking no part except the pickets and sharp-shooters. -It was General Grant's hope that the gunboats would be able to silence -the Confederate water batteries and pass up the Cumberland, and thus -cut off reinforcements to the enemy, but in this they failed and were -forced to retire. - -In view of this situation it was the intention of Grant to establish -a siege of the fortifications and await reinforcements. But on the -morning of the 15th our right wing under General McClernand was -attacked in force, the enemy coming out of their intrenchments -with the apparent intention of cutting their way through our line -and abandoning the fort. McClernand being hard-pressed, General Lew -Wallace's division went to his assistance, and the battle raged in that -direction with great intensity all the forenoon. We lay upon our arms -in line of battle, ready and impatient to take part in the contest, -listening to the roar of battle in the distance. General Smith, our -division commander, about three o'clock in the afternoon received -orders to advance upon the enemy in our front, and immediately our -attacking force was formed by Lauman's brigade, in column of regiments, -consisting of the Twenty-fifth Indiana, and three Iowa regiments, -General Smith himself leading the attack. - -It was a martial sight, this column of regiments advancing down into -the ravine and ascending the hill on which were located the enemy's -fortifications, struggling through the abatis of fallen timber, with -the bullets whistling thick among our ranks. But it was an event of -only a few minutes; our column, never halting, was soon in front of -the intrenchments, when the enemy broke and fled, and the day was -won. Colonel Veatch says in his report that the skirmishers of the -Twenty-fifth Indiana were among the first, if not the very first, to -enter the fortifications. - -General Grant, in his account of this charge, says: "The outer line -of rifle-pits was passed, and the night of the 15th General Smith, -with much of his division, bivouacked within the line of the enemy. -_There was now no doubt but that the Confederates must surrender or -be captured the next day._" It was an inspiring sight for us, as we -ascended the hill, the general on his white horse, hat in hand, waving -us forward into the enemy's lines. He was the hero of the battle. On -the 19th General Halleck telegraphed to Washington: "Smith, by his -coolness and bravery at Fort Donelson, when the battle was against us, -turned the tide and carried the enemy's outworks." General Sherman, -in his "Memoirs," has this to say of the capture of Fort Donelson: -"He [General Charles F. Smith] was a very handsome and soldierly man, -of great experience, and at Donelson had acted with so much personal -bravery that to him may be attributed the success of the assault." - -Although this charge of our brigade, the last fighting of the battle, -was the decisive event which brought about the surrender, it was -attended with little bloodshed. The charge was so rapid and the enemy's -fire so unsteady, that we entered the intrenchments with little loss of -life. More men were killed and wounded in the fight of the Twenty-fifth -on the first day of the battle, as described in Colonel Veatch's -report, than by the entire brigade in this charge so decisive in its -result. - -At dawn on the morning of the 16th white flags were seen along the -whole of the enemy's lines, and the notes of a bugle were heard by us -advancing to the outworks where our brigade had bivouacked during the -night. It announced an officer, who delivered to General Smith a letter -to General Grant from the rebel commander, General Buckner, asking upon -what terms he would receive a surrender. General Grant's famous reply -was: "No terms except an unconditional surrender can be accepted. I -propose to move immediately on your works." The forces engaged as given -by General Grant were twenty-one thousand Confederates and twenty-seven -thousand Federals. - -The only extant account of the battle I sent home was written to my -wife on the day after the surrender, dated the 17th:-- - -"I can write to you to-day with great thankfulness to our Heavenly -Father for the privilege of again addressing my dear wife, and sending -my congratulations to my home. You will have learned before this -reaches you that Fort Donelson has surrendered. I am happy to write -that the Twenty-fifth Indiana bore a worthy part in the conflict and -triumph. We made two charges on the rifle-pits and fortifications, -on the 13th and on the 15th. Yesterday, after the surrender, the -Twenty-fifth Indiana was the second regiment to enter the fort. We are -now occupying huts in the fort lately occupied by the Second (rebel) -Kentucky. This was the regiment which fought us so desperately in the -rifle-pits on the 13th. - -"Our charge on the 13th was desperate, over the steep and rugged hills, -covered with felled timber and under a most terrific fire. The fire of -musketry was thick as hail. The cannon raked us on both flanks and in -front, and the storm of shot, shell, grape, and canister was awful. You -can say to our friends that the Twenty-fifth has been tried in most -perilous positions and has acted like veterans. In the thickest of -the fight the officers and most of the men seemed to lose all sense of -personal danger. - -"We have a host of prisoners and a large amount of stores. I am very -tired and sore from our four days' labor. Four nights we slept on the -wet or frozen ground, without tents or fires, and both day and night -under arms. When I get a little sleep and rest I will write you fully. -In our regiment the total of killed is 14; wounded, 99." - -General Grant's account of the weather, alluded to in this letter, -was: "It was midwinter, and we had rain and snow, thawing and freezing -alternately. It would not do to allow camp-fires except far down the -hill out of sight of the enemy, and it would not do to allow many -of the troops to remain there at the same time. The weather turned -intensely cold on the evening of the 14th." - -Immediately after the battle a representative of the "Evansville -Journal" was sent to Fort Donelson to make a report of the battle and -the situation. I extract the following:-- - -A detailed account of the battle will not be attempted, as you have -already published an excellent one. I will speak more particularly of -our Twenty-fifth, and of the incidents of the battle and the appearance -of the field as seen by us. - -The Twenty-fifth covered themselves all over with glory. Everybody -we talked to gave them credit for the utmost bravery. Exposed to a -terrible cross-fire of artillery and musketry, having to charge through -the difficulties I have described right up in the teeth of the rebel -batteries and into their murderous volleys, they passed through the -fiery ordeal like veterans. On their end of the line the rebels first -proposed to surrender, and to them belongs a large part of the glory of -the victory. This honor is conceded to them. - -It is hard, and would be invidious, to mention particular cases of -gallantry in the Twenty-fifth, where all did their duty so well.... The -field officers all did their duty nobly. For coolness and determination -Major Foster is the theme of general praise.... Quartermaster Foster -and Chaplain Huring made themselves very useful, and showed great -courage in attending to the dead and wounded on the field. - -I have thus given an account of the battle from participants and others -who had seen the field. But there is always another view of every -battle--that to be seen in the faraway homes of the wives and mothers -of the combatants. As representing the thousands who waited at home -through the days of dread anxiety to know the fate of their loved ones, -I give a letter from my wife dated February 20:-- - -"After four days of painful suspense and anxious waiting, when the -news came last night that you were safe, you may be sure there was -one thankful, grateful heart. Such dreary days and sleepless nights I -hope I may never pass again. The first news of the battle reached here -Saturday noon, and not one word did we hear of you till last night. -Such a relief I never before experienced in my life, to know that you -were safe and well. - -"All the accounts say you acted bravely and nobly, and we are all as -proud of you as we can be. Oh, if I could only see you once more, my -own dear husband! No one knows how thankful I am that you were spared, -while exposed to terrible dangers. I began to feel on Tuesday that you -must be safe, or we should have some report of it. I remembered that -you said if I didn't hear, I might know all was right, but I could -not rest until Willie Gwyn dispatched that all was right. I have heard -to-day that on Monday it was reported and believed at first that you -had been mortally wounded, and next that you were killed, but kind -friends did not let those reports reach me. - -"A party went down to the fort from here on Tuesday. I then had heard -nothing from you, and I thought I would hear sooner by staying at home. -Then father was away, and I didn't know what to do. Another boat goes -to-day. If we thought there was any prospect at all of seeing you, -father and I would go, but every one regards it as so uncertain about -your still being there that I guess we won't go. It would only be an -aggravation to go and not see you. I hope it will not be long before -I have something from your own dear self. Mr. Schoenfield [regimental -sutler] was very kind. He dispatched and wrote father that you and Alex -were safe and did bravely. The dispatch came last night (Wednesday) and -the letter by packet this morning. He said you wrote a few lines and he -sent it, but fearing it did not reach us, he wrote himself. We have not -received anything from you at all, and are very thankful to him indeed. -Such kindness, I assure you, we appreciate. - -"The news of the surrender reached here Monday, causing intense -excitement and wild joy; but I could not rejoice till I heard from my -dear one. And, oh, the dead and wounded, how much suffering and grief -has been brought to many, many hearts! When we think of the suffering -it takes away most of the rejoicing. - -"I am proud of you, my dear John. I always knew you would do your duty -nobly, and I thank God your life has been spared. Father and your -mother came back from Cincinnati on Tuesday. I was glad to see father, -for he is so kind to me. Write soon." - -Reference is made in this letter to the steamboats making trips to -Fort Donelson after the battle. The cities and States of the Middle -West vied with each other in dispatching steamers, carrying hospital -supplies and in bringing home the wounded and sick. Governor Morton -of Indiana was a visitor, and immediately after the writing of the -foregoing letter my father brought on one of these boats my wife, my -little daughter, and brother Willie. Their stay was only for one day, -but it brought to us all much joy and consolation. - -On our first day's fighting I had found one of the lieutenants -skulking, having left the ranks, and he was hiding flat down under the -bank of a little stream. I punched him out with my sword and made him -join his company, much to the delight of the men who saw the act. The -story went home in a very exaggerated shape, and I was credited with -using to the lieutenant some very severe and profane language. Willie, -who had heard the story and who entertained a high admiration for me, -was greatly grieved and shocked. As soon as the boat landed at the -fort, Willie rushed up to me, and throwing his arms about me, said: -"Brother John, you did not curse and swear at the soldier, did you?" - -The capture of Fort Donelson was the first important and complete -victory which had been won by the Union armies since the war began, -and it was hailed with great joy throughout the North as the harbinger -of further victories. General Sherman, ten years after the event, -characterized it as "the first real success on our side in the Civil -War. Probably at no time during the war did we feel so heavy a weight -raised from our hearts, or so thankful for a most fruitful series of -victories." - -In a letter of February 23, I acknowledged the receipt of my wife's -letter above quoted, in these terms:-- - -"George [my eldest brother] brought me yesterday the letters by you -and father on the 20th, and they were such good ones I could not help -the tears coming to my eyes. When I read your letters I began fully -to realize how great was my deliverance. During all the war I most -probably never will be in so hot a fire and in so much danger as that -through which I passed during the late battles. Truly we have great -reason to thank God for his kind protection over me. Do you remember -the Psalm Mr. McCarer [our pastor] read the last night at our house, -before I left with the regiment, the ninety-first? I got out my Bible -and read it to-day again. I have read it many times since then. - -"I am proud of you, my dear Parke, for the manner in which you have -acted ever since I have been in the army, but especially during and -since the attack on the fort. You have learned by the experience of -the late battles to put little reliance in the first reports of an -engagement; they are always exaggerated. - -"I was very glad to have a visit from George. I sent home some -_play-things_ for Alice by him. The rebels had fixed them up to shoot -her papa with them. She can make better use of them, some canister and -six-pounder shots. I sent you a letter right after the fight, and sent -father one after the first day's fight. But the mails are so irregular -it may be you did not get them. I would have sent a dispatch, but there -was no telegraph nearer than Cairo. - -"We were greatly exposed during the four nights of the siege, and the -officers had the same exposure as the men, at least all those who stood -by their posts, sleeping on the ground with no tents and no fires, two -nights both rain and snow, the others severely cold. By the time we -got into the fort I was nearly tired out, and during all this week I -have been resting. The exposure did not affect me much, except that it -increased a cold already contracted. But I am 'all right' again and -ready to go into active service. How long we shall remain here I do not -know. It may be for some time, it may be only to-day." - -Under date of the 24th I wrote:-- - -"We are still in the fort, living in the rebel huts. I am getting very -tired of our inactive life of the past week, and the worst of it is -I'm afraid we will be left here for some time to come, as we see no -evidence of preparing for our advance. We would like very much to be -sent forward. I suppose you have no special desire to have me get into -another fight soon, but from present appearances there is not much -probability of more fighting in Tennessee. - -"This is a very poor country around the fort, and had already been -eaten out by the rebel troops before ours came. There is nothing in the -eating line we can buy for our mess, and we have had poorer fare here -than at any time since we have been in the service. I begin to feel -like I could relish a good dinner at home!" - -The following, dated March 1, is a reference to the visit to the fort -of my wife and father already noticed:-- - -"Only day before yesterday my dear wife and darling babe were with -me here. I need not tell you how pleasant was your visit to me, made -doubly so under the circumstances here, and then that I missed you so -sadly after you were gone. But we cannot have pleasures _unalloyed_. I -was glad you made the trip, aside from the pleasure of seeing you, as -the excursion was a pleasant change for you and Alice. - -"I wonder if you will remember to-morrow that it is my birthday, -twenty-six years old. Quite an old man!" - -Under date of March 4 record is made of the expected order:-- - -"We received marching orders yesterday. We are to go from here to -Fort Henry, there to take steamers on the Tennessee River, whether up -or down the river we do not know, but our supposition is that we are -destined for the direction of Florence, Alabama. It may be a movement -on Memphis by the flank. We are all pleased with the prospect of -getting still farther South. - -"Our greatest want now in the way of marching is wagons for -transportation, and that is likely to be the want during all the -marches. I, with quite a number of officers, have concluded to send our -trunks home. We field officers are limited by General Grant's orders -to one hundred pounds of baggage, to include clothing, bedclothes, -mess-chest, and everything personal. And as I think as much of a warm -bed and good rations as I do of good clothes, I have put a change of -underclothes into my saddle valise, and with my carpet-sack can get -along. Then Colonel Morgan and I have gone in partnership in an old -trunk, for our dress uniforms, shirts, etc. I send my shabrack [saddle -cover] in the bottom of the trunk. Have it taken out, well brushed, -and hung up in the attic. It is rather too gay to wear out here in the -woods. It will do for musters and parades at home!" - - - - -IV -THE BATTLE OF SHILOH - - -We were much pleased to turn our backs upon Fort Donelson, as the -movement gave promise of an advance still farther into the South. In my -letter dated Fort Henry, March 7, I write:-- - -"We left Donelson on the 5th. The roads were terribly muddy, and it -took us two days to get here, about twelve miles. Besides, the weather -was quite cold and snowing, being one of the most blustery days of -March, making the march a most uncomfortable one. But we arrived here -in pretty good season yesterday evening, and were fortunate to get into -the same cabins we occupied when here before. - -"The troops here are all embarking on steamboats, and it is understood -that we are to go up the Tennessee River, how far we don't know, -but hope through to Florence, Alabama. It is said (_it is said_, -_reported_, _understood_, _they say_, are unofficial terms, you must -understand) that none of the boats will leave till all the regiments -are embarked, and that the whole fleet will move together. The river is -very high, and on account of backwater we can't get nearer than four -hundred yards of the boats. - -"The Twenty-fourth Indiana went up the river this morning to find a -convenient place to embark. We may have to go up there also to get -aboard. Just as we were marching through the cold and snow last night -I met Uncle Tom going down to the boat on his way home. He told me he -had resigned, had caught a severe cold and had a bad cough. I think he -has taken the best course, as his health can hardly stand the exposure." - -I refer here to my mother's youngest brother, Captain Thomas Johnson, -whose case was that of many other officers in our army. He had been -suffering for some years with tuberculosis, and would not have been -able to pass the physical examination to which the soldiers in the -ranks were subjected, but the examination of the officers was less -strict. He was not fitted for the service and ought not to have entered -it, but his zeal to serve his country in the time of its sore trial -was so great that he could not be persuaded to stay at home. As we -expected, he broke down within a year of his enlistment. We shall -see that he was not content to remain inactive at home after he was -relieved of his attack of cold, and in less than six months he obtained -an appointment in one of the new regiments, only to be again sent home -before another year of campaigning was over. - -As anticipated, the regiment was the next day ordered to go six -miles up the river to get a convenient place of embarkation. The day -following was spent in camp:-- - -"As I listened to our chaplain in his Sunday service to-day, how I -wished I could have enjoyed our own church service at home with my -wife. As I walked out through the woods this pleasant spring evening -with Colonel Morgan, I could not help thinking of the times we enjoyed -together in our many evening walks. I have been reading to-day the -life of General Havelock, that noble Christian soldier. I was very much -interested in the affectionate and touching letters he wrote his wife -and children; they made me think of my absent ones.... - -"Adjutant ---- has resigned, and as he wants to go home immediately, -before his resignation can go to St. Louis, be accepted, and returned, -he has applied for a leave of absence. If he gets it, I will send this -letter by him. He puts his resignation on the ground of _ill-health_, -but the young man is mistaken. A look at his fat jaws and healthy -appearance will tell a different tale. He is in as good health as I am. -The trouble with him is homesickness from _love_. We are out of the -range of regular mails, and he can't get letters from his lady-love -often. He can't endure the situation. We tried to talk him out of it, -but he insists. He has at the best taken a bad time to resign, just on -the eve of an important expedition against the enemy. I told him last -night that no one wanted to be at home more than I did, and that if I -could get out of the service honorably in view of my duty, I would do -so, but this I could not do. He can draw his own inference. I think the -young man is making a mistake personally. Here he is drawing a good -salary, and at home he can do nothing, even if he wasn't too lazy." - -The next letter was written on board a steamboat lying at the town of -Savannah, Tennessee, dated the 12th:-- - -"Here we are away down on the southern border of Tennessee, only a few -miles from Alabama and Mississippi, 'away down in Dixie.' We went on -board the steamboats day before yesterday, the 10th, four companies -on the _Uncle Sam_, and six companies on the _Conewaga_, the latter -under my command. We have had a very pleasant trip up the river, -being comfortably situated on the boat, and plenty of good eating. -The Tennessee is quite a pretty river, but not very thickly settled -immediately on its banks. At the farmhouses the people were collected -in little groups, with waving handkerchiefs by the women, and frequent -cheers for the Union. It was a new sight to the inhabitants, such an -immense fleet of boats, black with troops, and bristling with cannon -and munitions of war. The boats are all lying up here, most of them -having arrived this morning, the river full of them on both sides. -It is stated by officers who ought to know that we now have seventy -steamers in the fleet, and that ten more are on the way.... - -"Remember me to Mr. McCarer and family. Tell him I am afraid we are -persecuting our old-school, southside Presbyterian brethren, as they -have called their General Assembly to meet in Memphis in May. I fear we -shall get in the way of some of them, and scare them away. - -"There is a set of chessmen on the boat, and I have had several -pleasant games, the first for a long time. How I would like to take a -game with my dear wife, as of old. - -"Large numbers of Union men are coming in both to enlist and for refuge -and protection. Some of them came more than a hundred miles and had to -travel at night, fleeing from the persecutions and cruelties of the -rebels." - -Writing on the 16th, I report:-- - -"We are still lying at Savannah. More steamers with troops have -arrived, so that now we have about ninety boats, and I estimate about -sixty thousand soldiers. We are getting tired of staying on the boat, -but it has been raining most of the time, and therefore our quarters -are better than they would be ashore. The river has again risen and -flooded over the banks." - -Two days later I write:-- - -"We are still lying along the shore on the boats 'awaiting orders' -rather impatiently too, the eighth day aboard. Yesterday we left -Savannah and came a few miles up to a farm where we found a good -landing. We turned our men out on the shore to enjoy the exercise -and fresh air (it was a most beautiful day), while we had the boat -thoroughly cleaned. The men had been kept cooped up on the boats for so -long they enjoyed the day very much. - -"We have a rumor of the taking of New Orleans by our forces from the -Gulf, but can hardly credit it. It will be glorious news, if true, and -a rapid step toward the end of the rebellion.... - -"I have no news; mostly write to let you know I am in the best of -health and in safety." - -At last my letter, dated in camp at Pittsburg Landing, gives account of -our having left the boats:-- - -"We are now in camp about a mile from the river in a pleasant forest. -How long we are to remain here we do not know, but as to-morrow is -Sunday we may get our marching orders then! We are ordered to keep in -readiness to march at one hour's notice. We are also ordered to take -with us in each company wagon seven days' rations of provisions and -five days' rations of grain for horses, besides three days' rations in -each man's haversack, making ten days' rations. As the roads are now, -we won't be able to travel very fast. - -"Our force has been increasing every day by the arrival of new -regiments. How large our army is I do not know, but the woods are -perfectly alive with men. Regiments of tents are in every direction -and extending for miles around. We have no doubt of our successful -progress, whether it is to march upon Memphis or farther down South -into the heart of 'Dixie.' You need have no fear for my personal -safety, or for the success of our army. We are only hoping we shall be -sent by rapid marches against Memphis, and when we get there you can -come down and pay me another visit, if I cannot get off home for a few -days." - -March 24 I wrote:-- - -"I have not heard from you for two weeks, but to-day I have three -letters from you and one from Father, and I can assure you your good, -dear letters are most acceptable. I think of you and our dear little -one so much and long for the time speedily to come when I can be with -you again. I trust and believe that God is so ordering events that the -time is not far removed. In the meantime we will hope and pray and be -patient. - -"You need not be the least troubled about me. I am in perfect health, -and General Buell with more than one hundred thousand men is making a -junction with us; so that our combined army of two hundred thousand has -only to _move_ to sweep every vestige of opposition out of the way, I -don't think the enemy will make a stand before us at all." - -The foregoing illustrates how little the subordinate officers know -of an army's strength or its future. It is a common error to make -exaggerated estimates of an army. The figures given above place the -numbers of the joint armies of Grant and Buell at more than double -their actual strength. And so far from sweeping the enemy before them, -within two weeks from the writing of this letter Grant's gallant army -was attacked in its own camp, and barely escaped being swept into the -Tennessee River. - -I wrote on the 27th: "I have been detailed by General Hurlbut as judge -advocate of a general court-martial, and am kept very busy with its -duties. That's what I get for being a lawyer." - -A letter on March 31 has the following:-- - -"We had yesterday our monthly regimental inspection and in the -afternoon we had a grand review of the division by General Hurlbut. -In both these exercises it became necessary for me to command the -regiment. The division review was very fine, the finest we have seen -since we have been in the service. There were twelve regiments, with -artillery and cavalry. Our regiment was highly commended by the general. - -"It has been a week since I have had a letter from you. Probably you -sent a letter by Schoenfield [the sutler], but if you did it has -not come, neither has Schoenfield. He started up the Tennessee River -with his stores, among which was some whiskey. The troops on the boat -discovered the whiskey, broke it open, and got into a general drunk. -The consequence was he was sent back to Paducah with all his stores. -That's what you get for having your letter in company with whiskey! -It reminds me that if you have a chance I would be very glad if you -would send me a pint bottle of the best quality of pure brandy. The -worst I have to fear in the army is diarrhoea, on account of bad -water, especially in the warm weather. St. Paul was sensible when he -recommended 'a little wine for the stomach's sake.' My little wife -won't fear I am going to be a drunkard." - -Some of the minor trials of a soldier's life are recorded in my letter -of the 3d:-- - -"I have not told you that when we left the boats here, old Bill, our -negro cook, left us. I caught him selling whiskey to the soldiers -contrary to orders, and confiscated his whiskey, with a sharp lecture -which he took so seriously as to quit us without notice. Surgeon Walker -has loaned us his boy Frank, and he has been doing the cooking _under -my superintendence_, and we haven't been living so bad either. Frank -and I get up some first-rate meals. I do the plain cooking, such as -frying potatoes and meat, making hash, cooking rice, beans, hominy, -etc., while Frank makes the pies, biscuits, etc. We are not in danger -of starving while Frank and I have charge of matters! We used up the -last can of fruits to-night for supper of the fine lot you and mother -sent us. I can assure you we relished them greatly; they come in very -good place out here in the woods where our mess can't buy anything, -and have to depend on the commissary supplies for all our eatables. -Schoenfield is coming back to the regiment again, but you home-folks -must not rob yourselves of fruits, preserves, apple-butter, catsup, -etc., on our account!" - -On April 2 I write:-- - -"I see by the newspapers that the great Waterloo is to take place up -here in the vicinity of Corinth. Well, it hasn't taken place yet, and -you can rest yourself in the assurance that it will hardly take place -for some time to come. We are resting quietly in camp, except that we -have our daily drills and parades and an occasional review. To-day -Major-General Grant reviewed our entire division; the troops looked -very well." - -In a letter dated the next day, the 3d, I write:-- - -"The weather is very pleasant now. The trees are coming out in full -bloom. I took a long ride out into the country to-day; went as far as -it was safe to go this side of the rebels. The woods are full of wild -flowers; I got quite a bouquet which I would love to have presented to -my wife, but she was not here to get it; maybe I may enclose you some -of the violets I have among them." - -And yet notwithstanding the quietness and confidence prevailing in the -army encamped at Pittsburg Landing, as indicated in these extracts -from my letters, on the 2d of April the entire Confederate army under -General A. S. Johnston had marched from Corinth, and on the 3d, the -day I took my "long ride into the country," it was within striking -distance of our camp, designing to make its united attack on Grant's -army on the 5th. Being unexpectedly delayed one day, the rebel -onslaught broke upon our lines at day-break on Sunday the 6th. Of the -terrible two-days battle which ensued, I was able the night of the -second day to write to my father a pretty full account:-- - -"_Pittsburg Landing, Tenn._, -"_April 7, 1862_. - -"DEAR FATHER:-- - -"Tired, worn out, almost exhausted, I have just brought the remnant -of the noble Twenty-fifth Indiana back into our old camp from the -front of the hardest-fought, most strongly contested, and bloodiest -battlefield upon the American continent. But I cannot lie down without -first preparing a short account of it, to assure you of my own personal -safety, the gallant conduct of our regiment, and the glorious triumph -of our arms. A terrible conflict of two full days of continuous -fighting has this evening left us in possession of the field which was -at one time almost lost. - -"Yesterday (Sunday) morning, about 6.30 o'clock, just after we had -finished breakfast, we were attracted by a continuous roar of musketry, -with occasional discharges of artillery on our extreme left, near the -river. In a few minutes we were in line of battle, and moving forward -to the attack. We had hardly left the camp before we saw the roads -full of our flying men, and all along the route for the two miles we -passed over were strewn guns, knapsacks, and blankets, and we found, -to our dismay, that our front had been completely surprised, one whole -division scattered and retreating in utter confusion, and the enemy in -force already a mile within our camps. - -"We were drawn up in line of battle, our brigade, under command of -Colonel Veatch, in a skirt of timber bordering a large field, on the -outer edge of which our troops were engaging the enemy. But the enemy -pressed on in overwhelming force, and just as the troops in front of -us began to waver, we discovered that the enemy had flanked us on the -right and was rapidly advancing (in what force we knew not, but the -woods were perfectly swarming), to attack our brigade on the right and -rear. So it became necessary for us to change our front to the rear to -meet them. - -"The Fifteenth Illinois was on the right, the Fourteenth Illinois -in the center, and the Twenty-fifth Indiana on the left, the other -regiment, the Forty-sixth Illinois, by the rapid flanking of the enemy -becoming detached from the brigade, was not with us again during -the whole action. This brought the first fire upon the Fifteenth -Illinois, which stood it nobly, but was soon overpowered; likewise, -the Fourteenth. In the meantime the troops in front and on the left -were completely routed by the enemy and came pell-mell right through -our lines, causing some little confusion, and hardly had they passed -through to the rear before the enemy were upon us, and here the fire of -musketry was most terrible. - -"Our men tried to stand up to it, but everything was breaking to -pieces all around us, and it was more than we could do, short of -annihilation. We poured in a few well-directed volleys, and reluctantly -left the field--many of our men firing as they fell back. The loss here -was very heavy. All the field officers of the Twenty-fifth Illinois -were killed instantly, and many commissioned officers; two of our -lieutenants were killed and three wounded, and one of our captains is -either killed or a prisoner. We will make thorough search for him on -the field in the morning. - -"We left dead on this field fifteen men killed almost instantly -on the first fire, and a large number wounded. At the first fire -Lieutenant-Colonel Morgan was wounded in the leg (not seriously), -and was immediately carried off the field. From this time I led the -regiment in person. I did all I could to make the men contest the -ground firmly as they fell back, and on the first favorable ground, -about one hundred yards from the first line of battle, I planted the -colors and mounted a fallen tree, and, waving my hat with all my might, -I cheered and called upon the men to rally on the flag--never to desert -their colors. - -"All of the left wing responded to my call most nobly, and rallied with -considerable alacrity under a most galling and dangerous fire. I did -not see Colonel Morgan fall, and supposed he had charge of the right -wing; but the various captains collected a large number of their men, -and as soon as I got under cover of the regiments on the left and rear, -they brought their men up and joined me, and I thus had still quite -a battalion, notwithstanding the killed and number wounded, and the -straying or lost ones. The men who came to me at this time had been -'tried in the furnace,' and were true men, and during all the trying -scenes of the rest of the day and of to-day, they never faltered in -obeying my commands, and did most bravely. - -"As soon as our brigade was collected, Colonel Veatch moved us over to -the right to support General McClernand's division, which was being -very hard pressed by the enemy, said to be commanded by Beauregard. The -left, so our prisoners report, was commanded by Bragg, and the center -by Johnston. They also report that the column that attacked our brigade -in the morning, of which I have just spoken, numbers twelve thousand, -under Bragg, and that the whole force was near one hundred thousand; -but we do not know, only that it was very large, sufficiently so to -attack the entire line of our extensive camp in heavy force. - -"In the afternoon our pickets reported the enemy advancing against us, -on the left of General McClernand. As soon as we had drawn them well -up by our picket skirmish under Captain Rheinlander, the Fourteenth -Illinois flanked them, and was just beginning to pour upon them a heavy -fire, while we were moving up to the assistance of the Fourteenth in -fine style, when the whole mass of our left, which had, for five or -six hours, been steadily and stubbornly contesting the victorious -advance of the enemy in that direction, gave way in all directions, -about half-past three, and came sweeping by us in utter and total -confusion--cavalry, ambulances, artillery, and thousands of infantry, -all in one mass, while the enemy were following closely in pursuit, at -the same time throwing grape, canister, and shells thick and fast among -them. - -"It was a time of great excitement and dismay--it appeared that all was -lost; but I was unwilling to throw our regiment into the flying mass, -only to be trampled to pieces and thoroughly disorganized and broken. -So I held them back in the wash on the side of the road until the mass -of the rout had passed, when I put my men in the rear of the retreat, -and by this means fell into a heavy cross-fire of the enemy, but I -preferred that to being crushed to pieces by our own army. Here we lost -a number of our men killed, and many wounded. - -"Among those who fell, wounded badly in the leg, was Sergeant-Major -William Jones, who had stood right by me fearlessly through the whole -day. This rout decided that day's work. We were driven back nearly to -the river landing, but the enemy kept pressing us in all the time, -and, if, at this time, they had made a bold and united charge all -along their line, we would have been totally and utterly routed; but -a half-hour's apparent cessation of heavy firing gave our scattered -forces time to rally, while the first two regiments of Buell's -long-expected advance took position on the hill in the rear, and our -forces fell back and formed with them near the landing for a final -stand. - -"About five o'clock in the evening the enemy made a heavy charge and -attempted to carry this position. The contest was most terrible--the -roar of musketry was one continuous peal for near half an hour. All -that saved us was two heavy siege-pieces on the hill and the firmness -of our men on this last stand. Night closed in on us, with almost -the whole of our extensive camps in the hands of the enemy. It was a -gloomy night for us all, and to add to our discomforts we had a heavy -rain with no shelter. But we had saved enough ground to make a stand -upon, and during the night twenty thousand fresh troops from Buell's -army were transported across the river, and Lew Wallace moved up his -division from below on our right. - -"This morning at dawn of day began one of the grandest and most -terrific battles ever fought. Buell moved forward on the left and -center, and Wallace on the right, with their fresh troops, while -Grant's army steadily followed them up and held the ground firmly as -it was gained. From early in the morning until three o'clock in the -afternoon the roar of musketry and artillery was one almost continuous -thunder. It was grand beyond description. I have not time to tell you -of it in this letter, and you will have it fully described in the -newspapers. - -"The enemy fought with great desperation and steadiness, but Wallace -continued to press them on the right, driving them to the left, and -Buell pressing them on the left, driving them to the right, until -they were getting completely outflanked, when at three o'clock our -brigade was ordered up to the front and center, and directed to charge -the retreating enemy, but they traveled too fast for us. Nothing but -cavalry could reach them. We remained on the outposts till evening, -and then came in to get a good night's sleep in the tents of our own -camp after the fatigues of a two days' steady fight. The night is -terribly disagreeable--rainy and chilly--and tens of thousands of -troops are sleeping on the bare ground with no covering, just as we did -last night. - -"Indiana has borne an honorable part in the great battle. I know -that the Ninth, Eleventh, Twenty-fifth, Thirty-first, Thirty-second, -Forty-fourth, and Fifty-seventh Regiments were engaged, and I think the -Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth, with several others, I have no doubt, -though I have been too busy on the field to know much of it--have not -even had time yet to see Colonel Morgan or our wounded officers and -men. The Forty-second was busy here to-day, but I hardly think it was -in the fight, though it may have been. Thomson's Battery is said to -have done noble work. Aleck [brother of the writer] was busy with the -trains and baggage--the enemy came right up to our tents--the camp was -shelled; he had to move wagons and baggage to the landing. Did his duty -well. But we are back again to-night. - -"I tried in this terrible conflict to do my duty well, and I am willing -to leave to my officers and men the judgment. - -"I forgot to mention Colonel Veatch. He acted with great coolness and -courage, always with his brigade in the thickest of the fight. He had -two horses shot under him, but escaped unharmed. - -"I have written this hurried letter to you for the family, not the -public. My deliverance was almost miraculous and I am grateful for it." - -After finishing the foregoing letter, I wrote a short one to my wife:-- - -"_My own dear Wife_:-- - -"Your husband is still safe and unharmed, though he has passed through -a most terrible and deathful battle, the bloodiest ever fought on the -continent. While it was terrible, it was grand. - -"I have just written a long letter to father, which is for you all. -I would write you at length, but it is now past midnight, and after -two days of hard fighting and one rainy night of gloomy and fearful -watching, I need rest. You will excuse me, will you not? - -"My dear Parke, God, our merciful Father, has been my shield and my -protector; let us give Him all the glory. - -"Captain Dudley Smith [a relative of my wife] is badly (not mortally) -wounded. His regiment fought next to us, and I shook hands of -encouragement with him not five minutes before he fell. Both his -lieutenants and first sergeant were shot. - -"I believe, my dear, that God will continue to preserve my life for you -and my dear child. Live in hope and faith. I will write a long letter -soon." - -In the letter to my father, given above, I refer in commendation to -my brother Alexander H. Foster, the regimental quartermaster. He -rendered a most valuable service in saving all our camp and personal -baggage. When during the first day's fighting it became evident that -the battle was going against us, he brought up the wagons and loaded -up all the company and headquarters baggage and outfit, and took them -to the rear. The rebels occupied our tents on Sunday night, and would -have plundered everything but for our quartermaster's thoughtfulness. -He also displayed great daring in keeping us supplied with ammunition -during the first day's heavy fighting. - -Another incident respecting our tents may be noted. When attending -the Harvard Law School, I had formed a very close friendship with a -classmate from Alabama, Walter Bragg. I corresponded with him for some -time, but lost sight of him when the war began. Years after he came to -Washington to fill an important official position. I learned from him -then that on Sunday night of the Shiloh battle his regiment occupied -the camp of the Twenty-fifth Indiana, and he slept in our headquarters -tent. - -General Grant in his "Personal Memoirs" says: "The battle of Shiloh was -the severest battle fought at the West during the war, and but few in -the East equaled it for hard, determined fighting." General Sherman, in -his "Memoirs," characterizes it as "one of the most fiercely contested -of the war." - -The number of the Confederate forces engaged in the battle, as reported -by Beauregard, was 40,955. Grant reports the Federal forces in the -first day's fighting at 33,000, and that on the second day he was -reinforced by General Lew Wallace with 5000 and from Buell's army -with 20,000. The losses of the Federals were, killed 1754, wounded -8408, missing 2934. The Confederate losses were, killed 1728, wounded -8012, and missing 957. In my official report I placed the loss of the -Twenty-fifth Indiana at 149. - -While the battle was recognized as a distinct Union victory, it was -followed in the North by severe criticism of the generalship displayed -on the Federal side. Sherman says that "probably no single battle -of the war gave rise to such wild and damaging reports"; and in his -"Memoirs" Grant writes: "The battle of Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing has -been perhaps less understood, or, to state the case more accurately, -more persistently misunderstood, than any other engagement during the -entire rebellion." - -The main criticisms were three in number: first, that no intrenchments -or fortifications of any kind were made to protect the encampment; -second, that our army was surprised; and, third, that the retreating -enemy was not pursued. It is generally conceded that the encampment was -well located for defense, as three sides were protected by the river -and creeks full of water. Sherman, in discussing the first criticism -in later years, said, "The position was naturally strong; ... we could -have rendered this position impregnable in one night." General Force, -in reviewing the battle after the close of the war, wrote: "The army -had many things to learn, and the use of field fortifications was one -of them." - -The charge that our camp was surprised was indignantly denied by -both Generals Grant and Sherman, and they produce statements of -fact, not generally understood at the time, which seem to sustain -their contention. But a different impression was generally prevalent -in the camp. One of the most intelligent and daring of the Civil -War correspondents was a young man writing under the _nom-de-plume_ -of "Agate," who became afterwards well known throughout the world, -Whitelaw Reid. He was on the battlefield during the two days' fighting -and wrote lengthy reports of the battle. His contention was that it -was a complete surprise. Years afterwards he had a discussion on this -matter with General Sherman, and in the course of it he cited my letter -to my father, above quoted, to sustain his contention. - -Doubtless the rebel army would have been much more demoralized and have -sustained great loss in military equipment and supplies, if it had been -vigorously pursued. The greater part of Grant's army was so reduced -and fatigued as not to be able to make an effective pursuit of the -retreating Confederates, but Buell's army was not in that condition. -Publications made after the war by Grant and Buell make it plain that -there was want of harmony, if not an unfriendly spirit, that prevented -the cordial coöperation which might have made the battle much more -decisive. - -For some months previous to the battle of Shiloh General Halleck had -been commanding the Department of the West, with his headquarters at -St. Louis, from which place he was directing the movements of the -armies. Immediately after this battle he came to Pittsburg Landing, -arriving on April 11, and, assuming personal command, he began the -reorganization and reinforcement of the army in the vicinity, for -a march on Corinth, where it was understood the Confederates were -concentrating. This step on his part had the effect of practically -relieving General Grant from command. - -The news of the battle and heavy losses suffered by the Union forces -awakened throughout the country great interest and sympathy, and from -all the leading cities of the West located on the Ohio and Mississippi -Rivers steamers were chartered and dispatched to the battlefield, -loaded with hospital supplies, volunteer surgeons, and friends of the -soldiers. A boat was sent from Evansville, and among the passengers was -my brother George, bringing letters from home and delicacies for the -wounded soldiers of the Twenty-fifth and our mess. In a letter of the -11th, four days after the battle, I wrote to my wife:-- - -"I can assure you I was glad to see the _Bowen_ with a load of our kind -friends after the terrible experience of the last week, and to know -that the great patriotic heart of the Nation was going out in sympathy -and in acts of mercy to our suffering wounded, who have been so sadly, -cruelly neglected by our army general medical officers. I thank you and -Eliza and Eleanor [my sisters] and our good friends at home for their -presents. In our hard-fought battle of last Sunday the enemy drove us -back clear behind our camp and rascally carried off or devoured all our -eatables, and your delicacies came just in time to be fully appreciated. - -"I haven't seen Captain Smith since he was wounded. I suppose he has -gone down the river in the boats. You remember I wrote you we were on a -court-martial together; I was finally excused from it to take command -of our regiment. I saw Colonel Harlan [afterwards Justice of the United -States Supreme Court; married Miss Shanklin, of Evansville] to-day. He -was in good health. His regiment is lying near us, in the woods without -tents. I meet a large number of acquaintances in the Indiana regiments -of Buell's army. - -"I send by George a copy of my official report of the Twenty-fifth. -Tell father I cannot have it published yet, but I thought he and our -home folks would want to read it, but don't circulate it too freely. -As soon as I can get the necessary consent, I will have both Colonel -Veatch's brigade and my regimental reports sent home for publication. I -am anxious that our regiment should have a fair share of the honor, as -it had of the fighting. - -"Say to father and our friends that our regiment fought bravely and -did itself and the State credit. I had the entire responsibility of -the command. I believe I did my duty well; all assure me of it in -the highest terms. I know I saved the regiment from disgrace and -annihilation by a little daring exposure and vigorous encouragement of -our men. This I write freely, but privately, to you and father. It is a -great consolation to me as a citizen to know I have done my duty, but -it is a further gratification to know that my friends at home give me -credit for it." - -On the 13th I write about the return of the steamer _Bowen_ to -Evansville:-- - -"I was much out of humor because they let the boat be filled up with -slightly wounded of other regiments, and left thirty or forty of our -badly wounded Twenty-fifth in the hospitals at Savannah, to linger and -suffer from neglect and bad treatment, and run the chance of getting -home on the charity of other parts of the State. But I suppose the -committee in charge did what they thought was for the best; still, we -are naturally sensitive and jealous for the comfort of our own men." - -In my letter of the 13th I speak of the difficulty of getting my -letters. Officers and men of the regiment were constantly going and -coming from Evansville on furlough or sick-leave, and they were often -availed of to carry mail matter, as the mail was not regular, but I -note one instance in which my letters by private hand did not reach me -for thirty days. I tell my wife:-- - -"When you can't have opportunities of sending letters to me by private -means, send them by mail; they will get here _afterwhile_, and they are -never old. Your letter of Sunday was seven days in coming. I have just -received your three letters sent by Schoenfield. They were a _little_ -behind time, being dated March 14! but they were still very welcome. I -received by him the 'Evangelist' and 'Independent.' I always like to -get them, especially the 'Evangelist,' as it gives a little variety to -my religious reading. - -"Colonel Morgan's father arrived in camp to-day, expecting to find the -colonel nearly dead, and found he had gone home only slightly wounded. -These newspaper reporters ought to be severely punished for their -wicked and foolish exaggerations. The idea of reporting twenty thousand -of our troops and forty thousand of the rebels killed and wounded -serves only to fearfully excite the country, and is so very grossly -absurd. It was a terrible fight, but not such as was reported in the -first dispatches. These reporters _see_ but little of the fight, hear -a great deal, and tell all they hear and a great deal more. - -"I have nothing new to write, but thought you would love to hear after -this terrible battle. Be cheerful, hopeful and patriotic." - -My letter of the 15th was in the most desponding tone since I had -entered the service. It must be confessed it presented a sorry picture -of the 1046 stalwart men who left Evansville eight months before for -the war:-- - -"I enclose you an extract from a communication addressed to our brigade -commander. You will see from it that our regiment is pretty well used -up, between sickness and the bullets of the enemy, having suffered -more than any other regiment from Indiana in battle. In this condition -of affairs, I feel constrained to ask that the regiment be somewhat -relieved. - -"Aleck has been troubled with camp dysentery, and wants to resign soon -but I have been doing all I can to keep him up and in good spirits, and -to stay with us." - -Col. James C. Veatch, -Commanding Second Brigade, Fourth Division. - -_Sir_:-- - -Permit me to call your attention to the present condition of the -Twenty-fifth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. - -In the late action at Fort Donelson we sustained a loss in killed and -wounded of one hundred and fifteen, and in the late battle of Pittsburg -Landing of one hundred and forty-nine, making a total of _two hundred -and sixty-four_. A number of the wounded have since died; a large -number are entirely disabled for any military duty, and nearly all of -the wounded will be unfit for duty for some time. - -There are now absent from the regiment, sick, three hundred and nine -enlisted men, and sick in the regiment one hundred and thirty, making -a total sick of four hundred and thirty-nine. - -I am left in sole command of the regiment, the lieutenant-colonel being -wounded and the adjutant having resigned. Three of our most efficient -officers were killed in the late action, and six of them severely -wounded and disabled. Two of our captains absent; one of them badly -wounded at Fort Donelson, the other sick. Three other of our captains -broken down with continuous sickness and hard service, and are asking -that they may be relieved or resign. We now report only three hundred -and eighty-seven men for duty. - -Under date of the 18th I write:-- - -"It is now nearly two weeks since the battle, and our camp is again -resuming its quiet and accustomed ways, as if no terrible conflict had -taken place over these grounds. All our wounded are gone, and are now -in the hospitals at home. I hope they will be well cared for, as I am -sure they will be. - -"We don't know how long we will stay here, or what are the intentions -of the generals; but I think we shall remain for at least ten days. -General Halleck will hardly move till he has his army so disposed as -to make victory certain. He says, so it is reported, that enough lives -have been lost here, and that he will accomplish the rest without -much fighting. I suppose you all hope this will be the case. General -Hurlbut says he will not take his division into the next battle, if he -can prevent it, owing to its heavy losses in the late battle. In our -regiment and the brigade every third man was either killed or wounded. - -"So you may rest in considerable quiet, as I think the probabilities of -_us_ having much fighting is very remote. But if it becomes necessary -and we are called upon, we will do our duty; you would want us to do -nothing less. I never expect to witness such another battle in my life; -it was most terrible and grand. I could not describe it; it is only to -be seen and heard. I had no conception of what a battle was before. The -Fort Donelson fight was a mere skirmish by the side of it. You will -preserve all things of interest in the papers, especially relating -to our regiment in the battle; but there were so many regiments in -the fight we do not expect to get much notice, especially as we have -no reporters in our employ. I trust, my dear Parke, you will have -confidence in my continued safety and health, wishing for a happy -termination of our troubles and my speedy return, remembering that -I will not expose myself or our regiment more than is essential to -our duty, safety, and honor. I send many kisses to my darling little -daughter." - -My letter of the 20th acknowledges the receipt of the first letter from -my wife after the battle of Shiloh:-- - -"You cannot know how glad I was to receive your letter of the 12th. -I have read it over many, many times during the last two hours since -I received it. When I read your letter and knew with what feelings -of joy you learned of my safety, I could not keep back the tears. -I have something to live for and something to encourage me to do my -duty bravely, when I am assured of so dear and loving a wife and -such good relatives and friends. I was very anxious to hear from you -after the battle, and this was the first letter. I knew there would -be great anxiety at home both for myself and the regiment, so I sent -full particulars and list of the killed and wounded by the first -opportunity." - -I have already given a copy of the letter I wrote my father the night -after the second day's fighting. Although I cautioned him that it was -only for the family, and not for the public, he was so much pleased -with and proud of it that he let the newspaper men take a copy of it. -The "New York Tribune," in publishing it on April 22, headed it with -this comment: "The following account of the great battle, written by -Major John W. Foster, of the Twenty-fifth Indiana, is the most clear -relation we have yet met with." In my letter to my wife of the 20th I -make this comment: "I was very sorry to see my letter to father in the -newspapers. I did not want it published. I so stated to him. I don't -want to blow my own trumpet. If the people at home can't learn of my -exploits in some other way, it is better that they should not hear them -at all. Don't publish any more of my letters unless I give my consent." - -But other accounts than mine were published. I make an extract from one -of them written the day after the battle: "The Twenty-fifth has gained -fresh renown, and can point to their thinned ranks as the record of -their part in that dreadful fray. Colonel Veatch had two horses shot -under him while commanding the brigade. Lieutenant-Colonel Morgan was -wounded in the first fierce charge that brought down so many of his -men. Major Foster was everywhere in the thickest of the fight, leading -the charge or directing the backward movement. The men will follow -those officers anywhere and Indiana may justly be proud of them." - -In my letter of the 20th, I report a proposed movement of our camp:-- - -"Our old camp becoming unpleasant after the great slaughter of men -and animals in the battle, we have been ordered to a new camp four -miles nearer the enemy. We made our preparations, but a heavy rain has -delayed. - -"I think when Colonel Morgan rejoins the regiment, after we have -whipped the rebels at Corinth and our men have a prospect of a little -rest, I will have to manage to get sick!--and by this means get a -sick-leave of a month, and come home to see my little daughter to -keep her from growing entirely out of my knowledge, and to enjoy the -long-desired society of my dear wife and friends. But I won't set my -heart upon it, neither must you, for the probabilities are we will have -to finish up this rebellion before any of us can get home. Then I will -come and make a lifelong visit with you; for it will take a very loud -and patriotic call from my country to make me leave my family again." - -In my letter of the 21st I note an event which led to an important -change in my military service. My wife had two brothers, younger -than herself, Theodore, a student in the senior class at the State -University, and Alexander, then a clerk in the post-office at -Evansville. When the war broke out Alexander (or "Zan") was very -anxious to enlist, but he was only sixteen years old, and we refused -our consent largely on account of his youth, and besides, as I was -about to enter the service, I wanted him to stay at home to look -after my wife and their mother. But after the successive victories at -Donelson and Shiloh, and he heard from the returned soldiers about me, -he became restless to join our regiment. I refer to him in my letter of -the 25th:-- - -"I sent Zan a telegram and also wrote him a letter yesterday, saying if -Theodore could take his place in the post-office, I would have him made -a lieutenant and assign him to duty as regimental commissary. But I do -not want you to be left at home without one of the boys with you, while -I am away, and he is not to come without the approval of father and his -mother. - -"Another reason which has caused me to decide for him to come, on the -above conditions, was that Aleck [my brother] has been a little unwell -for some weeks, is getting tired, insists on going out of the service, -and says he has only stayed on my account. He says if Zan comes he -can act as commissary and he (Aleck) will stay a month until Zan gets -posted in the business; and we can have him appointed regimental -quartermaster. If Aleck goes home, as he seems determined to do, I -would like to have Zan with me, as I don't fancy being here alone." - - - - -V -ON TO CORINTH AND MEMPHIS - - -Evidently General Halleck's efforts to reorganize the army after -the battle of Shiloh were having a salutary effect in the camp, as -indicated in my letter of the 21st of April:-- - -"We are having greater confidence in the army now. We think Halleck -will manage affairs with much system and skill, and will not cause such -needless slaughter of brave soldiers as we had on the 6th. I am glad -to see the public journals exposing the wretched generalship which -permitted a complete surprise of a large army, and its almost complete -annihilation. But matters will go on much better now. System is -beginning to be apparent in every department, and care and foresight. -If we only had a good, full regiment everything would go well with -me, but we are sadly cut up. Sickness has weakened us very much, and -the two last battles have seriously reduced us. Our officers from -sickness, exposure and other causes are resigning; two of them go home -to-morrow. My own health and spirits are very good, but it is a little -discouraging to see the regiment so weakened." - -But I cannot end the extracts without a little glimpse at our home -life, for which I so often express a longing in my letters. The Mr. -Tubbs referred to was the bearer of my wife's letter:-- - -"Mr. Tubbs said he called on you before he left and heard you play, -and praised your music extravagantly. I hope you do not neglect your -practice, as I want you always to be able to play as well as when we -were married. He spoke of what a pleasant home I had; it made me want -to be there. I was much moved at father's last letter in which he said -I was always in the thoughts of the folks at home; that _the little -ones talked about me every day_. How I wish I could be at home with -them again to enjoy the company of the little ones, of my own Alice and -the rest." - -After three weeks of waiting, recuperation, and reinforcement, General -Halleck began the movement of his grand army against Corinth in the -last days of April. General Grant places its number at 120,000. I -reported this movement in my letter of May 3 as having already begun, -and in anticipation of another battle I seek to quiet my wife's fears: - -"I wrote you of our change of camp, going four miles away from the -river beyond Shiloh Church toward Corinth; and we are now under orders -to proceed to Monterey, five miles from this camp, so that to-morrow -night we hope to be thirteen or fourteen miles from the river, and five -or six miles from Corinth. But I think we shall not have a great battle -for some days yet, for I think the enemy will wait for us to attack -them in their intrenchments. - -"You must not be too solicitous if you hear of a great battle, or be -too credulous of telegraphic reports. I will try to do my duty, and we -will leave the result to our Heavenly Father, who has kindly been my -shield and protector thus far through terrible dangers." - -On the 7th of May I write:-- - -"We are all packed up in camp under marching orders to go two miles -farther to the front, and are quietly waiting for the orders to move, -so while we are waiting I will try to pencil you a little note at -least." - -For the first time since I entered the army, with the exception of -temporary colds, I report a slight illness:-- - -"I have been a little unwell for two or three days past, but we are -having very pleasant weather to-day, and I shall soon be well again. I -cannot afford to be sick at this time; I must wait at least till we get -the enemy out of Corinth or wherever we meet them. I see by the papers -that the reporters have got the enemy out of Corinth. It may be so, but -we don't know it here." - -May 8 I note the arrival at the camp of Alexander McFerson:-- - -"Zan arrived at the river night before last, but did not get out here -till this morning. I sent a recommendation to Governor Morton this -morning for his appointment, and he will go at once to work. - -"We are now fourteen miles from Pittsburg Landing, and six miles from -Corinth. We are getting forward gradually; moved one mile to the front -yesterday." - -The letter of May 12 says:-- - -"We have been moving out slowly and by degrees from Pittsburg. We are -now about eighteen miles from the river, and six miles from Corinth. -Our pickets are within three or four miles of Corinth, and can hear -very plainly the locomotives whistle and the drums beat. We have -various rumors of its evacuation, but can tell nothing of their truth. -I think the enemy are still there. - -"I have come very near being quite ill for the last few days with -fever, but fortunately have escaped and am nearly well again. We were -called out in line of battle the other day by a false alarm, and I -thought I _must_ go out with my men, though I had a high fever; and -standing out in the hot sun for two hours (and we have hot sun now) -nearly laid me up permanently. It is the nearest I have come to being -real sick since I have been in the service; but I am pretty well over -it now, thanks to my strong resolution and Dr. Walker's good treatment. -Dr. Walker says I have barely escaped typhoid fever. I have taken -medicine quite freely. I cannot afford to be sick now; the enemy must -first be driven out of Corinth." - -On the 16th I write:-- - -"We move up slowly, and as we go we fortify our camps by a continuous -line of breastworks of logs, brush, and earthwork. The newspaper -reporters have kept you unnecessarily alarmed about the battle '_which -could not be delayed a day longer_,' and yet it has been delayed for -a month. When it is to come off I do not know, or whether it is at -all. We have for more than a week past been right in the face of the -enemy's pickets, the men of our regiment fighting them all the time; -and whenever it becomes necessary for us to move our camp forward, -our pickets make a push on them and drive them back the required -distance, rather obstinately however. The pickets are now about a -mile in advance, and almost any time we can hear the rifles crack, and -frequently they go by volleys. If the enemy are going to fight we can't -go much farther. - -"Zan is in good health and doing well. He is the most anxious man in -the regiment for a fight." - -In a previous letter I noted that Colonel Veatch had received his -commission as brigadier-general, and that Governor Morton was on a -visit to the camps and we might expect our promotions soon. I had -also reported Governor Morton's visit to Fort Donelson after the -battle there. He was one of the most distinguished civilians which -the Civil War brought into public notice, and was especially esteemed -for his services toward the soldiers. Many years after the war one of -our Presidents, in a public address, said: "When history definitely -awards the credit for what was done in the Civil War, she will put the -services of no other civilian, save alone those of Lincoln, ahead of -the services of Governor Morton." - -I reported May 19:-- - -"Governor Morton visited us yesterday and was warmly received by the -boys. He told them he would make Lieutenant-Colonel Morgan colonel and -me lieutenant-colonel for our services in the field, and the captains -have voted for Captain Rheinlander for major. I will get my commission -to-day, and so you can address me as Lieutenant-Colonel Foster -hereafter, and call me _colonel_, not _major_! - -"We are called out into line of battle now every morning at daylight, -and some mornings we are out in line by three o'clock; thus, you see, -we are determined not to be surprised again by the enemy, if early -rising is to have anything to do with it. So I am writing my letter to -you before sunrise!" - -A short letter on the 22d says:-- - -"I write you this note to say I will write you a long letter to-morrow, -to assure you of my increasing health and strength, and to let you know -we are still out of a battle. Since Captain Rheinlander has been made -major, I can be relieved of a portion of the outside heavy work, and -have the responsibility of the command divided. If Colonel Morgan was -back again, I could take things comparatively easy." - -In the letter of the 23d it is stated that the St. Louis, Chicago, and -Cincinnati papers are now regularly on sale by newsboys, showing that -the communication with the rear was well maintained, but I still want -the Evansville papers, the magazines and the "Evangelist." I go more -into detail in the method of our advances:-- - -"We are slowly and safely approaching Corinth, making our way secure as -we go. We have a heavy skirmish with the enemy's pickets; if they are -obstinate we get out the artillery, throw a few shells into the woods, -drive them back over a ridge into a hollow a half mile or so, then -leave our camp equipage behind, and march out with guns, knapsacks, -haversacks, spades, axes, and picks in hand and throw up breastworks on -the ridge. When that is done we move up our camp equipage and remain -in camp here for a day or more. Then we shove up the enemy's pickets -again, and make another camp; and thus we are approaching the enemy's -works. Our generals, I believe, are going to consult the lives of the -soldiers in winning the next battle. The most of the people in the -States seem anxious that the fight should come off _in a hurry_. If -they had to do the fighting it might be different. - -"If Beauregard will really stand, he will surely be defeated, though it -may cost the lives of many brave soldiers; but the life of any of us -is nothing in comparison with the life and safety of the Nation. If it -were not so I would not risk my life in the contest." - -Under date of May 29, I allude to a forward movement of the -Twenty-fifth Indiana, similar to others previously made, but which, -unknown to us at the time, was a general advance of Sherman and -Hurlbut's divisions, and proved to be the last military demonstration -against Corinth, as the enemy was then engaged in the evacuation of the -place:-- - -"We went forward yesterday with our brigade and drove the enemy back -a mile, thus getting room for a new camp. To-morrow we all move up -another mile, getting close neighbors with Corinth. - -"We were all glad to welcome Colonel Morgan back to-day, and I have -been busy talking regimental matters with him. - -"The paymaster has been with us to-day, and I am sending you six -hundred dollars. I want you to be at perfect liberty in using the -money. Make your house and family comfortable, live well and enjoy -yourself. Consult father about the rent of the house, respecting which -you wrote me. Don't let these business affairs worry you. Take the -world easy." - -At last the grand march on the rebel stronghold of Corinth was over. My -letter of June 1 says:-- - -"I suppose there was at least one anxious heart relieved by the -news which ought to have reached home yesterday that the rebels had -evacuated Corinth, and concluded not to give us battle. So you, and -the thousands of wives and relatives of our soldiers, can rest quiet -for some time. After the long preparations and constant and watchful -readiness we had maintained for battle, it was and is now a great -relief for us to relax and take some comfort. For weeks men have been -sleeping with all their accouterments on and their arms by their sides, -and were ordered out in line of battle sometimes at midnight, or any -other hour; but always at early daylight. It is a great relief to us -all to lie down quietly now and sleep without being disturbed by the -'long roll' or hasty orders from the generals. I have enjoyed the -luxury of the good morning naps, waiting for the rays of the sun to -waken me. Until last night I have slept with all my clothes on and in -utmost readiness for a prompt turnout. I am thankful for good sleep -now, and you are thankful that we had no battle. - -"None of our regiment has been killed, but several were wounded on -picket and in the recent skirmishes. I have passed through several -narrow escapes, but then 'a miss is as good as a mile.' In the last -skirmish three days ago, Dr. Walker and I were talking together, on -horseback, discussing the close range the enemy had upon us with their -cannon, while the shot would occasionally rattle through the trees, -when an unwelcome visitor in the shape of a shell came whizzing along, -and went into the ground right between our horses, tearing up the dirt -at a fearful rate. The boys dug it out, and it was found that the -rebels in their hurry had forgot to gouge the fuse, and fortunately it -did not explode. - -"I rode into Corinth yesterday. The fearful ravages of war are visible -on all sides, in the charred walls, solitary chimneys, smoking ruins, -and waste all around. The rebels burned all their storehouses full of -supplies, their magazines, armories, etc. In peaceful times the town -was a very attractive place. - -"General Hurlbut is said to be anxious to get the position of -commandant of Memphis, and to march our division over immediately and -occupy. It is uncertain whether he will succeed. My health, also Zan's, -is good now." - -The escape of the Confederate army from Corinth, and the subsequent -breaking up of Halleck's great army was a disappointment to the people -of the North. Halleck's generalship has been severely criticized by -both Grant and Sherman in their "Memoirs." Grant describes the movement -upon Corinth as "a siege from the start to the close" and says, "I am -satisfied that Corinth could have been captured in a two days' campaign -commenced promptly on the arrival of reinforcements after the battle -of Shiloh." Sherman laments that "the advance on Corinth had occupied -all of the month of May, the most beautiful and valuable month of the -year for campaigning in this latitude"; and he adds that "by the time -we had reached Corinth I believe that army was the best then on this -continent, and could have gone where it pleased." - -While Buell's army was sent toward the east, Sherman and Hurlbut were -sent west toward Memphis. Our regiment was destined to have no rest, as -the day after we entered Corinth, June 1:-- - -"We received orders to support Sherman's division which had gone -forward on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad toward Memphis. In half -an hour we were in line of march, with two days' rations and no tents. -We had a heavy rain that evening. The men marched two hours into the -night, and then lay right down by the roadside on the wet ground and -slept till morning. In the morning we went to work cleaning out and -chopping the fallen timber from the railroad, and then went into camp, -and here we are now, five miles out west from Corinth. Our camp baggage -was not all up for five days. - -"We have a very pleasant camp in a shady forest, everything to make -us comfortable in camp but the _wood-ticks_, which are multitudinous, -pestiferous, and unescapable; they have almost worried the life out of -me by their biting. This country abounds in snakes, lizards, and all -kinds of troublesome insects. - -"I have taken a few rides out into the neighboring country, and find -it tolerably well settled, but the soil is very poor, the people -likewise and very ignorant. Since we have been in this camp we have -managed to get for our mess fresh milk, young chicken, eggs, green -peas, onions, and lettuce, which are great luxuries with us, who had -had nothing but Government supplies and what we could get from the -settlers. - -"We find very little bitter feeling or hostility exhibited toward us -by the country people, and all willing and longing for peace. But the -men are almost all gone, either in the army or afraid to trust us. -They who did not volunteer have been forced into the rebel service by -the conscription system, until there are hardly enough left to gather -the wheat, which is now ready for harvesting. The farmhouses were full -of women and children. They have no money but Confederate scrip and -'shin-plasters.' How it makes their eyes sparkle to see our soldiers' -silver and gold. But what is more desired by them than silver and gold -is _coffee_. It very often happens that we are utterly unable to get -their consent to sell one of the few remaining chickens on the farm -with silver at high prices, but a pound of coffee will get the last old -hen on the place. - -"We don't certainly know what is to be our future destination, but it -is semi-officially stated in camp that W. T. Sherman's and Hurlbut's -divisions are to constitute the branch of the army which is to move on -Memphis. We are anxious to go to that place, but our wish has nothing -to do with it, as we are Government soldiers to be disposed of as our -generals think best. There you see I have filled up the sheet with a -matter-of-fact business-like letter, without assuring you how much I -long to be with you and at home. But I don't allow myself to think too -much of these things or I would get homesick. I long with you for the -war to end, that I may lay aside my emblems of the army, and return to -my dear wife and child, and the comforts and enjoyments of civil life, -but I must be patient." - -Some days later an undated letter says:-- - -"I had thought of writing you a good long letter this morning, but all -human hopes are vain. This morning we have marching orders for the -west, and there is no time for letter-writing. We are not informed as -to our destination, but the general impression among the officers is -that we are bound for Memphis. Will you come down to see me there, or -shall I jump on a boat and come up the Mississippi and Ohio and see -you?" - -My next letter was written from Grand Junction, a station on the -Memphis and Charleston Railroad, midway from Corinth to Memphis. The -marching orders mentioned in the preceding letter were for Memphis, but -on reaching this station our regiment was diverted from its course, as -will be seen from the letter of June 20:-- - -"We arrived here five days ago, but our brigade was sent on an -expedition down to Holly Springs, thirty miles south in Mississippi, -to destroy the Mississippi Central Railroad, which took us till last -night: the rest of the army remaining here to support us in case -of danger. We came back all safe. The march was a very rapid, but -pleasant one, through a beautiful country and to one of the prettiest -towns in the South. We hope to leave for Memphis to-morrow." - -This was the last letter written by me from the Twenty-fifth Indiana. -On my arrival at Grand Junction I learned that Alexander McFerson, my -wife's brother, was ill at Lagrange, a station on the railroad a short -distance from Grand Junction. I at once hastened to his bedside, and -found him suffering from a severe attack of typhoid fever, which was -prevalent in the camps. Notwithstanding he received the most skillful -medical attendance, the virulence of the disease soon placed him beyond -human aid, and he died on June 27. - -I secured a furlough to take his body home. The regiment continued -on its march to Memphis, and I went on my sad journey to Evansville, -bringing the body of the young soldier to his bereaved mother and -sister. The sequel shows that I never returned to the Twenty-fifth -Indiana, with which I had passed through so many dangers and -privations, and with whose men I had formed the deep attachment of -soldier comradeship. - -The following editorial in the "Evansville Journal" of July 2, 1862, -reflects the sentiments of all who knew him:-- - -A telegram last night brought the melancholy news of the death of -Lieutenant Alexander McFerson to his friends in this city. He died at -Lagrange, Tennessee, on the 27th ult. at the age of seventeen. - -When he asked permission to join the army he said that he felt it -his duty to go into the service; that neither of his mother's sons -were there, and he would never feel satisfied unless he did his share -in putting down the rebellion. Less than two months ago he left his -friends and home, buoyant in health, and with high hopes of a pleasant -and useful career in the grand army of the Mississippi, having been -appointed commissary to the Twenty-fifth Indiana Volunteers. But how -soon those hopes are blasted, how soon that health is destroyed by a -fatal disease. In early youth, he is cut off. Young McFerson was a -generous, noble youth, warm-hearted, and highly esteemed by the whole -community, who will warmly sympathize with his bereaved friends in this -hour of their affliction. - - - - -VI -GUERRILLA WARFARE IN KENTUCKY - - -When I arrived at Evansville in July, 1863, on furlough, I found the -border country on both sides of the Ohio River in Indiana and Kentucky -in a state of feverish excitement. The counties of western Kentucky -were overrun with Confederate soldiers, who had secretly and singly -passed through the military lines, and were engaged actively in the -work of securing recruits for the rebel army, and, after mounting them -on horses taken from loyal citizens, sent them back through the lines -to the South. Guerrilla bands were roaming through these counties, -terrorizing the Union men, and threatening to cross the Ohio. In fact, -about the time of my arrival at home a small guerrilla force had -occupied Newburg, a town nine miles above Evansville, and robbed the -stores, striking terror into the inhabitants. - -As no regular forces were available for defense, Governor Morton had -rushed several bodies of Home Guards to Evansville, and was organizing -thirty and sixty days' men for service in various parts of Indiana, to -serve until the Federal Government was able to protect the disturbed -districts by regularly organized and armed troops. General Love, who -had charge of these State forces, with his headquarters at Evansville, -requested me to take command of these irregular levies, and occupy -Henderson, the most important town in that section of Kentucky, ten -miles below Evansville on the Ohio River, as a base for operations -against these marauding rebels. This I consented to do, as a temporary -expedient. - -On the 26th of July, a few days after we had occupied Henderson, -Governor Morton repeated from Indianapolis a telegram from General J. -T. Boyle at Louisville, commanding the United States military forces in -Kentucky as follows: "Give the order to Lieutenant-Colonel Foster in -my name to command at Henderson." As my furlough from the Twenty-fifth -Indiana was about to expire, and neither Governor Morton nor General -Boyle would listen to my intimation that I would have to rejoin my -regiment, estimating highly the value of my military experience in the -absence of other available officers, the Governor secured from General -Grant an order detaching me temporarily from the Twenty-fifth Indiana, -and authorizing me to continue in the service in Kentucky. - -I was clothed by General Boyle with the most drastic authority to put -an end to the troubles in western Kentucky. The order above quoted by -which I was placed in command at Henderson contained also the following -instructions:-- - -Order the officers in my name to kill every armed rebel offering -resistance and all banded as guerrillas. I want none such as prisoners. -Order them to disarm every disloyal man. - -Only a few days after I was put in command by General Boyle. August 2, -he sent the following telegram:-- - -If officers and men do not obey my orders to shoot down the armed -rebels, every bushwhacker, guerrilla, or banded villains, our forces -had better be withdrawn from the field. We can only save the State by -putting them to the sword. I want none of them as prisoners. Take no -oath or bonds. You will shoot down the scoundrels. - -These and other orders from him of like character which I quote -will indicate the bitter spirit which prevailed at that time in -Kentucky between the loyal and disloyal citizens. General Boyle was a -native-born citizen of Kentucky. - -Immediately after I assumed command at Henderson I set to work to -get the irregular and inexperienced forces collected there into such -organized shape as would enable me to go out into the country to attack -and drive out the rebel bands which were infesting that region. While -engaged in that work, I was embarrassed by a civil duty which I had -to face. A short time before my arrival an election had been held in -Kentucky for city, county, and other officials. General Boyle had -issued an order regulating the election to this effect:-- - -No person hostile in opinion to the Government will be allowed to -stand for office in Kentucky. The attempt of such a person to stand -for office will be regarded as in itself sufficient evidence of his -treasonable intent to warrant his arrest. In seeking office he becomes -an active traitor, if he does not become one otherwise, and is liable -both in reason and in law to be treated accordingly. All persons of -this description in offering themselves as candidates for office will -be arrested and sent to these Headquarters. - -The election at Henderson had resulted in the choice of a mayor and -city council, all of whom were sympathizers with the rebellion. On my -arrival the mayor fled from the city. I telegraphed General Boyle: -"The mayor of this city has left town without leave. Been absent a -week. Strongly suspected of being among the guerrillas. The city -council are secessionists in sympathy. Have you any action to direct?" -He replied: "When mayor returns arrest him. If you deem proper arrest -any of the council, and send all to Camp Morton. The men elected to -office in Hopkins County I wish taken and sent in with others. Leniency -and conciliation do no good. The scoundrels must be subjugated or -killed." - -It was soon established that the mayor had fled through the lines and -joined the Confederate forces, whereupon I summoned a meeting of the -council and requested them to declare the office of mayor vacant, and -each of them to take the oath of loyalty exacted of suspected citizens. -Rather than take this action all the members of the council resigned. -The city marshal likewise refused to take the oath of loyalty, and -I declared his office vacant. This left the city without any civil -government. - -I therefore issued a proclamation as military commander of the post, -assuming control of the civil affairs "until the loyal citizens shall -have filled the offices with loyal men," and ordering an election to -be held on a day designated. Meanwhile a citizen of Henderson was -appointed by me provost marshal and furnished with a military guard -to enforce order. My action in the matter was approved by my superior -commanders. Thenceforth during my command in western Kentucky I had no -trouble with the civil authorities of Henderson. - -Having gotten my forces in a fair condition for a campaign against the -guerrilla bands, I was about to make an expedition into the adjoining -counties, when I received a report that the Confederate trooper John -Morgan, with a large force, was just across the line in Tennessee and -learned that one of his subordinates, Adam Johnson, a noted guerrilla -chief, was already in my district. Before moving, I inquired of -General Boyle as to Morgan's whereabouts, and he replied: "Morgan is -near Gallatin. He cannot venture into your section. No danger from -that source. Johnson is a great liar, as all rebels are. You can go -where you please. Act on your own discretion. Shoot down the banded -scoundrels as guerrillas or as recruits for the rebel army." - -I had received reliable information that a considerable band of armed -and organized rebels were quartered at Madisonville, the county -seat of Hopkins County, about forty miles from Henderson, actively -recruiting for their army and levying upon the loyal citizens for -horses and supplies. With several companies of infantry and such force -of cavalry as I could get (a mere handful), I embarked at night on a -steamer, going up the Ohio and Green Rivers to within three miles of -Madisonville, where we disembarked early in the morning, and moved -toward the town, hoping to surprise the enemy. But we found them posted -in a forest, heavily wooded and thick with underbrush, in the suburbs -of the town. I ordered forward our skirmishers, who engaged them with -a brisk fire, but before our line of battle could reach them they -fled precipitately, mounting their horses and scattering in every -direction. The result of the skirmish was a few soldiers wounded and a -number of the rebels as prisoners. - -We went into camp at Madisonville, and scouting parties were sent out -in various directions. A few prisoners were brought in, but no banded -rebels could be met with, as, being mounted on good horses and aided by -resident sympathizers, they were able to get out of the way. During our -stay some of our soldiers on picket duty were shot down, murdered in -the darkness of the night, by persons claiming to be Southern soldiers, -skulking behind rocks and bushes. We were indignant at such warfare, -and I issued a proclamation which was scattered throughout the county, -denouncing this irregular and barbarous warfare as contrary to the -rules of civilized nations, declaring that the firing upon pickets, -when no enemy was near, was cold-blooded murder, and giving notice that -for every picket thereafter murdered one of the captured guerrillas in -our hands would be put to death as a felon. I never had occasion to put -this threat into execution, and probably never would have done so, but -the proclamation had its desired effect, and the killing of our pickets -ceased. - -The expedition to Madisonville was heralded by the papers of Indiana -as a great victory and magnified into a battle, but to me who had so -recently come from Fort Donelson and Shiloh it seemed a mere skirmish -of slight proportions. I soon returned to the post at Henderson, -leaving a small detachment at Madisonville to protect the loyal -citizens from the depredations of the guerrillas. - -On my return I found that a reign of terror existed in the adjoining -county of Union; that the loyal officers recently elected were not -permitted by the secessionists to act; that a returned Union soldier -at home on furlough had been ambushed and murdered; and that unarmed -steamers on the Ohio had been repeatedly fired on from Uniontown. -Reporting these facts to General Boyle, I was authorized to levy on the -secession sympathizers of the locality a fund for the support of the -family of the murdered soldier. As to Uniontown he telegraphed me: "If -the rebels take any town on the river and use it to fire on boats, you -will burn or demolish it. It would be well to burn down Uniontown, if -it is likely to fall into the hands of the rebels." - -I made an expedition into Union County with a view to overawe the rebel -sympathizers and place the loyal officers recently elected in the -exercise of their duties. But it proved of no avail. The guerrillas -easily got out of our way and the rebel residents denied all knowledge -of them or of the parties guilty of the soldier's murder. The loyal -officials were unwilling to attempt to assume their duties unless I -would agree to keep a force of soldiers permanently at the county seat, -and this I could not do with my inadequate command. - -For the first month or six weeks of my Kentucky service I put forth -as much activity as was possible with the forces I had, to destroy or -drive out of my district the guerrillas and Confederate recruiting men, -and I received the repeated thanks of Governor Morton and my commanding -officer, General Boyle, for what I accomplished. But I encountered -considerable embarrassment in the exercise of my command. I was still -lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-fifth Indiana, then in General Grant's -army on the Lower Mississippi, and the troops sent into my district -might be, and at times were, commanded by officers of higher rank than -mine, and who according to the Army Regulations would displace me. -It was the desire of both Morton and Boyle that I should continue in -charge of the district, and they recognized that I deserved promotion. - -In a letter, dated September 19, Governor Morton wrote me as follows:-- - -"I desire to say frankly that it would be very gratifying to me to -have you remain in command of the forces at and in the vicinity of -Henderson, if in justice to your own feelings and the interest of -your own regiment, you could do so. The ability, energy, and sagacity -you have thus far displayed is sufficient proof of your fitness for -the command. But should you, on any account, feel embarrassed in your -personal position, I cannot insist that you shall remain; and, as to -this, I beg you will exercise your own discretion. - -"It would afford me much pleasure to show my recognition of your -gallant, efficient, and faithful services, by promoting you to a -colonelcy, and I should have done so before this, giving you one of the -new regiments, had not orders from the War Department, a copy of which -is herewith enclosed, prevented me from promoting officers connected -with 'old regiments' to new commands. I regard you as entirely -competent to lead a regiment, and your experience and uniform good -conduct in the field, in my judgment, fairly entitle you to promotion. -The orders alluded to have embarrassed me very much, but the Secretary -of War has announced them as inflexible." - -When it became apparent that I would have to rejoin the Twenty-fifth -Indiana unless I was promoted, a way was found (how I do not know) -whereby I was appointed colonel of the Sixty-fifth Indiana Infantry, -a new regiment which had just been organized at Evansville. The -Lieutenant-Colonel of the Sixty-fifth was Thomas Johnson, my uncle, who -six months before had been forced to resign on account of ill-health. -My promotion enabled me to continue in command of the district of -western Kentucky continuously until our forces were transferred to -another field in the following year. - -The action on my part, during my command of the district of western -Kentucky, which attracted the most attention and comment, was the -enforcement of a money levy made upon the disloyal residents of Hopkins -County to reimburse the Union citizens for losses sustained at the -hands of the guerrillas. This action on my part was reported in full -at the time to General Boyle and to Major-General Wright, commanding -the department, and was unreservedly approved by them. General Wright, -in endorsing his approval, added: "A few such exhibitions of zeal and -energy would go far toward breaking up the lawless bands, which have -been so long a terror in that quarter, and restoring peace and quiet in -that section of Kentucky." Efforts were made in vain to the military -commanders to have this levy revoked. Finally Hon. L. W. Powell, -one of the Senators from Kentucky and a citizen of Henderson, after -having failed with the War Department, visited President Lincoln in -person, presented to him a list of the names of individuals assessed -by me and the amount, and asked that in the exercise of his power as -Commander-in-Chief of the Army he disapprove of the levy and order the -money returned. - -The request of Senator Powell, with his list, was sent by President -Lincoln through the military channels calling for a report from me. I -quote the following from my letter to General Boyle, dated February 16, -1863, in reply:-- - -"I am in receipt of the letter of President Lincoln, with your -endorsement thereon, instructing me to report on the names contained in -the paper submitted by Senator Powell. - -"You will remember that I made a full report of all my action in these -matters at the time, giving in detail the condition of the country, -the causes which led to my action, the amount levied, the manner in -which it was distributed, and the effect which it has had upon the -community. This report has been read by yourself and Major-General -Wright, commanding this department, and in all respects fully approved. -I desire that this report be sent to the President. It was made upon my -honor as an officer, and by it I desire that I may be judged. The money -levied had been appropriated and paid out, as stated in my report, to -the citizens of Hopkins County, who were the sufferers by the action of -these very men and their friends, who ask the President for redress. -The money cannot now be refunded by them. I am the only person who -should be held responsible, for if any wrong was committed it was -through the action taken by me as set forth in my report. - -"I know that my action in the matter has had a most salutary effect -upon the people, and Hopkins County is now enjoying a degree of peace -and security which has not heretofore existed since the commencement of -the rebellion. I trust my action may be approved by the President, as -it has so flatteringly been done by yourself and Major-General Wright." - -As I relied entirely upon my previous report to General Boyle for my -vindication, I make some extracts from that document:-- - -"For more than three months previous to this levy, I had been laboring -as earnestly as the force under my command would permit, in efforts to -rid this part of Kentucky of the lawless bands of guerrillas. They had -succeeded in breaking up the civil organization in all the counties -lying between Green and Cumberland Rivers; forcibly preventing the -administration of the laws; stopping the mails; robbing peaceable -citizens on the public highways, causing loyal men to flee from their -families and homes; plundering them of horses, arms, goods, and -anything of value that their comfort required, or fancy demanded; -interrupting the navigation of the rivers by firing into unarmed -steamers; and were engaged in carrying on a warfare, cowardly and -cruel, and entirely unwarranted by the rules of civilized nations. - -"These bands of guerrillas were mounted on the best horses in the -country, stolen from the citizens; they were active and wily, and -thoroughly acquainted with the byways and hiding-places; and were -supported by vigilant friends on every side. I found it very difficult -to drive them out. And one great obstacle to this was the fact that -they were supported, encouraged, and harbored by the friends and -sympathizers of the rebellion, who were enjoying the possession of -their property and their homes under the protection of the Government, -while very many loyal citizens were driven from their families, and -their homes plundered by these armed robbers. The guerrillas possessed -not a single tent, and made no arrangements for a commissariat, -yet they never wanted for a friendly roof to shelter them and were -bountifully supplied with cooked rations. Wherever they went they were -encouraged by hearty welcomes and approving smiles. They never could be -surprised in their hiding-places or overtaken in their flight, because -some sympathizers, enjoying the immunities of the Government, would go -before and warn them of our approach. I had exerted myself to drive out -these bands and restore peace to these counties and had only partially -succeeded. I had time and again warned the secession sympathizers that -if they continued to harbor, feed, and encourage these plunderers and -assassins, I would be compelled to hold them responsible; that Union -men, on account of their patriotic faithfulness to the Government in -this time of public distress, should not be driven from their homes, -their property carried away, and their lives endangered, without some -compensation for their losses. They were daily making their complaints -known to me, some loyal farmers having lost their last horse, not one -being left to gather the corn, or till the soil. Others had their -stores or houses plundered. The secessionists were living in the -peaceful enjoyment of their homes, and the undisturbed possession of -their property. - -"The county of Hopkins was one of the strongholds of the guerrillas and -their friends; they were numerous, active, and bold. After consulting -with the most prominent Union men of the county as to the proper course -to pursue, I organized the expedition, a partial report of which I -gave you, in which I succeeded in scattering, capturing, or driving -away all the organized bands in that county. Then in order to give -peace in future to the county, I determined to carry out the threat -I had so often made to the aiders and harborers of the guerrillas -by holding them responsible for the depredations committed by their -lawless friends. I accordingly made a money levy upon every prominent -harborer or sympathizer of the guerrillas that I could reach, making -the assessment against each individual in proportion to his property -and support or countenance of the traitors. The amount so levied and -collected has reached the sum of thirteen thousand three hundred and -thirty-five ($13,335) dollars. This fund I have caused to be paid over -to an upright, loyal, and responsible citizen of Henderson, Kentucky. I -have appointed a committee consisting of men of acknowledged probity, -influence, and responsibility of Hopkins County, who are thoroughly -acquainted with the people of the county. I have placed the matter -entirely in the hands of citizens, removing it as far as possible from -the control of the military. I have made it the duty of this committee -to investigate the losses sustained by Union citizens of Hopkins County -through the agency of the guerrilla bands, and to compensate them out -of this fund in proportion to their necessities and losses." - -My report was forwarded through the War Department to President Lincoln -and approval of my action was made by the endorsement of the President -in his own handwriting. Nothing further was heard through official -channels of the levy. - -The town of Smithland at the mouth of the Cumberland River was in my -district, and as it was an important dépôt for supplies for the forces -operating at and through Nashville, I was required to maintain a force -there, and I was often called there in discharge of my duties. Under -date of November 1, I received a letter from General Boyle enclosing -two orders from Major-General Wright, one placing under arrest and -ordering a court-martial for the major commanding a detachment of a -Wisconsin regiment stationed at Smithland, and the other ordering the -detachment to be sent away to another army. It appears that the major -enforced very little discipline and that the troops were inflicting all -kinds of outrages and terrorism on the residents. I was directed to -take with me one or more companies of Indiana troops for a garrison. -He added: "I think, if practicable, you had better go down in person -to Smithland. The citizens are apprehensive of an outbreak and great -wrongs to them, on finding that the Wisconsin troops are ordered off -and the major placed under arrest. You will take prompt and decisive -steps to prevent anything of the kind, even if you shall be under the -necessity of using the musket or bayonet for the purpose. Exercise -prudence but firmness." - -I encountered no difficulty in executing my orders. The major quietly -accepted his arrest, the disorderly troops were sent away, and the -garrison of a portion of my Sixty-fifth Regiment gave the citizens -assurance of order. - -Some time after this visit I was again called down to Smithland, but -for a very different reason. The emancipation of the slaves, brought -about by President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, was greatly -resented by many of the Union men of Kentucky. Upon the publication by -President Lincoln of the notice of his intended action on September -22, 1862, quite a number of the officers of Kentucky regiments in -the Federal army resigned their commissions and returned home. -Others, while remaining loyal to the Government, deeply regretted the -President's action, and General Boyle was among them. Large numbers of -slaves escaping through the lines from Tennessee sought refuge within -our encampments. In November, I received the following letter from -General Boyle: "Do not allow negro slaves to come into your lines. All -such must be turned out and kept out. Have nothing to do with negroes. -Let them go. You will see that your command attend to this matter. -I am anxious that Indiana troops especially have nothing to do with -slaves." - -I sought to have this order observed by my command, distasteful as it -was to many, and General Boyle commended me for my action, but called -attention to the non-observance of the order, especially at Smithland, -and asked me to give it my personal attention. I wrote my wife under -date of January 25, 1863: "I shall have to go down to Smithland again -to-morrow. Considerable complaint is made about Major Butterfield -on the negro question; Governor Robinson of Kentucky complaining -to General Boyle and the general referring the matter to me. This -eternal negro question is a perfect nightmare to our loyal Kentucky -patriots. We have to humor them amazingly. I try to act prudently, but -I sometimes get vexed and disgusted." - -I have already noticed various occupations in which I have been engaged -other than of a strictly military service. While in command of the -district of western Kentucky I was ordered to go with a suitable force -to the Cumberland River, midway between Smithland and Nashville, where -the rebels had obstructed navigation by sinking barges loaded with -stone in the channel. With vessels suited for the purpose, I spent -two weeks in cleaning the channel for navigation. I sent my wife a -Christmas greeting by telegraph from this point, reporting my success, -and also that we had captured thirty guerrillas. - -During the greater part of my service in Kentucky I had been much -hampered by the lack of a sufficient force of cavalry to enable me to -pursue and hunt down the guerrillas. After continued efforts in that -direction, I received the following Special Order from General Boyle's -headquarters. "Colonel John W. Foster is hereby authorized to mount the -Sixty-fifth Regiment Indiana Volunteers to be used as mounted infantry. -The Quartermaster's and Ordnance Departments will furnish the necessary -horses and horse equipments upon Colonel Foster's requisition." After -my regiment was mounted and fully equipped, I had little trouble in -clearing the country of guerrillas and giving peace to the Union -citizens. - -I was greatly grieved in January, 1863, to receive a letter from my -wife telling me of my father's failing health. He had always been a -devoted parent to his children, but he had doubly attached me to him at -the opening of the war in patriotically encouraging his boys to enter -the army, with the assurance that he would look after and care for -their families. He wrote me frequent letters, and no day passed without -a visit from him to my house to inquire for the health and needs of my -wife and child. I wrote my wife: "Your letter made me sad when I read -of father's poor health. I wish I was at home to comfort him somewhat -and to aid him in his business. You will do all you can to make his -time pleasant. He thinks much of you. Visit him often, and let Alice go -over to see him whenever he wants her or she wants to go, and teach her -to be affectionate to him. These little acts of kindness will gratify -him in his feeble health and declining years." - -My father's ill-health continued after the date of this letter, but I -was afforded the opportunity of visiting him several times and doing -what I could to comfort him in his last days. On April 13, 1863, he -passed away. An account of the manner in which he met death is recorded -in the "Biography of Matthew Watson Foster," pp. 81-83. - -Fortunately for the human race, our sorrows and our joys follow -each other, often in quick succession. Two weeks after the death of -my father, while on an expedition into the interior of my district -in pursuit of guerrillas, I received intelligence of the birth of -our second child, Edith. She was our "war baby," but she proved the -harbinger of peace. Blessed with a sweet and even temper from her -birth, she has spread peace and sunshine in her path through life. - -Although my field of military service was so near to my home, I did not -cease to long for the time when I might return to my family. Writing to -my wife on a Sabbath day, January 11, I say:-- - -"Oh, when will this terrible war be over, so that we may spend our -Sabbaths together as we have in the past, so peacefully, so pleasantly, -so profitably? It has always been one of my greatest privations in the -army that I was away from my family and Sabbath Church enjoyments. God -in his own good time will give us peace, and return us to our Christian -privileges and our home blessings. I can't help but wish I was at home, -and wish it every day, and that circumstances were such that I might -come with honor. I trust that time may come soon. But I do not want to -dishonor all I have done by leaving at present. I want first to see -the war looking toward its close." - -I wrote the following brief epistle to my wife in a jocose spirit: -"For the love I bear you, I herewith enclose to you the fruits of my -toil, danger, privations, and glory for the past two months, $381.65, -according to the estimate of my services by the paymaster." - -I have referred to the embarrassment and trouble which came to me -soon after I assumed command at Henderson by the condition of the -State elections and the rebel civil officials. Another annual election -occurred just before the close of my service in 1863, and I was -required by General Boyle to see that his orders were enforced. In -addition to the order that no one who was not _in all things_ loyal to -the State and Federal Governments should be allowed to be a candidate, -a further order was issued which made it the duty of the judges of -election to allow no one to vote unless he was known to them to be -an undoubtedly loyal citizen or unless he took the "iron-clad" oath -of loyalty prescribed by the State law. It was made the duty of the -military authorities to see that these orders were enforced. I did not -have a sufficient force to station a detachment at every voting-place, -but I scattered the military election proclamation broadcast, and had -a force at a number of the leading voting-places. - -In one of the Congressional districts within my command I had a -peculiar condition. The regular or State Union candidate was opposed -by a prominent citizen, who had stood by the Federal Government at the -beginning of the rebellion, had raised a Federal regiment, and had -fought gallantly at Donelson and Shiloh. But after the President's -announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation, he resigned from the -army and returned to Kentucky to array himself with the peaceful -opponents of the Administration. He was permitted to make a canvass -of his district without any interference by the military, and at the -election none of my command found it necessary to interpose. But the -fact was that many who would have supported him at the polls abstained -from voting because they were unwilling to take the "iron-clad" oath. -Although the State Union candidate received a decided majority of the -votes, his seat was contested by his opponent on the ground, among -others, of military interference with the election, and my name was -freely used in the debates; but the Union candidate was seated by -Congress. In the course of the debate, the Union candidate, referring -to the attacks upon me, said: "Colonel Foster's services protected all -that region of Kentucky, my home, the contestant's home, from rebel and -guerrilla outrage and depredation. Without those services the courts -could not have been held nor the laws administered in a large district -of country. He afterwards led a brigade with brilliant success in East -Tennessee. And the contestant will not forget that day on the banks -of Green River, when he and I waged a bloodless battle of words about -politics in stone's throw of where Foster and his gallant Hoosiers -stood in battle order, expecting John Morgan and his avalanche of -cavalry." - -During my year's service in Kentucky my command was frequently -disturbed and put in battle array by reports from time to time that the -rebel General Forrest or John Morgan was about to enter my district -with a large force of cavalry. These reports were so frequent and -unfounded that we became incredulous, but Morgan finally did come into -Kentucky with quite a formidable force. General Boyle early notified -me of his presence in the State, and that he might seek his way out by -crossing Green River and passing through my district into Tennessee; -and I was ordered to move my entire command to Green River, remove or -destroy all the boats, and give him battle if he came my way. - -But Morgan had other schemes on hand. At noon July 9, 1863, General -Boyle telegraphed me that Morgan had crossed the Ohio River into -Indiana some distance below Louisville with a cavalry force of four -thousand men. I was ordered to secure transports and put my command on -board to move up the river. At 9 P.M. the same night I received the -following from Boyle: "Morgan may deflect west and try Evansville. I -think he will move on New Albany. Gather your men, seize boats, and -come up river. Send out scouts on Indiana side to learn of enemy's -movement. Direct your movements accordingly. Attack and fight Morgan -wherever he can be met." About the same time I had telegraphic advices -from Governor Morton of Morgan's presence in Indiana, and that he was -likely to move toward Evansville. - -When I received these orders and the information that Morgan had -crossed the Ohio River into Indiana, in accordance with previous -instructions I was with my entire command on Green River awaiting an -expected attack from Morgan in that locality. I at once crossed Green -River on the night of the 10th _en route_ for the Ohio, but did not -reach its banks until the night of the 11th, by which time Morgan was -well on his way toward the State of Ohio. I was therefore not to share -in the pursuit of this noted raider. - -I returned with my command to Henderson and redistributed them at -various exposed places in my district. But this proved the end of my -military operations in Kentucky. General Burnside had been ordered -from the East to assume command of the Department of the Ohio, and was -preparing the concentration of his forces for a movement for the relief -of the loyal people of East Tennessee, and I felt sure my regiment -would be included. Hence I was not surprised to receive orders on the -7th of August, 1863, to move the Sixty-fifth Indiana Mounted Infantry -to Glasgow, from which place Burnside's movement was to begin. - -I was quite satisfied at this change. As early as February I had made -a visit to Louisville to ask General Boyle if he could not give me a -more active service. The guerrilla warfare which I was carrying on -was of a very unsatisfactory and unprofitable kind. My troubles with -the disloyal citizens and the civil duties as to officials and the -elections were not to my taste. As a soldier I longed to be relieved -from these unwelcome duties, and to bear my share in the real military -campaigns of the war. During my year's service in the district I had -received the warmest exhibitions of friendship from the Union citizens -of Henderson and that region. Being stationed so near to my home, my -wife often visited me, and these kind-hearted citizens always insisted -on making her their guest. I received various testimonials of their -esteem, among others a beautiful jeweled sword, sash, and belt. When -it became known that my regiment was to be ordered away, an earnest -petition was sent to General Boyle asking our retention, signed by all -the Union citizens, headed by ex-Governor and ex-Senator Dixon. - -Hon. Thomas E. Bramlette, Governor of the State of Kentucky, wrote -President Lincoln, asking that I might "be retained in western Kentucky -in charge of the defenses of that section. I have recently passed all -through western Kentucky and find from personal observation the immense -good which the vigilant and successful military guardianship of Colonel -Foster has done for that section." General Boyle, in a letter to the -Secretary of War, said: "I beg to say that Colonel J. W. Foster is one -of the most vigilant, active, and useful officers in the volunteer -army. He is a man of the first order of ability, with capacity to fill -almost any place in the service, and no man known to me has done better -service than Colonel Foster." - -In an editorial notice of some length the "Evansville Journal," in -noticing the departure of the Sixty-fifth Regiment, said:-- - -While we are glad the gallant boys of this excellent regiment are about -to be afforded an opportunity to engage in more active service, and to -see some of the excitement of war on its grander scale, yet we cannot -help regretting their departure from our vicinity. For a year past the -people along the border have felt that the Sixty-fifth was a wall of -safety, a mountain of rocks between them and the guerrillas. Colonel -Foster during his administration of affairs in the Green River region, -has won not only the admiration of the friends, but also the respect of -the enemies, of the Government. - - - - -VII -THE EAST TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN - - -No portion of the people of our country had shown more devotion to -the Union or suffered greater hardships on account of their loyalty -during the Civil War than the citizens of East Tennessee. Almost the -entire population of military age had fled over the mountains into -Kentucky and enlisted in the Federal army. And those who remained--the -old men, the women and the children--endured many privations and much -persecution. It had long been the desire of the Federal Government to -occupy East Tennessee with troops and free the loyal people from their -oppression, and President Lincoln in 1863 determined that this relief -should no longer be delayed. - -The army under General Burnside numbered approximately twenty thousand -men, a force which it was thought was sufficient for the purpose in -view of the fact that General Rosecrans with a much larger army was -moving from middle Tennessee toward Chattanooga and northern Georgia. -In a letter to my wife from Glasgow, dated the 18th of August, I say:-- - -"We arrived here yesterday. Found marching orders for this morning to -go to Burksville with our brigade. The brigade left this morning, but I -got permission to stay over to-day to shoe horses and more fully equip -the regiment. The indications are that the cavalry division will go -direct to Knoxville, after a few days' delay at Burksville." - -From Ray's Cross Roads, I write on the 20th:-- - -"We reached here yesterday. How many days we will remain I do not know. -We are anxious to move forward, wanting to get into East Tennessee -as soon as possible. I drilled my regiment to-day, had a good dress -parade, and made a very fine appearance. I think there is no regiment -in the corps that will make a better show. It attracts very general -attention. We are stopped here waiting for the supply trains to come -up. If it were not for the stomachs of men and horses an army could -accomplish wonders. Kiss little Edith for me and tell Alice her papa -thinks of her very often and loves her very much." - -A letter the next day from the same place says:-- - -"We leave at 11 A.M., camp to-night at Marrowbone, to-morrow at -Burksville, thence to Albany and Jamestown, Tennessee. I am well and -in good spirits. Do not be uneasy if you do not hear from me very -soon again, as we shall probably draw in our couriers and close our -line of communication to-morrow. The Twenty-third Army Corps has one -cavalry division of three brigades, each brigade consisting of four -regiments and one battery; also one independent brigade of cavalry. The -second brigade is the one in which is our regiment, and is commanded -by Brigadier-General Hobson. You see we have a very strong force of -cavalry, with which we can overrun the whole of East Tennessee and a -good part of North Carolina, if we can ever get through the gaps and -over the mountains, and can manage to take along with us our supply of -forage and rations. - -"General Hobson is absent from the brigade sick. I am the senior -colonel of the brigade, and in the absence of the general, I will be -entitled to command. Before I arrived, Colonel Graham, Fifth Indiana, -was commanding, and as I had even more than I could well attend to, and -as General Hobson was expected soon, I did not ask for the command, and -will not do so unless I learn that General Hobson will not be able to -join us soon. My regiment is the largest (and I think the best) in the -brigade, having eight hundred and fifty fighting men with us." - -On August 28, I wrote:-- - -"We have been here in the vicinity of Jamestown for a few days. We -are out of forage for our horses, and have to get green corn and what -hay, straw, and oats we can find, feeding them also on wheat and rye. -We are up on the top of the mountains, and the soil is very poor, the -farms small, and there is little forage of any kind; consequently, if -we stay here much longer we shall be driven to pretty close straits for -our horses and possibly for rations for ourselves. We are already short -and very little prospect of any soon, but as long as there is green -corn the men will not starve. The route from Glasgow is very hilly and -rugged, and we had great difficulty in getting our wagons over it. We -are now up on the level of the mountains where it is not so hilly. All -the country is very poor, and the only good features about it are that -it is healthy, has good water, and a goodly number of Union people. -I will take command of the brigade to-day, as General Hobson is still -sick at home. When we are so straitened for forage and rations the -responsibility is great and the task not a very desirable one." - -My next letter dated September 2, gave an account of our occupation of -Knoxville, the goal of our long march over the mountains:-- - -"Yesterday was the proudest day of my life. Sunday last Generals -Burnside and Curtis came up and a juncture of the forces was formed at -Montgomery. My brigade arrived at that place on Saturday in advance of -all other. On Sunday afternoon General Burnside sent for me to report, -and I received orders to move my brigade five miles to the front. This -seemed to indicate that I would be permitted to keep the advance and -we were all well pleased. But about daylight the First Cavalry Brigade -marched past us and out to the front on the Kingston road, and we had -no orders to move. At sunrise, the Third Cavalry Brigade (General -Shackelford) passed by and out to the front toward the reported enemy -on the Kingston road. I began to be impatient and somewhat disgusted. I -waited for two hours more very anxiously, but no marching orders came. - -"At nine o'clock Generals Burnside and Curtis, with their staffs and -escorts, came up and I thought then we were to go clear to the rear. -But they halted at my headquarters, came in, and after examining the -organization of my brigade, General Burnside held a private interview -with me, in which he told me he wanted me to take my brigade on the -Knoxville road and force Winter's Gap, which would flank the enemy -on the right and compel them to fall back, when, if matters went on -smoothly, he would give me orders to push right on to Knoxville. -Nothing could have suited me better. I would rather then have had -those orders than to have received the commission of a general. So -at 11 o'clock I formed my brigade, and, leaving every one of our -wagons behind, marched to Winter's Gap, arriving there at sundown and -occupied it, finding that the enemy had fled in the morning. I reported -promptly to General Burnside, and about four o'clock yesterday morning -I received orders to push on into Knoxville and occupy the town, -attacking any force of rebels which might be there. - -"We were in motion within an hour, and all along the road, as -everywhere heretofore in our march through East Tennessee, we were -received with the warmest expressions and demonstrations of joy. In the -morning I expected that I would not be able to take the town without -a fight, but as my brigade had been assigned the post of honor, I was -satisfied it would do its full duty. A few miles before we reached the -town we ascertained that the rebels had all left, the last of them -that morning. The Fifth Tennessee Cavalry, which was in the advance, -surrounded the town, and about four o'clock yesterday afternoon I -rode into town with the staff and escort, and such an ovation as we -received was never before during this war given to any army. The -demonstration beggars all description. Men, women, and children rushed -to the streets,--no camp-meeting shouting ever exceeding the rejoicing -of the women. They ran out into the streets shouting, 'Glory! Glory!' -'The Lord be praised!' 'Our Savior's come!' and all such exclamations. -The men huzzahed and yelled like madmen, and in their profusion of -greetings I was almost pulled from my horse. Flags long concealed were -brought from their hiding-places. As soon as I could get to a hotel -I was waited upon by the mayor (a true Union man) and a large number -of loyal men, prominent citizens, and they received me with heartiest -congratulations and welcome. All afternoon and into the night until the -provost guard sent all citizens to their homes the streets resounded -with yells, and cheers for the 'Union' and 'Lincoln.' A marked feature -of the loyalty of this section (so different from western Kentucky) is -that the people have no scruples about hurrahing for Lincoln,--they -recognize him as the leader and head of the Government. - -"It is stated that last night, after the occupation of the town, the -intelligence was communicated to the people throughout the country -by the firing of guns from place to place and by signal fires on the -mountains. And this morning the streets were crowded with people from -the country far and near, and such rejoicing I never saw before. How -they shouted and stood with uncovered heads beneath the old Stars and -Stripes. With what sincere welcome they met the soldiers. The mayor -of the city brought forth an immense flag, which he had kept, waiting -anxiously for the day when he could unfurl it. This was suspended early -this morning over Main (or Gay) Street, and at the sight of it the -people as they came in from the country yelled with a perfect frenzy -of delight. Early in the day a procession of ladies was formed, and -bearing two American flags, they marched down Main Street and under -the large flag, in order that they might fulfill a vow they made early -in the war that they would in a body march under the first American -flag raised in Knoxville. It does soldiers good to fight for such a -people. It is a labor of love. Every soldier in my brigade has been -paid a hundred times over since we came into East Tennessee for all our -hardships, short rations and exposures, by the hearty welcome of the -people. We can see upon their faces the recognition of the fact that we -have delivered them from a cruel bondage. - -"Although the rebels have for five days been removing their property, -we came upon the town so suddenly yesterday that we captured a large -amount of army property, five locomotives, a number of cars, and saved -the mills, foundry, railroad works, hospitals, and other army buildings -from burning. - -"_September 3._ - -"I went yesterday to visit the prison where the rebels kept the Union -men confined. It is a dirty, filthy, jail, hardly fit for the lowest -criminals. I saw the room in which Parson Brownlow was confined. On -the wall of it in large black letters is written,--'_Death to our -persecutors._' - -"When we came in on Tuesday the gallows was standing near the railroad, -at the edge of the town, where the Union men were dragged from the -jail and, contrary to all law and civilized warfare, hung like felons -for faithfulness to their Government. You will find something of this -in Brownlow's narrative. I rode over to see it as soon as I could on -the morning after we arrived, and to place a guard over it, but some -enraged soldiers and citizens had gone there before me and cut it down -and burnt it. I was sorry, because it was in a prominent place and I -wanted it preserved as a monument of the wickedness and cruelty of the -persecutors of these people. - -"We had this morning a fresh outbreak of patriotism. The news of the -Federal occupation of the town had by last night spread into the -adjoining counties, and the people flocked in from every direction. -A large delegation of men and women of all ages formed in long -procession (from Sevier County) and carrying the American flag, paraded -through the town and out to camp, and the town again ran wild with -patriotic joy. Men who had been hiding among the rocks and caves of -the mountains, and who had not seen each other for years or since the -rebellion broke out, stood grasping each other's hands beneath the -folds of the old flag, while tears streamed down their cheeks. I have -read of 'tears of joy,' but never saw so much of it as here. - -"But General Burnside and the rest of the army will be in town this -evening and I must get ready to receive them, so good-bye for the -present." - -In my letter of the 7th I gave an account of my first expedition out of -Knoxville:-- - -"A day or two after his arrival General Burnside sent for me to say -that he had received information which he thought was reliable to the -effect that the rebels had left the railroad up as far as Bristol, -on the Virginia line one hundred and thirty miles, in good condition -and unguarded; that at Bristol there was a round-house and a great -supply of locomotives and cars; and that it was very desirable to get -possession of this rolling-stock, if possible. He proposed that I make -up a train out of the rolling-stock I had captured on my occupation of -Knoxville and go up the railroad as far as I could do so safely, and -reach Bristol if possible. - -"It was a new business for me to go a-soldiering on a railroad train, -but I cheerfully undertook the expedition. I had to secure the -engineer and brakemen out of my own command, as there were none others -available. Putting three of the companies of the Sixty-fifth dismounted -on the train, we started out early in the afternoon, hoping to get over -a good part of the road before dark, but within ten miles of Knoxville -we encountered a small bridge burnt, but with the tools we had brought -with us some of our expert railroad men were able to arrange a -temporary crossing for the train. It was nearly dark when we reached -Strawberry Plains, only seventeen miles out, and here we stopped the -train, as I had learned that the President of the railroad lived here, -and he would probably be at home, as he had fled from Knoxville before -our arrival. I took a small guard with me to his house, where I found -him. I explained that our general had sent me on an expedition up -his road toward the Virginia line, and as we had no one on the train -who was familiar with the road, I should esteem it a great favor if -he would accompany us. Seeing the situation with my armed guard, he -accepted the invitation with the best grace possible, but as we moved -off the ladies of the household set up a fearful wailing, beseeching -me not to take him, as they felt sure he was going to his death, -notwithstanding I assured them that no harm should come to him. - -"After comfortably seating the President, I took post with the brigade -bugler on top of a pile of wood on the locomotive tender, and the -train moved off at slow speed in the darkness on the strange road, -without a stop until we reached Jonesboro, ninety-eight miles from -Knoxville, after midnight. Here our engineer, not being familiar -with the switches, ran the fore wheels of his locomotive off the -track. While a few of us dismounted to aid in getting on the track -again, I discovered that another train was lying on the track with a -lot of invalid Confederate soldiers, who told us the train had just -arrived that evening from Richmond. About the same time we heard a -great commotion in the town, with loud military commands indicating -the presence of troops. It was very dark and we were strange to the -locality, but I ordered out a platoon of soldiers, who fired a volley -or two in the direction of the noise, which was followed by a great -clatter of horses' hoofs. The next day, as we came back, the citizens -told us that the rebel troopers could be seen in all directions flying -away, some bareback, others without firearms or hats. It proved to be -a detachment of Confederate cavalry stationed in the town. - -"At Jonesboro we learned from the station employees that another train -would be due from Richmond about eight o'clock in the morning. Thirteen -miles above that place the railroad crossed the Watauga River, where -there was a rebel blockhouse or fort protected by artillery, and which -we learned was garrisoned. Our only hope of getting to Bristol was -to capture the incoming train and rush our own train unawares into -the fort and take the garrison by surprise. So after leaving a guard -in charge of the train found at Jonesboro, we moved up quietly about -day-break to the first station this side of the fort, surrounded the -town with orders to allow no one to pass out, and we lay quietly in -ambush waiting for the train. Sure enough, it came along on time and -we were greatly elated. But just before it got within gunshot of -our ambush, it whistled down the brakes, stopped, and instantly ran -backwards at full speed and whistling into the fort. Some one had -given them a warning signal, and the fort was at once notified of our -presence. With that our expedition to Bristol came to an end. General -Burnside had been misinformed. The railroad above Knoxville was not -only guarded but was in use from Richmond. - -"Our return journey was uneventful except that, as we neared Jonesboro, -some of the soldiers we had scattered had quite dexterously loosened -a rail and slightly displaced one end at a sharp curve in the road -on a down grade, which tumbled our locomotive down an embankment and -disabled it. Several of the soldiers were bruised and the railroad -President got a few slight scratches on his face. Fortunately we had -the captured locomotive, and with it we took all the cars back to -Knoxville. Our return was on Sunday, and as the news of our passing up -in the night had got noised about, the whole country turned out in gala -dress and with flags to welcome us." - -My next letter is from Greenville, seventy-four miles above Knoxville -on the railroad, the home of Andrew Johnson, afterwards President of -the United States. It is dated September 12:-- - -"I have my brigade at this place, as also the One Hundred and Third -Ohio Infantry assigned to my command and stationed here as a provost -guard. Generals Burnside and Hartsuff (corps commander) have been -very pleasant and kind and are disposed to do everything they can -for me. They promise to send me on an expedition by way of Bristol -into Virginia to destroy the Salt Works, probably the most important -movement left in East Tennessee. I am in very good health and spirits." - -We were still at Greenville on September 16. My chief trouble seemed -to be with the mails. I had not heard from home for nearly a month. I -write my wife:-- - -"It has been so long since I have heard from you. How I would -appreciate a letter to-day from my dear wife, telling me about our -family affairs, that she was well, that our dear little children were -well, giving me some of the sayings and doings of my little Alice, to -have some news from Evansville and the families there. If it had not -been that I had so very much to do and such great responsibilities -resting upon me that kept me actively employed, I should have been -lonely, indeed. When I go a-soldiering again I want it along a river or -railroad so I can get some communication with the outer world _and my -wife_. - -"I am glad to assure you that in this long interval of suspense I have -been in good health and I think discharging my duties to the entire -satisfaction of my superior officers. I am very well satisfied at being -ordered away from Henderson and placed in active service. It has given -me a very prominent and choice command, and brought me in close contact -with the commanding generals of the army. During the past three weeks -I have been in close and intimate relationship with Generals Burnside -and Hartsuff, and acting directly under their orders. - -"We have been for a week at this place in front of an army of rebels -at Jonesboro twenty miles above here, momentarily expecting an attack. -I think that within a few days we will make a movement that will -completely drive them out of Tennessee. If so you may expect to hear of -the Second Brigade dashing away up onto the sacred soil of Virginia. I -have a very good brigade of near three thousand effective men. For the -present I am holding this position with my brigade and two regiments -of infantry till General Burnside comes up with the army which is on -the way. Several times a day I am called to the telegraph office for -conversations over the wires with General Burnside on the situation at -the front and he freely calls for my views as to movements. He is a -very kind-hearted and pleasant gentleman, and willing to give every -officer his full share of credit. I write thus freely to my wife of -these matters because she will be interested to know them and to her it -will not appear boasting or self-praise. - -"I wish I had time to prepare a letter for the friends at home on -the state of affairs in East Tennessee, and give a simple narrative -of facts as to what the Union men have suffered. Such cruelty, such -oppression, and heartless wrong has no parallel at least on this -continent. It may have been equaled by the barbarians of Europe. No -wonder that the people receive us with tears and perfect ecstasy of -rejoicing and unbounded enthusiasm. The rejoicing and demonstrations I -have witnessed will be probably the brightest of my reminiscences of -the war. No wonder these people have wept tears of joy at the sight -of the old flag, for it has brought to them freedom from a tyrannical -oppression. It was the happiest epoch of my life to first carry that -flag into Knoxville, and to bear it in the advance along up this valley -for more than a hundred miles, and receive the welcome of the loyal -people. And I hope in a few days to have the honor to say that we have -driven the enemy entirely beyond the borders of the State. - -"At our advance men have come to us all bleached and weak, who have -been hiding in the rocks and caves and in pits away from the light -of day for months. Men have been chased through the mountains for -conscription in the rebel service, and a bounty offered for their -arrest or death. Women have been driven from their homes, and their -houses and their all were burnt before them, because their husbands -were in the Union army. The scaffolds were to be seen where loyal -men were hung for suspicion of bridge-burning without any trial -whatever. The tales of cruelty and wrong which I have heard go to make -up a history of tyranny which will be the blackest record of this -slaveholders' rebellion. - -"There is a valley over the line in North Carolina about twenty-five -miles from this place, just under the shadow of the Great Smoky -Mountains, almost shut out from the world. The valley along the -creek is rich and inhabited by a bold but simple race of men. These -men, partaking of the true spirit of the mountains, were true and -unalterably attached to the Government, and no bribes or threats -could induce them to go into the Southern army. There was but a small -community of them and they were unanimous. When the conscripting -officers came to take them into the army by force and the foragers -to carry off their horses and provisions, they met them along the -mountain-sides with their squirrel-rifles and drove them back; it was -almost worth a Confederate officer's life to venture into the valley. -Finally they sent a large force of cavalry and Indians among them and -drove the mountaineers before them. They fled to their hiding-places -and none of the men fit for military duty could be found. The cavalry -gathered up all their horses and cattle. The women and children, old -men and boys, were left at home, thinking them safe from conscription. -The savage traitors drove the families from their houses and burnt -them and everything in them. But this was not all. The old men, the -women, and children were driven out of the valley and made to walk -on foot over the mountains and down to Greenville. Old and prominent -citizens of this place have told me that it was the most pitiable sight -they ever beheld. A stout-hearted and manly citizen in talking to me -about it could not restrain the tears, saying that he never related the -circumstances without tears, because it brought the sight so vividly -before him. Women came carrying children in their arms, with other -little ones barefooted and almost naked clinging to their skirts. -There were women of all ages and children driven like sheep before the -soldiers. There were women in a most delicate situation who were made -to walk with the rest; if the suffering were the greater the punishment -was the more appropriate. They were brought to the railway station -and kept over night, and it was the determination of General (called -'Mudwall' in contradistinction to 'Stonewall') Jackson in command here -to send them over the Cumberland Mountains to Kentucky. Governor Vance -of North Carolina heard of the brutal proceeding in time, and declared -that women and children should not be banished from his State so long -as he was its governor, and they were ordered to be returned. - -"Since then these men of the Laurel Valley have been the wild men of -the mountains. Their homes have been in the caves and cliffs of the -rocks, and woe to the rebel soldier who came within range of their -rifles. The most vigorous measures have been taken to ferret them out, -but few of them have ever been caught, their hiding-places and their -daring were a good protection. A company of them twice attempted to -break through and cross the Cumberland Mountains to join the Union army -in Kentucky, but were driven back before they could get out of East -Tennessee. Day before yesterday a company of over fifty of these brave -men came over from the mountains and asked me for help. An old man, -who was the spokesman and the wise man of the valley, said they were a -poor, ignorant, wild set of 'cusses' who didn't know much but devotion -to the flag of their country and how to shoot. He asked me to give them -a little good advice and _some guns_. I could not refuse the latter, at -least. I gave them the arms and sent them home, and a merciful God will -have to protect the savages who have murdered their fathers, plundered -their farms, burnt their houses, and driven their wives and mothers -from their homes, for these men with their muskets will not remember -mercy. - -"This is no fancy sketch or exaggerated story of the war. It is the -plain, unvarnished truth, to be vouched for by hundreds of citizens of -Greenville. Could you have believed that such atrocity could have been -committed in the land of Washington? This same General Jackson is now -in front of us, and I have been asking General Burnside for days to let -my brigade after him, but he withholds for the present. It will not be -many days before I shall try to capture him or drive him out of East -Tennessee, I hope forever." - -The expedition from which I had so greatly longed to drive out the -rebel General Jackson, and which General Burnside had promised, did -not come off. General Rosecrans had suffered a severe repulse at -Chickamauga, and Burnside was ordered to give him what support he -could. This brought all of Burnside's plans above Knoxville to a dead -halt. Bragg's rebel cavalry was reported to have crossed the Tennessee -River and was threatening Rosecrans's rear, and all of Burnside's -cavalry was ordered to follow up Bragg's movement. My next letter -was written at Knoxville, October 1, to which place I had come with -my brigade. On arrival here I was still without letters from home. I -had attempted to telegraph, but could get no replies. Apparently my -disconsolate condition had worked upon General Burnside's sympathy, -as he sent a telegram in his own name inquiring about the whereabouts -and health of my wife, which soon brought an answer that she was at -Evansville and "all well." How this news was received is told in the -letter:-- - -"You can hardly imagine how gratifying it is to me to know to-night -that my dear wife and children are well, from whom I am so far -separated. I can go to-morrow to execute the orders of the general with -much more alacrity that I now know that you are well and at home. - -"Aside from its inaccessibility for the mails, I find East Tennessee -a very pleasant country to be in. The Union people are very kind and -friendly, the climate is very healthy, and the valley of East Tennessee -one of the most beautiful in America. I tell the people here that if -we can get peace again and they will abolish slavery, I would like -very well to come and live with them. I have been very kindly and -considerately treated by them. Being in the advance all the time, I -have been the first to make their acquaintance, and they consequently -know me better than others. I need not live in camp at all while about -Knoxville. I have been here now four days and have had only one meal in -camp. The society of the Union people of Knoxville is very pleasant and -quite cultivated. - -"But my visits to Knoxville are only pleasant episodes in my military -life. Cavalry must be active. I am off again. The brigade left -to-night for Loudon, starting at dark in a pitiless rain, and it -has been raining ever since. General Burnside had me wait over here -to-night that he might confer with General Shackelford and me as to -my movements, and he will give me a special train in the morning for -myself and staff. He has invited me to come in the morning and take -breakfast with him, when the matter will be definitely settled and I -will be off. Bragg's cavalry has crossed over to the north side of -Tennessee River, threatening Rosecrans's rear and communications, and -we must do something to checkmate them if possible. I have a good -brigade and the general is disposed to give me work to do. General -Shackelford commands our division now, and is very kind and partial to -me." - -My next letter was written from Knoxville October 4:-- - -"I wrote you three nights ago. Then my brigade had been ordered to -Loudon, and I was only remaining behind to get the last and special -instructions of the general before going myself, expecting to be off -in the morning, but I am still here and my brigade at Loudon. Every few -hours I have been expecting definite orders, and something transpires -to prevent it. During the last few days I have been getting a pretty -good insight into the inner workings of our military affairs. I have -been in General Burnside's private room daily and frequently, in -conference with him and other generals, and know something about the -interference of Washington City. - -"The plans were all laid, my guides were selected, the rations were all -issued, my brigade was ready and waiting, and in a short time I was to -be off on a grand raid into Georgia in rear of Bragg's army, tear up -the railroad system of the State, and alarm the rebels generally, when -orders were received from General Halleck that raids into Georgia are -not now contemplated, and all that is stopped. Probably you will thank -General Halleck for that. It may have made me a general. It may have -run me into Libby Prison. But it was a great disappointment to me and -I think to the general. - -"I have seen more of General Burnside than any of our generals, and -I regard him as one of the best of men, a pure patriot, a just man, -and, I hope, a Christian. Let me give you an instance. Yesterday -evening everything was ready for a general movement of his whole -army. I telegraphed my brigade at Loudon to be ready to move at two -o'clock this morning; the forces at Cumberland Gap were notified to be -in readiness; it appeared a matter of importance that we should be -off. I went up to his room last night to get my final instructions. -The general said he believed we would wait a day, as he forgot about -to-morrow being Sunday. He said he always felt a disinclination to -commence a movement on Sunday, and he would not do it, unless he should -learn during the night that it was very urgent. So to-day we have a -quiet Sabbath, the only one since we left Kentucky. It is very pleasant -to me and doubtless is to the whole army." - -It turned out that Bragg's cavalry was not a severe menace to Rosecrans -and my brigade was recalled from Loudon and we moved up into Virginia -as a part of the general movement just indicated. In a fight near -Bristol the Sixty-fifth Regiment lost four killed and thirteen wounded, -and had another fight at Jonesboro, from which place the letter of -October 18 is written:-- - -"We have just returned from a fatiguing march into Virginia. We have -succeeded in driving the enemy away from Zollicoffer, having another -fight at Blountsville, and destroying the Virginia Railroad for ten -miles, but I have no time now to write about it. I have stood the last -two weeks' campaign remarkably well and continue in the best of health. -I enjoy the cavalry service very much, only lately we have had a little -too much of a good thing. During the past five weeks we have been -continuously on the march, with a number of sharp fights. But we have -now a prospect of a few days' rest. If I get it I will improve it to -write you a good long letter, but the enemy may interfere with my plans -any day. This is likely to be our outpost station until Rosecrans and -Bragg settle affairs below. - -"How often and how much I desire to be at home with the dear ones and -families of relations and friends. As we rode along through the mud and -rain to-day I thought of home and what a pleasure it would be for me -to be with you all at home. But I must content myself, believing I am -in the line of duty and pray that a kind Providence may bring me home -at an early day. I have always believed that God is doing his will and -accomplishing his purposes of right and freedom in this war, and if I -can be one of the instruments in his hands of accomplishing a portion -of this work we should be content. Kisses in abundance to my darling -little children. Does my little Alice talk much about her papa? Tell -her he thinks all the time about her." - -Extract from letter of October 25:-- - -"I wrote you a few days ago, just as I was starting on a reconnoissance -toward Bristol. We found no enemy nor heard of any this side of -Abingdon, Virginia, in any force. We had a very disagreeable march, -raining most of the time, very hard on both men and horses. Our -campaigning has been very hard and tiresome, though I have stood it -myself very well, in fact better than if we had less active duty; but -it has tried the mettle of our brigade. We have run our horses nearly -down, a large number of the men are dismounted, and more than half of -the rest have horses that will not stand a march of any length. The -Sixty-fifth came out with eight hundred and fifty men; there are now in -camp about six hundred. The marching, rain storms, short rations, and -especially the whistling of bullets and ball have driven a number of -our officers out of the service. - -"But I fear the worst of our campaigning is yet to come. It is becoming -a serious question how we are to sustain our army in East Tennessee -this winter. There is enough bread and meat, but the men have no winter -clothing, and unless it comes soon it cannot get over the mountains. -Winter will soon be upon us, with muddy roads and swollen rivers. We -have just started a train of wagons from our division over to Kentucky -for clothing and supplies, but I do not expect to see it short of six -weeks, if ever. We had been hoping to get railroad communication open -by way of Chattanooga, but the disaster to Rosecrans has at least -postponed that. Just now I am anxious to get over into North Carolina -with my brigade, but military movements are very uncertain and most -likely I shall be disappointed." - -On the 29th of October I wrote again:-- - -"General Shackelford had a report of the advance on us of an army of -eighteen thousand and out of due precaution ordered us to fall back -eighteen miles, but this morning matters look as if we ran too soon -from an invisible enemy. It will not surprise me if we are ordered back -to our old camp at Jonesboro. It will suit me very well if we are, -for I may then have a chance to make my contemplated raid over the -mountains into North Carolina. I am anxious to get over there to see -the people. The trip would take us through the Blue Ridge." - -I quote from a letter of November 1:-- - -"I wrote in my last how we got down here, how we ran from Sancho -Panza's windmills. We are still here. We had orders to march and were -all ready an hour before daylight yesterday morning, when the orders -came countermanding the marching. We were to go back to Jonesboro. We -are having a delightful day and a very quiet and most welcome Sabbath. -I have been reading 'The Words and Mind of Jesus,' and I got hold of -an 'Independent,' which was quite a treat, as I don't often see any -religious paper here. I went over to the house of Mr. Henderson (the -leading citizen of this place) and found he had quite a good religious -library; plenty of Presbyterian works. I told him he appeared to be -sound religiously, if not politically; he is considerable of a rebel. - -"We have been enjoying our rest of late very much, and if we were not -stirred out every little while with reports of large rebel forces right -upon us, we could get more real enjoyment out of it. This evening a -citizen (a _reliable_ one, of course) reports the enemy advancing in -force. To-morrow an equally reliable and _intelligent_ one will know -that there are none this side of the Holston River. If Willie were out -here he would see a great deal more about soldiering than he used to -see at Henderson." - -In my letter of November 8 I give an account of a bold dash of the -rebels to Rogersville, which routed a Federal force stationed there, -and captured four hundred and four guns:-- - -"General Wilcox, who was in command in upper Tennessee, when he got -the report of the fight from the scared fugitives, became alarmed for -fear the enemy would get in our rear, and he caused a general retreat -of the whole army. Our cavalry and all marched all Friday night and -till late in the morning of Saturday, and abandoned the whole country -for eighteen miles below Greenville, thus giving up all we had gained. -And all without reason, for as it turned out while we were marching all -night one way the rebels were retreating with their booty and prisoners -the other! Where we will go next I do not know, but I hope right back -and occupy the country clear up to the Virginia line. We can do it -without difficulty. - -"The whole cavalry force of Burnside's army has been formed into a -cavalry corps and placed in command of General Shackelford. The corps -is composed of two divisions. Our brigade is in the Second Division. -It would be commanded by Colonel Carter, if present, but he may be -absent for some weeks, and I have been assigned to the command of this -division. It will be a very nice command and quite complimentary to me." - -I may state that I remained in command of this division of cavalry -during the remainder of my service in Tennessee. I extract from my -letter of November 13:-- - -"Major Brown and nine men of the Sixty-fifth are about leaving for a -recruiting service in Indiana, and I send this letter by him. I told -Major Brown that I did not know that I could say I wished (as he) that -I too was going home, but I could say with emphasis that I wished the -war was over and that I was going home to return no more. This going -home to stay a week or two and then come back, tear away from home and -all its dear attachments, is worse than the first departure. I can't -say that when the campaign is pretty well over I may not apply for a -leave of absence; but when I think of the parting from home again and -the long muddy winter ride across the mountains, I begin to balance the -matter. When I come home I want it to be my last 'leave.' When shall -that be? I am too great a lover of my little wife, my darling children, -and my happy home to make a good soldier, at least a professional -soldier. How sweetly you wrote in your last letter of our little -Alice praying her evening prayer for her absent papa. I believe He -who noticeth the fall of a sparrow will hear and answer the prayer of -innocence and childhood, and bring me home in safety that I may be the -guardian of our dear family." - -My letter of November 14 reports an unfavorable change in the situation -in East Tennessee. General Bragg commanding the rebel forces in front -of Chattanooga, feeling that he had Rosecrans's army safely besieged, -dispatched Longstreet, one of the ablest of the Confederate generals, -with his army corps to capture or drive out Burnside. It is to that -situation my letter refers:-- - -"The intelligence this afternoon from Knoxville was rather ominous of -evil to us. General Wilcox telegraphs me that the enemy have forced -the right bank of the river below Loudon, that General Burnside had -gone down to-day, and that if the enemy were too strong for our forces -there we would have to look out for a retreat to the gaps in the -Cumberland Mountains. Our line of march would be to Cumberland Gap, and -I am notified that I with my division will have the important work of -guarding the approaches to this route, down the valleys of the Holston, -Clinch, and Powell Rivers, and also keeping open the communication -with General Burnside on our right to Knoxville. We will know more -definitely to-night or to-morrow. - -"I hope and pray that we may not be driven to that dire necessity. -In proportion as our joy was great in the occupation of this country -would our regrets be deep at being compelled to abandon it. But I have -hope that to-morrow will bring the welcome intelligence that our army -below has driven the enemy back over the river. It would be with a sad -and heavy heart that I turned my back upon the loyal people of East -Tennessee. I have confidence that God does not will it so." - -When my next letter November 22 was written from Tazewell, on the -route to Cumberland Gap, Burnside had been besieged for a week by -Longstreet:-- - -"We are lying quiet here, just out of hearing of the fighting -that is raging at Knoxville. Our messengers from Knoxville report -Burnside holding out heroically. I have little time to write and less -inclination, even to my dear wife. I am heart-sick and gloomy, though -not discouraged. General Burnside, the best man of the generals I know, -and a gallant army have been beleaguered at Knoxville for a week, and -are still fighting manfully. We are almost powerless to do him any -good, but I have asked General Wilcox to let me take my cavalry and -support me at the fords of Clinch River with his infantry, and I would -make at least one vigorous effort to break the rebel lines and raise -the siege. He is at the Gap. General Burnside ordered him to look out -for his line of retreat and at all events to hold Cumberland Gap. This -he is in a position to do." - -I wrote the 26th from Cumberland Gap, where I had come to try to get -horses:-- - -"We have no news from General Burnside direct since the 23d, when -he said he could hold out ten days, that his position was a strong -one, and we are hopeful of his success for Grant at Chattanooga will -push vigorously against Bragg. I will be off in the morning to harass -the enemy. I shall make my headquarters at Tazewell, and send my old -brigade over Clinch River toward Knoxville to stir up the enemy a -little, and try to divert them from Burnside. Our cavalry is in such -wretched condition it is almost impossible to do anything, the horses -worn out, without shoes, and with very little forage. I regret it -exceedingly when so much is expected of us and needed. General Wilcox -is ordered to keep his infantry near the Gap and send my cavalry out -toward the enemy to gather information and annoy them." - -I wrote again on the 29th when we had just heard of Grant's victory at -Chattanooga, but were without information of the gallant defense of -Fort Stevens and the bloody repulse of the rebels at Knoxville:-- - -"We have no news except the glorious victory of Grant's army, and -we are hoping to see its effect in the deliverance of Burnside. The -enemy seek to starve him into a surrender. I sent out yesterday my -old brigade to go down toward Knoxville and feel out the enemy. I am -getting a little anxious about them as there was cannonading heard -below and I have had nothing from them since they left. It would be a -serious affair for me to have my old brigade captured. - -"We are having rather a hard time to live, subsisting entirely upon the -country. Our cavalry get along better than the infantry; the latter -have been for days without flour or meal. Twenty-five cents have been -refused for a cup full of corn. Parched corn is a luxury. But we are -hoping for better times in a few days. The men bear it manfully." - -In my letter of December 4, in acknowledging receipt of a late letter -from my wife, I reply:-- - -"I wish very much I could be at home to enjoy with you the -entertainments you write about, but I shall have to forego all these -pleasures, and live on corn-bread and pork, cold nights, muddy roads, -and occasional skirmishing. I don't know when I can promise you to -come home, but not while the enemy is before us, as now. I think a few -days hence will see them driven away. I mentioned in my last letter -sending the Second Brigade down to the vicinity of Knoxville. They were -attacked by the whole of Longstreet's cavalry and pressed back. They -gave the enemy a severe fight, killing and wounding a considerable -number of them. Our losses were a few taken prisoners, four killed and -thirty wounded. Our men did bravely. My whole division will try it -again to-morrow. We expect Sherman, who was sent up by Grant after his -victory to relieve Burnside, will reach Knoxville to-morrow, when if -Longstreet has not retreated there must be a severe battle. We want to -be near at hand with our cavalry. I would have been there two or three -days ago with my whole division, but have been constantly held back by -General Wilcox." - -Sometime before the siege of Knoxville General Burnside had asked to be -relieved of the command of the department, and General John G. Foster -(of New Hampshire) of the Eastern army had been appointed to succeed -him. He arrived at my headquarters while the siege was in progress. -In this letter writing about a leave to come home, I refer to General -Foster:-- - -"If matters quiet down here there is a probability that I may come -this winter, but nothing certain; a man in the army can't go when he -pleases. If General Burnside had remained, I think I would have had -no difficulty, but it is uncertain as to General Foster, how strict -he will be. I have been with him here for three or four days, being -frequently consulted by him as to movements, the country, etc., and -have been quite intimate at his headquarters. He is quite a Yankee and -not so agreeable in his manners as Burnside, but withal he may make a -good commander. But there is no man like Burnside for this department -with his soldiers. I especially will regret his leaving." - -The day after I wrote my last letter, Longstreet retreated from -Knoxville (December 5) up the valley toward the Virginia line, and the -next day (the 6th) General Sherman reached Knoxville. On December 10 I -wrote:-- - -"Bean Station, where we are now camped, you will find on most maps of -Tennessee. It is ten miles from Morristown on the road to Cumberland -Gap, just at the foot of the Clinch mountains, forty-two miles from -Knoxville. We have followed the enemy this far up from Knoxville. From -Tazewell I joined the Second Brigade near Knoxville. Colonel Graham -of that brigade reported that an encampment of the enemy was over the -mountain about five miles, so I sent him over, had a skirmish, captured -a captain, several prisoners, and seventy-five horses, and drove them -clear over Clinch Mountain. Since then we have followed the enemy in -their retreat, skirmishing with their rear guard all the way. I doubt -whether we shall push the enemy much farther, as it will be difficult -to get supplies." - -The siege of Knoxville was one of the most gallant events on the -Federal side during the Civil War. Burnside with an inferior force -successfully sustained a siege of twenty days, resisting the assaults -of the enemy with comparatively small losses, endured short rations, -and by the heroism of his command saved East Tennessee to the Union. -The result gave great joy to all loyal men, and President Lincoln -issued a proclamation, calling on the people "to render special homage -to Almighty God for this great advancement of the National cause," and -Congress thanked Burnside and his army. General Grant in his "Memoirs" -says: "The safety of Burnside's army and the loyal people of East -Tennessee had been the subject of much anxiety to the President, and he -was telegraphing me daily, almost hourly, to 'remember Burnside,' 'do -something for Burnside,' and other appeals of like tenor." In my letter -of December 10, I say: "Burnside goes out of this Department with the -admiration of the whole army. His defense of Knoxville was glorious, -and his goodness of heart and purity of character endear him to all who -know him." Years after, while Minister to Mexico, I visited Washington -at the time when Burnside was a Senator from his State, and received -from him much social attention in recognition of our army friendship. - -From Bean Station I wrote again on December 13:-- - -"We are still at this place, from which I last wrote you, being -comparatively quiet. We daily send out reconnoissances toward -Rogersville and Morristown. They generally meet the enemy nine and -twelve miles out, have a pretty sharp skirmish, lose a few men killed -and wounded, and then return to camp. The enemy do not appear to be -retreating, or rather appear to have stopped retreating. My health -continues very good, and I am in good spirits, only I get quite -homesick at times. I will get home as soon as I can, but the prospect -for doing so is not very flattering." - -In a hurried visit to Knoxville I wrote on the 23d of December:-- - -"As I got to thinking about home, I said to General Foster that when -my services could be dispensed with, I would like to take a leave of -absence. He says he cannot think of letting me go for ten days or two -weeks, but hopes at the expiration of that time that the exigencies of -the service will permit him to let me go home. That means that I may -probably go home if the enemy will let me. Don't fix your heart on my -coming soon. It will be as soon as I can consistently." - -This is my Christmas letter:-- - -"I can do nothing better to-night than to write you a letter by way of -a Christmas present. We have to-day unexpectedly had a quiet, if not -a Merry Christmas, though it did not appear last night as though it -would be so. About 3 P.M. yesterday I received orders (in camp near -Blain's Cross-Roads) to move over at once and join General Sturgis at -New Market, where the main body of the cavalry are. We got off about -sunset, but did not arrive here till midnight, having to ford the -Holston and travel over a very bad road. How longingly I thought of -what you and the dear ones at home might be doing at that hour as I -marched along in the clear, stinging cold night. - -"After the cold and cheerless ride we fortunately got into comfortable -quarters, and have been quiet to-day, enjoying the rest and comfort. -We improvised a pretty good Christmas dinner. Among the delicacies we -don't get often, we had eggs and butter. We are not living in excellent -Epicurean style just now, as the country is pretty well eaten out. - -"I cannot see any prospect of our getting into winter quarters, such -as the papers report the Army of the Potomac and of the Cumberland are -enjoying. The climate of East Tennessee is very similar to that of -Indiana, and the men are very scantily supplied with 'dog' or shelter -tents and many have not even these to cover them. My commands since we -came into East Tennessee have been on one continuous campaign without -cessation. Up the country, over the mountains, across the rivers, down -the valley, then up again, driving the enemy before us, then falling -back, to drive the enemy up the valley again--thus we have been for -four months, until we have run down our horses and about half of our -men. But we are enduring it very well, still after the rebels with as -much zest as ever. There is a vast deal of excitement in the cavalry -service." - -My last letter to my wife from East Tennessee was written on the last -day of 1863, which I began with a prayer:-- - -"Let us not forget to thank our dear Heavenly Father for all His -mercies of the past year. Oh, how good He has been to us, even with -all our troubles! How little we have done in our lives to repay that -goodness! May He make us more worthy of His mercies and blessing in the -New Year, and may He preserve our lives that we may together meet and -praise Him. To His watchful care I commit my dear wife and little ones. - -"I last wrote you from New Market. I was enjoying a quiet rainy -Sunday there, reading some good book I found at the house where I was -quartered, when about noon I received orders for my division to move -forward and attack the enemy and drive him back from Mossy Creek. It -was an unwelcome order that rainy Sabbath, but we executed it, and -after considerable skirmishing took up a new line two miles beyond -Mossy Creek. Yesterday Colonel Wolford's division and mine were ordered -out at three o'clock in the morning to Dandridge, where it was reported -a division of rebel cavalry was encamped. We went, but found the enemy -had left the night before, and we returned at 4 P.M. just in time -to miss a nice little fight at Mossy Creek. The enemy attacked our -outposts at 11 A.M. and drove our troops back two miles, but ours in -turn drove them back again beyond our lines. It is not often that my -men have the fortune, or misfortune, to miss the fighting, as we did -yesterday. - -"We have here our entire force of cavalry, and one brigade of infantry. -The rest of the army is at Strawberry Plains and Blain's Cross-Roads. -Longstreet is reported at Morristown with the main body of his army. -I suppose General Foster intends to drive him away from there, if -possible, how soon I don't care because I want to come home as soon as -the fighting here is over, and take a little rest with my dear wife and -darling little girls." - -I may venture, before closing my East Tennessee correspondence, to -give in part the last of these letters, as a specimen of letters to a -soldier's child, written on January 1, 1864:-- - -"Why should I not write a letter this New Year's Day to my dear little -Alice? I am so far away I can't give you any nice present; all I can do -is to try to write you a good letter.... - -"What have you and Lillie and the other little children been doing -to-day? And did you have a Christmas tree and a happy time then? Papa -has not had much of a New Year's Day. It has been so cold, oh so very -cold to-day. Was it cold at home? I could tell you a story about the -cold. Would you like papa to tell you a little story in his letter? Do -you still like to hear stories? Well, I can tell you part of it, and -mamma can tell it over to you and _fill it up_. - -"Papa, you know, is away off, out in the mountains, so far away from -home, in the army, and you know there are so many poor soldiers in the -army. Yesterday, the last day of the old year, was such a gloomy day, -it was so muddy and wet and rainy. And then last night it blew so hard -and rained so much; it was like a hurricane (get mamma to tell you what -that is). And the poor soldiers have no houses to live in, like little -Alice, with nice warm beds, and they don't have large tents like you -saw out in the woods near home last summer when Uncle Jimmy and the -rest of the boys and men were out soldiering. They have to live in the -fields and woods, and their tents are like grandma's tablecloth, only -smaller, and they stretch that up over a pole and it is open at both -ends, and at night two or three or four of them get down on their hands -and knees and crawl into it and pull their blankets over them when -they go to bed. The soldiers call them 'dog-tents.' Ask Lillie if she -thinks it would be good enough for her 'Trip.' Well, last night, after -many of the soldiers had been marching in the rain, and when most of -them were wet and their blankets wet, they built large fires, but they -wouldn't burn well because it was too wet, and they crawled into the -'dog-tents,' and were trying to get to sleep when the naughty wind -commenced to blow and it began again to rain, and the rain would blow -on their heads and they would draw them further into their tents, and -then it would rain on their feet, and pretty soon there came up such -a hurricane that it blew all their tents clear off of them, and there -they were lying on the muddy ground, and the cold rain pouring down -on them. And they all had to get up out of bed. It had rained so hard -that it put all their fires nearly out so they couldn't get warm. Poor -soldiers, don't you pity them? - -"Some of the soldiers were out, away off in the dark woods on that -terrible night on _picket_ (get Willie or Uncle Aleck to tell you what -that is). And they had to sit all night on their poor horses away out -by themselves with their guns in their hands and swords by their sides, -watching to keep the wicked rebels from slipping into camp in the dark -night and killing your poor papa and the rest of the soldiers. After a -while the rain stopped, but the wind kept blowing and whistling through -the trees and over the mountains and making such a terrible noise. -You can hear it whistle around the corner of grandmamma's house, but -it moans and whistles so much louder out here over the mountains, it -might frighten little girls if they did not know what it was. Soon the -wind began to change around toward the north where Jack Frost lives and -from where the white snow comes, and the rain began to freeze, and the -ground got hard, and it was so cold, oh bitter cold. The poor soldiers -could sleep no more that night, their blankets were all frozen stiff -as an icicle, and they had to build great big fires to keep their coats -and pants from freezing on them. It was all they could do to keep from -freezing; they could not keep warm. - -"Some of the men, when we went out to drive away the rebels from the -other side of the mountain, were hungry and they stopped behind us at -a farmhouse to get something to eat, and the wicked rebels caught them -and took their overcoats away from them, and took their warm boots off -their feet; and some of the poor fellows got away from them and walked -all the way from the rebel camp over the frozen ground barefooted. -To-day the soldiers have done nothing but build big fires and stand -close up to them and try to keep warm. - -"These poor soldiers and your papa have come away from our homes and -left good mammas and dear little daughters to keep the wicked bad -rebels from making this country a poor, unhappy one, and that when -little Alice and the dear children of the other soldiers grow up they -will have a good and a happy country, and won't have to know about wars -and such terrible things. You must remember about the poor soldiers, -and pray God that He will be very kind to them and make the time soon -come when they and your papa can all of them go home to their dear -little daughters and good mammas. - -"Kiss mamma and little Sister Edith for me, and tell your little -cousins Gwyn and Foster and Johnny that your papa hopes to come home -soon and that he will then come around with you and see them all." - -As intimated in the last letter to my wife, General Foster did make a -forward movement with his entire force, and pushed the enemy toward the -Virginia line, but thereafter there was a lull in army operations for -the rest of the winter on both sides. The time had come for which I -had so long looked when I could without injury to the service ask for -a leave of absence, which General Foster, commanding the Department, -cheerfully granted, and before the last of January, 1864, I was on my -way home, going by way of Chattanooga and Nashville, as the railroad -communication was then well established. - -I have noted the death of my father in April, 1863. He had been -actively engaged in extensive mercantile affairs, and while not wealthy -(as the world estimates wealth now), was possessed of considerable -property, both real and personal. By his will he made me the executor -of his estate and guardian of the two minor children. In August, 1863, -after I was well on the march to East Tennessee, I received a letter -from my brother stating that the court at Evansville had required my -presence in the proceedings for the settlement of my father's estate, -but I obtained a stay until I should be able to get released from my -army duties, with the assurance on my part that I would make as little -delay as possible. - -When I reached home I found the affairs of my father's estate in such -condition that I could not conclude my duties as executor in the time -fixed for my "leave" from my command. There was the widow, two minor -and four adult heirs claiming attention to my duties as executor. -Under the circumstances I felt it proper to tender my resignation -from the army, especially as I had already determined to do so at the -expiration of my three years' term of service, which would be within -four months. - -There was no reason for me to tender my resignation except the -undischarged duty of executor and my earnest desire to be with my -family. During my entire army service I had enjoyed good health and -was pleased with the active life. I had been reasonably successful in -military affairs, and had held large and important commands to the -satisfaction of my superior officers, and there was every prospect of -my early promotion in rank. But I put aside preferment and possible -military distinction for the more immediate call of family duty. The -outlook for the suppression of the rebellion was at that date most -favorable. Grant had been made commander-in-chief, and was organizing -his army for the final march on Richmond; Sherman was preparing for his -advance on Atlanta and his march to the sea; and at no time since the -opening of hostilities had the cause of the Union looked so auspicious. - -General Sturgis, in command of the cavalry corps to which I belonged, -in forwarding my resignation to the Department general made the -following endorsement:-- - -"In approving this resignation, I cannot refrain from expressing my -deep regret in parting with so intelligent, energetic, and brave an -officer. I have for some time been aware of the business and family -interests which I feared would sooner or later deprive the army of -the services of Colonel Foster, yet after so long and faithful service -he should be, I think, relieved under the circumstances. His loss, -however, will be severely felt in this corps and his place hard to -fill." - -When my resignation became known to the Sixty-fifth Regiment the -officers held a meeting in which a series of resolutions were adopted -declaring "that Colonel Foster, since his connection with the regiment -has been unceasing in his labors in, and untiring in his devotion -to, the cause in which we are engaged, and has spared no means to -render his regiment efficient; that he has commanded the regiment -with distinguished honor to himself and to the regiment; that in his -resignation the regiment and the service have lost an efficient and -valuable officer; and that he bears with him to his home our highest -esteem and our best wishes as a citizen." - -An editorial of considerable length appeared in the "Evansville -Journal," from which the following is an extract:-- - -We regret exceedingly to learn that Colonel John W. Foster has felt it -to be his duty to resign his commission as colonel of the Sixty-fifth -Indiana Regiment, and that his resignation has been accepted. We have -known for some time that circumstances--growing out of his father's -death, occasioned an almost absolute necessity for his personal -attention to the settlement of a vast amount of unfinished business -left by the Judge--were conspiring to force Colonel Foster out of the -service, but we were in hope that matters might be so arranged as to -enable him to remain in the field. It seems, however, that this could -not be done, and our Government loses the services of one of its most -gallant, energetic, and experienced officers. Colonel Foster entered -the service of his country in the summer of 1861, as major of the -Twenty-fifth Regiment Indiana Volunteers. He laid aside the profession -of the law, and took upon himself the profession of arms, from a -conscientious belief that his first service was due to his Government. -Without experience, or even a theoretical knowledge of military life -when he entered the service, so close was his application to study, -that but a short time elapsed before he was a thorough master of all -the duties incumbent upon his position as Major of the regiment, or -for that matter with any position connected with the regiment. Colonel -Foster was a rigid disciplinarian, yet he exacted nothing from his men -that was not essential to the efficiency of his regiment, or that he -was unwilling to perform himself. - -After a detailed review of my military service, it adds:-- - -Colonel Foster has proven his patriotism by his actions and in -retiring to private life he will carry with him the assurance that he -has merited the good wishes of his countrymen and secured the great -satisfaction of an approving conscience. - -From an editorial in the "Louisville Journal" the following is -extracted:-- - -The resignation of Colonel John W. Foster of the Sixty-fifth Indiana -Regiment has been accepted. His retirement from the army is to be -regretted, as he was one of the most experienced, efficient and gallant -officers in the service. - -After a sketch of my military career, it says:-- - -Colonel Foster accompanied the expedition of General Burnside in the -movement on East Tennessee, at times commanding brigades and even -divisions. Just before tendering his resignation he was recommended -for a brigadier-general's commission by Generals Burnside and Grant. -Important business relating to his father's estate demanded immediate -attention, and forced his resignation. The army and the country alike -regret his retirement to private life. - - - - -VIII -WITH THE HUNDRED DAYS MEN - - -About three months elapsed after my return home from the East Tennessee -campaign when a new appeal was made to me to reënter the military -service. General Sherman was assembling at and near Chattanooga an -army to make his great drive on Atlanta and into the very heart of -the rebellion. To succeed in his decisive movement he had to draw -his supplies from north of the Ohio River over a single long line of -railroad communication, reaching from Louisville through the States -of Kentucky and Tennessee to Chattanooga, and beyond as his army -advanced. This line of supplies was mainly through hostile territory, -and every part of it had to be guarded by armed soldiers. In order -to give Sherman every possible trained soldier to swell his army so -as to make the movement a success, it was determined to send all the -soldiers then guarding this line of railroad to the front, which would -prove a large addition to the fighting force of Sherman's army, and to -replace them as guards with new recruits, who could be effective behind -intrenchments and when on the defensive. Accordingly the Governors of -the States of the Middle West made a call upon their several States for -regiments of volunteers to serve for one hundred days, the estimated -period of Sherman's campaign to Atlanta. - -The call upon the State of Indiana was responded to with alacrity, -and within a few days several regiments were formed and in a short -time made ready for service. It was the desire of Governor Morton to -have these raw recruits commanded, as far as possible, as colonels and -other staff officers, by men who had already seen service and were -experienced in actual fighting. One of these regiments, largely made -up from Evansville and the adjoining counties, expressed a strong -desire that I might be appointed to command them, and this action was -followed by a telegram from Governor Morton tendering me a commission -as colonel, and making a strong appeal to me to again give my services -to the country in this great emergency. - -I confess the call did not strongly appeal to me from a military -viewpoint, as the contemplated service did not promise any distinction -in warlike operations; but on the other hand, it was a service which -would be just as useful in promoting Sherman's success as if we should -be sent to the front and take part in the actual fighting, for without -this line of communication for supplies being maintained his campaign -must assuredly prove a failure. I recalled the fact in ancient history -that the greatest of Hebrew generals, following the well-recognized -rules of warfare, insisted on giving to those who guarded the camp and -protected the line to the rear the same honor and emoluments as those -who did the fighting. The Scriptural historian has preserved King -David's words: "As his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall -his part be that tarrieth by the stuff; they shall part alike." So -important did he deem this principle that the historian records that -"from that day forward he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel -unto this day." - -I had made much progress in the business of settling my father's -estate, the cause of my previous resignation, and having secured my -wife's consent to my reënlistment, there seemed to be no good reason -for not responding to the call of the Governor and my townsmen and -neighbors, and within three days after tender of my commission I was on -the way to put myself at the head of the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth -Indiana Infantry Volunteers. I have indicated that the character of the -service to which we were to be assigned, the guarding of the railroad, -did not promise any brilliant military exploits, and the extracts -which I shall make from my letters may not be found of much interest, -but they will at least set forth the manner in which we filled up our -Hundred Days' service in the cause of our country. - -The One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Indiana was mustered into service May -23, 1864, at Indianapolis, and passed through Louisville. My letter of -the 31st states:-- - -"We left Louisville on Saturday morning, and I stationed the companies -along the railroad from Shepardsville to Nolin, ten miles below here -(Elizabethtown) on the railroad. I had hardly got the companies -distributed, selected my headquarters here, and got my dinner, before -the train arrived from Nashville bringing an aide to Major-General -Rousseau, who was on the hunt for the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth -Indiana, which should go to his command in Tennessee, but he saw by -the Louisville papers that it had been stopped, and would go along -the railroad. The aide had orders for me to go direct to Nashville at -once, disregarding all orders from all sources but the War Department; -but as General Burbridge had ordered me to come here, and as I was -in his district, and was guarding important bridges which should not -be abandoned, I decided to wait until the generals should get their -conflict in orders adjusted. We have been waiting in doubt as to our -future for two days; meanwhile the generals had been telegraphing with -each other and with me, until last night I received orders to go to -Nashville as soon as transportation was provided. How soon the cars -will be ready to take me down I do not know." - -Within two days we arrived in Nashville whence my letter of June 4 -says:-- - -"I wrote you a note yesterday that we would go to Murfreesboro. I went -down there yesterday and returned this morning. I will be off for that -place again in an hour with three companies. The rest of the regiment -will follow to-night and in the morning. We shall not be quite so well -situated there as we were at Elizabethtown, nor for that matter as -comfortably situated as _at home_, but I think we can get through the -one hundred days there at least tolerably _safely_, which is the great -point with you, is it not? Uncle Tom arrived here yesterday from the -Sixty-fifth in poor health. I have been hunting for him this morning, -but have not as yet been able to find him." - -This last refers to Colonel Johnson, of whom I have made reference -in previous letters. Three times he had been granted furlough on -account of ill-health, but with the grim determination of a martyr, he -persisted in his effort to remain with his command, at that time at the -front with Sherman's army. - -In my letter of June 8, I give an account of our camp and surroundings -at Murfreesboro:-- - -"When we arrived here the general directed me to camp the regiment -in the fortress, a large and very strong series of earthworks and -rifle-pits, built by Rosecrans's army after the battle of Stone River. -The enclosures are large, open spaces, without a particle of shade or -grass, entirely exposed to the sun. The troops already in the fortress -have erected tolerably comfortable barracks, but there was no material -out of which to make any more; and as our men had nothing but shelter -tents, I was afraid if put into such a camp the exposure would bring -on sickness. So I rode all round the vicinity of the town and found -several very good camping-places, and induced the general to let us -camp out of the fortress, in such suitable place as I might select. I -found a very fine camp in a beautiful grove just at the edge of the -town, and adjoining a very fine spring of water, which pleases officers -and men very much. Two companies are stationed below on the railroad, -and we shall have eight companies here, making a very respectable -battalion. - -"How long we will remain here is very uncertain, but we shall be very -well satisfied to stay here during the remainder of our one hundred -days. Since we went into camp I have been putting the regiment through -in drill and duties of soldiers, keeping officers and men quite busy. -Besides these drills, Lieutenant-Colonel Walker drills the officers an -hour, and I have two recitations of officers an hour each in Tactics -and Regulations. In the evenings after supper I give them a lecture -on the Army Regulations, organization, and military customs, which is -quite as profitable to me as to them, as it requires considerable study -and posting on my part. We had our first battalion drill to-day and it -proved quite interesting. At the present rate of daily duties in one -month I shall have the regiment in a condition to compare favorably -with the veteran regiments in drill at least. I want to bring them home -well drilled and thoroughly instructed in the duties of the soldier. -I have the reputation of being a strict disciplinarian, but I think -the officers and the intelligent men appreciate it. The exercises not -only make them better soldiers, but the active service makes them more -healthy than to lie idle in camp. - -"Our camping-ground is on the lawn in front of one of the finest houses -in the State. The surroundings were before the ravages of war very -beautiful. The house was the headquarters of the rebel General Bragg, -before he fell back after the battle of Stone River. The owner was -formerly quite wealthy, the possessor of a large plantation here and -one in Mississippi. He is now keeping a store in town for the support -of his family, reaping the reward of the rebellion of himself and -relatives." - -In my letter of June 13 I give another view of camp life:-- - -"Yesterday was our first real Sabbath in camp, and we spent it very -pleasantly. We had the Sunday morning inspection at eight o'clock, -beginning it with a short religious exercise by the chaplain. The -inspection would have been very creditable to old soldiers. The men -had their arms and accouterments and clothing in fine order and looked -well. These Sunday morning inspections have a fine effect, it causes -the men to clean up themselves and their arms, and makes them feel it -is a real Sabbath, which they are likely to forget in camp. - -"After inspection we were quite liberal in allowing the men more passes -for the day, going out in squads in charge of officers. Some went to -church, but many went to stroll over the battlefield of Stone River, -which is about two miles from town. Major Hynes and I went in town -to church, and heard Dr. Gazeton preach. He has just returned from -the South. The Doctor is (or was) a New School Presbyterian of some -reputation in Tennessee before the rebellion. He is a bitter rebel, -but, of course, did not give any manifestation of it in his services. -There was a strong New School Church here before the war, but they were -all rebels; the church building almost ruined by the armies, and its -members very much scattered. - -"At five we had preaching by our chaplain, a Baptist brother from -Spencer County, a good man but a very poor preacher, an old farmer and -ignorant; is worse than the chaplains of my other two regiments. I -shall go out of the war, I fear, with a poor opinion of chaplains from -personal experience. Although our chaplain's sermon was a poor affair, -the men were attentive and respectful. Altogether the day was very -creditably passed by the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Indiana. But how -much more pleasantly and profitably it would have been spent by me at -home, with my own family and in our own church." - -In a letter of June 15 I refer to the character of the regiment:-- - -"We are getting along very pleasantly in camp; everything passes off -quietly; the men are making a commendable degree of progress in the -drill, and take to soldiering very readily. Thus far I have had no -difficulty in controlling the men. I never saw a regiment more easily -governed. This comes in part from its personnel. Being called upon -for only one hundred days of service, many business and professional -men, who could not well afford to give up their business entirely, can -arrange to go into the army for so short a time; and as a result the -lower officers and the men are many of them among our best citizens. -Besides, the service is easy. We have none of the hard marches and -exposures described by me in the campaigning of the Twenty-fifth and -Sixty-fifth Indiana. As a private in one of the Evansville companies, -was my younger brother James H., who left the senior class at the -Indiana University before graduating to serve his country." - -This letter also relates an event which brings out the terrible -consequences of war in dividing families, especially in the border -State of Kentucky:-- - -"I wrote you some time since that a brother of Major Hynes (of our One -Hundred and Thirty-sixth) was in the rebel army and had been at home -at Bardstown, Kentucky. Hynes received a letter this evening from his -father telling him that his brother had been killed in trying to get -back through our lines to the Southern army. He was shot in the woods -and lay in the bushes two weeks before his father found the body." - -Referring to the rebel cavalry raids which were just then threatening -Washington and Baltimore, I wrote:-- - -"Even if Washington is burnt the rebels can't hold it, and it would -be the means, I hope, of raising up the North to renewed efforts, and -then there would be a good opportunity to remove the Capital to the -West, where it ought to be. We have not suffered enough in the North -yet to make the people see that there is to be no peace with the rebels -except by their complete overthrow. Otherwise we are disgraced, ruined, -forever destroyed as a nation. We must and will in the end put down -this wicked rebellion. The ways of Providence are inscrutable. 'God -moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform,' but He is a God -of Justice and Right, and we will triumph in the end. Had I been an -infidel or a weak believer in the righteousness of God, long since I -would have been discouraged, but I am not. Let us pray for our country, -for the triumph of right, of truth, of freedom, and that God may in His -wisdom hasten the end of this bloody war and the return of peace; and -that we may together live to enjoy our family and Christian privileges -under it." - -On July 16 I report:-- - -"General Van Cleve has been called temporarily to Tullahoma, which -leaves me in command of the post and brigade here, including Fortress -Rosecrans. The change will probably be only for a few days or a week. I -would much rather be with the regiment, as I am interested in the drill -and instruction of the regiment, and can spend the time pleasantly with -them. - -"I am now at headquarters of the post very comfortably situated; have -a room for myself carpeted and well furnished. Captain Otis, General -Van Cleve's adjutant-general, a very competent officer, is left here, -and he has his wife with him. It looks quite homelike to sit down at -a table with a lady to preside, and also to nurse the baby. It was -reported that the rebels were crossing the Tennessee River yesterday -at Claysville, intending to make a raid on the railroad, but I hardly -believe it." - -A bright side of the soldier's life is given in my letter of July 21:-- - -"We have no news of special importance. I don't have very much to do -in my post command, am comfortably situated in quarters, and have -about enough business to keep the time from being dull. Captain Otis -and his wife and I are the only members of our mess, and we have a -very pleasant table. When General Rosecrans was in command here he -established a large hospital garden, worked by the convalescents in the -hospitals. It is now producing large quantities of vegetables, and our -table is very liberally supplied from it with green corn, tomatoes, -beets, cucumbers, potatoes, squashes, etc. We also enjoy plenty of milk -and butter, with ice to cool them. The general left his servant here, -and he has nothing to do but take care of my room, black my boots, and -brush my clothes, etc. There are a number of officers' wives here, and -we have frequent company in our parlor of these and occasionally of -rebel ladies. So you see the hardships of the poor soldier's life at -present being undergone by me are such as I may be able to endure with -safety to my life!" - -In my letter of July 30, I report my return to the regiment:-- - -"General Van Cleve arrived last night and I returned to the command of -the regiment. I think it was needing my attention from appearances. -In the two weeks I have been absent there has been only one battalion -drill. Although this is Saturday afternoon and we are not accustomed -to having drill that afternoon, yet I am going to give them battalion -drill to make up for lost time. I want them to make a fine appearance -when we return to Indiana. We are now drilling in the bayonet exercise, -which interests the men very much." - -A week later I write:-- - -"We are having as usual a quiet Sabbath. My present term of service -is so very different from that which I have heretofore been used to. -Before it was all activity, bustle, battles, pursuits or retreats. -But now it is all the quiet monotony of camp life, broken only by the -routine of drill. Heretofore I seldom had a quiet Sunday. Now I can -read my Bible and religious papers regularly, write to my dear one, -and attend Church services. But with all these privileges there is no -day in which I miss home so much." - -Taking advantage of our quiet camp life, I obtained leave to visit -Knoxville, where I had spent so many pleasant days the year before. My -letter of the 13th of August gives some account of that visit:-- - -"Does it look natural to you to see this letter dated from Knoxville? -I left Murfreesboro day before yesterday, woke up in the morning -and found myself across the Tennessee River and in the midst of the -mountains. The scenery is quite romantic and attractive. I felt at -once that I was in East Tennessee. There is nothing in scenery like -the mountains. In a little while we came in sight of Lookout Mountain, -stretching far away with its range into Georgia, and jutting up with -its bold promontory into the Tennessee River, and far above the mist of -the river rose the spur so celebrated as Hooker's Battle of the Clouds. -Soon we came into Chattanooga, bristling with its many battlements, -and alive with the hurry and bustle of that great army dépôt. It is -astonishing to note what a vast machinery it requires in the rear to -support and keep supplied a large army. - -"The run up to Knoxville was quite pleasant, where we arrived at -half-past five in the evening. On my way up to the hotel I met an old -Tennessee acquaintance who acted as a guide for me in my raids last -autumn. He would listen to nothing but that I must be his guest, so I -went around and stopped with him. I came down in town in the evening, -and called on some of my old friends who showed much pleasure in -seeing me again. To-day I have been busy in calling on other old -friends, and took dinner to-day with Mrs. Locke, who was very glad -to have me again at her house. I am to take supper with General -Tillottson, commanding the post. I have found a number of the old -Sixty-fifth and of my staff here on detailed duty. - -"They are organizing an expedition for a raid into upper East -Tennessee, in my old route of campaigning, and, to be frank, I have -been very much tempted to go up with them, as they are anxious to -have me. But it would detain me beyond my leave, and I might expect a -scolding from my dear little wife. So I will leave in two or three days -and return direct to Murfreesboro." - -As the term of enlistment of our regiment was drawing to a close, a -movement was set on foot to have me continue in the service. The Union -men of western Kentucky were very anxious to have me return to that -district and drive out the guerrillas, who had been very troublesome -after I had left that region. They had been in conference with my -older brother George, who took a great pride in my military career and -was very ambitious for me. The plan was to have me made a brigadier -general, and given a special command of western Kentucky. When this -was made known to me I answered my brother George that if the command -was tendered me without any effort on my part I might take it into -consideration, but only on the express condition that my wife would -consent to it. It is to this plan I refer in some of my letters to her. -In the one of July 31 I say:-- - -"The expiration of our term of enlistment is drawing near and a strong -effort will be made to get our regiment to reënlist for one, two, or -three years. What do you say,--must I go in for it? They are also -writing me from Kentucky urging me to come back there and clear the -guerrillas out of my old field of operations. I must confess the latter -proposition is something of a temptation to me. I would like to spend -three or four weeks there in chasing out the guerrillas, and then I -really do believe I could come home and stay there in peace." - -On August 7 I write my wife:-- - -"I had been back from the army just long enough with my wife and little -darlings to appreciate how much I had missed during the three years -gone, and I do believe when I get home this time I shall be able to -conclude that I have discharged my duty to my country and done my -share of the fighting, and that I have also a duty to discharge to my -family, which I have sadly neglected for the three years past; and I -hope that for the rest of my life I shall devote myself to them. Major -Hynes was saying to me the other day that you had acted so nobly during -my absence he thought I owed it to you and my children when I was out -of the service this time to stay at home. But I take so much interest -in the war and am so thoroughly satisfied with the correctness of the -principles for which it is being prosecuted, that I must confess I do -not like to leave the army, when all of our experienced officers and -men are so badly needed, but I hope I will be able to see my duty clear -to stay at home. I trust my influence and efforts there will not be -entirely useless." - -I wrote fully to my wife of the plans of my Kentucky friends and my -brother, and from my letters it appears they met with her decided -disapproval. On August 20 I wrote: "I was sorry on my return from -Knoxville and read your letters and saw how you felt about my going -into the service again, that I had written George on the subject." And -again I wrote: "I was sorry to know from your letter that my letter -in which I had said something about reëntering the service had given -you any pain or solicitude, as I did not design that it should do so. -I never yet have entered the service or left home except with your -consent or approval, and I will not do it in the future. As I have -written heretofore, I think I have served my country long enough to -serve my family awhile; and I hope nothing will occur to prevent my -early return to my home." - -Some fear was entertained that the efforts of the Confederate cavalry -to break up the railroad connections would detain our regiment in -Tennessee beyond the term of enlistment, but no such untoward event -occurred. The One Hundred and Thirty-sixth left Murfreesboro on -August 25 under my command, passed through Louisville the next day, -and the day following took the cars at New Albany for Indianapolis. -The citizens of Bloomington, the seat of Indiana University where the -"Foster boys" had received their education, having notice that the -regiment would pass their town about noon, entertained them with a -hurried but sumptuous dinner. We found a warm supper awaiting us and -were comfortably quartered at Indianapolis in barracks, where we -spent one week waiting to be paid off and mustered out of the service. -During this time we took part in a review by Governor Morton of six -thousand troops gathered at the Capital of the State, and in this and -our regimental parades we were enabled with much pride to exhibit our -accomplishments in soldiery. - - - - -In the introduction to the compilation of these letters I described -myself in entering the service as a peace man, as having no desire for -military glory, having no special fitness for the life of a soldier, -and entertaining a horror of war. The reader of these letters must -have noted the gradual development of a taste for or satisfaction -with the service. Even at the outset in Missouri, in describing in -glowing colors the exposure to the climate and the hard marching, I -manifest a certain enthusiasm for my success as a wagon-master, or for -my prospective work of an architect of the log-hut winter quarters. -I early mastered the tactics, army regulations, and camp régime, and -often wrote of my interest in the drill and regimental and brigade -exercises. I refer to the gallant charges of our regiment and brigade -at Donelson, and speak of some parts of the bloody battle of Shiloh as -"grand beyond description." I hardly had words sufficient to describe -the deliverance by our army of the Union citizens of East Tennessee. -My intercourse with my comrades, superior and inferior officers and -men, is noticed as in all respects agreeable. When I entered the army -I was not robust, having too long led a student and office life, but -during my entire service I enjoyed almost uninterrupted good health, -the letters constantly speaking of how the outdoor life and the most -active campaigning best agreed with me. So that it has been seen that -while at the end of three years of army service I was rejoiced to go -back to my home, to my wife and little ones, an offer to reënter the -army was quite a temptation to me. - -But my life in the army did not alter the views I had formed in my -college life of the horror and futility of war, but rather strengthened -and confirmed them. I witnessed the sad effects of the conflict in -dividing and embittering brothers of the same blood, the ravages of the -battlefield and the hospital, the valuable lives lost and the widows -and orphans, the enormous expenditure of money, and the great war debt -and pensions to be paid by a coming generation. All these evils might -have been avoided by a peaceful adjustment of the questions which -were settled by the armed conflict. The emancipation of the slaves by -purchase would have been many times less than the cost of the war in -money, without counting the saving of the lives lost, the widows and -orphans, and the bitterness engendered. There is a certain glamour -about warfare which attracts the participant, but it is fictitious and -unchristian. I pray God that our country may be delivered from its -horrors in the future. - - -THE END - -[Illustration: -Copyright by Bass and Woodworth, Indianapolis -SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, INDIANAPOLIS] - - - - -APPENDIX -INDIANA SOLDIERS' MONUMENT - - -Some years after the close of the Civil War the Legislature of Indiana -determined to erect a monument at Indianapolis, "designed to glorify -the heroic epoch of the Republic and to commemorate the valor and -fortitude of Indiana's Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Rebellion -and other wars." - -The corner-stone of this monument was laid in 1887 with appropriate -services, including an oration by President Benjamin Harrison. It was -completed and dedicated in 1902. It stands upon a terrace 110 feet -in diameter, with a foundation of 69 by 53 feet, the height of the -monument from the street level is 284 feet, and is crowned by a Victory -statue of 38 feet. On subordinate pedestals occupying positions in the -four segments are bronze statues of Governor Morton, Governor Whitcomb, -General William Henry Harrison, and General George Rogers Clark. It is -claimed to be the largest and most expensive soldiers' monument in the -United States, and one of the grandest achievements of architectural -and sculptural art in the world. - -The dedication services on the completion of the monument were held -on May 15, 1902, attended by military and civic delegations from -all parts of the State, parades, salutes, dedication exercises, and -illuminations, occupying the entire day and evening. The dedication -address follows. - - -ADDRESS OF JOHN W. FOSTER, DELIVERED AT THE DEDICATION OF SOLDIERS' -MONUMENT, AT INDIANAPOLIS MAY 15, 1902 - -_Mr. Chairman, Governor Durbin, Comrades and Fellow Citizens_: - -We are gathered to-day inspired by mingled feelings of joy and sadness, -of pride and sorrow. To the generation who have come upon the stage -of public life since the scenes were enacted which are glorified in -this noble monument, it may well be an occasion of exultation, for -they see only the blessings conferred upon the State and Nation by the -deeds of the heroic dead whose memory we are assembled to honor. But to -those of us who were their comrades in service, there arises the sad -recollection of the carnage of battle and the wasting experience of the -hospital. While the stirring notes of martial music, the booming of -cannon, and the waving of flags awaken the enthusiasm and the patriotic -pride of the people, there are many mothers and widows to whom this -brilliant scene is but the reopening of the fountain not yet dried up -by twoscore years of weeping. - -It is for no idle purpose I recall the solemn phase of the pageantry of -these dedication exercises, for it cannot fail to impress more deeply -upon us the debt we owe to the men for whom this magnificent memorial -has been raised. - -It commemorates the sacrifice of twenty-five thousand men--Indiana's -contribution to the cause of the Union. A fearful price this Nation -paid for its life. A veritable army is this, larger than any gathered -under Washington or Scott. In those dark days, when our comrades were -pouring out their life's blood on a hundred battlefields, when new -calls were made for more men to fill the depleted ranks, when the -scales hung trembling between success and failure, it seemed sometimes -as if the State could not endure the fearful slaughter. But the triumph -of the right came at last. And time has healed the scars of war. We can -now look back upon the scene as one only of heroic deeds. - -It was highly appropriate that on the apex of this shaft there should -be placed the emblem of Victory. Never in the history of human warfare -has there been a triumph more significant of blessing to mankind. The -Goddess of Victory crowns this monument, but it is not in exultation -over a fallen foe. I thank God that in the dedication services to-day -there is no feeling of bitterness toward the men who fought against our -dead comrades. We rejoice to know that they are loyal citizens with us -of a common country. We must not, however, belittle the sacrifice of -our honored dead. Right, humanity, and progress were on the side of -the Union armies, and it was chiefly for this reason we have reared -this noble pile of bronze and marble. - -What the victory they gained signifies to this Nation, to this -continent, and to all peoples, has been so often, so exhaustively, -and so eloquently told, that I hesitate to even allude to it. But my -observation in foreign lands has so forcibly impressed on me one of -the inestimable blessings which has been secured to us and to future -generations by the triumph of the Union arms, that I deem this a -fitting occasion to call it to mind. - -Scarcely second in importance to the maintenance of republican -government in its purity and vigor and the extirpation of slavery, -are the reign of peace and deliverance from standing armies, which -the unbroken Union guarantees to us and to our children. It requires -no vivid imagination to conceive of some of the results which would -have followed a division of the states--a frontier lined with -fortifications, bristling with cannon and garrisoned by a hostile -soldiery; conscription and taxation such as had never been known -before; constant alarms of war; and political and international -complications which would have put an end to our boasted American -policy and Monroe Doctrine. - -One of the things which most attracts the attention of foreigners who -visit our shores is the absence of soldiers about our public buildings, -in our cities, and along the thoroughfares of commerce. And those who -have never seen our country can scarcely realize that it is possible to -carry on a government of order and stability without a constant show of -military force. In all the nations of Europe it has been for so many -generations the continuous practice to maintain standing armies, that -it is considered a necessary and normal part of the system of political -organizations. The existence of rival and neighboring nations, -constantly on the alert to protect themselves from encroachment on -their territory and to maintain their own integrity, and the recent -advances in military science and warlike equipment, have caused a great -increase in the armies, enormously enlarged the expenditures, and -compelled a rigorous enforcement of the most exacting and burdensome -term of service; until to-day, in this high noon of Christian -civilization, Europe is one vast military camp, and, with such tension -in the international relations, that the slightest incident may set its -armies in battle array--the merest spark light the fires of war and -envelop the continent, if not the whole world, in the conflagration. - -Germany and France maintain an army on a peace footing of about a -half-million of men each, Russia of three quarters of a million, and -other Continental powers armies of relatively large proportions. The -term of military service required in each is from three to four years. -To support these enormous burdens the nations of Europe have imposed -upon their inhabitants the most oppressive taxation, and, besides, have -multiplied their public debts to the utmost extent of their national -credit. But great as these exactions are, they are as nothing compared -to the heavy demands made for the personal military service of the -people. To take from the best energies of every young man's life from -three to four years, just at the time when he is ready to lay the -foundations of his career and establish his domestic relations, is a -tax which can scarcely be estimated in money value, and is a burden -upon the inhabitants so heavy and so irritating that they stagger under -its weight and would rebel against it, did they dare resist the iron -tyranny of military rule. - -Thanks to the soldiers who fought triumphantly for the maintenance of -our Union of States, and that there might continue to be one great and -supreme nation on this continent, we are released from this curse of -a large standing army, we are free from its burdensome taxation and -debt, our young men are permitted to devote the flower of their lives -to useful industry and domestic enjoyment, and our free institutions -are not menaced by military oppression. To conquer a peace such as the -world has not heretofore seen, and to secure a reign of prosperity and -plenty which no other people of the present or the past has enjoyed, -did the men of Indiana fight and die. - -We are here to honor the soldier and the sailor; but it is well to -recall that ours is not a warlike people, and I pray God they never may -be. An event which greatly attracted the attention of Europe was that -when our Civil War was over the vast armies of near two millions of -men quietly laid down their arms and, without outlawry or marauding, -retired to their homes to renew their peaceful avocations. They had not -become professional soldiers. They were citizens of a great republic, -and felt their responsibilities as such. - -In all, our foreign wars have occupied less than five years in a -period of one hundred and twenty of our independence. Our greatest -achievements as a nation have been in the domain of peace. The one -aggressive war in which we have been engaged was that with Mexico, -and it was the unrighteous cause of slavery which led us to depart -from the line of justice in that instance. It is to be hoped that -no evil influence or ambition will ever again lead us into acts of -unjustifiable aggression. In the Spanish War, I think I speak the -sentiment of the great majority of my countrymen when I say, it was a -feeling of humanity which occasioned that conflict. It brought with -it results which we could not anticipate and which many of our people -lament. It has led to the expulsion of Spain and its bad system of -government from this hemisphere, certainly not an untoward event. If it -was a desire to benefit our fellow men that led us into that contest, I -feel sure the same spirit will control our conduct toward the millions -of people on the other side of the globe whom the fortunes of war have -so unexpectedly brought into our dominion. - -We are proud of the record which our country has made in the settlement -of disputes with foreign nations by the peaceful method of arbitration. -It is possible that all matters of difference cannot be adjusted in -that way, but it offers a remedy which commends itself to the lover -of peace and good-will among men, and it is our boast that we have -resorted to it more often than any other nation. - -It is not incumbent on me to give any account of this structure, -so perfect in art, so appropriate in design, embracing all arms of -the military service on land and sea. I must, however, as a comrade -of those whose fame it perpetuates, bear cheerful testimony to the -generosity of a grateful people, who have reared this costly column. -It is in keeping also with the munificence of the Federal Government -in all that relates to the memory and the welfare of those who fought -to secure the Union of these States. In the National Capital and -throughout the land, in every city, and in almost every town, there are -monuments to the Union soldiers, and the important battlefields have -been turned into public parks consecrated to the Nation's dead. - -And no government has been so liberal in its provisions for the -surviving veterans. Listen to a few eloquent figures. At the close of -the War for the Union our national debt amounted to the stupendous sum -of $2,700,000,000. And yet there has been paid out of the National -Treasury, since that date, for pensions an amount equal to that sum. -Before the Spanish War the pension roll amounted to two fifths of the -entire expenses of the Government, and it is even now, with the large -increase of both the civil and military list, one fourth of the total. -The payments on this account for the last year were about $140,000,000. -There are now on the roll, nearly forty years after the war, 997,735 -pensioners. Of the amount paid out, the pensioners from Indiana receive -$10,291,000 every year, and the Indianians on the list number 66,974. -The two great martial nations of Europe are France and Germany, but -their expenditures for military pensions are only one fifth and one -sixth of ours. In addition to these unparalleled disbursements, vast -sums have been expended for the establishment and maintenance of -Soldiers' Homes in various parts of the country. Surely the old soldier -cannot charge his Government with ingratitude. - -This day constitutes the culmination of the history of Indiana. This -imposing monument, peerless of its kind among the nations, the gift -of a rich and prosperous Commonwealth, the testimonial of a grateful -people to the men who gave their lives to save the Union and perpetuate -free institutions, stands to-day, with the quaternion of soldiers -and statesmen about it, a memorial of past achievement, an evidence -of present accomplishment in government, society, and industry, an -assurance of future prosperity and happiness. It was a wise discernment -of the memorable epochs in the history of the State which cause to be -associated with this central monument the statues of the two soldiers -and the two statesmen who adorn this artistic Circle. - -Of all the soldiers who were famous in the War of the Revolution, few -have rendered more imperishable services to the country than General -George Rogers Clark. I have not the time to dwell upon his military -career. You recall the repeated journeys he made across the mountains -from his Kentucky home to implore the Revolutionary authorities to -furnish him the means to save the great Northwest to the new nation. -The story of his voyage down the Ohio with a mere handful of resolute -patriots, his capture of Kaskaskia, his marvelous march in the dead -of winter to the assault and capture of Vincennes, are among the -most thrilling narratives of that heroic struggle; yet history has -failed to give him due credit for his great achievement. But for his -expedition, it is safe to say that the Northwest would have remained -British territory, and Indiana would to-day be a crown colony or a -Canadian province, rather than a free commonwealth of an independent -people. Had the United States been confined in its territorial extent -to the Atlantic seaboard, as our ally France wished it to be, the young -republic might have survived as a shriveled and sickly nation under -the guardianship of France; but the vast expansion to the Northwest, -across the Mississippi, to the Pacific Coast, and to the Islands of -the Orient never could have taken place. As we look upon that dashing -figure, moulded in bronze, let us not forget the great debt we and all -this Nation owe to the intrepid soldier who conquered the Northwest. - -The second period of the history of Indiana is fitly represented -by General William Henry Harrison, the territorial Governor and -the defender of the frontier. He stands for the men who laid the -foundations of our government and society, and freed the territory from -the ruthless savage. - -In Governor Whitcomb we have a typical Indianian of the early period -of statehood. A farmer's son, he had his share, as a boy and young -man, of the privations of frontier life, the Herculean labor of -clearing away the forests, and bringing the land under cultivation. -At the same period of time Indiana was nurturing another young man in -like experience and labors of frontier life--that matchless American, -Abraham Lincoln. In this era of abounding prosperity and luxurious -living, we are too apt to forget that they rest upon the toils and -trials of our fathers. Whitcomb showed the stuff of which he was -made by supporting himself at school and college by his own manual -labor. He filled many public offices with usefulness and honor, and -had the distinction of occupying the gubernatorial chair during the -Mexican War, in which Indiana soldiers did their full share toward the -victories which gained for us the wide domain stretching to the Pacific. - -For the fourth period of the history of Indiana, which records the -contest for the preservation of the Union, there could be but one man -whose statue should be a companion piece to this superb monument. No -soldier, no citizen, no man high or low, could take rank in point -of heroic service, of tireless labors, of commanding influence, of -exposure to dangers, of courage, self-denial and suffering, with Oliver -P. Morton. He was a man endowed with rare intellectuality, and made a -high place for himself in the Nation as a statesman, but to the people -of Indiana, and especially to the old soldiers, he will be remembered -as the Great War Governor. - -It is fitting that the name of another son of Indiana should be -mentioned on this occasion. His statue is not in this Circle, but -will soon adorn another portion of this beautiful capital. When the -corner-stone of this edifice was laid thirteen years ago he took part -in the exercises, and, but for his untimely death, would doubtless -have been called to occupy my place in this day's dedication. Benjamin -Harrison has the distinction of being one of the first to inspire this -great undertaking now so happily consummated. He himself was a gallant -soldier and would have rejoiced to participate in this pageant. In -every department of public and private life he did his work well, and -we are proud to honor him as President and citizen. - -It is a pleasing service to thus recall the names of some of our public -men. I heartily believe in State pride. I believe in local attachments. -The associations which cluster about the home are the dearest and the -best. If we as Indianians have not, in times past, been as conspicuous -as some of our neighbors for our State pride, it was not because we -loved Indiana less, but the Union more; and since we have forever -settled the question of State rights, I see no reason why we should -not on all proper occasions and with the vehemence of domestic loyalty -exalt our State, and boast of its resources, its merits, and its -memories. Among these there are none which constitute a nobler heritage -or awaken more enthusiastic pride than the services and attainments of -our public men. - -I have not dwelt at any length upon the wonderful prosperity which -our country is now enjoying, as one of the direct results of the -preservation of the Union. We all rejoice in our present high and -honorable position among the nations of the earth, and we may well -look forward to a continuance of this era of peace and prosperity. -But in the day of our exaltation we should remember that no people of -the earth have proved to be indestructible as a nation. Every country -may carry within itself the seeds of its own dissolution. We need not -revert to the history of Rome, Greece, Egypt, or Assyria to learn of -the decay and death of empires. The archæologist tells us that in -the territory covered by the State of Indiana there once existed, -at a period so remote that no legend of them remained among the -aborigines at the discovery by Columbus, a great and powerful people -who built populous cities, were possessed of a high grade of military -science, were advanced in the arts, founded dynasties, had an educated -priesthood, and were of a heroic frame. - -I have not time to moralize upon this, but I venture a few practical -suggestions which may appeal to us as citizens of a great nation whose -prosperity and happiness we desire may continue through all time. If -we would realize this expectation we must have an honest government, -Federal, State, and local. I have given the figures which show the -enormous expenditures for pensions. It is common rumor that this sum -has been swelled by perjury and fraud. Every faithful soldier who -receives a pension from the Government justly regards it as a badge of -honor. He should watch with jealous care that no deserter, no skulker, -no unworthy camp-follower, through the cunning of dishonest claim -agents, should have the same badge of honor. So, also, bribery and -corruption in our public and municipal bodies, may soon destroy the -foundations of our national life. All good citizens should denounce -and combine to punish every attempt at corruption. - -As we should have an honest government, so we should have a pure -government. I have spoken of State pride. More than once I have been -made to blush when away from home to hear the charge that the elections -in Indiana were sometimes corrupt. I trust I may entertain the hope -that there is exaggeration in this, and that our errors of the past -no longer exist. It is a sure sign of national decay in a republican -government, when the fountain head of power, the ballot, becomes -corrupt. - -While we must have an honest and pure government to insure the -perpetuation of our institutions, we should also have an efficient -government. And this I think can best be brought about by the universal -application of the system of competitive civil service. I know that -many an Indiana politician has mocked at it as the dream of the -idealist, but it is the only democratic method of filling the offices -where all applicants stand upon a common level, and the only way of -securing the best results in administration. - -I have entered upon a fruitful theme, but must not pursue it -further. I have suggested three points which seem appropriate for -our consideration to-day, when we are gathered to honor the soldiers -who died that our country might live. We owe it to them to so act as -citizens that they shall not have offered up their lives in vain. Let -us cherish their memory, and in our day and generation do what we can -to perpetuate for the people in the ages to come the blessings of free -institutions among men. Should we thus prove true to our trust, this -imposing memorial, so patriotic in design, and so perfect in execution, -will stand in future years as a testimonial, not only to the fallen -heroes of the war, but also to the faithful citizens, who handed down -unimpaired their heritage of republican government to mankind. - - - - -MILITARY SERVICE OF JOHN W. FOSTER - -WAR DEPARTMENT -THE ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE -STATEMENT OF THE MILITARY SERVICE OF -JOHN W. FOSTER - - _Lieutenant-Colonel, Twenty-fifth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer - Infantry, and Colonel, Sixty-fifth and One Hundred and Thirty-sixth - Regiments, Indiana Volunteer Infantry_ - - -The records show that John W. Foster was mustered into service August -19, 1861, as major, Twenty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, to serve -three years. He was subsequently commissioned lieutenant-colonel of -the regiment and is recognized by the War Department as having been -in the military service of the United States as of that grade and -organization from April 30, 1862. He was mustered out of service as -lieutenant-colonel to date August 24, 1862, to accept promotion. He -was mustered into service as colonel, Sixty-fifth Indiana Volunteer -Infantry, to date August 24, 1862, to serve three years. He was in -command of the District of Western Kentucky, Department of Ohio, with -headquarters at Henderson, Kentucky, in October and November, 1862, and -in March, April, and May, 1863, but the records do not show either the -date on which he assumed command or the date on which he was relieved -therefrom. From August 21, 1863, to September 5, 1863, and from -September 7, 1863, to October 18, 1863, he was in command of the Second -Brigade, Fourth Division, Twenty-third Army Corps. The designation of -the brigade was changed to the Fourth Brigade, same division, October -18, 1863, Colonel Foster remaining in command to November 3, 1863. This -brigade was assigned to the Second Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the -Ohio, November 3, 1863, and Colonel Foster commanded the Second Brigade -of that division from November 3 to November --, 1863, and he commanded -the Second Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Ohio, from November ---, 1863, to January --, 1864, exact dates not shown. He was honorably -discharged March 12, 1864, as colonel, upon tender of resignation. - -The records further show that John W. Foster was mustered into service -as colonel, One Hundred Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, -May 23, 1864, to serve one hundred days, and that he was mustered -out of service with the regiment as colonel September 2, 1864, at -Indianapolis, Indiana. - -In the operations February 12-16, 1862, resulting in the capture -of Fort Donelson, Tennessee, Major Foster was commended by his -brigade commander for "the fearless and energetic manner" in which -he discharged his duties. His conduct was said to be "worthy of the -highest commendation." - -At the battle of Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, April 6-7, 1862, the -command of his regiment devolved upon Major Foster on the first day. -The brigade commander, in his official report of that battle, stated -with reference to Major Foster as follows: "The command devolved on -Major Foster, who proved himself every way worthy of it. He was active, -brave, and energetic, inspiring his men with courage and confidence. -His worthy example was felt by all around him." - -Official statement furnished to Hon. John W. Foster, 1323 Eighteenth -Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., October 13, 1915. - -By authority of the Secretary of War: - -P. C. MARTH -_Adjutant-General_ -_In charge of office_ - - - - - * * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber's note: - -Obvious errors of punctuation and diacritical markings were corrected. - -Hyphenation was made consistent. - -P. 37: to take steamer for Cairo -> to take a steamer for Cairo. - -P. 156: Brunside's cavalry -> Burnside's cavalry. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR STORIES FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN*** - - -******* This file should be named 51552-8.txt or 51552-8.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/5/1/5/5/51552 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at <a -href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you are not -located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this ebook.</p> -<p>Title: War Stories for my Grandchildren</p> -<p>Author: John Watson Foster</p> -<p>Release Date: March 25, 2016 [eBook #51552]</p> -<p>Language: English</p> -<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> -<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR STORIES FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN***</p> -<p> </p> -<h4>E-text prepared by Moti Ben-Ari<br /> - and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> - (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> - from page images generously made available by<br /> - Internet Archive<br /> - (<a href="https://archive.org">https://archive.org</a>)</h4> -<p> </p> -<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> - <tr> - <td valign="top"> - Note: - </td> - <td> - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - <a href="https://archive.org/details/warstoriesformyg00fost"> - https://archive.org/details/warstoriesformyg00fost</a> - </td> - </tr> -</table> -<p> </p> -<hr class="full" /> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 365px;"> -<img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" width="365" height="600" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p id="half-title">WAR STORIES FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 1200px;"> -<img src="images/i004.jpg" width="1200" height="863" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>Major John W. Foster Mary Parke Foster</p></div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h1>WAR STORIES FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN</h1> - -<p class="center spaced space-above"><i>By</i><br /> -JOHN W. FOSTER<br /> -</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 110px;"> -<img src="images/i005.jpg" width="110" height="300" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="center spaced space-above"> -WASHINGTON, D.C.<br /> -1918<br /> -PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION<br /> -<i>The Riverside Press Cambridge</i><br /> -</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="center"> -COPYRIGHT, 1918, BY JOHN FOSTER DULLES<br /> -ALL RIGHTS RESERVED<br /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2>PREFACE</h2> - - -<p>As they were growing up, I was frequently importuned by my -grandchildren to tell them of my experiences in the Civil War -for the Union; and now as the great-grandchildren are coming -on, their parents are asking that these experiences be put in -some permanent form, as their children may never have the -opportunity to hear the narrative from me. I naturally shrink -from giving general publicity to my personal experiences, especially -as the field has been already so fully covered by comrades -in arms; but I have consented to prepare such a narrative -on condition that its circulation be confined to the family -circles.</p> - -<p>In preparing the narrative I have not thought it wise to trust -to my memory of events which happened more than half a -century ago; and fortunately I have at hand my many letters -written to my wife, giving in detail my experiences during my -entire service in the army, and while they are in some respects -too intimate and confidential for general publicity, they have -the merit of freedom from studied preparation and constitute -an account of events as they occurred.</p> - -<p>In this preparation I have indulged the hope that through -it our children of this and coming generations may be inspired -by a greater devotion to the American Union, for which their -forefathers hazarded their lives and endured the hardships of -war.</p> - -<p> -<span class="smcap">John W. Foster</span><br /> -</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2>CONTENTS</h2> - - -<div class="center"> -<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> -<tr><td align="right">I.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Introduction</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">II.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Missouri Campaign</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_5">5</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">III.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Battle of Fort Donelson</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_37">37</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">IV.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Battle of Shiloh</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_52">52</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">V.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">On to Corinth and Memphis</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">VI.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Guerrilla Warfare in Kentucky</span> </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_95">95</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">VII.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The East Tennessee Campaign</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_119">119</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">VIII.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">With the Hundred Days Men</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_161">161</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"> </td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Appendix</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_179">179</a></td></tr> -</table> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> - -<div class="center"><big>WAR STORIES FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN</big><br /></div> - -<h2>I<br /> - -INTRODUCTION</h2> - - -<p>After the inauguration of President Lincoln, March 4, 1861, -much discussion followed in Washington and in the North, -and plans were proposed respecting peaceable adjustment -of the troubles occasioned by the secession of the Southern -States from the Union. But the first hostile gun fired at -Fort Sumter and the National flag, on April 12, put an end -to all peace proposals, and solidified the North in favor of -restoring and preserving the Union by force of arms. As -one of our statesmen of that day expressed it, yesterday -there had been difference of opinion, to-day there was unity.</p> - -<p>When two days afterwards the President's call for seventy-five -thousand volunteers for three months' service was issued, -my first impulse was to respond to that call; but before -any movement for enlistments could be made in our -locality the quota of Indiana was filled to overflowing. I -was content for several reasons to await the progress of -events.</p> - -<p>I cherished no desire for military glory, and distrusted my -special fitness for the life of a soldier. In my college days I -had contracted a horror of war and regarded it as the most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> -terrible and futile of human follies. Shortly before my -graduation I had delivered a public address for my literary -society on peace and war, using as its title Charles Sumner's -well-known oration—"The True Grandeur of Nations." I -regarded myself as a peace man.</p> - -<p>I had only recently entered upon the practice of my profession, -and was ambitious to make a reputation as a lawyer. -But, most serious of all, I had just established a modest -home with a young wife and our first-born babe of less than -a year old. It would be a terrible strain upon my affections -and hopes to break these dearest of all ties for a life in the -military service.</p> - -<p>I, with the great body of the people of the North, entertained -the hope that the seventy-five thousand men, who -constituted the army so quickly formed, would prove sufficient -for the reëstablisment of the Federal Union. But the -battle of Bull Run, July 21, dispelled that delusion, and the -President's call for three hundred thousand afterwards increased -to five hundred thousand volunteers for three years' -service indicated that a long and bloody war was in prospect. -I resolved no longer to delay my entrance into that service.</p> - -<p>Two days after that battle I wrote my wife as follows:—</p> - -<p>"I intended to have written you a long letter last night in -reply to your good one received yesterday afternoon, but I -had no heart to write. The terrible and disastrous calamity -to our army has made me sick. A thousand times rather -would I have given my life and left you a widow and my -darling child fatherless than that this defeat should have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> -happened. I think I shall go to Indianapolis to-morrow to -urge my immediate appointment in our new regiment. I -want to help retrieve our lost fortune. I have no fear of our -ultimate triumph."</p> - -<p>When the President's second call for volunteers was -issued, a movement was at once set on foot to organize a -regiment at Evansville, my home, and the Governor of the -State had intimated his intention to appoint me major of -this new regiment. On August 9 my appointment as major -was made. The next day I sent my wife's brother, Alexander, -to Glendale, near Cincinnati, where she was visiting her -mother, to notify her of the event and give her details of the -situation. He bore her a letter in which I wrote: "Zan -[Alexander] will explain the cause of his coming. I want to -be with my wife as much as I can before I go, so you must -hurry home <i>as fast as you can</i>.... While you are a loving -wife, remember to be a <i>brave woman</i> and your husband will -love you the more."</p> - -<p>I had gone to Glendale some time before to talk over with -my wife my intention to enter the army, and she had given -her consent; but when the time came for me to take the final -step she seemed to hesitate and draw back. It was a terrible -trial to contemplate, her solitary lot with her little babe and -I away in the army. In answer to her letter I wrote: "You -seem in your last letter to be about to withdraw your consent -to let me go. That was the special reason of my late -visit to Glendale, and I thought it was agreed. I have a very -honorable and, to me, very flattering position, and in some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> -degree removed from danger; and of course I shall, for the -love I bear my wife and child, be as careful of my life as my -duty will permit. The President has called for four hundred -thousand men, and of that number it is my duty to be one. -I regard this as important a war as that of the Revolution, -the issue is the life and maintenance of the Government, and -I would be ashamed of myself, and my children should be -ashamed of me in after years, if I declined so honorable a -position as that tendered me. Be of good courage."</p> - -<p>In response to my call she came at once to Evansville, and -soon entered into the spirit of my work in organizing and -outfitting the regiment, and, as will be seen later in these -pages, she remained to the close of my service my faithful -and devoted supporter.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2>II<br /> - -THE MISSOURI CAMPAIGN</h2> - - -<p>The organization at Evansville became the Twenty-fifth -Indiana Infantry Regiment of Volunteers. On August 22, -thirteen days after its official staff was appointed, the regiment -was ordered to St. Louis, Missouri. It was a notable -farewell the citizens of Evansville and the surrounding country -gave the regiment on its departure. The deportment of -my wife I refer to in one of my first letters to her from St. -Louis. I copy it at some length because it reflects the sentiments -of hundreds of thousands of other soldiers:—</p> - -<p>"I felt proud of you as my wife and loved you the more -for the manner in which you acted on the departure of our -regiment from Evansville. While I know that no wife loves -her husband more than you do me, yet you could let me go -off, for how long you know not, to brave the dangers of the -battlefield, because I thought it my duty, without a murmur -or reproach or entreaty. And now that I am away, I hope -you will be the true woman still. You know that our separation -is not harder for you to bear, surrounded by home and -all its comforts, your darling child and dear mother, than it -is for me deprived of all these. You must be hopeful and -cheerful. I am here because duty prompts me, and you -would be ashamed of me if I were not here.</p> - -<p>"I will try to do all I can to preserve my health and so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> -far protect myself from dangers as my duty and honor will -permit. You must remember that there are tens of thousands -of wives who bear the same lot as you do. It would -make me very unhappy to know that you were disheartened -and lamenting my absence and exposure to danger; and, on -the contrary, it would lighten my trials to know that you -were bearing it like a brave, true-hearted woman. I know -you are my devoted wife, and I know you will act your part -nobly."</p> - -<p>Our regiment was ordered to St. Louis because the State -of Missouri was in a critical condition and in danger of being -swept onto the side of the rebellion. St. Louis had been -placed on the side of the Union by the daring and promptness -of Frank P. Blair and General Lyon, the commander of -the arsenal and barracks, in the seizure of the rebel Camp -Jackson, and dispersion of the State Guards stationed in the -city. But before our arrival the Union forces had met with a -disastrous repulse at Wilson Creek, and General Lyon killed, -one of the most promising of the Union generals. Soon after -we reached St. Louis, the Confederate General Price captured -Lexington, took the entire Union force prisoners, and -was overrunning the greater portion of the State. General -Frémont had been assigned to the command of the Department, -and troops were being rushed forward to enable him -to clear the State of rebels.</p> - -<p>The Twenty-fifth Indiana remained at Benton Barracks, -St. Louis, for three weeks, while Frémont was organizing his -army to drive General Price and his forces out of the State.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> -How we occupied our time is in part shown by my letters. -James C. Veatch, the colonel of our regiment, was appointed -largely because of the service he had rendered in the campaign -for the election of Lincoln, but it proved a good appointment. -The lieutenant-colonel, William H. Morgan, had -seen some service with the three months' volunteers and as -a member of a military company had acquired some knowledge -of drill and tactics. He was the only person in our regiment -of 1047 officers and men who knew anything about -military affairs.</p> - -<p>After being in camp at Benton Barracks a few days, I -wrote:—</p> - -<p>"Our colonel is doing all he can for the comfort and convenience -of his men. Ever since we arrived, he has been stirring -up headquarters in our behalf. In a day or two he will -have us paid off, which will be decidedly acceptable; and is -now bent on having us supplied with good guns before we -leave here, and though good guns are scarce here, he thinks -he will succeed.</p> - -<p>"Colonel Morgan is invaluable as a drill and camp officer. -He devotes three hours each day to the instruction of the -officers, and two hours to battalion drill, besides his other -duties. He has the officers recite to him daily from the Book -of Tactics. Our regiment is under excellent discipline and -very orderly, and I am satisfied if they will give us a few -weeks to drill and good guns, that we will do honor to the -State and country."</p> - -<p>In the same letter to my wife, I wrote of myself:—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Although the place of major may be one of ease, if an -officer desires he may keep himself busy and be quite useful -in regulating the camp, seeing that the officers and men do -their duty, looking after the wants of the men, assisting in -battalion drill, etc. And I am the more busy, because in -addition I devote from two to five hours in study and recitation -of the tactics. I accepted the position in our regiment, -not as a sinecure, but because I thought my country needed -my services, and I have resolved to leave nothing undone -that will fit me to discharge my duties properly, and so prepare -myself that if it should ever happen that the lives of a -thousand men should be placed in my keeping, I might, as -Dr. Daily would say, be competent for an emergency. So -that now the time does not hang heavily on my hands. Personally -I am getting along very well in camp."</p> - -<p>A few days later I report that the regiment has received -its first payment, and I make a remittance to my wife of -$130 in gold.</p> - -<p>My father, then in his sixty-second year, was an ardent defender -of the Union, and took great interest in the organization -of our regiment, to which he contributed two of his sons, -my brother, next to me in age, being the quartermaster of -our regiment. He had ordered to be made the flags of the -regiment, and as they were not finished before it left Evansville, -they were presented at Benton Barracks, of which I -give the following account to my wife:—</p> - -<p>"We had the ceremony of the Flags' Presentation yesterday -at dress parade. Colonel Veatch read father's letter and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> -made some very appropriate remarks, and the thanks of the -regiment were unanimously tendered to him for his appropriate -and valuable gift. The National flag is very fine, but I -think the regimental flag is the best and most elegant I ever -saw. There is no regiment from Indiana and I think none in -the West that has as fine a stand of colors as ours. The men -are very proud of them."</p> - -<p>The following extract describes a treat at Benton Barracks, -the like of which we had more than once during the year, as -we were on or near the Mississippi, Cumberland, and Tennessee -Rivers within easy reach of Evansville:—</p> - -<p>"Your box of good things came on Sunday and was opened -immediately. That evening we had what your Cincinnati -cousin would call 'a sumptous tea.' William, our cook, got -out all his dishes and I furnished him with a new tablecloth -and he got up a table in fine style with your dainties, with -the aid of the bouquets and fruits our kind neighbors here -had sent. Not only Aleck and I, but all our <i>mess</i> have enjoyed -your treat very highly."</p> - -<p>One of the matters that troubled me about giving up my -affairs at Evansville was the continued maintenance of a -large Mission Sunday School which I had organized and kept -up in a flourishing way for some years. I did not get encouraging -news as to its condition, and I wrote my wife about an -efficient superintendent:—</p> - -<p>"I hardly know whom you can get in my place. There are -very few men who will take the trouble and have the patience -and perseverance to keep the school up through the hot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> -summer and cold winter successfully as I have done for four -years. But it ought not to go down."</p> - -<p>The school was maintained for some time, but it was discontinued -long before the war closed.</p> - -<p>Some of the embarrassments attending my new and untried -duties are described in the following letter:—</p> - -<p>"I was detailed to-day as field officer of the brigade, and -have been kept busy all day, in the saddle almost continuously -from 8 <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> to 5 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span>, and am tired enough. I went -over this morning and reported myself to the general for -duty, and the first thing he said was that the adjutant-general -was away and I would have to mount the brigade -guard. As I had never even mounted a regimental guard, -you may be sure it rather stumped me, but like a soldier I -did my best, and in the presence of the general, the officer of -the day, and other officers I performed the duty and passed -the guard in review satisfactorily."</p> - -<p>After three weeks of instruction and comfort at Benton -Barracks we received orders to go to the front, and fearing -my wife might be disturbed by the movement, I wrote her a -consolatory letter:—</p> - -<p>"We have orders to leave to-morrow for Jefferson City. -Of course we are in great hurry and have very little time -to write letters, even to dear and loving ones at home. -We left our homes to fight our country's battles, and naturally -we are glad to see a prospect of that kind of work before -us. You must not be unduly solicitous or alarmed. You -may hear reports of the Twenty-fifth being entirely cut to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> -pieces or all prisoners, even before we are in sight of our -enemy. Don't place any confidence in vague rumors. If -anything serious takes place, Aleck or I will send early word -home, or some of our friends will for us, and if you do not -hear, you may be certain we are busy or out of telegraphic -or mail communication, and you need not think we are dead -or prisoners. Be a true, brave woman. Act worthy of a soldier's -wife, and put your trust in God, remembering that He -does all things well."</p> - -<p>The trip to Jefferson City was one of many railroad rides -the regiment had, all more or less uncomfortable. I wrote, -September 16:—</p> - -<p>"I have only time to write you a pencil note at the dépôt. -We arrived here safely yesterday at noon, but tired and in -bad condition. As we began our march from Benton Barracks -a hard rain set in and so continued half the day. -Reached the dépôt at 3 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span>, but did not get off till 10 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span>, -in crowded cars, little sleep, rain all night, with leaky cars. It -took us fifteen hours to run to this place, one hundred and -twenty-five miles. Just as we reached our camp it commenced -to rain in torrents again and so continued nearly all -night. We got the tents out in the rain. If we get through -safely with our first experience in hardships of soldiering we -will do pretty well."</p> - -<p>Our regiment had been ordered to Jefferson City to form -part of the grand army with which Frémont was expected to -sweep Price and his forces out of Missouri, and for the next -three months and more we were engaged in marching and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> -counter-marching with hardly any fighting worth recording. -One of the not unusual experiences of camp life, when the -enemy were supposed to be near, I gave my wife while at -Jefferson City:—</p> - -<p>"The news here to-day is that Lexington is taken by the -secessionists. If that is so we are going to have some warm -work in this part of the country. Night before last several -shots were heard in the direction of our pickets two or three -miles out, which caused the alarm to be sounded and brought -out all the regiments of the brigade into line of battle. Some -of them came out with a great deal of noise and confusion. -Ours came in perfect order and to our full satisfaction; a -person fifty yards from our line would not have known that -there was any disturbance at all going on in our camp....</p> - -<p>"I get along tolerably well in daytime, as I keep so busy -with other matters I don't have time to get homesick. But -last night I had such a sweet dream about little Alice; and -then when I woke and found it only a dream, how I wanted -to be at home just a little while to see you and her. But let -us be of good cheer and hope. I will be with you again."</p> - -<p>This is a frequent topic of my letters. A few weeks later I -write:—</p> - -<p>"The parts of your letters about our Alice were the most -interesting to me. The dear little darling, how I would love -to see her walk. Don't let her forget her papa."</p> - -<p>How my dream recalled one of Campbell's war poems with -which I was so familiar in college, "The Soldier's Dream":—</p> - -<p> -"The bugles sang truce, for the night cloud had lowered."<br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> - -<p>In another letter from Jefferson City I write:—</p> - -<p>"You say in your letter received to-day that you are so -glad we did not go to Kentucky, because they are going to -have fighting there. We were very much disappointed in not -being ordered to that very place, and just because there was -to be fighting there, and we might aid our brethren in Kentucky. -If our Government is worth anything it is worth defending -and to maintain it thousands of our lives would be -a cheap price. We must all look at it in this light, and do our -duty fearlessly."</p> - -<p>A further extract from the same letter:—</p> - -<p>"We have had considerable trouble in having our guards -learn their duty as sentinels. This week one of our sentinels -was found asleep on his post. We sentenced him to be shot, -at a court-martial, but recommended him to clemency; at -the same time privately having the colonel understand it was -merely formal to make the soldiers more careful hereafter.</p> - -<p>"So yesterday at dress parade the regiment was thrown -into a hollow square, the prisoner brought out and sentence -pronounced with great gravity, making to all who did not -understand it a very solemn scene. The prisoner was remanded -to confinement to await execution. This morning -the members of the companies all cast lots to decide who -should be in the unfortunate squad to shoot him. The ten -men who drew the <i>black beans</i> were brought up before headquarters -this morning and notified that to-morrow morning -at daylight they would have a terrible duty to discharge, -without telling them what it was, they readily imagining it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p> - -<p>"To-day the young man was suffering greatly, but he -would not tell where his father or family are, for fear we -should write them about it. He says his father told him if he -died in battle he would be satisfied, but never to disgrace -himself. And he promised that if we would only release him, -he would give a good account of himself on the battlefield. -He will be released in the morning, and we won't have any -sleepy sentinels soon again."</p> - -<p>Five days later I write from Georgetown:—</p> - -<p>"We left Jefferson City Monday morning and came up -to Lamine River, fifty miles, where we joined the Eighth and -Twenty-fourth Indiana, and Colonel Veatch took command. -Tuesday morning we heard there were seven thousand rebels -near here [Georgetown]. The colonels of the other regiments -wanted Veatch to stay at Lamine, but Colonel Morgan and -I urged him on, knowing that we were equal to two to one, -or even three, on the prairie with our long-range guns. It -was greatly through our urging that Colonel Veatch decided -to go forward. We were anxious to have a pure <i>Hoosier</i> fight -with the rebels, and were glad of the prospect. We left at -3 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span>, all of us expecting to meet seven thousand at night or -in the morning. It was a race, we supposed, for the possession -of Georgetown, and by ten o'clock at night we passed -over the seventeen miles with our whole force, and entered -the town peaceably, without disturbing a citizen from sleep, -and slept in the court-house yard. It was our first march on -foot and a hard one, but we made it finely. The last two -miles were very trying on the men. The only way we kept<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> -them up was by riding down the lines and telling the men it -was only over the hill to the enemy, and we would have -them certain. But no enemy was near, none nearer than -Lexington. I don't know how I will feel on the battlefield, -but as yet I have no fear of going into a fight.</p> - -<p>"We are at last settled after hard marching, rainy weather, -and various hardships. I have been in the saddle nearly all -the time for four days. Yesterday I stationed the picket -guards, and it took about forty miles' riding, but I am standing -it well. It is just what I need. I enjoy it finely, eat -largely, and have no dyspepsia [a trouble at home].</p> - -<p>"Near to our camp is a neat little cottage all furnished -with everything, nice beds, furniture and carpets, dining-room -and kitchen furniture complete. It is the house of a -young lawyer, who was married this spring, was a secessionist, -was taken prisoner, took the oath of loyalty, violated it, -and is now in the rebel army, and subject to be shot if he -is ever caught. His wife has fled to her father's. Colonel -Veatch has established his brigade headquarters in his house, -and we are living in style. I am writing at his desk, using -his paper."</p> - -<p>While in Georgetown I gave this picture of the country:—</p> - -<p>"For the first time we are really in the enemy's country, -and are seeing the effects of secession and some of the terrible -results of war. As we passed through the villages on our -march here, the houses were nearly all deserted, the doors -closed, and very few persons to be found. A sign of dreariness -rested on everything. And when we arrived here at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> -Georgetown, the county seat and numbers about a thousand -people, at least one half of the houses were vacant, the -stores closed, and business suspended.</p> - -<p>"Georgetown has seen several reverses since the rebellion -broke out, being several times in possession of both -rebel and Federal troops. When the rebels came in, the -Union men fled the country or took to the woods and slept -among the bushes. Many women so exposed on the cold, -damp ground lost their lives by the exposure. I took dinner -a day or two ago with a gentleman, a citizen here, who -formerly lived at Mount Vernon [near Evansville]. He had -his store broken open in broad daylight by a company of the -rebel army, and fifteen hundred dollars' worth of his goods -carried away, while he was a refugee in the woods. Many -men have lost their all.</p> - -<p>"Such outrages have naturally enough begotten a spirit of -revenge among Union men, and those of them of more violent -passions and lesser principles have retaliated, until one -wrong begetting another has brought on a spirit of bitterness -and enmity among the people which is truly deplorable. -I never want to see such a state of society again. The dregs -of the population are uppermost, and the honest and innocent -suffer. Surely it is a holy mission of ours to give peace, -and safety, and law to this country. This part of the State -is the most beautiful farming country I ever saw, and certainly -it needs peace. Here truly 'only man is vile.'"</p> - -<p>In another letter from Georgetown, I report:—</p> - -<p>"As to the enemy I don't know anything that is definite.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> -We have a report this evening that they are only twenty-six -miles away, but we have had them right on us so often before, -that I hardly believe any reports we hear about them. But -we try to keep prepared, our men sleep on their arms, and -we station our pickets out five or ten miles."</p> - -<p>As already noticed, the first payment to our regiment was -made in gold coin, but the second one is noticed from Georgetown -as follows: "I sent you by the Paymaster to be expressed -from St. Louis $150 in <i>Treasury Notes</i>. I suppose -the Treasury Notes are good, but when you can get them -changed into gold I would do it, to lay by for later use."</p> - -<p>This suggests that I had early anticipated the coming -depreciation of Government paper currency, and in later -remittances I repeated this injunction, so that when I retired -from the army my wife had as her savings from my -pay a considerable sum in gold, which she converted into -"greenbacks" at the rate of two dollars and fifty cents for -one dollar gold.</p> - -<p>In her letters more than once my wife writes of the alarm -created among her neighbors for fear the rebel forces would -capture Evansville, our home. In a letter, October 13, I -wrote her:—</p> - -<p>"You say in some of your letters that the people were -packing up to leave Evansville when the rebels come. I do -not believe they will ever reach there, but if they should come -I would not, if I were you, leave your home or pack up. -Your valuables you might put into a place of security, but -they will not injure peaceable and discreet women at least."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> - -<p>In a letter of October 15, I report a movement of our -brigade to Otterville:—</p> - -<p>"We have come here to go into Major-General Pope's -division of Frémont's army in Davis's brigade. How long we -will remain here is uncertain, but I guess only a few days, -when we shall go south in search of Price.</p> - -<p>"The bad weather has made a large number of our men -sick, and two or three hundred were left behind. General -Davis put me in charge of them with orders to get wagons -and bring them forward. The sick department of our army -is the most unpleasant, the most troublesome, and the most -neglected in the whole service. I would rather at any time -encounter the dangers of the battlefield than the hospital and -receive the treatment of privates. It is a shame to humanity -and our Government that it is so much neglected, at least -here."</p> - -<p>A few days later I wrote:—</p> - -<p>"I have no time to write you a letter. I am doing most of -the business of the regiment, both of the colonels being sick. -All of our brigade left this morning in the forward movement -except our regiment, which was left behind for three reasons—the -brigade took all our wagons, we had so large a number -of sick, and a regiment was to be left to forward supplies. -We will leave as soon as we get transportation.</p> - -<p>"Aleck [my brother, regimental quartermaster] has been -promoted to post quartermaster of General Pope's division, -and will be stationed at Otterville, charged with the duty -of drawing from St. Louis and forwarding supplies to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> -division, a very responsible position, and earned by his attention -to his duties."</p> - -<p>Three days later I wrote:—</p> - -<p>"The health of our regiment has been very bad. It is -almost unfit for duty. We could only turn out two hundred -for company drill, and could hardly march five hundred to-morrow. -Diarrhœa, chills and fever, and measles are prevalent. -Our officers are almost all laid up. Colonel Morgan -has gone to a private house to recruit for a few days. Aleck -and I have been the only officers at headquarters who have -been entirely fit for duty for several days."</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding the condition of the regiment it became -necessary for me to run down to St. Louis by rail to bring -forward our supply of winter clothing, blankets, etc., and my -wife met me there for a day. I am answering her first letter -after her return to Evansville, October 23:—</p> - -<p>"I am sorry to have you write so despondingly, or rather -was sorry to know you felt so lonely (I always want you to -write just as you feel). But it was natural that you should -feel badly after our separation, for I know what my own -feelings were. I trust you are more hopeful and cheerful -now. You must remember it is all for the best. I would be -with you in our comfortable home, enjoying all the happiness -which you and my dear and kind friends could bestow -upon me, if I could. But it is impossible. I should be a miserable -coward to stay at home in ease and luxury at such a -time of national calamity and need."</p> - -<p>I wrote again two days later, showing that I had a clear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> -vision of the result of Frémont's grand march to destroy -Price:—</p> - -<p>"I hardly think we can get off before the first of next week, -but it doesn't make much difference to us. We will hardly -have a battle at any rate, and will only march down into the -lower part of the State to winter, or drag our weary way -back again. If this expedition is not a Moscow defeat, I -shall be highly gratified. But you must not be alarmed -about me. The officer who has a horse to ride and comfortably -equipped will be well situated, but it is the poor foot -soldier who has to suffer."</p> - -<p>I at last chronicle our departure:—</p> - -<p>"I have only a moment to write you that we are just about -marching to the South. I am very busy, both the colonels -and quartermaster being sick. I am colonel, quartermaster, -and almost everything else. My health is very good. I see -you are secretary of the Ladies Soldiers' Aid Society. You -can't do too much for the soldiers, but their greatest need is -in the hospitals, good nurses, good cooks, clean shirts, sheets, -and kind treatment. If I am to die in the army, I want it to -be on the battlefield, never in the miserable hospitals."</p> - -<p>The following presents not an unusual phase of soldiering, -but new to me:—</p> - -<p>"About this hour (3 <span class="smcap">A.M.</span>) more than two months ago [the -day the regiment left Evansville] my good wife was up to -give me a good breakfast and bid me good-bye, and I ought -to be able to write her a short letter at the same hour.</p> - -<p>"We left Otterville day before yesterday with all our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> -regiment that could march, with a train of fifty wagons. We -had unbroken, balky horses, and have had a hard time with -the train. Our division is fifty miles below Warsaw, and -about out of provisions, and we have to use great haste to -get them forward. To expedite matters I have taken personal -command of the provision train and have been working -hard at it. Sometimes it takes us two hours to get over -one hill, then two hours to get through one mud-hole. I am -not much of a wagoner, as you know, but I have the authority -and the knack of getting a good deal of work out of the -men. I have two good wagon-masters along with me. I take -their advice, and then assume to know all about it with the -drivers. You ought to see me preside over the difficulties of -a hill or a mud-hole. When a wagon gets stalled, I just get -off my horse and put my shoulder to it. The men work twice -as hard when I help them. We got along pretty well to-day -and reached our camp long before dark. This morning we -have two heavy hills before us, and are up at three o'clock -to have the horses fed and ready for a move as soon as it is -light. Breakfast is announced and we must be ready to be -off soon. If I get through with the provisions in good time it -will be equal to a <i>small victory</i> for our division of the army. -I am well and hearty; this kind of work makes me fat."</p> - -<p>The culmination of this campaign is noted in a letter of -November 7:—</p> - -<p>"I have only time to write you a note to let you know we -are safe in Springfield, without a fight or loss of life. When -we reached Warsaw we received our orders from General<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> -Pope to come to Springfield by forced marches with all -possible rapidity, as the enemy were advancing upon us in -force. So for four days we marched twenty miles every day, -which was something unusual for any army, but our men -stood it very well, and are now much better for the exercise.</p> - -<p>"When we arrived here we learned that Price was seventy -miles away from us and that there never was any danger. -Officers speak very disparagingly of Frémont. The indications -are that we will march back again in a few days. 'Up -the hill and down again.'"</p> - -<p>Sometime before the next letter was written from Warsaw, -November 14, on the march "down the hill," we had heard -of the removal of General Frémont:—</p> - -<p>"Our Missouri campaign has been a very barren affair. -It may suit a fellow who likes long walks and heavy marching, -but there has not been much of war in it. The only -time there was to my mind any prospect of a fight was at -Georgetown. If Price had ever intended to fight, it was his -best chance. We have been chasing him all through the -southern part of the State on long and forced marches, -wearing out our troops, and spending immense sums of -money, and Price keeping fifty miles away from us all the -time, and he is now clear over into Arkansas. The Springfield -campaign is over at least, and Frémont's reputation -and our soldiers' feet have been the sufferers. However -popular Frémont may be his military glory is ended.</p> - -<p>"Our Colonel Veatch I regard as a man of unusual good -judgment and has been an ardent friend of Frémont, and yet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> -says his removal was just and needed, and such is almost -the unanimous opinion of officers here. Tell father if he has -not become reconciled to the removal, a personal knowledge -of matters at St. Louis and here would satisfy him."</p> - -<p>My youngest brother, Willie, was eight years old at this -time, and I make frequent references to him in my letters. -From Syracuse I wrote November 18:—</p> - -<p>"We arrived here yesterday from our march of two hundred -and fifty miles. We left Otterville on October 29 and -arrived here yesterday the 17th, having had only one day -of rest during the whole journey. If I had time I would -write Willie a letter (but you can tell him) of our march, -what a long line our division made, troops and trains of near -three miles, what a time the poor soldiers had with sore -feet, how we sat around big blazing camp-fires, how we got -up before daylight and ate our breakfast on a log, and were -marching before the sun was up, and give him a list of all -the towns we passed through so he can find them on the map -I sent him. About these I can give him the details when I -come home. But this is only the least exciting of the soldier's -life stories. We can't come home till I can tell him -something about our experience on the battlefield, which -we have not yet had."</p> - -<p>A week later I write still from the same place, expressing -great impatience that we are kept in Missouri, and the desire -on the part of myself and the men to be ordered into -Kentucky, but I add: "I am beginning to understand that -the army is one vast machine, and the mass of us need not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> -trouble ourselves about our future, as our generals will -determine that. We have only to do our duty and execute -their commands." But I caution my wife if we are ordered -to Kentucky: "You must not flatter yourself that, if I get -nearer home, I will have a much better opportunity of paying -a visit to the dear ones there."</p> - -<p>Then I entered upon a topic which seemed to be a familiar -one in my letters, about home:—</p> - -<p>"The commanding officers at St. Louis will be very particular -about absence, and when we get into the active field -again it will be worse. And it must be so, if the army is to -be kept in any state of efficiency. How much I would love -to come home. No one ever more highly prized the blessings -and comforts of a happy home than I,—a dear, loving, and -noble wife, a sweet, darling little daughter, and so many -kind kindred and friends,—but it must be otherwise. I am -called to the place of duty, away from all these. I would be -a craven, a disloyal citizen, if I did not do what I am doing -in this time of peril to our country. And I rejoice that I have -a wife, with a heart so noble, so patriotic and so brave, as -to share this feeling with me, and who submits to her situation -without a murmur. This pleasant home which you and -I both long to enjoy together would be worthless and ruined, -if our once prosperous Government falls to pieces. It is far -better that we endure this separation and that our country -suffer this terrible war for a time now, than that we permit -the whole nation to fall to pieces, and for years and years -after to see nothing but civil war and continued bloodshed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> -between little factious States. We hope and pray that God -will speedily restore the country to its wonted peace, so that -we may all return to our families and friends."</p> - -<p>A little later, in acknowledging receipt of one of my wife's -letters, I say: "I am glad you are reading Washington's -letters. You will find he was a good husband and loved his -home, but he <i>went to war for seven years</i>!"</p> - -<p>While waiting in suspense at Syracuse, I tell of another -court-martial:—</p> - -<p>"I was all day yesterday engaged in a court-martial and -until late last night. A lieutenant in the Eighteenth Indiana -was arraigned by his captain for attacking and slandering -him in a newspaper in Indiana, and the lieutenant came -to get me to defend him. I tried to beg out of it, but he -insisted so strongly that I had to undertake it. The court -was presided over by the general commanding, and was -composed of the colonels and other field officers of the -division, and I was somewhat abashed in appearing before -it, the practice of the court being altogether different from -our civil law courts, and I being unacquainted with it; but -I thought I might as well learn now as at any other time. -I think I got through with it pretty well. If I keep the lieutenant -from being cashiered it will be fortunate for him."</p> - -<p>The coming on of winter made the generals, as well as -the men, think of winter quarters. In a letter dated November -24, referring to another of the reports about a threatened -attack on us by Price and the probability of marching again, -I write:—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> - -<p>"In the meantime we are shivering around our camp-fires -in this winter weather, and stuffing our tents full of -straw, blankets, and buffalo robes to keep warm. Last night -I managed to sleep comfortably. I made my bed right down -on the ground. It is warmer than to have my cot up on -its legs. These Missouri prairie winds are such winds as -Hoosiers don't know anything about.</p> - -<p>"You ought to see some of the expedients we resort to for -comfortable camp-fires. At headquarters of the regiment -we have a big roaring log fire built, and have small logs -propped up on the forks of saplings for seats or benches, -and then we barricade ourselves from the wind <i>a little</i> by -tents and stretching wagon covers around the saplings.... -But at the best this winter campaigning is not comfortable -for officers or men."</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding the cold weather, I note in my letter of -December 3, that we are keeping up the drills:—</p> - -<p>"Yesterday and to-day we have been kept quite busy, -General Pope having issued a strict order in reference to -regimental and brigade drills. We are out both morning and -afternoon with the regiment, notwithstanding that the ground -has been covered with snow and it is very cold. It comes a -little hard on us, cold fingers and cold feet, but it is all the -better for both officers and men. As for myself I am in much -the best health when I am kept busy, and on the march or -move. This afternoon we had a review of the whole brigade, -preparatory to an anticipated grand review by General -Halleck, Department Commander, in a few days."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> - -<p>It finally seemed settled that the army was to remain in -this part of Missouri, and we were to go into winter quarters. -So our brigade marched down to Lamine River December 7, -preparatory to a permanent encampment. I report:—</p> - -<p>"We will have a large city of log huts, probably 15,000 -or 20,000 troops. We are commencing operations to-day by -clearing off our camp, preparatory to building our log huts. -I shall be in command of the working forces of our regiment -and shall soon know how to build a log house in the most -approved style. So you see I am having a varied experience -in my army life."</p> - -<p>I seemed to be quite possessed with the project of building -our huts and getting into winter quarters, as I was planning -to extend hospitality to dear friends. I write my wife:—</p> - -<p>"How would you and little Alice like to come out and -live with me in a log hut for a while this winter? If the little -darling will learn to say 'papa' right sweet and right plain, -maybe I will have her come out and see and talk with her -'papa.' That will depend on how long we will stay here, and -how well I shall be fixed up. But you must not be certain -of it, for a soldier's life is a very uncertain one."</p> - -<p>And sure enough all our plans and anticipations came to -an end, as a letter from Sedalia, December 21, relates:—</p> - -<p>"After more than a week's silence I have only time to drop -you a note. The newspapers will doubtless tell you of our -last expedition. We went out in a hurry and came back in a -hurry. We just missed by three hours' march a rebel supply -train with a guard of three thousand: but we succeeded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> -in capturing an entire regiment, with a full complement of -officers, and Colonel Magoffin, a notorious secessionist, and a -lot of other prisoners, making altogether about one thousand.</p> - -<p>"There was no fight of any consequence. The cavalry -surrounded them and they surrendered after a short skirmish. -The Twenty-fifth was in the advance of the infantry -and would have been in the fight, if needed. The only one of -our regiment killed was Sergeant Ray, of Company G, who -was acting as a mounted scout. Our regiment was assigned -as a guard to the prisoners, and will have the post of honor -in conducting them to St. Louis. We will leave by train in -the morning. I am very tired with guard duty and marching -for two days and nights, and must be up early in the -morning."</p> - -<p>This march proved the last of our campaigning in Missouri. -Not a glorious record, but a lot of experience and -useful training as soldiers. The regiment was assigned to -quarters at Benton Barracks. I write:—</p> - -<p>"It is uncertain how long we shall stay here or what they -will do with us. We may be all winter or possibly only two -or three weeks. They have given the field officers of our -regiment a little house just outside the Barracks, four rooms, -a kitchen, cellar, and attic for the servants, and a stable. -If we can arrange things to suit us and it is agreeable to the -other officers, I expect Colonel Veatch and I will be sending -for our wives. What think you of it?"</p> - -<p>A few days later I received her reply on which I made the -following comments:—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> - -<p>"You never wrote a more noble letter. I have read it over -and over again. You could have written in a way which -might have been more likely to have brought you over to -visit me, but you could not have in a way more surely to -make me love and admire you. I know how much you love -to be with me and how much I would enjoy your presence. -I have been thinking, ever since we came back to St. Louis -[seven hours by rail from Evansville], about the propriety -of having you come over to spend a few days or weeks with -me, and had hardly decided what to do about it.</p> - -<p>"While in many respects it would be pleasant, in others -it would not be. If you took up quarters with me, it would -be in a very comfortable room for a soldier, but not very -comfortable or attractive for a lady—no furniture except -stools, plank tables, and bunks with straw to sleep on, and -soldiers' blankets and buffalo robes for covering. And then -it would be in a house filled with officers,—gentlemen, it is -true, but <i>not at all times</i> pleasant companions for a lady. -If you went with me to a hotel, I would have to neglect my -duties, which neither you nor I would desire me to do. -And even in my own quarters I could not pay that attention -to you which I would desire without some, at least apparent, -neglect of duty. There are quite a number of officers' -wives here, and I know that they do not in any degree promote -the efficiency of the service. When I decided it to be -my duty to go into the army I anticipated I would have to -give up my dear home comforts and enjoyment, and when -you gave your consent to my going you so regarded it, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> -though we may both lament the necessity, we should not -complain. I believe under the circumstances you will agree -with me that for the present it is best that you should not -come over,—will you not?"</p> - -<p>When we returned to Benton Barracks we found that gallant -soldier General W. T. Sherman in command. I had only -a formal acquaintance with him then, but years after we -were near neighbors in Washington and became intimate -friends. When at the Barracks he was under a cloud of -ridicule, and was known throughout the country as "Crazy -Sherman." This appellative was given him because, a few -weeks before, while in command at Louisville, he had told -Mr. Cameron, Secretary of War, he would require two -hundred thousand soldiers to rid the State of Kentucky -of rebel troops. The sequel proved that more than that -number had to be sent into that State before it was free of -Confederate troops. Sherman was at that period one of the -few <i>sane</i> men who realized so early the magnitude of the task -before us. His "Memoirs," published years after the war, -show that at the time he was much distressed at the appellative.</p> - -<p>Our stay at Benton Barracks was prolonged for nearly six -weeks, and was the usual experience of such soldier life. -In a letter of January 14, 1862, I write:—</p> - -<p>"It is now between eleven and twelve o'clock at night, -and I am writing you while you are sleeping with our little -darling near you,—if she hasn't waked you up! You may -wonder why I am writing you at this late hour. Well, I'm<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> -'officer of the day' for the Barracks, and a part of my duty -is to make 'the grand rounds' of the guards at least once -<i>after twelve o'clock at night</i>. Rather than get a half sleep and -be waked up, I prefer to sit up and write my wife till the -time comes.</p> - -<p>"We were very agreeably surprised this morning to have -<i>Captain</i> Willie [my brother] step in on us, as we were not -looking for him. I am very glad he came. We will try to make -it a pleasant visit to him, and he will be much company for -us. As I am 'officer of the day,' I took him around with me -as my 'orderly'! When I visited the different guard-houses -and sentinel-posts, he was very much interested in seeing the -guards 'turn out' and the other military civilities. It has -been very cold to-day, but both the infantry and cavalry -were out for the afternoon drills of battalions and brigades. -Willie stood out in the cold wind to see the maneuvers as -long as he could.</p> - -<p>"We have had a very pleasant evening at our quarters -to-night. At dress parade Colonel Morgan invited all the -officers over to take supper with us. They came, about thirty -of them, about seven o'clock, and at eight we had supper. -We had oysters fried, oysters stewed, oysters raw, and oyster -patties, with their accompaniments, followed by meats, -pickled pig's-feet and salad, and topped off with pound cake -and champagne wine. You would hardly approve of the -wine part, but we could scarcely do less at a soldiers' supper. -Very few would have stopped at that. Then those who -smoked devoted themselves to a plentiful supply of cigars.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> - -<p>"In our regimental brass band there is a fine string band. -I wish you could hear it, as I know with your love of music -you would enjoy it very much. It gave us music all the -evening. The officers got up a 'stag dance' and enjoyed it -greatly. Then we had some first-rate songs, and wound up -the evening by the officers presenting Dr. Walker [our regimental -surgeon], in an <i>appropriate</i>(!) <i>speech by the major</i>, a -beautiful medical staff sword, belt, gold tassel, and green -silk sash, in token of a most faithful discharge of his onerous -duties."</p> - -<p>About this time I reply to a letter from my wife, regarding -some domestic matters, as follows:—</p> - -<p>"I was somewhat affected and a little amused at the account -you give of your household and financial troubles. -You must not let a little gas bill of fourteen dollars worry -your life out of you. It is possible it was a little exorbitant, -but none to hurt. I don't want you to worry yourself about -these business matters. Where there are any troubles you -will find your mother and father safe and willing advisers. -I know that you are careful and prudent in your family -expenses. I never thought you spent a cent unnecessarily. -I don't want you to be thinking you are spending too -much money; I just want you to get all you want to eat -or wear.</p> - -<p>"When I left home I got you a good house to live in, and I -want you to live in it in proper style and comfort. If I was -at home you know I would have broiled quails, stewed rabbits, -roast turkeys, venison, all varieties of oysters, and all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> -kinds of good things for the table, and there is no reason why -'a lone, lorn' wife should starve just because her husband -has gone off to the war. If I was at home I would have two -or three gas burners going to your one, if I wanted the light; -and there is no reason why my wife should grope around in -the dark for fear of a gas bill at the end of the month. I know -you are not extravagant and therefore there is no danger of -useless expenditure, and no occasion for troubling yourself -on that account. I have no fear but that you will save all the -money you can conveniently with your family wants. I am -drawing pretty good pay, and therefore can afford to keep -my family in good circumstances."</p> - -<p>Frequent reference in my letters is made to the way in -which the Sabbath is spent in camp. In one of my letters I -express the hope that "I will not lose or forget my Christian -standing. I want to come home as good a Christian at least -as when I left, though the temptations to evil and bad habits -are very great."</p> - -<p>Here is a description of one while at Benton Barracks:—</p> - -<p>"Another Sabbath day has nearly passed, but before I go -to sleep I must write you at least a short letter. To-day has -been a quiet and rather profitable Sabbath, at least more so -than most of those which I spend in camp. In the forenoon -Willie and I went to the First Presbyterian Church, expecting -to hear Dr. Nelson, but after we were in and well seated, -who should I see going up into the pulpit with Dr. Nelson -but Mr. ——, the Home Missionary agent who preached at -Evansville last year, you will probably remember him. And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> -he gave us the very same sermon to-day that he did then -<i>verbatim</i>. The text was the same—'The Kingdom of Heaven -is like unto leaven which a woman took and hid,' etc. Having -heard it before, I was not much interested in it, so that my -visit to the city through the mud was not a very pleasant or -profitable one.</p> - -<p>"But this afternoon I read the 'Evangelist' [the Presbyterian -Church paper] all through, reading almost every article, -and it generally interests me, occupying most of the -afternoon. This evening I read several chapters in the Bible, -the 60th of Isaiah, 1st, 2d, and 3d of John, and my favorite -chapters, the 14th, 15th, and 16th of John, and others. I -also read two of the little books you sent us in the Soldier's -Library. So you see the day has not been an entirely profitless -one, but how much more pleasantly I could have spent -it at home with my dear wife and child! But when I come -back the Sabbaths will be the more pleasant and sacred with -you, and we shall have an added pleasure in teaching our -little darling holy hymns and holy truths."</p> - -<p>I had occasion often in my letters to thank the folks at -home for the useful things and dainties they were frequently -sending to camp. The correspondence shows that I was not -bashful in making our wants known, as, for instance, this -extract:—</p> - -<p>"You have written me several times asking what I wanted. -Well, really, we don't want much of anything but our wives -and families, as we are living very comfortably; but if you -want to send us a present you might send us a box or two of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> -eatables. Say you bake us one of your good jelly cakes, and -mother try her hand on one of her first-quality fruit cakes, -and Eliza and Cassie [my sister and sister-in-law] see what -they can do on a lady cake or something of that kind. And -then, if you have in any of the various Foster families any -extra supply of fruits, or preserves, or jellies, or tomatoes, or -such like, you might send them by way of ballast."</p> - -<p>In one of my last letters from Benton Barracks I gave this -account of the Sunday inspection:—</p> - -<p>"This forenoon I was busy at the Barracks. Every Sunday -morning when it is pleasant weather we have a general inspection. -The troops turn out in the best clothes they have, -with shoes cleaned and blacked, knapsacks packed and on -their backs, guns brightened up, and looking as well as they -can. They are inspected by companies. Then the sleeping-quarters, -dining-room, and kitchen are visited to see that -they are kept in good order, etc. This inspection is sometimes -made by the general. When not made by him, it is -made by the field officers. Colonel Veatch and I made the -inspection this morning, and it kept us busy till near noon."</p> - -<p>Our marching orders came finally as recorded in my last -letter written from St. Louis at the Barracks:—</p> - -<p>"We have been anticipating marching orders for several -days, but have at last received them. Orders came out from -General Halleck this evening that 'The Twenty-fifth Indiana -would prepare to march to Cairo.' The exact date of our -departure is not definitely known, but it may be early to-morrow. -It is quite cold, but we can stand it as well as any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> -of this army. We are very willing to leave the Barracks and -get into the field, and especially as we are going down the -river and most likely will be sent to Paducah or Smithland. -Barracks life doesn't agree with me near so well as active -work."</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2>III<br /> - -THE BATTLE OF FORT DONELSON</h2> - - -<p>Greatly to our relief the Twenty-fifth Indiana was surely -out of Missouri, with the prospect of active campaigning in -Kentucky or Tennessee. Although we had orders to take a -steamer for Cairo on January 30, we did not get away from -St. Louis till February 2. On the steamer I wrote my wife -in a tone which indicated that I was taking a more serious -view of our future than I had in Missouri:—</p> - -<p>"It may be that when we get to Cairo we shall find orders -sending us up to Smithland, but wherever we go you will -have abundant rumors of army movements and great battles -fought. I trust you will not be unnecessarily alarmed or -solicitous. I will write you as often as I can, keeping you as -well posted as possible, but I expect I shall only be able to -write you at considerable intervals.... We will both pray -our Heavenly Father to be my guard and protector, and -return me safely to my home and dear family again. Let us -have faith, and hope for the best."</p> - -<p>On the 6th of February I write again from Cairo: "We are -quartered here in the barracks, in the muddiest place imaginable. -No one who has not been in Cairo knows what mud -is. How long we shall remain here is altogether uncertain."</p> - -<p>My next letter was written the 9th on a steamer going up -the Tennessee River:—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> - -<p>"We seem fated to make or commence all our marches on -the Sabbath. How often do I long for the enjoyment of one -of our home Sabbaths. We were ordered to go aboard the -steamboat at nine o'clock Saturday morning, so we had the -men up before day to cook two days' rations and were packed -up all ready to leave. But we did not go until noon to-day -and we should be at Fort Henry to-morrow forenoon. We -have six hundred barrels of powder on board, which makes -traveling a little dangerous, but shall be at Paducah in an -hour or two, where it will be unloaded. Our orders are to -'join General Grant,' so I suppose we will be with the army -as it goes forward into Tennessee and South to victory.</p> - -<p>"I am just in the locality I have been wanting to be all -during the war, and I have only to do my duty like a soldier -and a man. You must not be unduly solicitous about my -welfare, or pay much attention to the rumors by telegraph, -as they are at first always uncertain and generally erroneous. -If our regiment is in an engagement, I will see that a carrier -is sent to the first place to get the news home. So that if you -do not hear you can be satisfied that <i>all is right</i>. You will -remember me in your thoughts and prayers always, and have -faith that all will be well."</p> - -<p>This was the last letter I was able to write home until -after the battle of Fort Donelson. On the 10th our regiment -reached Fort Henry on the Tennessee River which had been -captured by General Grant only four days before our arrival. -On the 12th we marched over to the vicinity of Fort Donelson -with the rest of General Grant's army, eleven miles from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> -Fort Henry, and situated on the west side of the Cumberland -River. We were a part of the division commanded by General -Charles F. Smith, and which occupied the extreme left of -General Grant's army. That army, when it went into camp -on the evening of February 12, covered the entire front of -the Confederate forces. From our encampment the rebel line -of rifle-pits and fortifications could be seen, we occupying -one series of ridges and the enemy those confronting ours.</p> - -<p>The fighting began on the morning of the 13th, our picket -lines being pressed toward the enemy's front, mainly to develop -their position. In view of the eagerness of my own -account in my letters, I quote the part of the official report -of Colonel Veatch, which relates to the operations of the -Twenty-fifth Indiana on the 13th:—</p> - -<p>"At 10 o'clock <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> we moved forward in line of battle to -the top of the hill which was between us and the enemy's -breastworks. Here I received orders to fix bayonets and -charge the rebels, and, if possible, drive them from their -works. The timber was so thick that we could only see here -and there a part of the rebel works, but could form no idea -of their range or extent.... At the foot of the hill the enemy -poured on us a terrible fire of musketry, grape and canister, -and a few shells. The rebel breastworks were now in plain -view on the top of the hill. The heavy timber on the hillside -had been felled, proving a dense mass of brush and logs. -Through and over these obstacles our men advanced against -the enemy's fire with perfect coolness and steadiness, never -halting for a moment until they received your order. After<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> -a halt of a few minutes they then advanced within a short -distance of the enemy's breastworks where the fire from a -six-pound field-piece and twelve-pound howitzer on our -right was so destructive that it became necessary to halt -and direct the men to lie down to save us from very heavy -loss.</p> - -<p>"After remaining under a very heavy fire for two hours -and fifteen minutes, with no opportunity to return the fire to -advantage, the enemy being almost entirely hid, and seeing -no movement indicating a further advance from any part of -the line, I asked permission to withdraw my regiment. In -retiring, owing to the nature of the ground and our exposed -position, the men were thrown into slight confusion, but they -rallied promptly at the foot of the hill, and remained in that -position until night, when we moved back, as directed, to the -ground we occupied in the morning. We lost in this action -fourteen killed and sixty-one wounded."</p> - -<p>On the 14th the battle was continued almost entirely by -our naval forces, the army taking no part except the pickets -and sharp-shooters. It was General Grant's hope that the -gunboats would be able to silence the Confederate water -batteries and pass up the Cumberland, and thus cut off reinforcements -to the enemy, but in this they failed and were -forced to retire.</p> - -<p>In view of this situation it was the intention of Grant to -establish a siege of the fortifications and await reinforcements. -But on the morning of the 15th our right wing under -General McClernand was attacked in force, the enemy coming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> -out of their intrenchments with the apparent intention -of cutting their way through our line and abandoning the -fort. McClernand being hard-pressed, General Lew Wallace's -division went to his assistance, and the battle raged -in that direction with great intensity all the forenoon. We -lay upon our arms in line of battle, ready and impatient to -take part in the contest, listening to the roar of battle in the -distance. General Smith, our division commander, about -three o'clock in the afternoon received orders to advance -upon the enemy in our front, and immediately our attacking -force was formed by Lauman's brigade, in column of regiments, -consisting of the Twenty-fifth Indiana, and three -Iowa regiments, General Smith himself leading the attack.</p> - -<p>It was a martial sight, this column of regiments advancing -down into the ravine and ascending the hill on which were -located the enemy's fortifications, struggling through the -abatis of fallen timber, with the bullets whistling thick -among our ranks. But it was an event of only a few minutes; -our column, never halting, was soon in front of the intrenchments, -when the enemy broke and fled, and the day was won. -Colonel Veatch says in his report that the skirmishers of the -Twenty-fifth Indiana were among the first, if not the very -first, to enter the fortifications.</p> - -<p>General Grant, in his account of this charge, says: "The -outer line of rifle-pits was passed, and the night of the 15th -General Smith, with much of his division, bivouacked within -the line of the enemy. <i>There was now no doubt but that the -Confederates must surrender or be captured the next day.</i>" It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> -was an inspiring sight for us, as we ascended the hill, the -general on his white horse, hat in hand, waving us forward -into the enemy's lines. He was the hero of the battle. -On the 19th General Halleck telegraphed to Washington: -"Smith, by his coolness and bravery at Fort Donelson, -when the battle was against us, turned the tide and carried -the enemy's outworks." General Sherman, in his "Memoirs," -has this to say of the capture of Fort Donelson: -"He [General Charles F. Smith] was a very handsome and -soldierly man, of great experience, and at Donelson had -acted with so much personal bravery that to him may be -attributed the success of the assault."</p> - -<p>Although this charge of our brigade, the last fighting of -the battle, was the decisive event which brought about the -surrender, it was attended with little bloodshed. The charge -was so rapid and the enemy's fire so unsteady, that we entered -the intrenchments with little loss of life. More men -were killed and wounded in the fight of the Twenty-fifth on -the first day of the battle, as described in Colonel Veatch's -report, than by the entire brigade in this charge so decisive -in its result.</p> - -<p>At dawn on the morning of the 16th white flags were seen -along the whole of the enemy's lines, and the notes of a bugle -were heard by us advancing to the outworks where our brigade -had bivouacked during the night. It announced an -officer, who delivered to General Smith a letter to General -Grant from the rebel commander, General Buckner, asking -upon what terms he would receive a surrender. General<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> -Grant's famous reply was: "No terms except an unconditional -surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately -on your works." The forces engaged as given by -General Grant were twenty-one thousand Confederates and -twenty-seven thousand Federals.</p> - -<p>The only extant account of the battle I sent home was -written to my wife on the day after the surrender, dated -the 17th:—</p> - -<p>"I can write to you to-day with great thankfulness to our -Heavenly Father for the privilege of again addressing my -dear wife, and sending my congratulations to my home. -You will have learned before this reaches you that Fort -Donelson has surrendered. I am happy to write that the -Twenty-fifth Indiana bore a worthy part in the conflict and -triumph. We made two charges on the rifle-pits and fortifications, -on the 13th and on the 15th. Yesterday, after the -surrender, the Twenty-fifth Indiana was the second regiment -to enter the fort. We are now occupying huts in the fort -lately occupied by the Second (rebel) Kentucky. This was -the regiment which fought us so desperately in the rifle-pits -on the 13th.</p> - -<p>"Our charge on the 13th was desperate, over the steep -and rugged hills, covered with felled timber and under a most -terrific fire. The fire of musketry was thick as hail. The -cannon raked us on both flanks and in front, and the storm of -shot, shell, grape, and canister was awful. You can say to -our friends that the Twenty-fifth has been tried in most -perilous positions and has acted like veterans. In the thickest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> -of the fight the officers and most of the men seemed to -lose all sense of personal danger.</p> - -<p>"We have a host of prisoners and a large amount of stores. -I am very tired and sore from our four days' labor. Four -nights we slept on the wet or frozen ground, without tents -or fires, and both day and night under arms. When I get -a little sleep and rest I will write you fully. In our regiment -the total of killed is 14; wounded, 99."</p> - -<p>General Grant's account of the weather, alluded to in this -letter, was: "It was midwinter, and we had rain and snow, -thawing and freezing alternately. It would not do to allow -camp-fires except far down the hill out of sight of the enemy, -and it would not do to allow many of the troops to remain -there at the same time. The weather turned intensely cold -on the evening of the 14th."</p> - -<p>Immediately after the battle a representative of the "Evansville -Journal" was sent to Fort Donelson to make a report -of the battle and the situation. I extract the following:—</p> - -<p>A detailed account of the battle will not be attempted, as -you have already published an excellent one. I will speak more -particularly of our Twenty-fifth, and of the incidents of the -battle and the appearance of the field as seen by us.</p> - -<p>The Twenty-fifth covered themselves all over with glory. -Everybody we talked to gave them credit for the utmost bravery. -Exposed to a terrible cross-fire of artillery and musketry, -having to charge through the difficulties I have described right -up in the teeth of the rebel batteries and into their murderous -volleys, they passed through the fiery ordeal like veterans. On -their end of the line the rebels first proposed to surrender, and -to them belongs a large part of the glory of the victory. This -honor is conceded to them.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> -<p>It is hard, and would be invidious, to mention particular -cases of gallantry in the Twenty-fifth, where all did their duty -so well.... The field officers all did their duty nobly. For coolness -and determination Major Foster is the theme of general -praise.... Quartermaster Foster and Chaplain Huring made -themselves very useful, and showed great courage in attending -to the dead and wounded on the field.</p> - -<p>I have thus given an account of the battle from participants -and others who had seen the field. But there is always -another view of every battle—that to be seen in the faraway -homes of the wives and mothers of the combatants. -As representing the thousands who waited at home through -the days of dread anxiety to know the fate of their loved -ones, I give a letter from my wife dated February 20:—</p> - -<p>"After four days of painful suspense and anxious waiting, -when the news came last night that you were safe, you may -be sure there was one thankful, grateful heart. Such dreary -days and sleepless nights I hope I may never pass again. -The first news of the battle reached here Saturday noon, and -not one word did we hear of you till last night. Such a relief -I never before experienced in my life, to know that you were -safe and well.</p> - -<p>"All the accounts say you acted bravely and nobly, and -we are all as proud of you as we can be. Oh, if I could only -see you once more, my own dear husband! No one knows -how thankful I am that you were spared, while exposed to -terrible dangers. I began to feel on Tuesday that you must -be safe, or we should have some report of it. I remembered -that you said if I didn't hear, I might know all was right,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> -but I could not rest until Willie Gwyn dispatched that all -was right. I have heard to-day that on Monday it was reported -and believed at first that you had been mortally -wounded, and next that you were killed, but kind friends -did not let those reports reach me.</p> - -<p>"A party went down to the fort from here on Tuesday. -I then had heard nothing from you, and I thought I would -hear sooner by staying at home. Then father was away, and -I didn't know what to do. Another boat goes to-day. If we -thought there was any prospect at all of seeing you, father -and I would go, but every one regards it as so uncertain -about your still being there that I guess we won't go. It -would only be an aggravation to go and not see you. I hope -it will not be long before I have something from your own -dear self. Mr. Schoenfield [regimental sutler] was very kind. -He dispatched and wrote father that you and Alex were safe -and did bravely. The dispatch came last night (Wednesday) -and the letter by packet this morning. He said you wrote -a few lines and he sent it, but fearing it did not reach us, he -wrote himself. We have not received anything from you -at all, and are very thankful to him indeed. Such kindness, -I assure you, we appreciate.</p> - -<p>"The news of the surrender reached here Monday, causing -intense excitement and wild joy; but I could not rejoice -till I heard from my dear one. And, oh, the dead and -wounded, how much suffering and grief has been brought -to many, many hearts! When we think of the suffering it -takes away most of the rejoicing.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I am proud of you, my dear John. I always knew you -would do your duty nobly, and I thank God your life has -been spared. Father and your mother came back from -Cincinnati on Tuesday. I was glad to see father, for he is -so kind to me. Write soon."</p> - -<p>Reference is made in this letter to the steamboats making -trips to Fort Donelson after the battle. The cities and -States of the Middle West vied with each other in dispatching -steamers, carrying hospital supplies and in bringing home -the wounded and sick. Governor Morton of Indiana was a -visitor, and immediately after the writing of the foregoing -letter my father brought on one of these boats my wife, my -little daughter, and brother Willie. Their stay was only for -one day, but it brought to us all much joy and consolation.</p> - -<p>On our first day's fighting I had found one of the lieutenants -skulking, having left the ranks, and he was hiding flat -down under the bank of a little stream. I punched him out -with my sword and made him join his company, much to the -delight of the men who saw the act. The story went home -in a very exaggerated shape, and I was credited with using -to the lieutenant some very severe and profane language. -Willie, who had heard the story and who entertained a high -admiration for me, was greatly grieved and shocked. As soon -as the boat landed at the fort, Willie rushed up to me, -and throwing his arms about me, said: "Brother John, you -did not curse and swear at the soldier, did you?"</p> - -<p>The capture of Fort Donelson was the first important and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> -complete victory which had been won by the Union armies -since the war began, and it was hailed with great joy throughout -the North as the harbinger of further victories. General -Sherman, ten years after the event, characterized it as "the -first real success on our side in the Civil War. Probably -at no time during the war did we feel so heavy a weight -raised from our hearts, or so thankful for a most fruitful -series of victories."</p> - -<p>In a letter of February 23, I acknowledged the receipt of -my wife's letter above quoted, in these terms:—</p> - -<p>"George [my eldest brother] brought me yesterday the -letters by you and father on the 20th, and they were such -good ones I could not help the tears coming to my eyes. -When I read your letters I began fully to realize how great -was my deliverance. During all the war I most probably -never will be in so hot a fire and in so much danger as that -through which I passed during the late battles. Truly we -have great reason to thank God for his kind protection over -me. Do you remember the Psalm Mr. McCarer [our pastor] -read the last night at our house, before I left with the regiment, -the ninety-first? I got out my Bible and read it to-day -again. I have read it many times since then.</p> - -<p>"I am proud of you, my dear Parke, for the manner in -which you have acted ever since I have been in the army, -but especially during and since the attack on the fort. You -have learned by the experience of the late battles to put -little reliance in the first reports of an engagement; they -are always exaggerated.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I was very glad to have a visit from George. I sent home -some <i>play-things</i> for Alice by him. The rebels had fixed -them up to shoot her papa with them. She can make better -use of them, some canister and six-pounder shots. I sent -you a letter right after the fight, and sent father one after -the first day's fight. But the mails are so irregular it may -be you did not get them. I would have sent a dispatch, but -there was no telegraph nearer than Cairo.</p> - -<p>"We were greatly exposed during the four nights of the -siege, and the officers had the same exposure as the men, at -least all those who stood by their posts, sleeping on the ground -with no tents and no fires, two nights both rain and snow, -the others severely cold. By the time we got into the fort I -was nearly tired out, and during all this week I have been -resting. The exposure did not affect me much, except that -it increased a cold already contracted. But I am 'all right' -again and ready to go into active service. How long we shall -remain here I do not know. It may be for some time, it may -be only to-day."</p> - -<p>Under date of the 24th I wrote:—</p> - -<p>"We are still in the fort, living in the rebel huts. I am -getting very tired of our inactive life of the past week, and -the worst of it is I'm afraid we will be left here for some time -to come, as we see no evidence of preparing for our advance. -We would like very much to be sent forward. I suppose you -have no special desire to have me get into another fight soon, -but from present appearances there is not much probability -of more fighting in Tennessee.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> - -<p>"This is a very poor country around the fort, and had -already been eaten out by the rebel troops before ours came. -There is nothing in the eating line we can buy for our mess, -and we have had poorer fare here than at any time since we -have been in the service. I begin to feel like I could relish a -good dinner at home!"</p> - -<p>The following, dated March 1, is a reference to the visit -to the fort of my wife and father already noticed:—</p> - -<p>"Only day before yesterday my dear wife and darling -babe were with me here. I need not tell you how pleasant -was your visit to me, made doubly so under the circumstances -here, and then that I missed you so sadly after you were gone. -But we cannot have pleasures <i>unalloyed</i>. I was glad you -made the trip, aside from the pleasure of seeing you, as the -excursion was a pleasant change for you and Alice.</p> - -<p>"I wonder if you will remember to-morrow that it is my -birthday, twenty-six years old. Quite an old man!"</p> - -<p>Under date of March 4 record is made of the expected -order:—</p> - -<p>"We received marching orders yesterday. We are to go -from here to Fort Henry, there to take steamers on the -Tennessee River, whether up or down the river we do not -know, but our supposition is that we are destined for the -direction of Florence, Alabama. It may be a movement on -Memphis by the flank. We are all pleased with the prospect -of getting still farther South.</p> - -<p>"Our greatest want now in the way of marching is wagons -for transportation, and that is likely to be the want during<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> -all the marches. I, with quite a number of officers, have concluded -to send our trunks home. We field officers are limited -by General Grant's orders to one hundred pounds of baggage, -to include clothing, bedclothes, mess-chest, and everything -personal. And as I think as much of a warm bed and -good rations as I do of good clothes, I have put a change of -underclothes into my saddle valise, and with my carpet-sack -can get along. Then Colonel Morgan and I have gone in -partnership in an old trunk, for our dress uniforms, shirts, -etc. I send my shabrack [saddle cover] in the bottom of the -trunk. Have it taken out, well brushed, and hung up in the -attic. It is rather too gay to wear out here in the woods. It -will do for musters and parades at home!"</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2>IV<br /> - -THE BATTLE OF SHILOH</h2> - - -<p>We were much pleased to turn our backs upon Fort Donelson, -as the movement gave promise of an advance still -farther into the South. In my letter dated Fort Henry, -March 7, I write:—</p> - -<p>"We left Donelson on the 5th. The roads were terribly -muddy, and it took us two days to get here, about twelve -miles. Besides, the weather was quite cold and snowing, being -one of the most blustery days of March, making the -march a most uncomfortable one. But we arrived here in -pretty good season yesterday evening, and were fortunate to -get into the same cabins we occupied when here before.</p> - -<p>"The troops here are all embarking on steamboats, and it -is understood that we are to go up the Tennessee River, how -far we don't know, but hope through to Florence, Alabama. -It is said (<i>it is said</i>, <i>reported</i>, <i>understood</i>, <i>they say</i>, are unofficial -terms, you must understand) that none of the boats -will leave till all the regiments are embarked, and that the -whole fleet will move together. The river is very high, and -on account of backwater we can't get nearer than four hundred -yards of the boats.</p> - -<p>"The Twenty-fourth Indiana went up the river this morning -to find a convenient place to embark. We may have to -go up there also to get aboard. Just as we were marching<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> -through the cold and snow last night I met Uncle Tom going -down to the boat on his way home. He told me he had resigned, -had caught a severe cold and had a bad cough. I -think he has taken the best course, as his health can hardly -stand the exposure."</p> - -<p>I refer here to my mother's youngest brother, Captain -Thomas Johnson, whose case was that of many other -officers in our army. He had been suffering for some years -with tuberculosis, and would not have been able to pass the -physical examination to which the soldiers in the ranks were -subjected, but the examination of the officers was less strict. -He was not fitted for the service and ought not to have -entered it, but his zeal to serve his country in the time of its -sore trial was so great that he could not be persuaded to stay -at home. As we expected, he broke down within a year of his -enlistment. We shall see that he was not content to remain -inactive at home after he was relieved of his attack of cold, -and in less than six months he obtained an appointment in -one of the new regiments, only to be again sent home before -another year of campaigning was over.</p> - -<p>As anticipated, the regiment was the next day ordered to -go six miles up the river to get a convenient place of embarkation. -The day following was spent in camp:—</p> - -<p>"As I listened to our chaplain in his Sunday service to-day, -how I wished I could have enjoyed our own church -service at home with my wife. As I walked out through the -woods this pleasant spring evening with Colonel Morgan, I -could not help thinking of the times we enjoyed together in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> -our many evening walks. I have been reading to-day the life -of General Havelock, that noble Christian soldier. I was -very much interested in the affectionate and touching letters -he wrote his wife and children; they made me think of -my absent ones....</p> - -<p>"Adjutant —— has resigned, and as he wants to go home -immediately, before his resignation can go to St. Louis, be -accepted, and returned, he has applied for a leave of absence. -If he gets it, I will send this letter by him. He puts his resignation -on the ground of <i>ill-health</i>, but the young man is mistaken. -A look at his fat jaws and healthy appearance will -tell a different tale. He is in as good health as I am. The -trouble with him is homesickness from <i>love</i>. We are out of -the range of regular mails, and he can't get letters from his -lady-love often. He can't endure the situation. We tried to -talk him out of it, but he insists. He has at the best taken a -bad time to resign, just on the eve of an important expedition -against the enemy. I told him last night that no one -wanted to be at home more than I did, and that if I could -get out of the service honorably in view of my duty, I would -do so, but this I could not do. He can draw his own inference. -I think the young man is making a mistake personally. -Here he is drawing a good salary, and at home he can do -nothing, even if he wasn't too lazy."</p> - -<p>The next letter was written on board a steamboat lying -at the town of Savannah, Tennessee, dated the 12th:—</p> - -<p>"Here we are away down on the southern border of Tennessee, -only a few miles from Alabama and Mississippi,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> -'away down in Dixie.' We went on board the steamboats day -before yesterday, the 10th, four companies on the <i>Uncle Sam</i>, -and six companies on the <i>Conewaga</i>, the latter under my -command. We have had a very pleasant trip up the river, -being comfortably situated on the boat, and plenty of good -eating. The Tennessee is quite a pretty river, but not very -thickly settled immediately on its banks. At the farmhouses -the people were collected in little groups, with waving -handkerchiefs by the women, and frequent cheers for the -Union. It was a new sight to the inhabitants, such an immense -fleet of boats, black with troops, and bristling with -cannon and munitions of war. The boats are all lying up -here, most of them having arrived this morning, the river full -of them on both sides. It is stated by officers who ought to -know that we now have seventy steamers in the fleet, and -that ten more are on the way....</p> - -<p>"Remember me to Mr. McCarer and family. Tell him I -am afraid we are persecuting our old-school, southside -Presbyterian brethren, as they have called their General -Assembly to meet in Memphis in May. I fear we shall get -in the way of some of them, and scare them away.</p> - -<p>"There is a set of chessmen on the boat, and I have had -several pleasant games, the first for a long time. How I -would like to take a game with my dear wife, as of old.</p> - -<p>"Large numbers of Union men are coming in both to enlist -and for refuge and protection. Some of them came more than -a hundred miles and had to travel at night, fleeing from the -persecutions and cruelties of the rebels."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> - -<p>Writing on the 16th, I report:—</p> - -<p>"We are still lying at Savannah. More steamers with -troops have arrived, so that now we have about ninety boats, -and I estimate about sixty thousand soldiers. We are getting -tired of staying on the boat, but it has been raining most of -the time, and therefore our quarters are better than they -would be ashore. The river has again risen and flooded over -the banks."</p> - -<p>Two days later I write:—</p> - -<p>"We are still lying along the shore on the boats 'awaiting -orders' rather impatiently too, the eighth day aboard. Yesterday -we left Savannah and came a few miles up to a farm -where we found a good landing. We turned our men out on -the shore to enjoy the exercise and fresh air (it was a most -beautiful day), while we had the boat thoroughly cleaned. -The men had been kept cooped up on the boats for so long -they enjoyed the day very much.</p> - -<p>"We have a rumor of the taking of New Orleans by our -forces from the Gulf, but can hardly credit it. It will be -glorious news, if true, and a rapid step toward the end of the -rebellion....</p> - -<p>"I have no news; mostly write to let you know I am in the -best of health and in safety."</p> - -<p>At last my letter, dated in camp at Pittsburg Landing, -gives account of our having left the boats:—</p> - -<p>"We are now in camp about a mile from the river in a -pleasant forest. How long we are to remain here we do not -know, but as to-morrow is Sunday we may get our marching<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> -orders then! We are ordered to keep in readiness to march at -one hour's notice. We are also ordered to take with us in each -company wagon seven days' rations of provisions and five -days' rations of grain for horses, besides three days' rations -in each man's haversack, making ten days' rations. As the -roads are now, we won't be able to travel very fast.</p> - -<p>"Our force has been increasing every day by the arrival of -new regiments. How large our army is I do not know, but -the woods are perfectly alive with men. Regiments of tents -are in every direction and extending for miles around. We -have no doubt of our successful progress, whether it is to -march upon Memphis or farther down South into the heart -of 'Dixie.' You need have no fear for my personal safety, or -for the success of our army. We are only hoping we shall be -sent by rapid marches against Memphis, and when we get -there you can come down and pay me another visit, if I cannot -get off home for a few days."</p> - -<p>March 24 I wrote:—</p> - -<p>"I have not heard from you for two weeks, but to-day I -have three letters from you and one from Father, and I can -assure you your good, dear letters are most acceptable. I -think of you and our dear little one so much and long for the -time speedily to come when I can be with you again. I trust -and believe that God is so ordering events that the time is not -far removed. In the meantime we will hope and pray and be -patient.</p> - -<p>"You need not be the least troubled about me. I am -in perfect health, and General Buell with more than one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> -hundred thousand men is making a junction with us; so that -our combined army of two hundred thousand has only to -<i>move</i> to sweep every vestige of opposition out of the way, I -don't think the enemy will make a stand before us at all."</p> - -<p>The foregoing illustrates how little the subordinate officers -know of an army's strength or its future. It is a common -error to make exaggerated estimates of an army. The figures -given above place the numbers of the joint armies of Grant -and Buell at more than double their actual strength. And so -far from sweeping the enemy before them, within two weeks -from the writing of this letter Grant's gallant army was attacked -in its own camp, and barely escaped being swept into -the Tennessee River.</p> - -<p>I wrote on the 27th: "I have been detailed by General -Hurlbut as judge advocate of a general court-martial, and -am kept very busy with its duties. That's what I get for -being a lawyer."</p> - -<p>A letter on March 31 has the following:—</p> - -<p>"We had yesterday our monthly regimental inspection -and in the afternoon we had a grand review of the division -by General Hurlbut. In both these exercises it became necessary -for me to command the regiment. The division review -was very fine, the finest we have seen since we have been -in the service. There were twelve regiments, with artillery -and cavalry. Our regiment was highly commended by the -general.</p> - -<p>"It has been a week since I have had a letter from you. -Probably you sent a letter by Schoenfield [the sutler], but if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> -you did it has not come, neither has Schoenfield. He started -up the Tennessee River with his stores, among which was -some whiskey. The troops on the boat discovered the whiskey, -broke it open, and got into a general drunk. The consequence -was he was sent back to Paducah with all his stores. -That's what you get for having your letter in company with -whiskey! It reminds me that if you have a chance I would -be very glad if you would send me a pint bottle of the best -quality of pure brandy. The worst I have to fear in the army -is diarrhœa, on account of bad water, especially in the warm -weather. St. Paul was sensible when he recommended 'a -little wine for the stomach's sake.' My little wife won't -fear I am going to be a drunkard."</p> - -<p>Some of the minor trials of a soldier's life are recorded in -my letter of the 3d:—</p> - -<p>"I have not told you that when we left the boats here, old -Bill, our negro cook, left us. I caught him selling whiskey -to the soldiers contrary to orders, and confiscated his whiskey, -with a sharp lecture which he took so seriously as to -quit us without notice. Surgeon Walker has loaned us his -boy Frank, and he has been doing the cooking <i>under my -superintendence</i>, and we haven't been living so bad either. -Frank and I get up some first-rate meals. I do the plain -cooking, such as frying potatoes and meat, making hash, -cooking rice, beans, hominy, etc., while Frank makes the -pies, biscuits, etc. We are not in danger of starving while -Frank and I have charge of matters! We used up the last -can of fruits to-night for supper of the fine lot you and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> -mother sent us. I can assure you we relished them greatly; -they come in very good place out here in the woods where -our mess can't buy anything, and have to depend on the -commissary supplies for all our eatables. Schoenfield is coming -back to the regiment again, but you home-folks must -not rob yourselves of fruits, preserves, apple-butter, catsup, -etc., on our account!"</p> - -<p>On April 2 I write:—</p> - -<p>"I see by the newspapers that the great Waterloo is to -take place up here in the vicinity of Corinth. Well, it hasn't -taken place yet, and you can rest yourself in the assurance -that it will hardly take place for some time to come. We are -resting quietly in camp, except that we have our daily drills -and parades and an occasional review. To-day Major-General -Grant reviewed our entire division; the troops looked -very well."</p> - -<p>In a letter dated the next day, the 3d, I write:—</p> - -<p>"The weather is very pleasant now. The trees are coming -out in full bloom. I took a long ride out into the country to-day; -went as far as it was safe to go this side of the rebels. -The woods are full of wild flowers; I got quite a bouquet -which I would love to have presented to my wife, but she -was not here to get it; maybe I may enclose you some of the -violets I have among them."</p> - -<p>And yet notwithstanding the quietness and confidence -prevailing in the army encamped at Pittsburg Landing, as -indicated in these extracts from my letters, on the 2d of -April the entire Confederate army under General A. S.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> -Johnston had marched from Corinth, and on the 3d, the day -I took my "long ride into the country," it was within striking -distance of our camp, designing to make its united attack -on Grant's army on the 5th. Being unexpectedly delayed -one day, the rebel onslaught broke upon our lines at day-break -on Sunday the 6th. Of the terrible two-days battle -which ensued, I was able the night of the second day to -write to my father a pretty full account:—</p> - -<div class="right"> -"<i>Pittsburg Landing, Tenn.</i>,<br /> -"<i>April 7, 1862</i>.<br /> -</div> - -<p> -"<span class="smcap">Dear Father</span>:—<br /> -</p> - -<p>"Tired, worn out, almost exhausted, I have just brought -the remnant of the noble Twenty-fifth Indiana back into our -old camp from the front of the hardest-fought, most strongly -contested, and bloodiest battlefield upon the American continent. -But I cannot lie down without first preparing a -short account of it, to assure you of my own personal safety, -the gallant conduct of our regiment, and the glorious triumph -of our arms. A terrible conflict of two full days of continuous -fighting has this evening left us in possession of the field -which was at one time almost lost.</p> - -<p>"Yesterday (Sunday) morning, about 6.30 o'clock, just after -we had finished breakfast, we were attracted by a continuous -roar of musketry, with occasional discharges of artillery on -our extreme left, near the river. In a few minutes we were -in line of battle, and moving forward to the attack. We had -hardly left the camp before we saw the roads full of our flying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> -men, and all along the route for the two miles we passed over -were strewn guns, knapsacks, and blankets, and we found, -to our dismay, that our front had been completely surprised, -one whole division scattered and retreating in utter confusion, -and the enemy in force already a mile within our camps.</p> - -<p>"We were drawn up in line of battle, our brigade, under -command of Colonel Veatch, in a skirt of timber bordering -a large field, on the outer edge of which our troops were engaging -the enemy. But the enemy pressed on in overwhelming -force, and just as the troops in front of us began to waver, -we discovered that the enemy had flanked us on the right -and was rapidly advancing (in what force we knew not, but -the woods were perfectly swarming), to attack our brigade -on the right and rear. So it became necessary for us to change -our front to the rear to meet them.</p> - -<p>"The Fifteenth Illinois was on the right, the Fourteenth -Illinois in the center, and the Twenty-fifth Indiana on the -left, the other regiment, the Forty-sixth Illinois, by the rapid -flanking of the enemy becoming detached from the brigade, -was not with us again during the whole action. This brought -the first fire upon the Fifteenth Illinois, which stood it nobly, -but was soon overpowered; likewise, the Fourteenth. In the -meantime the troops in front and on the left were completely -routed by the enemy and came pell-mell right through our -lines, causing some little confusion, and hardly had they -passed through to the rear before the enemy were upon us, -and here the fire of musketry was most terrible.</p> - -<p>"Our men tried to stand up to it, but everything was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> -breaking to pieces all around us, and it was more than we -could do, short of annihilation. We poured in a few well-directed -volleys, and reluctantly left the field—many of -our men firing as they fell back. The loss here was very -heavy. All the field officers of the Twenty-fifth Illinois were -killed instantly, and many commissioned officers; two of our -lieutenants were killed and three wounded, and one of our -captains is either killed or a prisoner. We will make thorough -search for him on the field in the morning.</p> - -<p>"We left dead on this field fifteen men killed almost instantly -on the first fire, and a large number wounded. At -the first fire Lieutenant-Colonel Morgan was wounded in the -leg (not seriously), and was immediately carried off the field. -From this time I led the regiment in person. I did all I could -to make the men contest the ground firmly as they fell back, -and on the first favorable ground, about one hundred yards -from the first line of battle, I planted the colors and mounted -a fallen tree, and, waving my hat with all my might, I cheered -and called upon the men to rally on the flag—never to -desert their colors.</p> - -<p>"All of the left wing responded to my call most nobly, and -rallied with considerable alacrity under a most galling and -dangerous fire. I did not see Colonel Morgan fall, and supposed -he had charge of the right wing; but the various captains -collected a large number of their men, and as soon as I -got under cover of the regiments on the left and rear, they -brought their men up and joined me, and I thus had still -quite a battalion, notwithstanding the killed and number<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> -wounded, and the straying or lost ones. The men who came -to me at this time had been 'tried in the furnace,' and were -true men, and during all the trying scenes of the rest of the -day and of to-day, they never faltered in obeying my commands, -and did most bravely.</p> - -<p>"As soon as our brigade was collected, Colonel Veatch -moved us over to the right to support General McClernand's -division, which was being very hard pressed by the enemy, -said to be commanded by Beauregard. The left, so our prisoners -report, was commanded by Bragg, and the center by -Johnston. They also report that the column that attacked -our brigade in the morning, of which I have just spoken, -numbers twelve thousand, under Bragg, and that the whole -force was near one hundred thousand; but we do not know, -only that it was very large, sufficiently so to attack the entire -line of our extensive camp in heavy force.</p> - -<p>"In the afternoon our pickets reported the enemy advancing -against us, on the left of General McClernand. As -soon as we had drawn them well up by our picket skirmish -under Captain Rheinlander, the Fourteenth Illinois flanked -them, and was just beginning to pour upon them a heavy -fire, while we were moving up to the assistance of the Fourteenth -in fine style, when the whole mass of our left, which -had, for five or six hours, been steadily and stubbornly contesting -the victorious advance of the enemy in that direction, -gave way in all directions, about half-past three, and -came sweeping by us in utter and total confusion—cavalry, -ambulances, artillery, and thousands of infantry, all in one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> -mass, while the enemy were following closely in pursuit, at -the same time throwing grape, canister, and shells thick and -fast among them.</p> - -<p>"It was a time of great excitement and dismay—it appeared -that all was lost; but I was unwilling to throw our -regiment into the flying mass, only to be trampled to pieces -and thoroughly disorganized and broken. So I held them -back in the wash on the side of the road until the mass of -the rout had passed, when I put my men in the rear of the -retreat, and by this means fell into a heavy cross-fire of the -enemy, but I preferred that to being crushed to pieces by -our own army. Here we lost a number of our men killed, and -many wounded.</p> - -<p>"Among those who fell, wounded badly in the leg, was -Sergeant-Major William Jones, who had stood right by me -fearlessly through the whole day. This rout decided that -day's work. We were driven back nearly to the river landing, -but the enemy kept pressing us in all the time, and, if, at -this time, they had made a bold and united charge all along -their line, we would have been totally and utterly routed; -but a half-hour's apparent cessation of heavy firing gave our -scattered forces time to rally, while the first two regiments -of Buell's long-expected advance took position on the hill in -the rear, and our forces fell back and formed with them near -the landing for a final stand.</p> - -<p>"About five o'clock in the evening the enemy made a -heavy charge and attempted to carry this position. The -contest was most terrible—the roar of musketry was one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> -continuous peal for near half an hour. All that saved us was -two heavy siege-pieces on the hill and the firmness of our -men on this last stand. Night closed in on us, with almost -the whole of our extensive camps in the hands of the enemy. -It was a gloomy night for us all, and to add to our discomforts -we had a heavy rain with no shelter. But we had saved -enough ground to make a stand upon, and during the night -twenty thousand fresh troops from Buell's army were transported -across the river, and Lew Wallace moved up his division -from below on our right.</p> - -<p>"This morning at dawn of day began one of the grandest -and most terrific battles ever fought. Buell moved forward -on the left and center, and Wallace on the right, with their -fresh troops, while Grant's army steadily followed them up -and held the ground firmly as it was gained. From early in -the morning until three o'clock in the afternoon the roar of -musketry and artillery was one almost continuous thunder. -It was grand beyond description. I have not time to tell you -of it in this letter, and you will have it fully described in the -newspapers.</p> - -<p>"The enemy fought with great desperation and steadiness, -but Wallace continued to press them on the right, driving -them to the left, and Buell pressing them on the left, driving -them to the right, until they were getting completely outflanked, -when at three o'clock our brigade was ordered up -to the front and center, and directed to charge the retreating -enemy, but they traveled too fast for us. Nothing but cavalry -could reach them. We remained on the outposts till<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> -evening, and then came in to get a good night's sleep in the -tents of our own camp after the fatigues of a two days' steady -fight. The night is terribly disagreeable—rainy and chilly—and -tens of thousands of troops are sleeping on the bare -ground with no covering, just as we did last night.</p> - -<p>"Indiana has borne an honorable part in the great battle. -I know that the Ninth, Eleventh, Twenty-fifth, Thirty-first, -Thirty-second, Forty-fourth, and Fifty-seventh Regiments -were engaged, and I think the Twenty-third and -Twenty-fourth, with several others, I have no doubt, though -I have been too busy on the field to know much of it—have -not even had time yet to see Colonel Morgan or our wounded -officers and men. The Forty-second was busy here to-day, -but I hardly think it was in the fight, though it may have -been. Thomson's Battery is said to have done noble work. -Aleck [brother of the writer] was busy with the trains and baggage—the -enemy came right up to our tents—the camp -was shelled; he had to move wagons and baggage to the landing. -Did his duty well. But we are back again to-night.</p> - -<p>"I tried in this terrible conflict to do my duty well, and I -am willing to leave to my officers and men the judgment.</p> - -<p>"I forgot to mention Colonel Veatch. He acted with -great coolness and courage, always with his brigade in the -thickest of the fight. He had two horses shot under him, but -escaped unharmed.</p> - -<p>"I have written this hurried letter to you for the family, -not the public. My deliverance was almost miraculous and -I am grateful for it."</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> -<p>After finishing the foregoing letter, I wrote a short one to -my wife:—</p> - -<p> -"<i>My own dear Wife</i>:—<br /> -</p> - -<p>"Your husband is still safe and unharmed, though he has -passed through a most terrible and deathful battle, the bloodiest -ever fought on the continent. While it was terrible, it -was grand.</p> - -<p>"I have just written a long letter to father, which is for -you all. I would write you at length, but it is now past midnight, -and after two days of hard fighting and one rainy -night of gloomy and fearful watching, I need rest. You will -excuse me, will you not?</p> - -<p>"My dear Parke, God, our merciful Father, has been my -shield and my protector; let us give Him all the glory.</p> - -<p>"Captain Dudley Smith [a relative of my wife] is badly -(not mortally) wounded. His regiment fought next to us, -and I shook hands of encouragement with him not five minutes -before he fell. Both his lieutenants and first sergeant -were shot.</p> - -<p>"I believe, my dear, that God will continue to preserve my -life for you and my dear child. Live in hope and faith. I will -write a long letter soon."</p> - -<p>In the letter to my father, given above, I refer in commendation -to my brother Alexander H. Foster, the regimental -quartermaster. He rendered a most valuable service -in saving all our camp and personal baggage. When during -the first day's fighting it became evident that the battle was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> -going against us, he brought up the wagons and loaded up all -the company and headquarters baggage and outfit, and took -them to the rear. The rebels occupied our tents on Sunday -night, and would have plundered everything but for our -quartermaster's thoughtfulness. He also displayed great daring -in keeping us supplied with ammunition during the first -day's heavy fighting.</p> - -<p>Another incident respecting our tents may be noted. When -attending the Harvard Law School, I had formed a very -close friendship with a classmate from Alabama, Walter -Bragg. I corresponded with him for some time, but lost sight -of him when the war began. Years after he came to Washington -to fill an important official position. I learned from -him then that on Sunday night of the Shiloh battle his regiment -occupied the camp of the Twenty-fifth Indiana, and he -slept in our headquarters tent.</p> - -<p>General Grant in his "Personal Memoirs" says: "The -battle of Shiloh was the severest battle fought at the West -during the war, and but few in the East equaled it for hard, -determined fighting." General Sherman, in his "Memoirs," -characterizes it as "one of the most fiercely contested of the -war."</p> - -<p>The number of the Confederate forces engaged in the -battle, as reported by Beauregard, was 40,955. Grant reports -the Federal forces in the first day's fighting at 33,000, -and that on the second day he was reinforced by General -Lew Wallace with 5000 and from Buell's army with 20,000. -The losses of the Federals were, killed 1754, wounded 8408,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> -missing 2934. The Confederate losses were, killed 1728, -wounded 8012, and missing 957. In my official report I -placed the loss of the Twenty-fifth Indiana at 149.</p> - -<p>While the battle was recognized as a distinct Union victory, -it was followed in the North by severe criticism of the generalship -displayed on the Federal side. Sherman says that -"probably no single battle of the war gave rise to such -wild and damaging reports"; and in his "Memoirs" Grant -writes: "The battle of Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing has been -perhaps less understood, or, to state the case more accurately, -more persistently misunderstood, than any other engagement -during the entire rebellion."</p> - -<p>The main criticisms were three in number: first, that no -intrenchments or fortifications of any kind were made to -protect the encampment; second, that our army was surprised; -and, third, that the retreating enemy was not pursued. -It is generally conceded that the encampment was -well located for defense, as three sides were protected by -the river and creeks full of water. Sherman, in discussing the -first criticism in later years, said, "The position was naturally -strong; ... we could have rendered this position impregnable -in one night." General Force, in reviewing the battle -after the close of the war, wrote: "The army had many -things to learn, and the use of field fortifications was one of -them."</p> - -<p>The charge that our camp was surprised was indignantly -denied by both Generals Grant and Sherman, and they produce -statements of fact, not generally understood at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> -time, which seem to sustain their contention. But a different -impression was generally prevalent in the camp. One of the -most intelligent and daring of the Civil War correspondents -was a young man writing under the <i>nom-de-plume</i> of "Agate," -who became afterwards well known throughout the world, -Whitelaw Reid. He was on the battlefield during the two -days' fighting and wrote lengthy reports of the battle. His -contention was that it was a complete surprise. Years afterwards -he had a discussion on this matter with General -Sherman, and in the course of it he cited my letter to my -father, above quoted, to sustain his contention.</p> - -<p>Doubtless the rebel army would have been much more -demoralized and have sustained great loss in military equipment -and supplies, if it had been vigorously pursued. The -greater part of Grant's army was so reduced and fatigued as -not to be able to make an effective pursuit of the retreating -Confederates, but Buell's army was not in that condition. -Publications made after the war by Grant and Buell make -it plain that there was want of harmony, if not an unfriendly -spirit, that prevented the cordial coöperation which might -have made the battle much more decisive.</p> - -<p>For some months previous to the battle of Shiloh General -Halleck had been commanding the Department of the West, -with his headquarters at St. Louis, from which place he was -directing the movements of the armies. Immediately after -this battle he came to Pittsburg Landing, arriving on April -11, and, assuming personal command, he began the reorganization -and reinforcement of the army in the vicinity, for a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> -march on Corinth, where it was understood the Confederates -were concentrating. This step on his part had the -effect of practically relieving General Grant from command.</p> - -<p>The news of the battle and heavy losses suffered by the -Union forces awakened throughout the country great interest -and sympathy, and from all the leading cities of the West -located on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers steamers were -chartered and dispatched to the battlefield, loaded with hospital -supplies, volunteer surgeons, and friends of the soldiers. -A boat was sent from Evansville, and among the passengers -was my brother George, bringing letters from home -and delicacies for the wounded soldiers of the Twenty-fifth -and our mess. In a letter of the 11th, four days after the -battle, I wrote to my wife:—</p> - -<p>"I can assure you I was glad to see the <i>Bowen</i> with a load -of our kind friends after the terrible experience of the last -week, and to know that the great patriotic heart of the Nation -was going out in sympathy and in acts of mercy to our -suffering wounded, who have been so sadly, cruelly neglected -by our army general medical officers. I thank you and Eliza -and Eleanor [my sisters] and our good friends at home for -their presents. In our hard-fought battle of last Sunday the -enemy drove us back clear behind our camp and rascally -carried off or devoured all our eatables, and your delicacies -came just in time to be fully appreciated.</p> - -<p>"I haven't seen Captain Smith since he was wounded. I -suppose he has gone down the river in the boats. You remember -I wrote you we were on a court-martial together; I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> -was finally excused from it to take command of our regiment. -I saw Colonel Harlan [afterwards Justice of the United States -Supreme Court; married Miss Shanklin, of Evansville] to-day. -He was in good health. His regiment is lying near us, -in the woods without tents. I meet a large number of acquaintances -in the Indiana regiments of Buell's army.</p> - -<p>"I send by George a copy of my official report of the -Twenty-fifth. Tell father I cannot have it published yet, but -I thought he and our home folks would want to read it, but -don't circulate it too freely. As soon as I can get the necessary -consent, I will have both Colonel Veatch's brigade and -my regimental reports sent home for publication. I am anxious -that our regiment should have a fair share of the honor, -as it had of the fighting.</p> - -<p>"Say to father and our friends that our regiment fought -bravely and did itself and the State credit. I had the entire -responsibility of the command. I believe I did my duty well; -all assure me of it in the highest terms. I know I saved the -regiment from disgrace and annihilation by a little daring exposure -and vigorous encouragement of our men. This I write -freely, but privately, to you and father. It is a great consolation -to me as a citizen to know I have done my duty, but -it is a further gratification to know that my friends at home -give me credit for it."</p> - -<p>On the 13th I write about the return of the steamer <i>Bowen</i> -to Evansville:—</p> - -<p>"I was much out of humor because they let the boat be -filled up with slightly wounded of other regiments, and left<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> -thirty or forty of our badly wounded Twenty-fifth in the -hospitals at Savannah, to linger and suffer from neglect and -bad treatment, and run the chance of getting home on the -charity of other parts of the State. But I suppose the committee -in charge did what they thought was for the best; -still, we are naturally sensitive and jealous for the comfort -of our own men."</p> - -<p>In my letter of the 13th I speak of the difficulty of getting -my letters. Officers and men of the regiment were constantly -going and coming from Evansville on furlough or sick-leave, -and they were often availed of to carry mail matter, as the -mail was not regular, but I note one instance in which my -letters by private hand did not reach me for thirty days. I -tell my wife:—</p> - -<p>"When you can't have opportunities of sending letters to -me by private means, send them by mail; they will get here -<i>afterwhile</i>, and they are never old. Your letter of Sunday -was seven days in coming. I have just received your three -letters sent by Schoenfield. They were a <i>little</i> behind time, -being dated March 14! but they were still very welcome. -I received by him the 'Evangelist' and 'Independent.' I -always like to get them, especially the 'Evangelist,' as it -gives a little variety to my religious reading.</p> - -<p>"Colonel Morgan's father arrived in camp to-day, expecting -to find the colonel nearly dead, and found he had gone -home only slightly wounded. These newspaper reporters -ought to be severely punished for their wicked and foolish -exaggerations. The idea of reporting twenty thousand of our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> -troops and forty thousand of the rebels killed and wounded -serves only to fearfully excite the country, and is so very -grossly absurd. It was a terrible fight, but not such as was -reported in the first dispatches. These reporters <i>see</i> but little -of the fight, hear a great deal, and tell all they hear and -a great deal more.</p> - -<p>"I have nothing new to write, but thought you would love -to hear after this terrible battle. Be cheerful, hopeful and -patriotic."</p> - -<p>My letter of the 15th was in the most desponding tone -since I had entered the service. It must be confessed it presented -a sorry picture of the 1046 stalwart men who left -Evansville eight months before for the war:—</p> - -<p>"I enclose you an extract from a communication addressed -to our brigade commander. You will see from it that -our regiment is pretty well used up, between sickness and -the bullets of the enemy, having suffered more than any -other regiment from Indiana in battle. In this condition of -affairs, I feel constrained to ask that the regiment be somewhat -relieved.</p> - -<p>"Aleck has been troubled with camp dysentery, and -wants to resign soon but I have been doing all I can to -keep him up and in good spirits, and to stay with us."</p> - -<p> -Col. James C. Veatch,<br /> -Commanding Second Brigade, Fourth Division.<br /> -<br /> -<i>Sir</i>:—<br /> -</p> - -<p>Permit me to call your attention to the present condition of -the Twenty-fifth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers.</p> - -<p>In the late action at Fort Donelson we sustained a loss in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> -killed and wounded of one hundred and fifteen, and in the late -battle of Pittsburg Landing of one hundred and forty-nine, -making a total of <i>two hundred and sixty-four</i>. A number of the -wounded have since died; a large number are entirely disabled -for any military duty, and nearly all of the wounded will be -unfit for duty for some time.</p> - -<p>There are now absent from the regiment, sick, three hundred -and nine enlisted men, and sick in the regiment one hundred -and thirty, making a total sick of four hundred and thirty-nine.</p> - -<p>I am left in sole command of the regiment, the lieutenant-colonel -being wounded and the adjutant having resigned. Three -of our most efficient officers were killed in the late action, and -six of them severely wounded and disabled. Two of our captains -absent; one of them badly wounded at Fort Donelson, -the other sick. Three other of our captains broken down with -continuous sickness and hard service, and are asking that they -may be relieved or resign. We now report only three hundred -and eighty-seven men for duty.</p> - -<p>Under date of the 18th I write:—</p> - -<p>"It is now nearly two weeks since the battle, and our -camp is again resuming its quiet and accustomed ways, as -if no terrible conflict had taken place over these grounds. -All our wounded are gone, and are now in the hospitals at -home. I hope they will be well cared for, as I am sure they -will be.</p> - -<p>"We don't know how long we will stay here, or what are -the intentions of the generals; but I think we shall remain -for at least ten days. General Halleck will hardly move till -he has his army so disposed as to make victory certain. He -says, so it is reported, that enough lives have been lost here, -and that he will accomplish the rest without much fighting. -I suppose you all hope this will be the case. General Hurlbut<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> -says he will not take his division into the next battle, if he -can prevent it, owing to its heavy losses in the late battle. -In our regiment and the brigade every third man was either -killed or wounded.</p> - -<p>"So you may rest in considerable quiet, as I think the -probabilities of <i>us</i> having much fighting is very remote. But -if it becomes necessary and we are called upon, we will do -our duty; you would want us to do nothing less. I never -expect to witness such another battle in my life; it was most -terrible and grand. I could not describe it; it is only to be -seen and heard. I had no conception of what a battle was -before. The Fort Donelson fight was a mere skirmish by the -side of it. You will preserve all things of interest in the -papers, especially relating to our regiment in the battle; but -there were so many regiments in the fight we do not expect -to get much notice, especially as we have no reporters in -our employ. I trust, my dear Parke, you will have confidence -in my continued safety and health, wishing for a happy -termination of our troubles and my speedy return, remembering -that I will not expose myself or our regiment more -than is essential to our duty, safety, and honor. I send many -kisses to my darling little daughter."</p> - -<p>My letter of the 20th acknowledges the receipt of the first -letter from my wife after the battle of Shiloh:—</p> - -<p>"You cannot know how glad I was to receive your letter -of the 12th. I have read it over many, many times during -the last two hours since I received it. When I read your -letter and knew with what feelings of joy you learned of my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> -safety, I could not keep back the tears. I have something to -live for and something to encourage me to do my duty -bravely, when I am assured of so dear and loving a wife and -such good relatives and friends. I was very anxious to hear -from you after the battle, and this was the first letter. I -knew there would be great anxiety at home both for myself -and the regiment, so I sent full particulars and list of the -killed and wounded by the first opportunity."</p> - -<p>I have already given a copy of the letter I wrote my father -the night after the second day's fighting. Although I cautioned -him that it was only for the family, and not for the -public, he was so much pleased with and proud of it that -he let the newspaper men take a copy of it. The "New -York Tribune," in publishing it on April 22, headed it with -this comment: "The following account of the great battle, -written by Major John W. Foster, of the Twenty-fifth -Indiana, is the most clear relation we have yet met with." -In my letter to my wife of the 20th I make this comment: -"I was very sorry to see my letter to father in the newspapers. -I did not want it published. I so stated to him. I -don't want to blow my own trumpet. If the people at home -can't learn of my exploits in some other way, it is better -that they should not hear them at all. Don't publish any -more of my letters unless I give my consent."</p> - -<p>But other accounts than mine were published. I make an -extract from one of them written the day after the battle: -"The Twenty-fifth has gained fresh renown, and can point -to their thinned ranks as the record of their part in that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> -dreadful fray. Colonel Veatch had two horses shot under -him while commanding the brigade. Lieutenant-Colonel -Morgan was wounded in the first fierce charge that brought -down so many of his men. Major Foster was everywhere in -the thickest of the fight, leading the charge or directing the -backward movement. The men will follow those officers -anywhere and Indiana may justly be proud of them."</p> - -<p>In my letter of the 20th, I report a proposed movement -of our camp:—</p> - -<p>"Our old camp becoming unpleasant after the great -slaughter of men and animals in the battle, we have been -ordered to a new camp four miles nearer the enemy. We -made our preparations, but a heavy rain has delayed.</p> - -<p>"I think when Colonel Morgan rejoins the regiment, after -we have whipped the rebels at Corinth and our men have a -prospect of a little rest, I will have to manage to get sick!—and -by this means get a sick-leave of a month, and come -home to see my little daughter to keep her from growing -entirely out of my knowledge, and to enjoy the long-desired -society of my dear wife and friends. But I won't set my -heart upon it, neither must you, for the probabilities are -we will have to finish up this rebellion before any of us can -get home. Then I will come and make a lifelong visit with -you; for it will take a very loud and patriotic call from my -country to make me leave my family again."</p> - -<p>In my letter of the 21st I note an event which led to an -important change in my military service. My wife had two -brothers, younger than herself, Theodore, a student in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> -senior class at the State University, and Alexander, then -a clerk in the post-office at Evansville. When the war broke -out Alexander (or "Zan") was very anxious to enlist, but -he was only sixteen years old, and we refused our consent -largely on account of his youth, and besides, as I was about -to enter the service, I wanted him to stay at home to look -after my wife and their mother. But after the successive -victories at Donelson and Shiloh, and he heard from the -returned soldiers about me, he became restless to join our -regiment. I refer to him in my letter of the 25th:—</p> - -<p>"I sent Zan a telegram and also wrote him a letter yesterday, -saying if Theodore could take his place in the post-office, -I would have him made a lieutenant and assign him to -duty as regimental commissary. But I do not want you to -be left at home without one of the boys with you, while -I am away, and he is not to come without the approval of -father and his mother.</p> - -<p>"Another reason which has caused me to decide for him -to come, on the above conditions, was that Aleck [my -brother] has been a little unwell for some weeks, is getting -tired, insists on going out of the service, and says he has -only stayed on my account. He says if Zan comes he can act -as commissary and he (Aleck) will stay a month until Zan -gets posted in the business; and we can have him appointed -regimental quartermaster. If Aleck goes home, as he seems -determined to do, I would like to have Zan with me, as -I don't fancy being here alone."</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2>V<br /> - -ON TO CORINTH AND MEMPHIS</h2> - - -<p>Evidently General Halleck's efforts to reorganize the army -after the battle of Shiloh were having a salutary effect in the -camp, as indicated in my letter of the 21st of April:—</p> - -<p>"We are having greater confidence in the army now. We -think Halleck will manage affairs with much system and -skill, and will not cause such needless slaughter of brave soldiers -as we had on the 6th. I am glad to see the public journals -exposing the wretched generalship which permitted a -complete surprise of a large army, and its almost complete -annihilation. But matters will go on much better now. System -is beginning to be apparent in every department, and -care and foresight. If we only had a good, full regiment everything -would go well with me, but we are sadly cut up. -Sickness has weakened us very much, and the two last battles -have seriously reduced us. Our officers from sickness, exposure -and other causes are resigning; two of them go home -to-morrow. My own health and spirits are very good, but it -is a little discouraging to see the regiment so weakened."</p> - -<p>But I cannot end the extracts without a little glimpse at -our home life, for which I so often express a longing in my -letters. The Mr. Tubbs referred to was the bearer of my -wife's letter:—</p> - -<p>"Mr. Tubbs said he called on you before he left and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> -heard you play, and praised your music extravagantly. I -hope you do not neglect your practice, as I want you always -to be able to play as well as when we were married. He spoke -of what a pleasant home I had; it made me want to be there. -I was much moved at father's last letter in which he said -I was always in the thoughts of the folks at home; that -<i>the little ones talked about me every day</i>. How I wish I could -be at home with them again to enjoy the company of the -little ones, of my own Alice and the rest."</p> - -<p>After three weeks of waiting, recuperation, and reinforcement, -General Halleck began the movement of his grand -army against Corinth in the last days of April. General -Grant places its number at 120,000. I reported this movement -in my letter of May 3 as having already begun, and in -anticipation of another battle I seek to quiet my wife's fears:</p> - -<p>"I wrote you of our change of camp, going four miles -away from the river beyond Shiloh Church toward Corinth; -and we are now under orders to proceed to Monterey, five -miles from this camp, so that to-morrow night we hope to -be thirteen or fourteen miles from the river, and five or six -miles from Corinth. But I think we shall not have a great -battle for some days yet, for I think the enemy will wait -for us to attack them in their intrenchments.</p> - -<p>"You must not be too solicitous if you hear of a great -battle, or be too credulous of telegraphic reports. I will try -to do my duty, and we will leave the result to our Heavenly -Father, who has kindly been my shield and protector thus -far through terrible dangers."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> - -<p>On the 7th of May I write:—</p> - -<p>"We are all packed up in camp under marching orders -to go two miles farther to the front, and are quietly waiting -for the orders to move, so while we are waiting I will try to -pencil you a little note at least."</p> - -<p>For the first time since I entered the army, with the exception -of temporary colds, I report a slight illness:—</p> - -<p>"I have been a little unwell for two or three days past, but -we are having very pleasant weather to-day, and I shall soon -be well again. I cannot afford to be sick at this time; I must -wait at least till we get the enemy out of Corinth or wherever -we meet them. I see by the papers that the reporters have -got the enemy out of Corinth. It may be so, but we don't -know it here."</p> - -<p>May 8 I note the arrival at the camp of Alexander McFerson:—</p> - -<p>"Zan arrived at the river night before last, but did not -get out here till this morning. I sent a recommendation to -Governor Morton this morning for his appointment, and he -will go at once to work.</p> - -<p>"We are now fourteen miles from Pittsburg Landing, and -six miles from Corinth. We are getting forward gradually; -moved one mile to the front yesterday."</p> - -<p>The letter of May 12 says:—</p> - -<p>"We have been moving out slowly and by degrees from -Pittsburg. We are now about eighteen miles from the river, -and six miles from Corinth. Our pickets are within three or -four miles of Corinth, and can hear very plainly the locomotives<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> -whistle and the drums beat. We have various rumors -of its evacuation, but can tell nothing of their truth. I -think the enemy are still there.</p> - -<p>"I have come very near being quite ill for the last few -days with fever, but fortunately have escaped and am nearly -well again. We were called out in line of battle the other -day by a false alarm, and I thought I <i>must</i> go out with my -men, though I had a high fever; and standing out in the hot -sun for two hours (and we have hot sun now) nearly laid -me up permanently. It is the nearest I have come to being -real sick since I have been in the service; but I am pretty -well over it now, thanks to my strong resolution and Dr. -Walker's good treatment. Dr. Walker says I have barely -escaped typhoid fever. I have taken medicine quite freely. -I cannot afford to be sick now; the enemy must first be -driven out of Corinth."</p> - -<p>On the 16th I write:—</p> - -<p>"We move up slowly, and as we go we fortify our camps -by a continuous line of breastworks of logs, brush, and earthwork. -The newspaper reporters have kept you unnecessarily -alarmed about the battle '<i>which could not be delayed a day -longer</i>,' and yet it has been delayed for a month. When it -is to come off I do not know, or whether it is at all. We have -for more than a week past been right in the face of the -enemy's pickets, the men of our regiment fighting them all -the time; and whenever it becomes necessary for us to move -our camp forward, our pickets make a push on them and -drive them back the required distance, rather obstinately<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> -however. The pickets are now about a mile in advance, and -almost any time we can hear the rifles crack, and frequently -they go by volleys. If the enemy are going to fight we can't -go much farther.</p> - -<p>"Zan is in good health and doing well. He is the most -anxious man in the regiment for a fight."</p> - -<p>In a previous letter I noted that Colonel Veatch had received -his commission as brigadier-general, and that Governor -Morton was on a visit to the camps and we might expect -our promotions soon. I had also reported Governor Morton's -visit to Fort Donelson after the battle there. He was -one of the most distinguished civilians which the Civil War -brought into public notice, and was especially esteemed for -his services toward the soldiers. Many years after the war -one of our Presidents, in a public address, said: "When history -definitely awards the credit for what was done in the -Civil War, she will put the services of no other civilian, save -alone those of Lincoln, ahead of the services of Governor -Morton."</p> - -<p>I reported May 19:—</p> - -<p>"Governor Morton visited us yesterday and was warmly -received by the boys. He told them he would make Lieutenant-Colonel -Morgan colonel and me lieutenant-colonel for -our services in the field, and the captains have voted for Captain -Rheinlander for major. I will get my commission to-day, -and so you can address me as Lieutenant-Colonel Foster -hereafter, and call me <i>colonel</i>, not <i>major</i>!</p> - -<p>"We are called out into line of battle now every morning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> -at daylight, and some mornings we are out in line by three -o'clock; thus, you see, we are determined not to be surprised -again by the enemy, if early rising is to have anything to -do with it. So I am writing my letter to you before sunrise!"</p> - -<p>A short letter on the 22d says:—</p> - -<p>"I write you this note to say I will write you a long letter -to-morrow, to assure you of my increasing health and -strength, and to let you know we are still out of a battle. -Since Captain Rheinlander has been made major, I can be -relieved of a portion of the outside heavy work, and have -the responsibility of the command divided. If Colonel -Morgan was back again, I could take things comparatively -easy."</p> - -<p>In the letter of the 23d it is stated that the St. Louis, -Chicago, and Cincinnati papers are now regularly on sale -by newsboys, showing that the communication with the -rear was well maintained, but I still want the Evansville -papers, the magazines and the "Evangelist." I go more -into detail in the method of our advances:—</p> - -<p>"We are slowly and safely approaching Corinth, making -our way secure as we go. We have a heavy skirmish with -the enemy's pickets; if they are obstinate we get out the -artillery, throw a few shells into the woods, drive them back -over a ridge into a hollow a half mile or so, then leave our -camp equipage behind, and march out with guns, knapsacks, -haversacks, spades, axes, and picks in hand and throw up -breastworks on the ridge. When that is done we move up our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> -camp equipage and remain in camp here for a day or more. -Then we shove up the enemy's pickets again, and make -another camp; and thus we are approaching the enemy's -works. Our generals, I believe, are going to consult the lives -of the soldiers in winning the next battle. The most of the -people in the States seem anxious that the fight should come -off <i>in a hurry</i>. If they had to do the fighting it might be -different.</p> - -<p>"If Beauregard will really stand, he will surely be defeated, -though it may cost the lives of many brave soldiers; -but the life of any of us is nothing in comparison with the life -and safety of the Nation. If it were not so I would not risk -my life in the contest."</p> - -<p>Under date of May 29, I allude to a forward movement of -the Twenty-fifth Indiana, similar to others previously made, -but which, unknown to us at the time, was a general advance -of Sherman and Hurlbut's divisions, and proved to be the -last military demonstration against Corinth, as the enemy -was then engaged in the evacuation of the place:—</p> - -<p>"We went forward yesterday with our brigade and drove -the enemy back a mile, thus getting room for a new camp. -To-morrow we all move up another mile, getting close neighbors -with Corinth.</p> - -<p>"We were all glad to welcome Colonel Morgan back to-day, -and I have been busy talking regimental matters with -him.</p> - -<p>"The paymaster has been with us to-day, and I am sending -you six hundred dollars. I want you to be at perfect liberty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> -in using the money. Make your house and family comfortable, -live well and enjoy yourself. Consult father about -the rent of the house, respecting which you wrote me. Don't -let these business affairs worry you. Take the world easy."</p> - -<p>At last the grand march on the rebel stronghold of Corinth -was over. My letter of June 1 says:—</p> - -<p>"I suppose there was at least one anxious heart relieved -by the news which ought to have reached home yesterday -that the rebels had evacuated Corinth, and concluded not -to give us battle. So you, and the thousands of wives and -relatives of our soldiers, can rest quiet for some time. After -the long preparations and constant and watchful readiness -we had maintained for battle, it was and is now a great -relief for us to relax and take some comfort. For weeks -men have been sleeping with all their accouterments on and -their arms by their sides, and were ordered out in line of -battle sometimes at midnight, or any other hour; but always -at early daylight. It is a great relief to us all to lie down -quietly now and sleep without being disturbed by the 'long -roll' or hasty orders from the generals. I have enjoyed the -luxury of the good morning naps, waiting for the rays of the -sun to waken me. Until last night I have slept with all my -clothes on and in utmost readiness for a prompt turnout. -I am thankful for good sleep now, and you are thankful -that we had no battle.</p> - -<p>"None of our regiment has been killed, but several were -wounded on picket and in the recent skirmishes. I have -passed through several narrow escapes, but then 'a miss is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> -as good as a mile.' In the last skirmish three days ago, Dr. -Walker and I were talking together, on horseback, discussing -the close range the enemy had upon us with their cannon, -while the shot would occasionally rattle through the trees, -when an unwelcome visitor in the shape of a shell came whizzing -along, and went into the ground right between our -horses, tearing up the dirt at a fearful rate. The boys dug -it out, and it was found that the rebels in their hurry had -forgot to gouge the fuse, and fortunately it did not explode.</p> - -<p>"I rode into Corinth yesterday. The fearful ravages of -war are visible on all sides, in the charred walls, solitary -chimneys, smoking ruins, and waste all around. The rebels -burned all their storehouses full of supplies, their magazines, -armories, etc. In peaceful times the town was a very attractive -place.</p> - -<p>"General Hurlbut is said to be anxious to get the position -of commandant of Memphis, and to march our division over -immediately and occupy. It is uncertain whether he will -succeed. My health, also Zan's, is good now."</p> - -<p>The escape of the Confederate army from Corinth, and -the subsequent breaking up of Halleck's great army was a -disappointment to the people of the North. Halleck's generalship -has been severely criticized by both Grant and -Sherman in their "Memoirs." Grant describes the movement -upon Corinth as "a siege from the start to the close" -and says, "I am satisfied that Corinth could have been captured -in a two days' campaign commenced promptly on the -arrival of reinforcements after the battle of Shiloh." Sherman<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> -laments that "the advance on Corinth had occupied -all of the month of May, the most beautiful and valuable -month of the year for campaigning in this latitude"; and he -adds that "by the time we had reached Corinth I believe -that army was the best then on this continent, and could -have gone where it pleased."</p> - -<p>While Buell's army was sent toward the east, Sherman -and Hurlbut were sent west toward Memphis. Our regiment -was destined to have no rest, as the day after we -entered Corinth, June 1:—</p> - -<p>"We received orders to support Sherman's division which -had gone forward on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad -toward Memphis. In half an hour we were in line of march, -with two days' rations and no tents. We had a heavy rain -that evening. The men marched two hours into the night, -and then lay right down by the roadside on the wet ground -and slept till morning. In the morning we went to work -cleaning out and chopping the fallen timber from the railroad, -and then went into camp, and here we are now, five -miles out west from Corinth. Our camp baggage was not -all up for five days.</p> - -<p>"We have a very pleasant camp in a shady forest, everything -to make us comfortable in camp but the <i>wood-ticks</i>, -which are multitudinous, pestiferous, and unescapable; they -have almost worried the life out of me by their biting. This -country abounds in snakes, lizards, and all kinds of troublesome -insects.</p> - -<p>"I have taken a few rides out into the neighboring country,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> -and find it tolerably well settled, but the soil is very -poor, the people likewise and very ignorant. Since we have -been in this camp we have managed to get for our mess -fresh milk, young chicken, eggs, green peas, onions, and lettuce, -which are great luxuries with us, who had had nothing -but Government supplies and what we could get from the -settlers.</p> - -<p>"We find very little bitter feeling or hostility exhibited -toward us by the country people, and all willing and longing -for peace. But the men are almost all gone, either in the -army or afraid to trust us. They who did not volunteer have -been forced into the rebel service by the conscription system, -until there are hardly enough left to gather the wheat, -which is now ready for harvesting. The farmhouses were -full of women and children. They have no money but Confederate -scrip and 'shin-plasters.' How it makes their eyes -sparkle to see our soldiers' silver and gold. But what is more -desired by them than silver and gold is <i>coffee</i>. It very often -happens that we are utterly unable to get their consent to -sell one of the few remaining chickens on the farm with -silver at high prices, but a pound of coffee will get the last -old hen on the place.</p> - -<p>"We don't certainly know what is to be our future destination, -but it is semi-officially stated in camp that W. T. -Sherman's and Hurlbut's divisions are to constitute the -branch of the army which is to move on Memphis. We are -anxious to go to that place, but our wish has nothing to do -with it, as we are Government soldiers to be disposed of as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> -our generals think best. There you see I have filled up the -sheet with a matter-of-fact business-like letter, without assuring -you how much I long to be with you and at home. -But I don't allow myself to think too much of these things -or I would get homesick. I long with you for the war to end, -that I may lay aside my emblems of the army, and return -to my dear wife and child, and the comforts and enjoyments -of civil life, but I must be patient."</p> - -<p>Some days later an undated letter says:—</p> - -<p>"I had thought of writing you a good long letter this -morning, but all human hopes are vain. This morning we -have marching orders for the west, and there is no time for -letter-writing. We are not informed as to our destination, -but the general impression among the officers is that we are -bound for Memphis. Will you come down to see me there, -or shall I jump on a boat and come up the Mississippi and -Ohio and see you?"</p> - -<p>My next letter was written from Grand Junction, a station -on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, midway from -Corinth to Memphis. The marching orders mentioned in the -preceding letter were for Memphis, but on reaching this -station our regiment was diverted from its course, as will -be seen from the letter of June 20:—</p> - -<p>"We arrived here five days ago, but our brigade was sent -on an expedition down to Holly Springs, thirty miles south -in Mississippi, to destroy the Mississippi Central Railroad, -which took us till last night: the rest of the army remaining -here to support us in case of danger. We came back all safe.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> -The march was a very rapid, but pleasant one, through a -beautiful country and to one of the prettiest towns in the -South. We hope to leave for Memphis to-morrow."</p> - -<p>This was the last letter written by me from the Twenty-fifth -Indiana. On my arrival at Grand Junction I learned -that Alexander McFerson, my wife's brother, was ill at -Lagrange, a station on the railroad a short distance from -Grand Junction. I at once hastened to his bedside, and -found him suffering from a severe attack of typhoid fever, -which was prevalent in the camps. Notwithstanding he -received the most skillful medical attendance, the virulence -of the disease soon placed him beyond human aid, and he -died on June 27.</p> - -<p>I secured a furlough to take his body home. The regiment -continued on its march to Memphis, and I went on my sad -journey to Evansville, bringing the body of the young soldier -to his bereaved mother and sister. The sequel shows that -I never returned to the Twenty-fifth Indiana, with which -I had passed through so many dangers and privations, and -with whose men I had formed the deep attachment of soldier -comradeship.</p> - -<p>The following editorial in the "Evansville Journal" of -July 2, 1862, reflects the sentiments of all who knew him:—</p> - -<p>A telegram last night brought the melancholy news of the -death of Lieutenant Alexander McFerson to his friends in this -city. He died at Lagrange, Tennessee, on the 27th ult. at the -age of seventeen.</p> - -<p>When he asked permission to join the army he said that he -felt it his duty to go into the service; that neither of his mother's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> -sons were there, and he would never feel satisfied unless he did -his share in putting down the rebellion. Less than two months -ago he left his friends and home, buoyant in health, and with -high hopes of a pleasant and useful career in the grand army -of the Mississippi, having been appointed commissary to the -Twenty-fifth Indiana Volunteers. But how soon those hopes -are blasted, how soon that health is destroyed by a fatal disease. -In early youth, he is cut off. Young McFerson was a -generous, noble youth, warm-hearted, and highly esteemed by -the whole community, who will warmly sympathize with his -bereaved friends in this hour of their affliction.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> - - - -<h2>VI<br /> - -GUERRILLA WARFARE IN KENTUCKY</h2> - - -<p>When I arrived at Evansville in July, 1863, on furlough, I -found the border country on both sides of the Ohio River in -Indiana and Kentucky in a state of feverish excitement. The -counties of western Kentucky were overrun with Confederate -soldiers, who had secretly and singly passed through the -military lines, and were engaged actively in the work of -securing recruits for the rebel army, and, after mounting -them on horses taken from loyal citizens, sent them back -through the lines to the South. Guerrilla bands were roaming -through these counties, terrorizing the Union men, and -threatening to cross the Ohio. In fact, about the time of my -arrival at home a small guerrilla force had occupied Newburg, -a town nine miles above Evansville, and robbed the -stores, striking terror into the inhabitants.</p> - -<p>As no regular forces were available for defense, Governor -Morton had rushed several bodies of Home Guards to Evansville, -and was organizing thirty and sixty days' men for service -in various parts of Indiana, to serve until the Federal -Government was able to protect the disturbed districts by -regularly organized and armed troops. General Love, who -had charge of these State forces, with his headquarters at -Evansville, requested me to take command of these irregular -levies, and occupy Henderson, the most important town in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> -that section of Kentucky, ten miles below Evansville on the -Ohio River, as a base for operations against these marauding -rebels. This I consented to do, as a temporary expedient.</p> - -<p>On the 26th of July, a few days after we had occupied -Henderson, Governor Morton repeated from Indianapolis a -telegram from General J. T. Boyle at Louisville, commanding -the United States military forces in Kentucky as follows: -"Give the order to Lieutenant-Colonel Foster in my -name to command at Henderson." As my furlough from the -Twenty-fifth Indiana was about to expire, and neither Governor -Morton nor General Boyle would listen to my intimation -that I would have to rejoin my regiment, estimating -highly the value of my military experience in the absence of -other available officers, the Governor secured from General -Grant an order detaching me temporarily from the Twenty-fifth -Indiana, and authorizing me to continue in the service -in Kentucky.</p> - -<p>I was clothed by General Boyle with the most drastic authority -to put an end to the troubles in western Kentucky. -The order above quoted by which I was placed in command -at Henderson contained also the following instructions:—</p> - -<p>Order the officers in my name to kill every armed rebel offering -resistance and all banded as guerrillas. I want none such -as prisoners. Order them to disarm every disloyal man.</p> - -<p>Only a few days after I was put in command by General -Boyle. August 2, he sent the following telegram:—</p> - -<p>If officers and men do not obey my orders to shoot down the -armed rebels, every bushwhacker, guerrilla, or banded villains,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> -our forces had better be withdrawn from the field. We can only -save the State by putting them to the sword. I want none of -them as prisoners. Take no oath or bonds. You will shoot -down the scoundrels.</p> - -<p>These and other orders from him of like character which I -quote will indicate the bitter spirit which prevailed at that -time in Kentucky between the loyal and disloyal citizens. -General Boyle was a native-born citizen of Kentucky.</p> - -<p>Immediately after I assumed command at Henderson I -set to work to get the irregular and inexperienced forces collected -there into such organized shape as would enable me to -go out into the country to attack and drive out the rebel -bands which were infesting that region. While engaged in -that work, I was embarrassed by a civil duty which I had to -face. A short time before my arrival an election had been -held in Kentucky for city, county, and other officials. General -Boyle had issued an order regulating the election to -this effect:—</p> - -<p>No person hostile in opinion to the Government will be allowed -to stand for office in Kentucky. The attempt of such a -person to stand for office will be regarded as in itself sufficient -evidence of his treasonable intent to warrant his arrest. In -seeking office he becomes an active traitor, if he does not become -one otherwise, and is liable both in reason and in law to -be treated accordingly. All persons of this description in offering -themselves as candidates for office will be arrested and sent -to these Headquarters.</p> - -<p>The election at Henderson had resulted in the choice of a -mayor and city council, all of whom were sympathizers with -the rebellion. On my arrival the mayor fled from the city.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> -I telegraphed General Boyle: "The mayor of this city has -left town without leave. Been absent a week. Strongly suspected -of being among the guerrillas. The city council are -secessionists in sympathy. Have you any action to direct?" -He replied: "When mayor returns arrest him. If you deem -proper arrest any of the council, and send all to Camp -Morton. The men elected to office in Hopkins County I wish -taken and sent in with others. Leniency and conciliation -do no good. The scoundrels must be subjugated or killed."</p> - -<p>It was soon established that the mayor had fled through the -lines and joined the Confederate forces, whereupon I summoned -a meeting of the council and requested them to declare -the office of mayor vacant, and each of them to take the -oath of loyalty exacted of suspected citizens. Rather than -take this action all the members of the council resigned. -The city marshal likewise refused to take the oath of loyalty, -and I declared his office vacant. This left the city without -any civil government.</p> - -<p>I therefore issued a proclamation as military commander -of the post, assuming control of the civil affairs "until the -loyal citizens shall have filled the offices with loyal men," -and ordering an election to be held on a day designated. -Meanwhile a citizen of Henderson was appointed by me -provost marshal and furnished with a military guard to enforce -order. My action in the matter was approved by my -superior commanders. Thenceforth during my command in -western Kentucky I had no trouble with the civil authorities -of Henderson.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> - -<p>Having gotten my forces in a fair condition for a campaign -against the guerrilla bands, I was about to make an -expedition into the adjoining counties, when I received a -report that the Confederate trooper John Morgan, with a -large force, was just across the line in Tennessee and learned -that one of his subordinates, Adam Johnson, a noted guerrilla -chief, was already in my district. Before moving, I inquired -of General Boyle as to Morgan's whereabouts, and -he replied: "Morgan is near Gallatin. He cannot venture -into your section. No danger from that source. Johnson is -a great liar, as all rebels are. You can go where you please. -Act on your own discretion. Shoot down the banded scoundrels -as guerrillas or as recruits for the rebel army."</p> - -<p>I had received reliable information that a considerable -band of armed and organized rebels were quartered at -Madisonville, the county seat of Hopkins County, about -forty miles from Henderson, actively recruiting for their -army and levying upon the loyal citizens for horses and -supplies. With several companies of infantry and such force -of cavalry as I could get (a mere handful), I embarked at -night on a steamer, going up the Ohio and Green Rivers to -within three miles of Madisonville, where we disembarked -early in the morning, and moved toward the town, hoping to -surprise the enemy. But we found them posted in a forest, -heavily wooded and thick with underbrush, in the suburbs -of the town. I ordered forward our skirmishers, who engaged -them with a brisk fire, but before our line of battle could -reach them they fled precipitately, mounting their horses<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> -and scattering in every direction. The result of the skirmish -was a few soldiers wounded and a number of the rebels as -prisoners.</p> - -<p>We went into camp at Madisonville, and scouting parties -were sent out in various directions. A few prisoners were -brought in, but no banded rebels could be met with, as, being -mounted on good horses and aided by resident sympathizers, -they were able to get out of the way. During our stay some -of our soldiers on picket duty were shot down, murdered in -the darkness of the night, by persons claiming to be Southern -soldiers, skulking behind rocks and bushes. We were indignant -at such warfare, and I issued a proclamation which was -scattered throughout the county, denouncing this irregular -and barbarous warfare as contrary to the rules of civilized -nations, declaring that the firing upon pickets, when no enemy -was near, was cold-blooded murder, and giving notice that -for every picket thereafter murdered one of the captured -guerrillas in our hands would be put to death as a felon. I -never had occasion to put this threat into execution, and -probably never would have done so, but the proclamation -had its desired effect, and the killing of our pickets ceased.</p> - -<p>The expedition to Madisonville was heralded by the papers -of Indiana as a great victory and magnified into a battle, but -to me who had so recently come from Fort Donelson and -Shiloh it seemed a mere skirmish of slight proportions. I -soon returned to the post at Henderson, leaving a small detachment -at Madisonville to protect the loyal citizens from -the depredations of the guerrillas.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> - -<p>On my return I found that a reign of terror existed in the -adjoining county of Union; that the loyal officers recently -elected were not permitted by the secessionists to act; that -a returned Union soldier at home on furlough had been ambushed -and murdered; and that unarmed steamers on the -Ohio had been repeatedly fired on from Uniontown. Reporting -these facts to General Boyle, I was authorized to levy -on the secession sympathizers of the locality a fund for the -support of the family of the murdered soldier. As to Uniontown -he telegraphed me: "If the rebels take any town on -the river and use it to fire on boats, you will burn or demolish -it. It would be well to burn down Uniontown, if it is likely -to fall into the hands of the rebels."</p> - -<p>I made an expedition into Union County with a view to -overawe the rebel sympathizers and place the loyal officers -recently elected in the exercise of their duties. But it proved -of no avail. The guerrillas easily got out of our way and the -rebel residents denied all knowledge of them or of the parties -guilty of the soldier's murder. The loyal officials were unwilling -to attempt to assume their duties unless I would agree -to keep a force of soldiers permanently at the county seat, -and this I could not do with my inadequate command.</p> - -<p>For the first month or six weeks of my Kentucky service -I put forth as much activity as was possible with the forces -I had, to destroy or drive out of my district the guerrillas -and Confederate recruiting men, and I received the repeated -thanks of Governor Morton and my commanding officer, -General Boyle, for what I accomplished. But I encountered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> -considerable embarrassment in the exercise of my command. -I was still lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-fifth Indiana, -then in General Grant's army on the Lower Mississippi, and -the troops sent into my district might be, and at times were, -commanded by officers of higher rank than mine, and who -according to the Army Regulations would displace me. It was -the desire of both Morton and Boyle that I should continue -in charge of the district, and they recognized that I deserved -promotion.</p> - -<p>In a letter, dated September 19, Governor Morton wrote -me as follows:—</p> - -<p>"I desire to say frankly that it would be very gratifying -to me to have you remain in command of the forces at and -in the vicinity of Henderson, if in justice to your own feelings -and the interest of your own regiment, you could do so. The -ability, energy, and sagacity you have thus far displayed is -sufficient proof of your fitness for the command. But should -you, on any account, feel embarrassed in your personal position, -I cannot insist that you shall remain; and, as to this, I -beg you will exercise your own discretion.</p> - -<p>"It would afford me much pleasure to show my recognition -of your gallant, efficient, and faithful services, by promoting -you to a colonelcy, and I should have done so before -this, giving you one of the new regiments, had not orders -from the War Department, a copy of which is herewith -enclosed, prevented me from promoting officers connected -with 'old regiments' to new commands. I regard you as -entirely competent to lead a regiment, and your experience<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> -and uniform good conduct in the field, in my judgment, -fairly entitle you to promotion. The orders alluded to have -embarrassed me very much, but the Secretary of War has -announced them as inflexible."</p> - -<p>When it became apparent that I would have to rejoin the -Twenty-fifth Indiana unless I was promoted, a way was -found (how I do not know) whereby I was appointed colonel -of the Sixty-fifth Indiana Infantry, a new regiment which -had just been organized at Evansville. The Lieutenant-Colonel -of the Sixty-fifth was Thomas Johnson, my uncle, -who six months before had been forced to resign on account -of ill-health. My promotion enabled me to continue in command -of the district of western Kentucky continuously until -our forces were transferred to another field in the following -year.</p> - -<p>The action on my part, during my command of the district -of western Kentucky, which attracted the most attention -and comment, was the enforcement of a money levy made -upon the disloyal residents of Hopkins County to reimburse -the Union citizens for losses sustained at the hands of the -guerrillas. This action on my part was reported in full at -the time to General Boyle and to Major-General Wright, -commanding the department, and was unreservedly approved -by them. General Wright, in endorsing his approval, -added: "A few such exhibitions of zeal and energy would go -far toward breaking up the lawless bands, which have been -so long a terror in that quarter, and restoring peace and -quiet in that section of Kentucky." Efforts were made in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> -vain to the military commanders to have this levy revoked. -Finally Hon. L. W. Powell, one of the Senators from Kentucky -and a citizen of Henderson, after having failed with -the War Department, visited President Lincoln in person, -presented to him a list of the names of individuals assessed -by me and the amount, and asked that in the exercise of his -power as Commander-in-Chief of the Army he disapprove -of the levy and order the money returned.</p> - -<p>The request of Senator Powell, with his list, was sent by -President Lincoln through the military channels calling for -a report from me. I quote the following from my letter to -General Boyle, dated February 16, 1863, in reply:—</p> - -<p>"I am in receipt of the letter of President Lincoln, with -your endorsement thereon, instructing me to report on the -names contained in the paper submitted by Senator Powell.</p> - -<p>"You will remember that I made a full report of all my -action in these matters at the time, giving in detail the condition -of the country, the causes which led to my action, the -amount levied, the manner in which it was distributed, and -the effect which it has had upon the community. This report -has been read by yourself and Major-General Wright, commanding -this department, and in all respects fully approved. -I desire that this report be sent to the President. It was -made upon my honor as an officer, and by it I desire that -I may be judged. The money levied had been appropriated -and paid out, as stated in my report, to the citizens -of Hopkins County, who were the sufferers by the action of -these very men and their friends, who ask the President for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> -redress. The money cannot now be refunded by them. I am -the only person who should be held responsible, for if any -wrong was committed it was through the action taken by -me as set forth in my report.</p> - -<p>"I know that my action in the matter has had a most salutary -effect upon the people, and Hopkins County is now enjoying -a degree of peace and security which has not heretofore -existed since the commencement of the rebellion. I trust -my action may be approved by the President, as it has -so flatteringly been done by yourself and Major-General -Wright."</p> - -<p>As I relied entirely upon my previous report to General -Boyle for my vindication, I make some extracts from that -document:—</p> - -<p>"For more than three months previous to this levy, I had -been laboring as earnestly as the force under my command -would permit, in efforts to rid this part of Kentucky of the -lawless bands of guerrillas. They had succeeded in breaking -up the civil organization in all the counties lying between -Green and Cumberland Rivers; forcibly preventing the administration -of the laws; stopping the mails; robbing peaceable -citizens on the public highways, causing loyal men to -flee from their families and homes; plundering them of -horses, arms, goods, and anything of value that their comfort -required, or fancy demanded; interrupting the navigation -of the rivers by firing into unarmed steamers; and were -engaged in carrying on a warfare, cowardly and cruel, and -entirely unwarranted by the rules of civilized nations.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p> - -<p>"These bands of guerrillas were mounted on the best -horses in the country, stolen from the citizens; they were -active and wily, and thoroughly acquainted with the byways -and hiding-places; and were supported by vigilant -friends on every side. I found it very difficult to drive them -out. And one great obstacle to this was the fact that they -were supported, encouraged, and harbored by the friends -and sympathizers of the rebellion, who were enjoying the -possession of their property and their homes under the protection -of the Government, while very many loyal citizens -were driven from their families, and their homes plundered -by these armed robbers. The guerrillas possessed not a single -tent, and made no arrangements for a commissariat, yet -they never wanted for a friendly roof to shelter them and -were bountifully supplied with cooked rations. Wherever -they went they were encouraged by hearty welcomes and -approving smiles. They never could be surprised in their -hiding-places or overtaken in their flight, because some -sympathizers, enjoying the immunities of the Government, -would go before and warn them of our approach. I had exerted -myself to drive out these bands and restore peace to -these counties and had only partially succeeded. I had time -and again warned the secession sympathizers that if they -continued to harbor, feed, and encourage these plunderers -and assassins, I would be compelled to hold them responsible; -that Union men, on account of their patriotic faithfulness -to the Government in this time of public distress, should -not be driven from their homes, their property carried away,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> -and their lives endangered, without some compensation for -their losses. They were daily making their complaints known -to me, some loyal farmers having lost their last horse, not -one being left to gather the corn, or till the soil. Others had -their stores or houses plundered. The secessionists were living -in the peaceful enjoyment of their homes, and the undisturbed -possession of their property.</p> - -<p>"The county of Hopkins was one of the strongholds of the -guerrillas and their friends; they were numerous, active, and -bold. After consulting with the most prominent Union men -of the county as to the proper course to pursue, I organized -the expedition, a partial report of which I gave you, in which -I succeeded in scattering, capturing, or driving away all the -organized bands in that county. Then in order to give peace -in future to the county, I determined to carry out the threat -I had so often made to the aiders and harborers of the -guerrillas by holding them responsible for the depredations -committed by their lawless friends. I accordingly made a -money levy upon every prominent harborer or sympathizer -of the guerrillas that I could reach, making the assessment -against each individual in proportion to his property and -support or countenance of the traitors. The amount so levied -and collected has reached the sum of thirteen thousand -three hundred and thirty-five ($13,335) dollars. This fund -I have caused to be paid over to an upright, loyal, and responsible -citizen of Henderson, Kentucky. I have appointed -a committee consisting of men of acknowledged probity, influence, -and responsibility of Hopkins County, who are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> -thoroughly acquainted with the people of the county. I have -placed the matter entirely in the hands of citizens, removing -it as far as possible from the control of the military. I -have made it the duty of this committee to investigate the -losses sustained by Union citizens of Hopkins County -through the agency of the guerrilla bands, and to compensate -them out of this fund in proportion to their necessities -and losses."</p> - -<p>My report was forwarded through the War Department -to President Lincoln and approval of my action was made -by the endorsement of the President in his own handwriting. -Nothing further was heard through official channels of the -levy.</p> - -<p>The town of Smithland at the mouth of the Cumberland -River was in my district, and as it was an important dépôt -for supplies for the forces operating at and through Nashville, -I was required to maintain a force there, and I was -often called there in discharge of my duties. Under date of -November 1, I received a letter from General Boyle enclosing -two orders from Major-General Wright, one placing -under arrest and ordering a court-martial for the major -commanding a detachment of a Wisconsin regiment stationed -at Smithland, and the other ordering the detachment -to be sent away to another army. It appears that the major -enforced very little discipline and that the troops were inflicting -all kinds of outrages and terrorism on the residents. -I was directed to take with me one or more companies of -Indiana troops for a garrison. He added: "I think, if practicable,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> -you had better go down in person to Smithland. The -citizens are apprehensive of an outbreak and great wrongs -to them, on finding that the Wisconsin troops are ordered off -and the major placed under arrest. You will take prompt and -decisive steps to prevent anything of the kind, even if you -shall be under the necessity of using the musket or bayonet -for the purpose. Exercise prudence but firmness."</p> - -<p>I encountered no difficulty in executing my orders. The -major quietly accepted his arrest, the disorderly troops were -sent away, and the garrison of a portion of my Sixty-fifth -Regiment gave the citizens assurance of order.</p> - -<p>Some time after this visit I was again called down to -Smithland, but for a very different reason. The emancipation -of the slaves, brought about by President Lincoln's -Emancipation Proclamation, was greatly resented by many -of the Union men of Kentucky. Upon the publication by -President Lincoln of the notice of his intended action on -September 22, 1862, quite a number of the officers of Kentucky -regiments in the Federal army resigned their commissions -and returned home. Others, while remaining loyal to -the Government, deeply regretted the President's action, -and General Boyle was among them. Large numbers of -slaves escaping through the lines from Tennessee sought -refuge within our encampments. In November, I received -the following letter from General Boyle: "Do not allow negro -slaves to come into your lines. All such must be turned out -and kept out. Have nothing to do with negroes. Let them -go. You will see that your command attend to this matter.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> -I am anxious that Indiana troops especially have nothing -to do with slaves."</p> - -<p>I sought to have this order observed by my command, -distasteful as it was to many, and General Boyle commended -me for my action, but called attention to the non-observance -of the order, especially at Smithland, and asked me to -give it my personal attention. I wrote my wife under date -of January 25, 1863: "I shall have to go down to Smithland -again to-morrow. Considerable complaint is made about -Major Butterfield on the negro question; Governor Robinson -of Kentucky complaining to General Boyle and the general -referring the matter to me. This eternal negro question is a -perfect nightmare to our loyal Kentucky patriots. We have -to humor them amazingly. I try to act prudently, but I -sometimes get vexed and disgusted."</p> - -<p>I have already noticed various occupations in which I -have been engaged other than of a strictly military service. -While in command of the district of western Kentucky I was -ordered to go with a suitable force to the Cumberland River, -midway between Smithland and Nashville, where the rebels -had obstructed navigation by sinking barges loaded with -stone in the channel. With vessels suited for the purpose, I -spent two weeks in cleaning the channel for navigation. I -sent my wife a Christmas greeting by telegraph from this -point, reporting my success, and also that we had captured -thirty guerrillas.</p> - -<p>During the greater part of my service in Kentucky I had -been much hampered by the lack of a sufficient force of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> -cavalry to enable me to pursue and hunt down the guerrillas. -After continued efforts in that direction, I received the following -Special Order from General Boyle's headquarters. -"Colonel John W. Foster is hereby authorized to mount the -Sixty-fifth Regiment Indiana Volunteers to be used as -mounted infantry. The Quartermaster's and Ordnance Departments -will furnish the necessary horses and horse equipments -upon Colonel Foster's requisition." After my regiment -was mounted and fully equipped, I had little trouble in -clearing the country of guerrillas and giving peace to the -Union citizens.</p> - -<p>I was greatly grieved in January, 1863, to receive a letter -from my wife telling me of my father's failing health. He had -always been a devoted parent to his children, but he had -doubly attached me to him at the opening of the war in patriotically -encouraging his boys to enter the army, with the -assurance that he would look after and care for their families. -He wrote me frequent letters, and no day passed without a -visit from him to my house to inquire for the health and -needs of my wife and child. I wrote my wife: "Your letter -made me sad when I read of father's poor health. I wish I -was at home to comfort him somewhat and to aid him in his -business. You will do all you can to make his time pleasant. -He thinks much of you. Visit him often, and let Alice go -over to see him whenever he wants her or she wants to go, -and teach her to be affectionate to him. These little acts of -kindness will gratify him in his feeble health and declining -years."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> - -<p>My father's ill-health continued after the date of this letter, -but I was afforded the opportunity of visiting him several -times and doing what I could to comfort him in his last days. -On April 13, 1863, he passed away. An account of the manner -in which he met death is recorded in the "Biography of -Matthew Watson Foster," pp. 81-83.</p> - -<p>Fortunately for the human race, our sorrows and our joys -follow each other, often in quick succession. Two weeks after -the death of my father, while on an expedition into the interior -of my district in pursuit of guerrillas, I received intelligence -of the birth of our second child, Edith. She was -our "war baby," but she proved the harbinger of peace. -Blessed with a sweet and even temper from her birth, she -has spread peace and sunshine in her path through life.</p> - -<p>Although my field of military service was so near to my -home, I did not cease to long for the time when I might return -to my family. Writing to my wife on a Sabbath day, -January 11, I say:—</p> - -<p>"Oh, when will this terrible war be over, so that we may -spend our Sabbaths together as we have in the past, so -peacefully, so pleasantly, so profitably? It has always been -one of my greatest privations in the army that I was away -from my family and Sabbath Church enjoyments. God in -his own good time will give us peace, and return us to our -Christian privileges and our home blessings. I can't help but -wish I was at home, and wish it every day, and that circumstances -were such that I might come with honor. I trust that -time may come soon. But I do not want to dishonor all I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> -have done by leaving at present. I want first to see the war -looking toward its close."</p> - -<p>I wrote the following brief epistle to my wife in a jocose -spirit: "For the love I bear you, I herewith enclose to you -the fruits of my toil, danger, privations, and glory for the -past two months, $381.65, according to the estimate of my -services by the paymaster."</p> - -<p>I have referred to the embarrassment and trouble which -came to me soon after I assumed command at Henderson -by the condition of the State elections and the rebel civil -officials. Another annual election occurred just before the -close of my service in 1863, and I was required by General -Boyle to see that his orders were enforced. In addition to the -order that no one who was not <i>in all things</i> loyal to the State -and Federal Governments should be allowed to be a candidate, -a further order was issued which made it the duty of the -judges of election to allow no one to vote unless he was known -to them to be an undoubtedly loyal citizen or unless he -took the "iron-clad" oath of loyalty prescribed by the State -law. It was made the duty of the military authorities to see -that these orders were enforced. I did not have a sufficient -force to station a detachment at every voting-place, but I -scattered the military election proclamation broadcast, and -had a force at a number of the leading voting-places.</p> - -<p>In one of the Congressional districts within my command -I had a peculiar condition. The regular or State Union candidate -was opposed by a prominent citizen, who had stood -by the Federal Government at the beginning of the rebellion,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> -had raised a Federal regiment, and had fought gallantly at -Donelson and Shiloh. But after the President's announcement -of the Emancipation Proclamation, he resigned from -the army and returned to Kentucky to array himself with the -peaceful opponents of the Administration. He was permitted -to make a canvass of his district without any interference by -the military, and at the election none of my command found -it necessary to interpose. But the fact was that many who -would have supported him at the polls abstained from voting -because they were unwilling to take the "iron-clad" -oath. Although the State Union candidate received a decided -majority of the votes, his seat was contested by his -opponent on the ground, among others, of military interference -with the election, and my name was freely used in the -debates; but the Union candidate was seated by Congress. -In the course of the debate, the Union candidate, referring to -the attacks upon me, said: "Colonel Foster's services protected -all that region of Kentucky, my home, the contestant's -home, from rebel and guerrilla outrage and depredation. -Without those services the courts could not have been -held nor the laws administered in a large district of country. -He afterwards led a brigade with brilliant success in East -Tennessee. And the contestant will not forget that day on -the banks of Green River, when he and I waged a bloodless -battle of words about politics in stone's throw of where -Foster and his gallant Hoosiers stood in battle order, expecting -John Morgan and his avalanche of cavalry."</p> - -<p>During my year's service in Kentucky my command was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> -frequently disturbed and put in battle array by reports from -time to time that the rebel General Forrest or John Morgan -was about to enter my district with a large force of cavalry. -These reports were so frequent and unfounded that we became -incredulous, but Morgan finally did come into Kentucky -with quite a formidable force. General Boyle early -notified me of his presence in the State, and that he might -seek his way out by crossing Green River and passing through -my district into Tennessee; and I was ordered to move my -entire command to Green River, remove or destroy all the -boats, and give him battle if he came my way.</p> - -<p>But Morgan had other schemes on hand. At noon July -9, 1863, General Boyle telegraphed me that Morgan had -crossed the Ohio River into Indiana some distance below -Louisville with a cavalry force of four thousand men. I -was ordered to secure transports and put my command on -board to move up the river. At 9 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> the same night I -received the following from Boyle: "Morgan may deflect -west and try Evansville. I think he will move on New -Albany. Gather your men, seize boats, and come up river. -Send out scouts on Indiana side to learn of enemy's movement. -Direct your movements accordingly. Attack and -fight Morgan wherever he can be met." About the same time -I had telegraphic advices from Governor Morton of Morgan's -presence in Indiana, and that he was likely to move -toward Evansville.</p> - -<p>When I received these orders and the information that -Morgan had crossed the Ohio River into Indiana, in accordance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> -with previous instructions I was with my entire command -on Green River awaiting an expected attack from -Morgan in that locality. I at once crossed Green River on -the night of the 10th <i>en route</i> for the Ohio, but did not reach -its banks until the night of the 11th, by which time Morgan -was well on his way toward the State of Ohio. I was therefore -not to share in the pursuit of this noted raider.</p> - -<p>I returned with my command to Henderson and redistributed -them at various exposed places in my district. But -this proved the end of my military operations in Kentucky. -General Burnside had been ordered from the East to assume -command of the Department of the Ohio, and was preparing -the concentration of his forces for a movement for the relief -of the loyal people of East Tennessee, and I felt sure my regiment -would be included. Hence I was not surprised to receive -orders on the 7th of August, 1863, to move the Sixty-fifth -Indiana Mounted Infantry to Glasgow, from which -place Burnside's movement was to begin.</p> - -<p>I was quite satisfied at this change. As early as February -I had made a visit to Louisville to ask General Boyle if he -could not give me a more active service. The guerrilla warfare -which I was carrying on was of a very unsatisfactory -and unprofitable kind. My troubles with the disloyal citizens -and the civil duties as to officials and the elections were -not to my taste. As a soldier I longed to be relieved from -these unwelcome duties, and to bear my share in the real -military campaigns of the war. During my year's service in -the district I had received the warmest exhibitions of friendship<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> -from the Union citizens of Henderson and that region. -Being stationed so near to my home, my wife often visited -me, and these kind-hearted citizens always insisted on making -her their guest. I received various testimonials of their -esteem, among others a beautiful jeweled sword, sash, and -belt. When it became known that my regiment was to be -ordered away, an earnest petition was sent to General Boyle -asking our retention, signed by all the Union citizens, headed -by ex-Governor and ex-Senator Dixon.</p> - -<p>Hon. Thomas E. Bramlette, Governor of the State of Kentucky, -wrote President Lincoln, asking that I might "be retained -in western Kentucky in charge of the defenses of that -section. I have recently passed all through western Kentucky -and find from personal observation the immense good -which the vigilant and successful military guardianship of -Colonel Foster has done for that section." General Boyle, -in a letter to the Secretary of War, said: "I beg to say that -Colonel J. W. Foster is one of the most vigilant, active, and -useful officers in the volunteer army. He is a man of the first -order of ability, with capacity to fill almost any place in the -service, and no man known to me has done better service -than Colonel Foster."</p> - -<p>In an editorial notice of some length the "Evansville -Journal," in noticing the departure of the Sixty-fifth Regiment, -said:—</p> - -<p>While we are glad the gallant boys of this excellent regiment -are about to be afforded an opportunity to engage in more -active service, and to see some of the excitement of war on its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> -grander scale, yet we cannot help regretting their departure -from our vicinity. For a year past the people along the border -have felt that the Sixty-fifth was a wall of safety, a mountain -of rocks between them and the guerrillas. Colonel Foster during -his administration of affairs in the Green River region, has won -not only the admiration of the friends, but also the respect of -the enemies, of the Government.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> - - - -<h2>VII<br /> - -THE EAST TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN</h2> - - -<p>No portion of the people of our country had shown more -devotion to the Union or suffered greater hardships on account -of their loyalty during the Civil War than the citizens -of East Tennessee. Almost the entire population of military -age had fled over the mountains into Kentucky and enlisted -in the Federal army. And those who remained—the -old men, the women and the children—endured many privations -and much persecution. It had long been the desire -of the Federal Government to occupy East Tennessee with -troops and free the loyal people from their oppression, and -President Lincoln in 1863 determined that this relief should -no longer be delayed.</p> - -<p>The army under General Burnside numbered approximately -twenty thousand men, a force which it was thought -was sufficient for the purpose in view of the fact that General -Rosecrans with a much larger army was moving from -middle Tennessee toward Chattanooga and northern Georgia. -In a letter to my wife from Glasgow, dated the 18th of August, -I say:—</p> - -<p>"We arrived here yesterday. Found marching orders for -this morning to go to Burksville with our brigade. The -brigade left this morning, but I got permission to stay over -to-day to shoe horses and more fully equip the regiment. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> -indications are that the cavalry division will go direct to -Knoxville, after a few days' delay at Burksville."</p> - -<p>From Ray's Cross Roads, I write on the 20th:—</p> - -<p>"We reached here yesterday. How many days we will remain -I do not know. We are anxious to move forward, wanting -to get into East Tennessee as soon as possible. I drilled -my regiment to-day, had a good dress parade, and made a -very fine appearance. I think there is no regiment in the -corps that will make a better show. It attracts very general -attention. We are stopped here waiting for the supply trains -to come up. If it were not for the stomachs of men and horses -an army could accomplish wonders. Kiss little Edith for me -and tell Alice her papa thinks of her very often and loves her -very much."</p> - -<p>A letter the next day from the same place says:—</p> - -<p>"We leave at 11 <span class="smcap">A.M.</span>, camp to-night at Marrowbone, to-morrow -at Burksville, thence to Albany and Jamestown, -Tennessee. I am well and in good spirits. Do not be uneasy -if you do not hear from me very soon again, as we shall probably -draw in our couriers and close our line of communication -to-morrow. The Twenty-third Army Corps has one cavalry -division of three brigades, each brigade consisting of four -regiments and one battery; also one independent brigade of -cavalry. The second brigade is the one in which is our regiment, -and is commanded by Brigadier-General Hobson. -You see we have a very strong force of cavalry, with which -we can overrun the whole of East Tennessee and a good part -of North Carolina, if we can ever get through the gaps and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> -over the mountains, and can manage to take along with us -our supply of forage and rations.</p> - -<p>"General Hobson is absent from the brigade sick. I am -the senior colonel of the brigade, and in the absence of the -general, I will be entitled to command. Before I arrived, -Colonel Graham, Fifth Indiana, was commanding, and as I -had even more than I could well attend to, and as General -Hobson was expected soon, I did not ask for the command, -and will not do so unless I learn that General Hobson will -not be able to join us soon. My regiment is the largest (and -I think the best) in the brigade, having eight hundred and -fifty fighting men with us."</p> - -<p>On August 28, I wrote:—</p> - -<p>"We have been here in the vicinity of Jamestown for a few -days. We are out of forage for our horses, and have to get -green corn and what hay, straw, and oats we can find, feeding -them also on wheat and rye. We are up on the top of the -mountains, and the soil is very poor, the farms small, and -there is little forage of any kind; consequently, if we stay -here much longer we shall be driven to pretty close straits for -our horses and possibly for rations for ourselves. We are -already short and very little prospect of any soon, but as -long as there is green corn the men will not starve. The -route from Glasgow is very hilly and rugged, and we had -great difficulty in getting our wagons over it. We are now -up on the level of the mountains where it is not so hilly. -All the country is very poor, and the only good features about -it are that it is healthy, has good water, and a goodly number<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> -of Union people. I will take command of the brigade to-day, -as General Hobson is still sick at home. When we are so -straitened for forage and rations the responsibility is great -and the task not a very desirable one."</p> - -<p>My next letter dated September 2, gave an account of our -occupation of Knoxville, the goal of our long march over -the mountains:—</p> - -<p>"Yesterday was the proudest day of my life. Sunday last -Generals Burnside and Curtis came up and a juncture of the -forces was formed at Montgomery. My brigade arrived at -that place on Saturday in advance of all other. On Sunday -afternoon General Burnside sent for me to report, and -I received orders to move my brigade five miles to the front. -This seemed to indicate that I would be permitted to keep -the advance and we were all well pleased. But about daylight -the First Cavalry Brigade marched past us and out to -the front on the Kingston road, and we had no orders to -move. At sunrise, the Third Cavalry Brigade (General -Shackelford) passed by and out to the front toward the -reported enemy on the Kingston road. I began to be impatient -and somewhat disgusted. I waited for two hours more -very anxiously, but no marching orders came.</p> - -<p>"At nine o'clock Generals Burnside and Curtis, with their -staffs and escorts, came up and I thought then we were to -go clear to the rear. But they halted at my headquarters, -came in, and after examining the organization of my brigade, -General Burnside held a private interview with me, in which -he told me he wanted me to take my brigade on the Knoxville<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> -road and force Winter's Gap, which would flank the -enemy on the right and compel them to fall back, when, if -matters went on smoothly, he would give me orders to push -right on to Knoxville. Nothing could have suited me better. -I would rather then have had those orders than to have received -the commission of a general. So at 11 o'clock I formed -my brigade, and, leaving every one of our wagons behind, -marched to Winter's Gap, arriving there at sundown and occupied -it, finding that the enemy had fled in the morning. -I reported promptly to General Burnside, and about four -o'clock yesterday morning I received orders to push on -into Knoxville and occupy the town, attacking any force of -rebels which might be there.</p> - -<p>"We were in motion within an hour, and all along the -road, as everywhere heretofore in our march through East -Tennessee, we were received with the warmest expressions -and demonstrations of joy. In the morning I expected that -I would not be able to take the town without a fight, but -as my brigade had been assigned the post of honor, I was -satisfied it would do its full duty. A few miles before we -reached the town we ascertained that the rebels had all left, -the last of them that morning. The Fifth Tennessee Cavalry, -which was in the advance, surrounded the town, and -about four o'clock yesterday afternoon I rode into town with -the staff and escort, and such an ovation as we received -was never before during this war given to any army. The -demonstration beggars all description. Men, women, and -children rushed to the streets,—no camp-meeting shouting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> -ever exceeding the rejoicing of the women. They ran out -into the streets shouting, 'Glory! Glory!' 'The Lord be -praised!' 'Our Savior's come!' and all such exclamations. -The men huzzahed and yelled like madmen, and in their -profusion of greetings I was almost pulled from my horse. -Flags long concealed were brought from their hiding-places. -As soon as I could get to a hotel I was waited upon by the -mayor (a true Union man) and a large number of loyal men, -prominent citizens, and they received me with heartiest -congratulations and welcome. All afternoon and into the -night until the provost guard sent all citizens to their homes -the streets resounded with yells, and cheers for the 'Union' -and 'Lincoln.' A marked feature of the loyalty of this section -(so different from western Kentucky) is that the people -have no scruples about hurrahing for Lincoln,—they -recognize him as the leader and head of the Government.</p> - -<p>"It is stated that last night, after the occupation of the -town, the intelligence was communicated to the people -throughout the country by the firing of guns from place to -place and by signal fires on the mountains. And this morning -the streets were crowded with people from the country -far and near, and such rejoicing I never saw before. How -they shouted and stood with uncovered heads beneath the -old Stars and Stripes. With what sincere welcome they -met the soldiers. The mayor of the city brought forth an -immense flag, which he had kept, waiting anxiously for the -day when he could unfurl it. This was suspended early this -morning over Main (or Gay) Street, and at the sight of it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> -the people as they came in from the country yelled with a -perfect frenzy of delight. Early in the day a procession of -ladies was formed, and bearing two American flags, they -marched down Main Street and under the large flag, in -order that they might fulfill a vow they made early in the -war that they would in a body march under the first American -flag raised in Knoxville. It does soldiers good to fight -for such a people. It is a labor of love. Every soldier in my -brigade has been paid a hundred times over since we came -into East Tennessee for all our hardships, short rations and -exposures, by the hearty welcome of the people. We can -see upon their faces the recognition of the fact that we have -delivered them from a cruel bondage.</p> - -<p>"Although the rebels have for five days been removing -their property, we came upon the town so suddenly yesterday -that we captured a large amount of army property, five -locomotives, a number of cars, and saved the mills, foundry, -railroad works, hospitals, and other army buildings from -burning.</p> - -<div class="right"> -"<i>September 3.</i><br /> -</div> - -<p>"I went yesterday to visit the prison where the rebels kept -the Union men confined. It is a dirty, filthy, jail, hardly fit -for the lowest criminals. I saw the room in which Parson -Brownlow was confined. On the wall of it in large black -letters is written,—'<i>Death to our persecutors.</i>'</p> - -<p>"When we came in on Tuesday the gallows was standing -near the railroad, at the edge of the town, where the Union<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> -men were dragged from the jail and, contrary to all law and -civilized warfare, hung like felons for faithfulness to their -Government. You will find something of this in Brownlow's -narrative. I rode over to see it as soon as I could on the -morning after we arrived, and to place a guard over it, but -some enraged soldiers and citizens had gone there before me -and cut it down and burnt it. I was sorry, because it was in a -prominent place and I wanted it preserved as a monument of -the wickedness and cruelty of the persecutors of these people.</p> - -<p>"We had this morning a fresh outbreak of patriotism. -The news of the Federal occupation of the town had by last -night spread into the adjoining counties, and the people -flocked in from every direction. A large delegation of men -and women of all ages formed in long procession (from Sevier -County) and carrying the American flag, paraded through -the town and out to camp, and the town again ran wild with -patriotic joy. Men who had been hiding among the rocks -and caves of the mountains, and who had not seen each other -for years or since the rebellion broke out, stood grasping -each other's hands beneath the folds of the old flag, while -tears streamed down their cheeks. I have read of 'tears of -joy,' but never saw so much of it as here.</p> - -<p>"But General Burnside and the rest of the army will be -in town this evening and I must get ready to receive them, -so good-bye for the present."</p> - -<p>In my letter of the 7th I gave an account of my first expedition -out of Knoxville:—</p> - -<p>"A day or two after his arrival General Burnside sent for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> -me to say that he had received information which he thought -was reliable to the effect that the rebels had left the railroad -up as far as Bristol, on the Virginia line one hundred and -thirty miles, in good condition and unguarded; that at Bristol -there was a round-house and a great supply of locomotives -and cars; and that it was very desirable to get possession of -this rolling-stock, if possible. He proposed that I make up -a train out of the rolling-stock I had captured on my occupation -of Knoxville and go up the railroad as far as I could -do so safely, and reach Bristol if possible.</p> - -<p>"It was a new business for me to go a-soldiering on a railroad -train, but I cheerfully undertook the expedition. I had -to secure the engineer and brakemen out of my own command, -as there were none others available. Putting three -of the companies of the Sixty-fifth dismounted on the train, -we started out early in the afternoon, hoping to get over a -good part of the road before dark, but within ten miles of -Knoxville we encountered a small bridge burnt, but with -the tools we had brought with us some of our expert railroad -men were able to arrange a temporary crossing for the train. -It was nearly dark when we reached Strawberry Plains, -only seventeen miles out, and here we stopped the train, -as I had learned that the President of the railroad lived -here, and he would probably be at home, as he had fled from -Knoxville before our arrival. I took a small guard with me to -his house, where I found him. I explained that our general -had sent me on an expedition up his road toward the Virginia -line, and as we had no one on the train who was familiar<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> -with the road, I should esteem it a great favor if he would -accompany us. Seeing the situation with my armed guard, -he accepted the invitation with the best grace possible, but -as we moved off the ladies of the household set up a fearful -wailing, beseeching me not to take him, as they felt sure he -was going to his death, notwithstanding I assured them that -no harm should come to him.</p> - -<p>"After comfortably seating the President, I took post with -the brigade bugler on top of a pile of wood on the locomotive -tender, and the train moved off at slow speed in the darkness -on the strange road, without a stop until we reached Jonesboro, -ninety-eight miles from Knoxville, after midnight. -Here our engineer, not being familiar with the switches, ran -the fore wheels of his locomotive off the track. While a few -of us dismounted to aid in getting on the track again, I discovered -that another train was lying on the track with a -lot of invalid Confederate soldiers, who told us the train had -just arrived that evening from Richmond. About the same -time we heard a great commotion in the town, with loud -military commands indicating the presence of troops. It was -very dark and we were strange to the locality, but I ordered -out a platoon of soldiers, who fired a volley or two -in the direction of the noise, which was followed by a great -clatter of horses' hoofs. The next day, as we came back, the -citizens told us that the rebel troopers could be seen in all -directions flying away, some bareback, others without firearms -or hats. It proved to be a detachment of Confederate -cavalry stationed in the town.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> - -<p>"At Jonesboro we learned from the station employees -that another train would be due from Richmond about eight -o'clock in the morning. Thirteen miles above that place the -railroad crossed the Watauga River, where there was a rebel -blockhouse or fort protected by artillery, and which we -learned was garrisoned. Our only hope of getting to Bristol -was to capture the incoming train and rush our own train -unawares into the fort and take the garrison by surprise. So -after leaving a guard in charge of the train found at Jonesboro, -we moved up quietly about day-break to the first -station this side of the fort, surrounded the town with orders -to allow no one to pass out, and we lay quietly in ambush -waiting for the train. Sure enough, it came along on time -and we were greatly elated. But just before it got within gunshot -of our ambush, it whistled down the brakes, stopped, -and instantly ran backwards at full speed and whistling into -the fort. Some one had given them a warning signal, and -the fort was at once notified of our presence. With that our -expedition to Bristol came to an end. General Burnside had -been misinformed. The railroad above Knoxville was not -only guarded but was in use from Richmond.</p> - -<p>"Our return journey was uneventful except that, as we -neared Jonesboro, some of the soldiers we had scattered had -quite dexterously loosened a rail and slightly displaced one -end at a sharp curve in the road on a down grade, which -tumbled our locomotive down an embankment and disabled -it. Several of the soldiers were bruised and the railroad -President got a few slight scratches on his face. Fortunately<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> -we had the captured locomotive, and with it we -took all the cars back to Knoxville. Our return was on Sunday, -and as the news of our passing up in the night had got -noised about, the whole country turned out in gala dress -and with flags to welcome us."</p> - -<p>My next letter is from Greenville, seventy-four miles above -Knoxville on the railroad, the home of Andrew Johnson, -afterwards President of the United States. It is dated September -12:—</p> - -<p>"I have my brigade at this place, as also the One Hundred -and Third Ohio Infantry assigned to my command and -stationed here as a provost guard. Generals Burnside and -Hartsuff (corps commander) have been very pleasant and -kind and are disposed to do everything they can for me. -They promise to send me on an expedition by way of Bristol -into Virginia to destroy the Salt Works, probably the -most important movement left in East Tennessee. I am in -very good health and spirits."</p> - -<p>We were still at Greenville on September 16. My chief -trouble seemed to be with the mails. I had not heard from -home for nearly a month. I write my wife:—</p> - -<p>"It has been so long since I have heard from you. How I -would appreciate a letter to-day from my dear wife, telling -me about our family affairs, that she was well, that our -dear little children were well, giving me some of the sayings -and doings of my little Alice, to have some news from Evansville -and the families there. If it had not been that I had so -very much to do and such great responsibilities resting upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> -me that kept me actively employed, I should have been -lonely, indeed. When I go a-soldiering again I want it along -a river or railroad so I can get some communication with the -outer world <i>and my wife</i>.</p> - -<p>"I am glad to assure you that in this long interval of suspense -I have been in good health and I think discharging my -duties to the entire satisfaction of my superior officers. I am -very well satisfied at being ordered away from Henderson -and placed in active service. It has given me a very prominent -and choice command, and brought me in close contact -with the commanding generals of the army. During the past -three weeks I have been in close and intimate relationship -with Generals Burnside and Hartsuff, and acting directly -under their orders.</p> - -<p>"We have been for a week at this place in front of an -army of rebels at Jonesboro twenty miles above here, momentarily -expecting an attack. I think that within a few -days we will make a movement that will completely drive -them out of Tennessee. If so you may expect to hear of the -Second Brigade dashing away up onto the sacred soil of -Virginia. I have a very good brigade of near three thousand -effective men. For the present I am holding this position with -my brigade and two regiments of infantry till General Burnside -comes up with the army which is on the way. Several -times a day I am called to the telegraph office for conversations -over the wires with General Burnside on the situation -at the front and he freely calls for my views as to movements. -He is a very kind-hearted and pleasant gentleman,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> -and willing to give every officer his full share of credit. I -write thus freely to my wife of these matters because she will -be interested to know them and to her it will not appear -boasting or self-praise.</p> - -<p>"I wish I had time to prepare a letter for the friends at -home on the state of affairs in East Tennessee, and give a -simple narrative of facts as to what the Union men have -suffered. Such cruelty, such oppression, and heartless wrong -has no parallel at least on this continent. It may have been -equaled by the barbarians of Europe. No wonder that the -people receive us with tears and perfect ecstasy of rejoicing -and unbounded enthusiasm. The rejoicing and demonstrations -I have witnessed will be probably the brightest of my -reminiscences of the war. No wonder these people have -wept tears of joy at the sight of the old flag, for it has brought -to them freedom from a tyrannical oppression. It was the -happiest epoch of my life to first carry that flag into Knoxville, -and to bear it in the advance along up this valley for -more than a hundred miles, and receive the welcome of the -loyal people. And I hope in a few days to have the honor to -say that we have driven the enemy entirely beyond the -borders of the State.</p> - -<p>"At our advance men have come to us all bleached and -weak, who have been hiding in the rocks and caves and in -pits away from the light of day for months. Men have been -chased through the mountains for conscription in the rebel -service, and a bounty offered for their arrest or death. Women -have been driven from their homes, and their houses<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> -and their all were burnt before them, because their husbands -were in the Union army. The scaffolds were to be -seen where loyal men were hung for suspicion of bridge-burning -without any trial whatever. The tales of cruelty -and wrong which I have heard go to make up a history of -tyranny which will be the blackest record of this slaveholders' -rebellion.</p> - -<p>"There is a valley over the line in North Carolina about -twenty-five miles from this place, just under the shadow of -the Great Smoky Mountains, almost shut out from the -world. The valley along the creek is rich and inhabited by -a bold but simple race of men. These men, partaking of the -true spirit of the mountains, were true and unalterably attached -to the Government, and no bribes or threats could -induce them to go into the Southern army. There was but a -small community of them and they were unanimous. When -the conscripting officers came to take them into the army by -force and the foragers to carry off their horses and provisions, -they met them along the mountain-sides with their -squirrel-rifles and drove them back; it was almost worth a -Confederate officer's life to venture into the valley. Finally -they sent a large force of cavalry and Indians among them -and drove the mountaineers before them. They fled to their -hiding-places and none of the men fit for military duty could -be found. The cavalry gathered up all their horses and cattle. -The women and children, old men and boys, were left -at home, thinking them safe from conscription. The savage -traitors drove the families from their houses and burnt them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> -and everything in them. But this was not all. The old men, -the women, and children were driven out of the valley and -made to walk on foot over the mountains and down to -Greenville. Old and prominent citizens of this place have -told me that it was the most pitiable sight they ever beheld. -A stout-hearted and manly citizen in talking to me about it -could not restrain the tears, saying that he never related the -circumstances without tears, because it brought the sight so -vividly before him. Women came carrying children in their -arms, with other little ones barefooted and almost naked -clinging to their skirts. There were women of all ages and -children driven like sheep before the soldiers. There were -women in a most delicate situation who were made to walk -with the rest; if the suffering were the greater the punishment -was the more appropriate. They were brought to the -railway station and kept over night, and it was the determination -of General (called 'Mudwall' in contradistinction -to 'Stonewall') Jackson in command here to send them over -the Cumberland Mountains to Kentucky. Governor Vance -of North Carolina heard of the brutal proceeding in time, and -declared that women and children should not be banished -from his State so long as he was its governor, and they were -ordered to be returned.</p> - -<p>"Since then these men of the Laurel Valley have been the -wild men of the mountains. Their homes have been in the -caves and cliffs of the rocks, and woe to the rebel soldier -who came within range of their rifles. The most vigorous -measures have been taken to ferret them out, but few of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> -them have ever been caught, their hiding-places and their -daring were a good protection. A company of them twice -attempted to break through and cross the Cumberland -Mountains to join the Union army in Kentucky, but were -driven back before they could get out of East Tennessee. -Day before yesterday a company of over fifty of these brave -men came over from the mountains and asked me for help. -An old man, who was the spokesman and the wise man of the -valley, said they were a poor, ignorant, wild set of 'cusses' -who didn't know much but devotion to the flag of their -country and how to shoot. He asked me to give them a -little good advice and <i>some guns</i>. I could not refuse the -latter, at least. I gave them the arms and sent them home, -and a merciful God will have to protect the savages who -have murdered their fathers, plundered their farms, burnt -their houses, and driven their wives and mothers from their -homes, for these men with their muskets will not remember -mercy.</p> - -<p>"This is no fancy sketch or exaggerated story of the war. -It is the plain, unvarnished truth, to be vouched for by -hundreds of citizens of Greenville. Could you have believed -that such atrocity could have been committed in the land of -Washington? This same General Jackson is now in front of -us, and I have been asking General Burnside for days to -let my brigade after him, but he withholds for the present. -It will not be many days before I shall try to capture him or -drive him out of East Tennessee, I hope forever."</p> - -<p>The expedition from which I had so greatly longed to drive<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> -out the rebel General Jackson, and which General Burnside -had promised, did not come off. General Rosecrans had -suffered a severe repulse at Chickamauga, and Burnside was -ordered to give him what support he could. This brought -all of Burnside's plans above Knoxville to a dead halt. -Bragg's rebel cavalry was reported to have crossed the Tennessee -River and was threatening Rosecrans's rear, and all -of Burnside's cavalry was ordered to follow up Bragg's movement. -My next letter was written at Knoxville, October 1, -to which place I had come with my brigade. On arrival -here I was still without letters from home. I had attempted -to telegraph, but could get no replies. Apparently my disconsolate -condition had worked upon General Burnside's -sympathy, as he sent a telegram in his own name inquiring -about the whereabouts and health of my wife, which soon -brought an answer that she was at Evansville and "all well." -How this news was received is told in the letter:—</p> - -<p>"You can hardly imagine how gratifying it is to me to -know to-night that my dear wife and children are well, from -whom I am so far separated. I can go to-morrow to execute -the orders of the general with much more alacrity that I -now know that you are well and at home.</p> - -<p>"Aside from its inaccessibility for the mails, I find East -Tennessee a very pleasant country to be in. The Union -people are very kind and friendly, the climate is very -healthy, and the valley of East Tennessee one of the most -beautiful in America. I tell the people here that if we can get -peace again and they will abolish slavery, I would like very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> -well to come and live with them. I have been very kindly -and considerately treated by them. Being in the advance all -the time, I have been the first to make their acquaintance, -and they consequently know me better than others. I need -not live in camp at all while about Knoxville. I have been -here now four days and have had only one meal in camp. -The society of the Union people of Knoxville is very pleasant -and quite cultivated.</p> - -<p>"But my visits to Knoxville are only pleasant episodes in -my military life. Cavalry must be active. I am off again. -The brigade left to-night for Loudon, starting at dark in a -pitiless rain, and it has been raining ever since. General -Burnside had me wait over here to-night that he might -confer with General Shackelford and me as to my movements, -and he will give me a special train in the morning for -myself and staff. He has invited me to come in the morning -and take breakfast with him, when the matter will be definitely -settled and I will be off. Bragg's cavalry has crossed -over to the north side of Tennessee River, threatening Rosecrans's -rear and communications, and we must do something -to checkmate them if possible. I have a good brigade and -the general is disposed to give me work to do. General -Shackelford commands our division now, and is very kind -and partial to me."</p> - -<p>My next letter was written from Knoxville October 4:—</p> - -<p>"I wrote you three nights ago. Then my brigade had -been ordered to Loudon, and I was only remaining behind -to get the last and special instructions of the general before<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> -going myself, expecting to be off in the morning, but I am -still here and my brigade at Loudon. Every few hours I -have been expecting definite orders, and something transpires -to prevent it. During the last few days I have been -getting a pretty good insight into the inner workings of our -military affairs. I have been in General Burnside's private -room daily and frequently, in conference with him and other -generals, and know something about the interference of -Washington City.</p> - -<p>"The plans were all laid, my guides were selected, the -rations were all issued, my brigade was ready and waiting, -and in a short time I was to be off on a grand raid into -Georgia in rear of Bragg's army, tear up the railroad system -of the State, and alarm the rebels generally, when orders -were received from General Halleck that raids into Georgia -are not now contemplated, and all that is stopped. Probably -you will thank General Halleck for that. It may have made -me a general. It may have run me into Libby Prison. But -it was a great disappointment to me and I think to the -general.</p> - -<p>"I have seen more of General Burnside than any of our -generals, and I regard him as one of the best of men, a pure -patriot, a just man, and, I hope, a Christian. Let me give -you an instance. Yesterday evening everything was ready -for a general movement of his whole army. I telegraphed my -brigade at Loudon to be ready to move at two o'clock this -morning; the forces at Cumberland Gap were notified to be -in readiness; it appeared a matter of importance that we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> -should be off. I went up to his room last night to get my -final instructions. The general said he believed we would -wait a day, as he forgot about to-morrow being Sunday. He -said he always felt a disinclination to commence a movement -on Sunday, and he would not do it, unless he should learn -during the night that it was very urgent. So to-day we -have a quiet Sabbath, the only one since we left Kentucky. -It is very pleasant to me and doubtless is to the whole -army."</p> - -<p>It turned out that Bragg's cavalry was not a severe -menace to Rosecrans and my brigade was recalled from -Loudon and we moved up into Virginia as a part of the -general movement just indicated. In a fight near Bristol the -Sixty-fifth Regiment lost four killed and thirteen wounded, -and had another fight at Jonesboro, from which place the -letter of October 18 is written:—</p> - -<p>"We have just returned from a fatiguing march into Virginia. -We have succeeded in driving the enemy away from -Zollicoffer, having another fight at Blountsville, and destroying -the Virginia Railroad for ten miles, but I have no time -now to write about it. I have stood the last two weeks' campaign -remarkably well and continue in the best of health. -I enjoy the cavalry service very much, only lately we have -had a little too much of a good thing. During the past five -weeks we have been continuously on the march, with a number -of sharp fights. But we have now a prospect of a few -days' rest. If I get it I will improve it to write you a good -long letter, but the enemy may interfere with my plans any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> -day. This is likely to be our outpost station until Rosecrans -and Bragg settle affairs below.</p> - -<p>"How often and how much I desire to be at home with -the dear ones and families of relations and friends. As we -rode along through the mud and rain to-day I thought of -home and what a pleasure it would be for me to be with you -all at home. But I must content myself, believing I am in -the line of duty and pray that a kind Providence may bring -me home at an early day. I have always believed that God -is doing his will and accomplishing his purposes of right and -freedom in this war, and if I can be one of the instruments -in his hands of accomplishing a portion of this work we -should be content. Kisses in abundance to my darling little -children. Does my little Alice talk much about her papa? -Tell her he thinks all the time about her."</p> - -<p>Extract from letter of October 25:—</p> - -<p>"I wrote you a few days ago, just as I was starting on a -reconnoissance toward Bristol. We found no enemy nor -heard of any this side of Abingdon, Virginia, in any force. -We had a very disagreeable march, raining most of the time, -very hard on both men and horses. Our campaigning has -been very hard and tiresome, though I have stood it myself -very well, in fact better than if we had less active duty; but -it has tried the mettle of our brigade. We have run our horses -nearly down, a large number of the men are dismounted, -and more than half of the rest have horses that will not -stand a march of any length. The Sixty-fifth came out with -eight hundred and fifty men; there are now in camp about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> -six hundred. The marching, rain storms, short rations, and -especially the whistling of bullets and ball have driven a -number of our officers out of the service.</p> - -<p>"But I fear the worst of our campaigning is yet to come. -It is becoming a serious question how we are to sustain our -army in East Tennessee this winter. There is enough bread -and meat, but the men have no winter clothing, and unless -it comes soon it cannot get over the mountains. Winter -will soon be upon us, with muddy roads and swollen rivers. -We have just started a train of wagons from our division over -to Kentucky for clothing and supplies, but I do not expect to -see it short of six weeks, if ever. We had been hoping to get -railroad communication open by way of Chattanooga, but -the disaster to Rosecrans has at least postponed that. Just -now I am anxious to get over into North Carolina with my -brigade, but military movements are very uncertain and most -likely I shall be disappointed."</p> - -<p>On the 29th of October I wrote again:—</p> - -<p>"General Shackelford had a report of the advance on us -of an army of eighteen thousand and out of due precaution -ordered us to fall back eighteen miles, but this morning matters -look as if we ran too soon from an invisible enemy. It -will not surprise me if we are ordered back to our old camp -at Jonesboro. It will suit me very well if we are, for I may -then have a chance to make my contemplated raid over the -mountains into North Carolina. I am anxious to get over -there to see the people. The trip would take us through the -Blue Ridge."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> - -<p>I quote from a letter of November 1:—</p> - -<p>"I wrote in my last how we got down here, how we ran -from Sancho Panza's windmills. We are still here. We had -orders to march and were all ready an hour before daylight -yesterday morning, when the orders came countermanding -the marching. We were to go back to Jonesboro. We are -having a delightful day and a very quiet and most welcome -Sabbath. I have been reading 'The Words and Mind of -Jesus,' and I got hold of an 'Independent,' which was quite -a treat, as I don't often see any religious paper here. I went -over to the house of Mr. Henderson (the leading citizen of -this place) and found he had quite a good religious library; -plenty of Presbyterian works. I told him he appeared to be -sound religiously, if not politically; he is considerable of a -rebel.</p> - -<p>"We have been enjoying our rest of late very much, and -if we were not stirred out every little while with reports of -large rebel forces right upon us, we could get more real enjoyment -out of it. This evening a citizen (a <i>reliable</i> one, of -course) reports the enemy advancing in force. To-morrow -an equally reliable and <i>intelligent</i> one will know that there -are none this side of the Holston River. If Willie were out -here he would see a great deal more about soldiering than he -used to see at Henderson."</p> - -<p>In my letter of November 8 I give an account of a bold -dash of the rebels to Rogersville, which routed a Federal -force stationed there, and captured four hundred and four -guns:—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> - -<p>"General Wilcox, who was in command in upper Tennessee, -when he got the report of the fight from the scared fugitives, -became alarmed for fear the enemy would get in our -rear, and he caused a general retreat of the whole army. Our -cavalry and all marched all Friday night and till late in the -morning of Saturday, and abandoned the whole country for -eighteen miles below Greenville, thus giving up all we had -gained. And all without reason, for as it turned out while we -were marching all night one way the rebels were retreating -with their booty and prisoners the other! Where we will go -next I do not know, but I hope right back and occupy the -country clear up to the Virginia line. We can do it without -difficulty.</p> - -<p>"The whole cavalry force of Burnside's army has been -formed into a cavalry corps and placed in command of General -Shackelford. The corps is composed of two divisions. -Our brigade is in the Second Division. It would be commanded -by Colonel Carter, if present, but he may be absent -for some weeks, and I have been assigned to the command -of this division. It will be a very nice command and quite -complimentary to me."</p> - -<p>I may state that I remained in command of this division -of cavalry during the remainder of my service in Tennessee. -I extract from my letter of November 13:—</p> - -<p>"Major Brown and nine men of the Sixty-fifth are about -leaving for a recruiting service in Indiana, and I send this -letter by him. I told Major Brown that I did not know that -I could say I wished (as he) that I too was going home, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> -I could say with emphasis that I wished the war was over -and that I was going home to return no more. This going -home to stay a week or two and then come back, tear away -from home and all its dear attachments, is worse than the -first departure. I can't say that when the campaign is pretty -well over I may not apply for a leave of absence; but when I -think of the parting from home again and the long muddy -winter ride across the mountains, I begin to balance the matter. -When I come home I want it to be my last 'leave.' When -shall that be? I am too great a lover of my little wife, my -darling children, and my happy home to make a good soldier, -at least a professional soldier. How sweetly you wrote in -your last letter of our little Alice praying her evening prayer -for her absent papa. I believe He who noticeth the fall of a -sparrow will hear and answer the prayer of innocence and -childhood, and bring me home in safety that I may be the -guardian of our dear family."</p> - -<p>My letter of November 14 reports an unfavorable change -in the situation in East Tennessee. General Bragg commanding -the rebel forces in front of Chattanooga, feeling that he -had Rosecrans's army safely besieged, dispatched Longstreet, -one of the ablest of the Confederate generals, with his army -corps to capture or drive out Burnside. It is to that situation -my letter refers:—</p> - -<p>"The intelligence this afternoon from Knoxville was -rather ominous of evil to us. General Wilcox telegraphs me -that the enemy have forced the right bank of the river below -Loudon, that General Burnside had gone down to-day, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> -that if the enemy were too strong for our forces there we -would have to look out for a retreat to the gaps in the Cumberland -Mountains. Our line of march would be to Cumberland -Gap, and I am notified that I with my division will have -the important work of guarding the approaches to this route, -down the valleys of the Holston, Clinch, and Powell Rivers, -and also keeping open the communication with General -Burnside on our right to Knoxville. We will know more -definitely to-night or to-morrow.</p> - -<p>"I hope and pray that we may not be driven to that dire -necessity. In proportion as our joy was great in the occupation -of this country would our regrets be deep at being compelled -to abandon it. But I have hope that to-morrow will -bring the welcome intelligence that our army below has -driven the enemy back over the river. It would be with a -sad and heavy heart that I turned my back upon the loyal -people of East Tennessee. I have confidence that God does -not will it so."</p> - -<p>When my next letter November 22 was written from Tazewell, -on the route to Cumberland Gap, Burnside had been -besieged for a week by Longstreet:—</p> - -<p>"We are lying quiet here, just out of hearing of the fighting -that is raging at Knoxville. Our messengers from Knoxville -report Burnside holding out heroically. I have little -time to write and less inclination, even to my dear wife. I -am heart-sick and gloomy, though not discouraged. General -Burnside, the best man of the generals I know, and a gallant -army have been beleaguered at Knoxville for a week, and are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> -still fighting manfully. We are almost powerless to do him -any good, but I have asked General Wilcox to let me take my -cavalry and support me at the fords of Clinch River with his -infantry, and I would make at least one vigorous effort to -break the rebel lines and raise the siege. He is at the Gap. -General Burnside ordered him to look out for his line of retreat -and at all events to hold Cumberland Gap. This he is -in a position to do."</p> - -<p>I wrote the 26th from Cumberland Gap, where I had -come to try to get horses:—</p> - -<p>"We have no news from General Burnside direct since the -23d, when he said he could hold out ten days, that his position -was a strong one, and we are hopeful of his success for -Grant at Chattanooga will push vigorously against Bragg. -I will be off in the morning to harass the enemy. I shall -make my headquarters at Tazewell, and send my old brigade -over Clinch River toward Knoxville to stir up the enemy a -little, and try to divert them from Burnside. Our cavalry -is in such wretched condition it is almost impossible to do -anything, the horses worn out, without shoes, and with very -little forage. I regret it exceedingly when so much is expected -of us and needed. General Wilcox is ordered to keep -his infantry near the Gap and send my cavalry out toward -the enemy to gather information and annoy them."</p> - -<p>I wrote again on the 29th when we had just heard of -Grant's victory at Chattanooga, but were without information -of the gallant defense of Fort Stevens and the bloody -repulse of the rebels at Knoxville:—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> - -<p>"We have no news except the glorious victory of Grant's -army, and we are hoping to see its effect in the deliverance -of Burnside. The enemy seek to starve him into a surrender. -I sent out yesterday my old brigade to go down toward -Knoxville and feel out the enemy. I am getting a little anxious -about them as there was cannonading heard below and -I have had nothing from them since they left. It would be -a serious affair for me to have my old brigade captured.</p> - -<p>"We are having rather a hard time to live, subsisting entirely -upon the country. Our cavalry get along better than -the infantry; the latter have been for days without flour or -meal. Twenty-five cents have been refused for a cup full of -corn. Parched corn is a luxury. But we are hoping for better -times in a few days. The men bear it manfully."</p> - -<p>In my letter of December 4, in acknowledging receipt of -a late letter from my wife, I reply:—</p> - -<p>"I wish very much I could be at home to enjoy with -you the entertainments you write about, but I shall have to -forego all these pleasures, and live on corn-bread and pork, -cold nights, muddy roads, and occasional skirmishing. I -don't know when I can promise you to come home, but not -while the enemy is before us, as now. I think a few days -hence will see them driven away. I mentioned in my last -letter sending the Second Brigade down to the vicinity of -Knoxville. They were attacked by the whole of Longstreet's -cavalry and pressed back. They gave the enemy a severe -fight, killing and wounding a considerable number of them. -Our losses were a few taken prisoners, four killed and thirty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> -wounded. Our men did bravely. My whole division will try -it again to-morrow. We expect Sherman, who was sent up -by Grant after his victory to relieve Burnside, will reach -Knoxville to-morrow, when if Longstreet has not retreated -there must be a severe battle. We want to be near at hand -with our cavalry. I would have been there two or three days -ago with my whole division, but have been constantly held -back by General Wilcox."</p> - -<p>Sometime before the siege of Knoxville General Burnside -had asked to be relieved of the command of the department, -and General John G. Foster (of New Hampshire) of the -Eastern army had been appointed to succeed him. He arrived -at my headquarters while the siege was in progress. In -this letter writing about a leave to come home, I refer to -General Foster:—</p> - -<p>"If matters quiet down here there is a probability that -I may come this winter, but nothing certain; a man in the -army can't go when he pleases. If General Burnside had remained, -I think I would have had no difficulty, but it is uncertain -as to General Foster, how strict he will be. I have -been with him here for three or four days, being frequently -consulted by him as to movements, the country, etc., and -have been quite intimate at his headquarters. He is quite a -Yankee and not so agreeable in his manners as Burnside, but -withal he may make a good commander. But there is no man -like Burnside for this department with his soldiers. I especially -will regret his leaving."</p> - -<p>The day after I wrote my last letter, Longstreet retreated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> -from Knoxville (December 5) up the valley toward the Virginia -line, and the next day (the 6th) General Sherman -reached Knoxville. On December 10 I wrote:—</p> - -<p>"Bean Station, where we are now camped, you will find -on most maps of Tennessee. It is ten miles from Morristown -on the road to Cumberland Gap, just at the foot of the -Clinch mountains, forty-two miles from Knoxville. We have -followed the enemy this far up from Knoxville. From Tazewell -I joined the Second Brigade near Knoxville. Colonel -Graham of that brigade reported that an encampment of the -enemy was over the mountain about five miles, so I sent -him over, had a skirmish, captured a captain, several prisoners, -and seventy-five horses, and drove them clear over -Clinch Mountain. Since then we have followed the enemy -in their retreat, skirmishing with their rear guard all the -way. I doubt whether we shall push the enemy much farther, -as it will be difficult to get supplies."</p> - -<p>The siege of Knoxville was one of the most gallant events -on the Federal side during the Civil War. Burnside with an -inferior force successfully sustained a siege of twenty days, -resisting the assaults of the enemy with comparatively small -losses, endured short rations, and by the heroism of his -command saved East Tennessee to the Union. The result -gave great joy to all loyal men, and President Lincoln issued -a proclamation, calling on the people "to render special homage -to Almighty God for this great advancement of the -National cause," and Congress thanked Burnside and his -army. General Grant in his "Memoirs" says: "The safety<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> -of Burnside's army and the loyal people of East Tennessee -had been the subject of much anxiety to the President, and -he was telegraphing me daily, almost hourly, to 'remember -Burnside,' 'do something for Burnside,' and other appeals of -like tenor." In my letter of December 10, I say: "Burnside -goes out of this Department with the admiration of the -whole army. His defense of Knoxville was glorious, and his -goodness of heart and purity of character endear him to -all who know him." Years after, while Minister to Mexico, -I visited Washington at the time when Burnside was a -Senator from his State, and received from him much social -attention in recognition of our army friendship.</p> - -<p>From Bean Station I wrote again on December 13:—</p> - -<p>"We are still at this place, from which I last wrote you, -being comparatively quiet. We daily send out reconnoissances -toward Rogersville and Morristown. They generally -meet the enemy nine and twelve miles out, have a pretty -sharp skirmish, lose a few men killed and wounded, and -then return to camp. The enemy do not appear to be retreating, -or rather appear to have stopped retreating. My -health continues very good, and I am in good spirits, only -I get quite homesick at times. I will get home as soon as I -can, but the prospect for doing so is not very flattering."</p> - -<p>In a hurried visit to Knoxville I wrote on the 23d of -December:—</p> - -<p>"As I got to thinking about home, I said to General Foster -that when my services could be dispensed with, I would like -to take a leave of absence. He says he cannot think of letting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> -me go for ten days or two weeks, but hopes at the expiration -of that time that the exigencies of the service will permit -him to let me go home. That means that I may probably -go home if the enemy will let me. Don't fix your heart on -my coming soon. It will be as soon as I can consistently."</p> - -<p>This is my Christmas letter:—</p> - -<p>"I can do nothing better to-night than to write you a -letter by way of a Christmas present. We have to-day unexpectedly -had a quiet, if not a Merry Christmas, though it -did not appear last night as though it would be so. About -3 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> yesterday I received orders (in camp near Blain's -Cross-Roads) to move over at once and join General Sturgis -at New Market, where the main body of the cavalry are. -We got off about sunset, but did not arrive here till midnight, -having to ford the Holston and travel over a very -bad road. How longingly I thought of what you and the -dear ones at home might be doing at that hour as I marched -along in the clear, stinging cold night.</p> - -<p>"After the cold and cheerless ride we fortunately got into -comfortable quarters, and have been quiet to-day, enjoying -the rest and comfort. We improvised a pretty good Christmas -dinner. Among the delicacies we don't get often, we had -eggs and butter. We are not living in excellent Epicurean -style just now, as the country is pretty well eaten out.</p> - -<p>"I cannot see any prospect of our getting into winter -quarters, such as the papers report the Army of the Potomac -and of the Cumberland are enjoying. The climate of East -Tennessee is very similar to that of Indiana, and the men are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> -very scantily supplied with 'dog' or shelter tents and many -have not even these to cover them. My commands since -we came into East Tennessee have been on one continuous -campaign without cessation. Up the country, over the -mountains, across the rivers, down the valley, then up again, -driving the enemy before us, then falling back, to drive the -enemy up the valley again—thus we have been for four -months, until we have run down our horses and about half -of our men. But we are enduring it very well, still after the -rebels with as much zest as ever. There is a vast deal of -excitement in the cavalry service."</p> - -<p>My last letter to my wife from East Tennessee was written -on the last day of 1863, which I began with a prayer:—</p> - -<p>"Let us not forget to thank our dear Heavenly Father for -all His mercies of the past year. Oh, how good He has been -to us, even with all our troubles! How little we have done in -our lives to repay that goodness! May He make us more -worthy of His mercies and blessing in the New Year, and -may He preserve our lives that we may together meet and -praise Him. To His watchful care I commit my dear wife -and little ones.</p> - -<p>"I last wrote you from New Market. I was enjoying a -quiet rainy Sunday there, reading some good book I found -at the house where I was quartered, when about noon I -received orders for my division to move forward and attack -the enemy and drive him back from Mossy Creek. It was -an unwelcome order that rainy Sabbath, but we executed -it, and after considerable skirmishing took up a new line two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> -miles beyond Mossy Creek. Yesterday Colonel Wolford's -division and mine were ordered out at three o'clock in the -morning to Dandridge, where it was reported a division of -rebel cavalry was encamped. We went, but found the enemy -had left the night before, and we returned at 4 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> just in -time to miss a nice little fight at Mossy Creek. The enemy -attacked our outposts at 11 <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> and drove our troops back -two miles, but ours in turn drove them back again beyond -our lines. It is not often that my men have the fortune, or -misfortune, to miss the fighting, as we did yesterday.</p> - -<p>"We have here our entire force of cavalry, and one brigade -of infantry. The rest of the army is at Strawberry Plains -and Blain's Cross-Roads. Longstreet is reported at Morristown -with the main body of his army. I suppose General -Foster intends to drive him away from there, if possible, how -soon I don't care because I want to come home as soon as -the fighting here is over, and take a little rest with my dear -wife and darling little girls."</p> - -<p>I may venture, before closing my East Tennessee correspondence, -to give in part the last of these letters, as a specimen -of letters to a soldier's child, written on January 1, -1864:—</p> - -<p>"Why should I not write a letter this New Year's Day -to my dear little Alice? I am so far away I can't give you -any nice present; all I can do is to try to write you a good -letter....</p> - -<p>"What have you and Lillie and the other little children -been doing to-day? And did you have a Christmas tree and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> -a happy time then? Papa has not had much of a New Year's -Day. It has been so cold, oh so very cold to-day. Was it -cold at home? I could tell you a story about the cold. Would -you like papa to tell you a little story in his letter? Do you -still like to hear stories? Well, I can tell you part of it, and -mamma can tell it over to you and <i>fill it up</i>.</p> - -<p>"Papa, you know, is away off, out in the mountains, so -far away from home, in the army, and you know there are -so many poor soldiers in the army. Yesterday, the last day -of the old year, was such a gloomy day, it was so muddy and -wet and rainy. And then last night it blew so hard and -rained so much; it was like a hurricane (get mamma to tell -you what that is). And the poor soldiers have no houses to -live in, like little Alice, with nice warm beds, and they don't -have large tents like you saw out in the woods near home last -summer when Uncle Jimmy and the rest of the boys and -men were out soldiering. They have to live in the fields and -woods, and their tents are like grandma's tablecloth, only -smaller, and they stretch that up over a pole and it is open -at both ends, and at night two or three or four of them get -down on their hands and knees and crawl into it and pull -their blankets over them when they go to bed. The soldiers -call them 'dog-tents.' Ask Lillie if she thinks it would be -good enough for her 'Trip.' Well, last night, after many of -the soldiers had been marching in the rain, and when most -of them were wet and their blankets wet, they built large -fires, but they wouldn't burn well because it was too wet, -and they crawled into the 'dog-tents,' and were trying to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> -get to sleep when the naughty wind commenced to blow and -it began again to rain, and the rain would blow on their -heads and they would draw them further into their tents, -and then it would rain on their feet, and pretty soon there -came up such a hurricane that it blew all their tents clear off -of them, and there they were lying on the muddy ground, -and the cold rain pouring down on them. And they all had -to get up out of bed. It had rained so hard that it put all -their fires nearly out so they couldn't get warm. Poor soldiers, -don't you pity them?</p> - -<p>"Some of the soldiers were out, away off in the dark woods -on that terrible night on <i>picket</i> (get Willie or Uncle Aleck to -tell you what that is). And they had to sit all night on their -poor horses away out by themselves with their guns in their -hands and swords by their sides, watching to keep the -wicked rebels from slipping into camp in the dark night and -killing your poor papa and the rest of the soldiers. After -a while the rain stopped, but the wind kept blowing and -whistling through the trees and over the mountains and -making such a terrible noise. You can hear it whistle around -the corner of grandmamma's house, but it moans and -whistles so much louder out here over the mountains, it -might frighten little girls if they did not know what it was. -Soon the wind began to change around toward the north -where Jack Frost lives and from where the white snow -comes, and the rain began to freeze, and the ground got -hard, and it was so cold, oh bitter cold. The poor soldiers -could sleep no more that night, their blankets were all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> -frozen stiff as an icicle, and they had to build great big fires -to keep their coats and pants from freezing on them. It was -all they could do to keep from freezing; they could not keep -warm.</p> - -<p>"Some of the men, when we went out to drive away the -rebels from the other side of the mountain, were hungry and -they stopped behind us at a farmhouse to get something to -eat, and the wicked rebels caught them and took their overcoats -away from them, and took their warm boots off their -feet; and some of the poor fellows got away from them and -walked all the way from the rebel camp over the frozen ground -barefooted. To-day the soldiers have done nothing but build -big fires and stand close up to them and try to keep warm.</p> - -<p>"These poor soldiers and your papa have come away from -our homes and left good mammas and dear little daughters -to keep the wicked bad rebels from making this country a -poor, unhappy one, and that when little Alice and the dear -children of the other soldiers grow up they will have a good -and a happy country, and won't have to know about wars -and such terrible things. You must remember about the -poor soldiers, and pray God that He will be very kind to -them and make the time soon come when they and your -papa can all of them go home to their dear little daughters -and good mammas.</p> - -<p>"Kiss mamma and little Sister Edith for me, and tell your -little cousins Gwyn and Foster and Johnny that your papa -hopes to come home soon and that he will then come around -with you and see them all."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> - -<p>As intimated in the last letter to my wife, General Foster -did make a forward movement with his entire force, and -pushed the enemy toward the Virginia line, but thereafter -there was a lull in army operations for the rest of the winter -on both sides. The time had come for which I had so long -looked when I could without injury to the service ask for -a leave of absence, which General Foster, commanding the -Department, cheerfully granted, and before the last of January, -1864, I was on my way home, going by way of Chattanooga -and Nashville, as the railroad communication was -then well established.</p> - -<p>I have noted the death of my father in April, 1863. He -had been actively engaged in extensive mercantile affairs, -and while not wealthy (as the world estimates wealth now), -was possessed of considerable property, both real and personal. -By his will he made me the executor of his estate and -guardian of the two minor children. In August, 1863, after -I was well on the march to East Tennessee, I received a -letter from my brother stating that the court at Evansville -had required my presence in the proceedings for the settlement -of my father's estate, but I obtained a stay until I -should be able to get released from my army duties, with the -assurance on my part that I would make as little delay as -possible.</p> - -<p>When I reached home I found the affairs of my father's estate -in such condition that I could not conclude my duties -as executor in the time fixed for my "leave" from my command. -There was the widow, two minor and four adult heirs<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> -claiming attention to my duties as executor. Under the circumstances -I felt it proper to tender my resignation from the -army, especially as I had already determined to do so at the -expiration of my three years' term of service, which would -be within four months.</p> - -<p>There was no reason for me to tender my resignation except -the undischarged duty of executor and my earnest desire -to be with my family. During my entire army service I -had enjoyed good health and was pleased with the active life. -I had been reasonably successful in military affairs, and had -held large and important commands to the satisfaction of -my superior officers, and there was every prospect of my -early promotion in rank. But I put aside preferment and -possible military distinction for the more immediate call of -family duty. The outlook for the suppression of the rebellion -was at that date most favorable. Grant had been made -commander-in-chief, and was organizing his army for the -final march on Richmond; Sherman was preparing for his -advance on Atlanta and his march to the sea; and at no -time since the opening of hostilities had the cause of the -Union looked so auspicious.</p> - -<p>General Sturgis, in command of the cavalry corps to -which I belonged, in forwarding my resignation to the Department -general made the following endorsement:—</p> - -<p>"In approving this resignation, I cannot refrain from expressing -my deep regret in parting with so intelligent, energetic, -and brave an officer. I have for some time been aware -of the business and family interests which I feared would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> -sooner or later deprive the army of the services of Colonel -Foster, yet after so long and faithful service he should be, I -think, relieved under the circumstances. His loss, however, -will be severely felt in this corps and his place hard to fill."</p> - -<p>When my resignation became known to the Sixty-fifth -Regiment the officers held a meeting in which a series of resolutions -were adopted declaring "that Colonel Foster, since -his connection with the regiment has been unceasing in his -labors in, and untiring in his devotion to, the cause in which -we are engaged, and has spared no means to render his regiment -efficient; that he has commanded the regiment with -distinguished honor to himself and to the regiment; that in -his resignation the regiment and the service have lost an -efficient and valuable officer; and that he bears with him to -his home our highest esteem and our best wishes as a citizen."</p> - -<p>An editorial of considerable length appeared in the -"Evansville Journal," from which the following is an extract:—</p> - -<p>We regret exceedingly to learn that Colonel John W. Foster -has felt it to be his duty to resign his commission as colonel of -the Sixty-fifth Indiana Regiment, and that his resignation has -been accepted. We have known for some time that circumstances—growing -out of his father's death, occasioned an almost -absolute necessity for his personal attention to the settlement -of a vast amount of unfinished business left by the Judge—were -conspiring to force Colonel Foster out of the service, -but we were in hope that matters might be so arranged as to -enable him to remain in the field. It seems, however, that this -could not be done, and our Government loses the services of -one of its most gallant, energetic, and experienced officers.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> -Colonel Foster entered the service of his country in the summer -of 1861, as major of the Twenty-fifth Regiment Indiana -Volunteers. He laid aside the profession of the law, and took -upon himself the profession of arms, from a conscientious belief -that his first service was due to his Government. Without experience, -or even a theoretical knowledge of military life when -he entered the service, so close was his application to study, -that but a short time elapsed before he was a thorough master -of all the duties incumbent upon his position as Major of the -regiment, or for that matter with any position connected with -the regiment. Colonel Foster was a rigid disciplinarian, yet he -exacted nothing from his men that was not essential to the efficiency -of his regiment, or that he was unwilling to perform -himself.</p> - -<p>After a detailed review of my military service, it adds:—</p> - -<p>Colonel Foster has proven his patriotism by his actions and -in retiring to private life he will carry with him the assurance -that he has merited the good wishes of his countrymen and -secured the great satisfaction of an approving conscience.</p> - -<p>From an editorial in the "Louisville Journal" the following -is extracted:—</p> - -<p>The resignation of Colonel John W. Foster of the Sixty-fifth -Indiana Regiment has been accepted. His retirement from the -army is to be regretted, as he was one of the most experienced, -efficient and gallant officers in the service.</p> - -<p>After a sketch of my military career, it says:—</p> - -<p>Colonel Foster accompanied the expedition of General Burnside -in the movement on East Tennessee, at times commanding -brigades and even divisions. Just before tendering his resignation -he was recommended for a brigadier-general's commission -by Generals Burnside and Grant. Important business relating -to his father's estate demanded immediate attention, and forced -his resignation. The army and the country alike regret his retirement -to private life.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> - - - -<h2>VIII<br /> - -WITH THE HUNDRED DAYS MEN</h2> - - -<p>About three months elapsed after my return home from the -East Tennessee campaign when a new appeal was made to -me to reënter the military service. General Sherman was assembling -at and near Chattanooga an army to make his -great drive on Atlanta and into the very heart of the rebellion. -To succeed in his decisive movement he had to draw -his supplies from north of the Ohio River over a single long -line of railroad communication, reaching from Louisville -through the States of Kentucky and Tennessee to Chattanooga, -and beyond as his army advanced. This line of supplies -was mainly through hostile territory, and every part of -it had to be guarded by armed soldiers. In order to give -Sherman every possible trained soldier to swell his army so -as to make the movement a success, it was determined to -send all the soldiers then guarding this line of railroad to the -front, which would prove a large addition to the fighting force -of Sherman's army, and to replace them as guards with new -recruits, who could be effective behind intrenchments and -when on the defensive. Accordingly the Governors of the -States of the Middle West made a call upon their several -States for regiments of volunteers to serve for one hundred -days, the estimated period of Sherman's campaign to -Atlanta.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> - -<p>The call upon the State of Indiana was responded to -with alacrity, and within a few days several regiments were -formed and in a short time made ready for service. It was -the desire of Governor Morton to have these raw recruits -commanded, as far as possible, as colonels and other staff -officers, by men who had already seen service and were experienced -in actual fighting. One of these regiments, largely -made up from Evansville and the adjoining counties, expressed -a strong desire that I might be appointed to command -them, and this action was followed by a telegram from Governor -Morton tendering me a commission as colonel, and -making a strong appeal to me to again give my services to -the country in this great emergency.</p> - -<p>I confess the call did not strongly appeal to me from a military -viewpoint, as the contemplated service did not promise -any distinction in warlike operations; but on the other hand, -it was a service which would be just as useful in promoting -Sherman's success as if we should be sent to the front and -take part in the actual fighting, for without this line of communication -for supplies being maintained his campaign must -assuredly prove a failure. I recalled the fact in ancient history -that the greatest of Hebrew generals, following the well-recognized -rules of warfare, insisted on giving to those who -guarded the camp and protected the line to the rear the -same honor and emoluments as those who did the fighting. -The Scriptural historian has preserved King David's words: -"As his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his -part be that tarrieth by the stuff; they shall part alike." So<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> -important did he deem this principle that the historian records -that "from that day forward he made it a statute and -an ordinance for Israel unto this day."</p> - -<p>I had made much progress in the business of settling my -father's estate, the cause of my previous resignation, and -having secured my wife's consent to my reënlistment, there -seemed to be no good reason for not responding to the call -of the Governor and my townsmen and neighbors, and within -three days after tender of my commission I was on the way -to put myself at the head of the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth -Indiana Infantry Volunteers. I have indicated that -the character of the service to which we were to be assigned, -the guarding of the railroad, did not promise any brilliant -military exploits, and the extracts which I shall make from -my letters may not be found of much interest, but they will -at least set forth the manner in which we filled up our Hundred -Days' service in the cause of our country.</p> - -<p>The One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Indiana was mustered -into service May 23, 1864, at Indianapolis, and passed through -Louisville. My letter of the 31st states:—</p> - -<p>"We left Louisville on Saturday morning, and I stationed -the companies along the railroad from Shepardsville to Nolin, -ten miles below here (Elizabethtown) on the railroad. I had -hardly got the companies distributed, selected my headquarters -here, and got my dinner, before the train arrived -from Nashville bringing an aide to Major-General Rousseau, -who was on the hunt for the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth -Indiana, which should go to his command in Tennessee,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> -but he saw by the Louisville papers that it had been -stopped, and would go along the railroad. The aide had -orders for me to go direct to Nashville at once, disregarding -all orders from all sources but the War Department; but as -General Burbridge had ordered me to come here, and as I -was in his district, and was guarding important bridges which -should not be abandoned, I decided to wait until the generals -should get their conflict in orders adjusted. We have -been waiting in doubt as to our future for two days; meanwhile -the generals had been telegraphing with each other and -with me, until last night I received orders to go to Nashville -as soon as transportation was provided. How soon the cars -will be ready to take me down I do not know."</p> - -<p>Within two days we arrived in Nashville whence my letter -of June 4 says:—</p> - -<p>"I wrote you a note yesterday that we would go to Murfreesboro. -I went down there yesterday and returned this -morning. I will be off for that place again in an hour with -three companies. The rest of the regiment will follow to-night -and in the morning. We shall not be quite so well situated -there as we were at Elizabethtown, nor for that matter -as comfortably situated as <i>at home</i>, but I think we can get -through the one hundred days there at least tolerably <i>safely</i>, -which is the great point with you, is it not? Uncle Tom arrived -here yesterday from the Sixty-fifth in poor health. I -have been hunting for him this morning, but have not as -yet been able to find him."</p> - -<p>This last refers to Colonel Johnson, of whom I have made<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> -reference in previous letters. Three times he had been -granted furlough on account of ill-health, but with the grim -determination of a martyr, he persisted in his effort to remain -with his command, at that time at the front with -Sherman's army.</p> - -<p>In my letter of June 8, I give an account of our camp and -surroundings at Murfreesboro:—</p> - -<p>"When we arrived here the general directed me to camp -the regiment in the fortress, a large and very strong series -of earthworks and rifle-pits, built by Rosecrans's army after -the battle of Stone River. The enclosures are large, open -spaces, without a particle of shade or grass, entirely exposed -to the sun. The troops already in the fortress have erected -tolerably comfortable barracks, but there was no material -out of which to make any more; and as our men had nothing -but shelter tents, I was afraid if put into such a camp the -exposure would bring on sickness. So I rode all round the -vicinity of the town and found several very good camping-places, -and induced the general to let us camp out of the -fortress, in such suitable place as I might select. I found a -very fine camp in a beautiful grove just at the edge of the -town, and adjoining a very fine spring of water, which pleases -officers and men very much. Two companies are stationed -below on the railroad, and we shall have eight companies -here, making a very respectable battalion.</p> - -<p>"How long we will remain here is very uncertain, but we -shall be very well satisfied to stay here during the remainder -of our one hundred days. Since we went into camp I have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> -been putting the regiment through in drill and duties of soldiers, -keeping officers and men quite busy. Besides these -drills, Lieutenant-Colonel Walker drills the officers an hour, -and I have two recitations of officers an hour each in Tactics -and Regulations. In the evenings after supper I give them a -lecture on the Army Regulations, organization, and military -customs, which is quite as profitable to me as to them, -as it requires considerable study and posting on my part. We -had our first battalion drill to-day and it proved quite interesting. -At the present rate of daily duties in one month I -shall have the regiment in a condition to compare favorably -with the veteran regiments in drill at least. I want to bring -them home well drilled and thoroughly instructed in the -duties of the soldier. I have the reputation of being a strict -disciplinarian, but I think the officers and the intelligent men -appreciate it. The exercises not only make them better soldiers, -but the active service makes them more healthy than -to lie idle in camp.</p> - -<p>"Our camping-ground is on the lawn in front of one of the -finest houses in the State. The surroundings were before the -ravages of war very beautiful. The house was the headquarters -of the rebel General Bragg, before he fell back after -the battle of Stone River. The owner was formerly quite -wealthy, the possessor of a large plantation here and one in -Mississippi. He is now keeping a store in town for the support -of his family, reaping the reward of the rebellion of himself -and relatives."</p> - -<p>In my letter of June 13 I give another view of camp life:—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Yesterday was our first real Sabbath in camp, and we -spent it very pleasantly. We had the Sunday morning inspection -at eight o'clock, beginning it with a short religious -exercise by the chaplain. The inspection would have been -very creditable to old soldiers. The men had their arms and -accouterments and clothing in fine order and looked well. -These Sunday morning inspections have a fine effect, it causes -the men to clean up themselves and their arms, and makes -them feel it is a real Sabbath, which they are likely to forget -in camp.</p> - -<p>"After inspection we were quite liberal in allowing the -men more passes for the day, going out in squads in charge -of officers. Some went to church, but many went to stroll -over the battlefield of Stone River, which is about two miles -from town. Major Hynes and I went in town to church, and -heard Dr. Gazeton preach. He has just returned from the -South. The Doctor is (or was) a New School Presbyterian -of some reputation in Tennessee before the rebellion. He -is a bitter rebel, but, of course, did not give any manifestation -of it in his services. There was a strong New School -Church here before the war, but they were all rebels; the -church building almost ruined by the armies, and its members -very much scattered.</p> - -<p>"At five we had preaching by our chaplain, a Baptist -brother from Spencer County, a good man but a very poor -preacher, an old farmer and ignorant; is worse than the -chaplains of my other two regiments. I shall go out of the -war, I fear, with a poor opinion of chaplains from personal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> -experience. Although our chaplain's sermon was a poor -affair, the men were attentive and respectful. Altogether the -day was very creditably passed by the One Hundred and -Thirty-sixth Indiana. But how much more pleasantly and -profitably it would have been spent by me at home, with my -own family and in our own church."</p> - -<p>In a letter of June 15 I refer to the character of the regiment:—</p> - -<p>"We are getting along very pleasantly in camp; everything -passes off quietly; the men are making a commendable degree -of progress in the drill, and take to soldiering very readily. -Thus far I have had no difficulty in controlling the men. -I never saw a regiment more easily governed. This comes in -part from its personnel. Being called upon for only one hundred -days of service, many business and professional men, -who could not well afford to give up their business entirely, -can arrange to go into the army for so short a time; and as -a result the lower officers and the men are many of them -among our best citizens. Besides, the service is easy. We -have none of the hard marches and exposures described by -me in the campaigning of the Twenty-fifth and Sixty-fifth -Indiana. As a private in one of the Evansville companies, -was my younger brother James H., who left the senior class -at the Indiana University before graduating to serve his -country."</p> - -<p>This letter also relates an event which brings out the terrible -consequences of war in dividing families, especially in -the border State of Kentucky:—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I wrote you some time since that a brother of Major -Hynes (of our One Hundred and Thirty-sixth) was in the -rebel army and had been at home at Bardstown, Kentucky. -Hynes received a letter this evening from his father telling -him that his brother had been killed in trying to get back -through our lines to the Southern army. He was shot in the -woods and lay in the bushes two weeks before his father -found the body."</p> - -<p>Referring to the rebel cavalry raids which were just then -threatening Washington and Baltimore, I wrote:—</p> - -<p>"Even if Washington is burnt the rebels can't hold it, and -it would be the means, I hope, of raising up the North to -renewed efforts, and then there would be a good opportunity -to remove the Capital to the West, where it ought to be. We -have not suffered enough in the North yet to make the people -see that there is to be no peace with the rebels except by their -complete overthrow. Otherwise we are disgraced, ruined, forever -destroyed as a nation. We must and will in the end put -down this wicked rebellion. The ways of Providence are inscrutable. -'God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to -perform,' but He is a God of Justice and Right, and we will -triumph in the end. Had I been an infidel or a weak believer -in the righteousness of God, long since I would have been -discouraged, but I am not. Let us pray for our country, for -the triumph of right, of truth, of freedom, and that God may -in His wisdom hasten the end of this bloody war and the return -of peace; and that we may together live to enjoy our -family and Christian privileges under it."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p> - -<p>On July 16 I report:—</p> - -<p>"General Van Cleve has been called temporarily to Tullahoma, -which leaves me in command of the post and brigade -here, including Fortress Rosecrans. The change will -probably be only for a few days or a week. I would much -rather be with the regiment, as I am interested in the drill and -instruction of the regiment, and can spend the time pleasantly -with them.</p> - -<p>"I am now at headquarters of the post very comfortably -situated; have a room for myself carpeted and well furnished. -Captain Otis, General Van Cleve's adjutant-general, a very -competent officer, is left here, and he has his wife with him. -It looks quite homelike to sit down at a table with a lady to -preside, and also to nurse the baby. It was reported that the -rebels were crossing the Tennessee River yesterday at Claysville, -intending to make a raid on the railroad, but I hardly -believe it."</p> - -<p>A bright side of the soldier's life is given in my letter of -July 21:—</p> - -<p>"We have no news of special importance. I don't have -very much to do in my post command, am comfortably situated -in quarters, and have about enough business to keep the -time from being dull. Captain Otis and his wife and I are -the only members of our mess, and we have a very pleasant -table. When General Rosecrans was in command here he -established a large hospital garden, worked by the convalescents -in the hospitals. It is now producing large quantities -of vegetables, and our table is very liberally supplied from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> -it with green corn, tomatoes, beets, cucumbers, potatoes, -squashes, etc. We also enjoy plenty of milk and butter, with -ice to cool them. The general left his servant here, and he has -nothing to do but take care of my room, black my boots, and -brush my clothes, etc. There are a number of officers' wives -here, and we have frequent company in our parlor of these -and occasionally of rebel ladies. So you see the hardships of -the poor soldier's life at present being undergone by me are -such as I may be able to endure with safety to my life!"</p> - -<p>In my letter of July 30, I report my return to the regiment:—</p> - -<p>"General Van Cleve arrived last night and I returned to -the command of the regiment. I think it was needing my attention -from appearances. In the two weeks I have been -absent there has been only one battalion drill. Although -this is Saturday afternoon and we are not accustomed to -having drill that afternoon, yet I am going to give them battalion -drill to make up for lost time. I want them to make a fine -appearance when we return to Indiana. We are now drilling -in the bayonet exercise, which interests the men very much."</p> - -<p>A week later I write:—</p> - -<p>"We are having as usual a quiet Sabbath. My present -term of service is so very different from that which I have -heretofore been used to. Before it was all activity, bustle, -battles, pursuits or retreats. But now it is all the quiet monotony -of camp life, broken only by the routine of drill. -Heretofore I seldom had a quiet Sunday. Now I can read my -Bible and religious papers regularly, write to my dear one,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> -and attend Church services. But with all these privileges -there is no day in which I miss home so much."</p> - -<p>Taking advantage of our quiet camp life, I obtained leave -to visit Knoxville, where I had spent so many pleasant days -the year before. My letter of the 13th of August gives some -account of that visit:—</p> - -<p>"Does it look natural to you to see this letter dated from -Knoxville? I left Murfreesboro day before yesterday, woke -up in the morning and found myself across the Tennessee -River and in the midst of the mountains. The scenery is -quite romantic and attractive. I felt at once that I was in -East Tennessee. There is nothing in scenery like the mountains. -In a little while we came in sight of Lookout Mountain, -stretching far away with its range into Georgia, and -jutting up with its bold promontory into the Tennessee River, -and far above the mist of the river rose the spur so celebrated -as Hooker's Battle of the Clouds. Soon we came into Chattanooga, -bristling with its many battlements, and alive with -the hurry and bustle of that great army dépôt. It is astonishing -to note what a vast machinery it requires in the rear to -support and keep supplied a large army.</p> - -<p>"The run up to Knoxville was quite pleasant, where we -arrived at half-past five in the evening. On my way up to -the hotel I met an old Tennessee acquaintance who acted -as a guide for me in my raids last autumn. He would listen -to nothing but that I must be his guest, so I went around and -stopped with him. I came down in town in the evening, and -called on some of my old friends who showed much pleasure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> -in seeing me again. To-day I have been busy in calling on -other old friends, and took dinner to-day with Mrs. Locke, -who was very glad to have me again at her house. I am to -take supper with General Tillottson, commanding the post. -I have found a number of the old Sixty-fifth and of my staff -here on detailed duty.</p> - -<p>"They are organizing an expedition for a raid into upper -East Tennessee, in my old route of campaigning, and, to be -frank, I have been very much tempted to go up with them, -as they are anxious to have me. But it would detain me beyond -my leave, and I might expect a scolding from my dear -little wife. So I will leave in two or three days and return -direct to Murfreesboro."</p> - -<p>As the term of enlistment of our regiment was drawing to -a close, a movement was set on foot to have me continue in -the service. The Union men of western Kentucky were very -anxious to have me return to that district and drive out the -guerrillas, who had been very troublesome after I had left -that region. They had been in conference with my older -brother George, who took a great pride in my military career -and was very ambitious for me. The plan was to have me -made a brigadier general, and given a special command of -western Kentucky. When this was made known to me I answered -my brother George that if the command was tendered -me without any effort on my part I might take it into consideration, -but only on the express condition that my wife would -consent to it. It is to this plan I refer in some of my letters -to her. In the one of July 31 I say:—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> - -<p>"The expiration of our term of enlistment is drawing near -and a strong effort will be made to get our regiment to reënlist -for one, two, or three years. What do you say,—must -I go in for it? They are also writing me from Kentucky urging -me to come back there and clear the guerrillas out of my -old field of operations. I must confess the latter proposition is -something of a temptation to me. I would like to spend three -or four weeks there in chasing out the guerrillas, and then I -really do believe I could come home and stay there in peace."</p> - -<p>On August 7 I write my wife:—</p> - -<p>"I had been back from the army just long enough with -my wife and little darlings to appreciate how much I had -missed during the three years gone, and I do believe when -I get home this time I shall be able to conclude that I have -discharged my duty to my country and done my share of the -fighting, and that I have also a duty to discharge to my -family, which I have sadly neglected for the three years past; -and I hope that for the rest of my life I shall devote myself -to them. Major Hynes was saying to me the other day that -you had acted so nobly during my absence he thought I owed -it to you and my children when I was out of the service this -time to stay at home. But I take so much interest in the war -and am so thoroughly satisfied with the correctness of the -principles for which it is being prosecuted, that I must confess -I do not like to leave the army, when all of our experienced -officers and men are so badly needed, but I hope I will -be able to see my duty clear to stay at home. I trust my influence -and efforts there will not be entirely useless."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> - -<p>I wrote fully to my wife of the plans of my Kentucky -friends and my brother, and from my letters it appears they -met with her decided disapproval. On August 20 I wrote: -"I was sorry on my return from Knoxville and read your -letters and saw how you felt about my going into the service -again, that I had written George on the subject." And again -I wrote: "I was sorry to know from your letter that my letter -in which I had said something about reëntering the service -had given you any pain or solicitude, as I did not design that -it should do so. I never yet have entered the service or left -home except with your consent or approval, and I will not -do it in the future. As I have written heretofore, I think I -have served my country long enough to serve my family -awhile; and I hope nothing will occur to prevent my early -return to my home."</p> - -<p>Some fear was entertained that the efforts of the Confederate -cavalry to break up the railroad connections would -detain our regiment in Tennessee beyond the term of enlistment, -but no such untoward event occurred. The One Hundred -and Thirty-sixth left Murfreesboro on August 25 under -my command, passed through Louisville the next day, and -the day following took the cars at New Albany for Indianapolis. -The citizens of Bloomington, the seat of Indiana -University where the "Foster boys" had received their education, -having notice that the regiment would pass their -town about noon, entertained them with a hurried but -sumptuous dinner. We found a warm supper awaiting us -and were comfortably quartered at Indianapolis in barracks,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> -where we spent one week waiting to be paid off and mustered -out of the service. During this time we took part in a -review by Governor Morton of six thousand troops gathered -at the Capital of the State, and in this and our regimental -parades we were enabled with much pride to exhibit our -accomplishments in soldiery.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> - -<p>In the introduction to the compilation of these letters I described -myself in entering the service as a peace man, as having -no desire for military glory, having no special fitness for -the life of a soldier, and entertaining a horror of war. The -reader of these letters must have noted the gradual development -of a taste for or satisfaction with the service. Even at -the outset in Missouri, in describing in glowing colors the exposure -to the climate and the hard marching, I manifest a -certain enthusiasm for my success as a wagon-master, or for -my prospective work of an architect of the log-hut winter -quarters. I early mastered the tactics, army regulations, and -camp régime, and often wrote of my interest in the drill and -regimental and brigade exercises. I refer to the gallant charges -of our regiment and brigade at Donelson, and speak of some -parts of the bloody battle of Shiloh as "grand beyond description." -I hardly had words sufficient to describe the deliverance -by our army of the Union citizens of East Tennessee. -My intercourse with my comrades, superior and inferior -officers and men, is noticed as in all respects agreeable. -When I entered the army I was not robust, having too long -led a student and office life, but during my entire service I -enjoyed almost uninterrupted good health, the letters constantly -speaking of how the outdoor life and the most active -campaigning best agreed with me. So that it has been seen -that while at the end of three years of army service I was -rejoiced to go back to my home, to my wife and little ones,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> -an offer to reënter the army was quite a temptation to me.</p> - -<p>But my life in the army did not alter the views I had formed -in my college life of the horror and futility of war, but rather -strengthened and confirmed them. I witnessed the sad effects -of the conflict in dividing and embittering brothers of -the same blood, the ravages of the battlefield and the hospital, -the valuable lives lost and the widows and orphans, the -enormous expenditure of money, and the great war debt and -pensions to be paid by a coming generation. All these evils -might have been avoided by a peaceful adjustment of the -questions which were settled by the armed conflict. The -emancipation of the slaves by purchase would have been -many times less than the cost of the war in money, without -counting the saving of the lives lost, the widows and orphans, -and the bitterness engendered. There is a certain glamour -about warfare which attracts the participant, but it is fictitious -and unchristian. I pray God that our country may be -delivered from its horrors in the future.</p> - - -<div class="center">THE END</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 693px;"> -<img src="images/i190.jpg" width="693" height="900" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">Copyright by Bass and Woodworth, Indianapolis<br /> -SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, INDIANAPOLIS</div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> - -<h2>APPENDIX</h2> - -<div class="center">INDIANA SOLDIERS' MONUMENT</div> - - -<p>Some years after the close of the Civil War the Legislature of -Indiana determined to erect a monument at Indianapolis, -"designed to glorify the heroic epoch of the Republic and to -commemorate the valor and fortitude of Indiana's Soldiers and -Sailors in the War of the Rebellion and other wars."</p> - -<p>The corner-stone of this monument was laid in 1887 with -appropriate services, including an oration by President Benjamin -Harrison. It was completed and dedicated in 1902. It -stands upon a terrace 110 feet in diameter, with a foundation of -69 by 53 feet, the height of the monument from the street level -is 284 feet, and is crowned by a Victory statue of 38 feet. On -subordinate pedestals occupying positions in the four segments -are bronze statues of Governor Morton, Governor Whitcomb, -General William Henry Harrison, and General George Rogers -Clark. It is claimed to be the largest and most expensive soldiers' -monument in the United States, and one of the grandest -achievements of architectural and sculptural art in the world.</p> - -<p>The dedication services on the completion of the monument -were held on May 15, 1902, attended by military and civic -delegations from all parts of the State, parades, salutes, dedication -exercises, and illuminations, occupying the entire day and -evening. The dedication address follows.</p> - -<div class="center"> -<span class="smcap">Address of John W. Foster, delivered at the<br /> -Dedication of Soldiers' Monument, at Indianapolis<br /> -May 15, 1902</span> -</div> - -<p> -<i>Mr. Chairman, Governor Durbin, Comrades and Fellow Citizens</i>:<br /> -</p> - -<p>We are gathered to-day inspired by mingled feelings of joy -and sadness, of pride and sorrow. To the generation who have -come upon the stage of public life since the scenes were enacted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> -which are glorified in this noble monument, it may well -be an occasion of exultation, for they see only the blessings conferred -upon the State and Nation by the deeds of the heroic -dead whose memory we are assembled to honor. But to those of -us who were their comrades in service, there arises the sad recollection -of the carnage of battle and the wasting experience of -the hospital. While the stirring notes of martial music, the -booming of cannon, and the waving of flags awaken the enthusiasm -and the patriotic pride of the people, there are many -mothers and widows to whom this brilliant scene is but the reopening -of the fountain not yet dried up by twoscore years of -weeping.</p> - -<p>It is for no idle purpose I recall the solemn phase of the pageantry -of these dedication exercises, for it cannot fail to impress -more deeply upon us the debt we owe to the men for whom this -magnificent memorial has been raised.</p> - -<p>It commemorates the sacrifice of twenty-five thousand men—Indiana's -contribution to the cause of the Union. A fearful -price this Nation paid for its life. A veritable army is this, -larger than any gathered under Washington or Scott. In those -dark days, when our comrades were pouring out their life's -blood on a hundred battlefields, when new calls were made for -more men to fill the depleted ranks, when the scales hung -trembling between success and failure, it seemed sometimes -as if the State could not endure the fearful slaughter. But the -triumph of the right came at last. And time has healed the scars -of war. We can now look back upon the scene as one only of -heroic deeds.</p> - -<p>It was highly appropriate that on the apex of this shaft there -should be placed the emblem of Victory. Never in the history -of human warfare has there been a triumph more significant -of blessing to mankind. The Goddess of Victory crowns this -monument, but it is not in exultation over a fallen foe. I thank -God that in the dedication services to-day there is no feeling of -bitterness toward the men who fought against our dead comrades. -We rejoice to know that they are loyal citizens with us -of a common country. We must not, however, belittle the sacrifice -of our honored dead. Right, humanity, and progress were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> -on the side of the Union armies, and it was chiefly for this reason -we have reared this noble pile of bronze and marble.</p> - -<p>What the victory they gained signifies to this Nation, to this -continent, and to all peoples, has been so often, so exhaustively, -and so eloquently told, that I hesitate to even allude to it. But -my observation in foreign lands has so forcibly impressed on me -one of the inestimable blessings which has been secured to us -and to future generations by the triumph of the Union arms, -that I deem this a fitting occasion to call it to mind.</p> - -<p>Scarcely second in importance to the maintenance of republican -government in its purity and vigor and the extirpation of -slavery, are the reign of peace and deliverance from standing -armies, which the unbroken Union guarantees to us and to our -children. It requires no vivid imagination to conceive of some -of the results which would have followed a division of the -states—a frontier lined with fortifications, bristling with cannon -and garrisoned by a hostile soldiery; conscription and taxation -such as had never been known before; constant alarms of -war; and political and international complications which would -have put an end to our boasted American policy and Monroe -Doctrine.</p> - -<p>One of the things which most attracts the attention of foreigners -who visit our shores is the absence of soldiers about our -public buildings, in our cities, and along the thoroughfares of -commerce. And those who have never seen our country can -scarcely realize that it is possible to carry on a government of -order and stability without a constant show of military force. -In all the nations of Europe it has been for so many generations -the continuous practice to maintain standing armies, that -it is considered a necessary and normal part of the system of -political organizations. The existence of rival and neighboring -nations, constantly on the alert to protect themselves from -encroachment on their territory and to maintain their own -integrity, and the recent advances in military science and warlike -equipment, have caused a great increase in the armies, -enormously enlarged the expenditures, and compelled a rigorous -enforcement of the most exacting and burdensome term of service; -until to-day, in this high noon of Christian civilization,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> -Europe is one vast military camp, and, with such tension in -the international relations, that the slightest incident may set -its armies in battle array—the merest spark light the fires of -war and envelop the continent, if not the whole world, in the -conflagration.</p> - -<p>Germany and France maintain an army on a peace footing -of about a half-million of men each, Russia of three quarters -of a million, and other Continental powers armies of relatively -large proportions. The term of military service required in -each is from three to four years. To support these enormous -burdens the nations of Europe have imposed upon their inhabitants -the most oppressive taxation, and, besides, have multiplied -their public debts to the utmost extent of their national -credit. But great as these exactions are, they are as nothing -compared to the heavy demands made for the personal military -service of the people. To take from the best energies of -every young man's life from three to four years, just at the time -when he is ready to lay the foundations of his career and establish -his domestic relations, is a tax which can scarcely be -estimated in money value, and is a burden upon the inhabitants -so heavy and so irritating that they stagger under its -weight and would rebel against it, did they dare resist the iron -tyranny of military rule.</p> - -<p>Thanks to the soldiers who fought triumphantly for the -maintenance of our Union of States, and that there might continue -to be one great and supreme nation on this continent, we -are released from this curse of a large standing army, we are -free from its burdensome taxation and debt, our young men are -permitted to devote the flower of their lives to useful industry -and domestic enjoyment, and our free institutions are not -menaced by military oppression. To conquer a peace such as -the world has not heretofore seen, and to secure a reign of prosperity -and plenty which no other people of the present or the -past has enjoyed, did the men of Indiana fight and die.</p> - -<p>We are here to honor the soldier and the sailor; but it is well -to recall that ours is not a warlike people, and I pray God they -never may be. An event which greatly attracted the attention -of Europe was that when our Civil War was over the vast armies<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> -of near two millions of men quietly laid down their arms and, -without outlawry or marauding, retired to their homes to renew -their peaceful avocations. They had not become professional -soldiers. They were citizens of a great republic, and felt their -responsibilities as such.</p> - -<p>In all, our foreign wars have occupied less than five years in -a period of one hundred and twenty of our independence. Our -greatest achievements as a nation have been in the domain of -peace. The one aggressive war in which we have been engaged -was that with Mexico, and it was the unrighteous cause of -slavery which led us to depart from the line of justice in that -instance. It is to be hoped that no evil influence or ambition -will ever again lead us into acts of unjustifiable aggression. In -the Spanish War, I think I speak the sentiment of the great -majority of my countrymen when I say, it was a feeling of -humanity which occasioned that conflict. It brought with it -results which we could not anticipate and which many of our -people lament. It has led to the expulsion of Spain and its bad -system of government from this hemisphere, certainly not an -untoward event. If it was a desire to benefit our fellow men -that led us into that contest, I feel sure the same spirit will -control our conduct toward the millions of people on the other -side of the globe whom the fortunes of war have so unexpectedly -brought into our dominion.</p> - -<p>We are proud of the record which our country has made in -the settlement of disputes with foreign nations by the peaceful -method of arbitration. It is possible that all matters of difference -cannot be adjusted in that way, but it offers a remedy which -commends itself to the lover of peace and good-will among men, -and it is our boast that we have resorted to it more often than -any other nation.</p> - -<p>It is not incumbent on me to give any account of this structure, -so perfect in art, so appropriate in design, embracing all -arms of the military service on land and sea. I must, however, -as a comrade of those whose fame it perpetuates, bear cheerful -testimony to the generosity of a grateful people, who have -reared this costly column. It is in keeping also with the munificence -of the Federal Government in all that relates to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> -memory and the welfare of those who fought to secure the Union -of these States. In the National Capital and throughout the -land, in every city, and in almost every town, there are monuments -to the Union soldiers, and the important battlefields have -been turned into public parks consecrated to the Nation's dead.</p> - -<p>And no government has been so liberal in its provisions for -the surviving veterans. Listen to a few eloquent figures. At -the close of the War for the Union our national debt amounted -to the stupendous sum of $2,700,000,000. And yet there has -been paid out of the National Treasury, since that date, for -pensions an amount equal to that sum. Before the Spanish War -the pension roll amounted to two fifths of the entire expenses -of the Government, and it is even now, with the large increase -of both the civil and military list, one fourth of the total. The -payments on this account for the last year were about $140,000,000. -There are now on the roll, nearly forty years after the -war, 997,735 pensioners. Of the amount paid out, the pensioners -from Indiana receive $10,291,000 every year, and the Indianians -on the list number 66,974. The two great martial nations -of Europe are France and Germany, but their expenditures for -military pensions are only one fifth and one sixth of ours. In -addition to these unparalleled disbursements, vast sums have -been expended for the establishment and maintenance of Soldiers' -Homes in various parts of the country. Surely the old -soldier cannot charge his Government with ingratitude.</p> - -<p>This day constitutes the culmination of the history of Indiana. -This imposing monument, peerless of its kind among -the nations, the gift of a rich and prosperous Commonwealth, -the testimonial of a grateful people to the men who gave their -lives to save the Union and perpetuate free institutions, stands -to-day, with the quaternion of soldiers and statesmen about it, -a memorial of past achievement, an evidence of present accomplishment -in government, society, and industry, an assurance -of future prosperity and happiness. It was a wise discernment -of the memorable epochs in the history of the State which cause -to be associated with this central monument the statues of the -two soldiers and the two statesmen who adorn this artistic -Circle.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> - -<p>Of all the soldiers who were famous in the War of the Revolution, -few have rendered more imperishable services to the country -than General George Rogers Clark. I have not the time to -dwell upon his military career. You recall the repeated journeys -he made across the mountains from his Kentucky home to -implore the Revolutionary authorities to furnish him the means -to save the great Northwest to the new nation. The story of -his voyage down the Ohio with a mere handful of resolute patriots, -his capture of Kaskaskia, his marvelous march in the -dead of winter to the assault and capture of Vincennes, are -among the most thrilling narratives of that heroic struggle; yet -history has failed to give him due credit for his great achievement. -But for his expedition, it is safe to say that the Northwest -would have remained British territory, and Indiana -would to-day be a crown colony or a Canadian province, rather -than a free commonwealth of an independent people. Had the -United States been confined in its territorial extent to the Atlantic -seaboard, as our ally France wished it to be, the young -republic might have survived as a shriveled and sickly nation -under the guardianship of France; but the vast expansion to -the Northwest, across the Mississippi, to the Pacific Coast, and -to the Islands of the Orient never could have taken place. As -we look upon that dashing figure, moulded in bronze, let us not -forget the great debt we and all this Nation owe to the intrepid -soldier who conquered the Northwest.</p> - -<p>The second period of the history of Indiana is fitly represented -by General William Henry Harrison, the territorial -Governor and the defender of the frontier. He stands for the -men who laid the foundations of our government and society, -and freed the territory from the ruthless savage.</p> - -<p>In Governor Whitcomb we have a typical Indianian of the -early period of statehood. A farmer's son, he had his share, as -a boy and young man, of the privations of frontier life, the -Herculean labor of clearing away the forests, and bringing the -land under cultivation. At the same period of time Indiana was -nurturing another young man in like experience and labors of -frontier life—that matchless American, Abraham Lincoln. In -this era of abounding prosperity and luxurious living, we are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> -too apt to forget that they rest upon the toils and trials of our -fathers. Whitcomb showed the stuff of which he was made by -supporting himself at school and college by his own manual -labor. He filled many public offices with usefulness and honor, -and had the distinction of occupying the gubernatorial chair -during the Mexican War, in which Indiana soldiers did their -full share toward the victories which gained for us the wide -domain stretching to the Pacific.</p> - -<p>For the fourth period of the history of Indiana, which records -the contest for the preservation of the Union, there could be but -one man whose statue should be a companion piece to this -superb monument. No soldier, no citizen, no man high or low, -could take rank in point of heroic service, of tireless labors, of -commanding influence, of exposure to dangers, of courage, self-denial -and suffering, with Oliver P. Morton. He was a man -endowed with rare intellectuality, and made a high place for -himself in the Nation as a statesman, but to the people of Indiana, -and especially to the old soldiers, he will be remembered -as the Great War Governor.</p> - -<p>It is fitting that the name of another son of Indiana should be -mentioned on this occasion. His statue is not in this Circle, but -will soon adorn another portion of this beautiful capital. When -the corner-stone of this edifice was laid thirteen years ago he -took part in the exercises, and, but for his untimely death, would -doubtless have been called to occupy my place in this day's -dedication. Benjamin Harrison has the distinction of being -one of the first to inspire this great undertaking now so happily -consummated. He himself was a gallant soldier and would have -rejoiced to participate in this pageant. In every department of -public and private life he did his work well, and we are proud -to honor him as President and citizen.</p> - -<p>It is a pleasing service to thus recall the names of some of -our public men. I heartily believe in State pride. I believe in -local attachments. The associations which cluster about the -home are the dearest and the best. If we as Indianians have -not, in times past, been as conspicuous as some of our neighbors -for our State pride, it was not because we loved Indiana less, -but the Union more; and since we have forever settled the question<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> -of State rights, I see no reason why we should not on all -proper occasions and with the vehemence of domestic loyalty -exalt our State, and boast of its resources, its merits, and its -memories. Among these there are none which constitute a -nobler heritage or awaken more enthusiastic pride than the -services and attainments of our public men.</p> - -<p>I have not dwelt at any length upon the wonderful prosperity -which our country is now enjoying, as one of the direct results -of the preservation of the Union. We all rejoice in our -present high and honorable position among the nations of the -earth, and we may well look forward to a continuance of this -era of peace and prosperity. But in the day of our exaltation we -should remember that no people of the earth have proved to be -indestructible as a nation. Every country may carry within -itself the seeds of its own dissolution. We need not revert to the -history of Rome, Greece, Egypt, or Assyria to learn of the decay -and death of empires. The archæologist tells us that in the -territory covered by the State of Indiana there once existed, at -a period so remote that no legend of them remained among the -aborigines at the discovery by Columbus, a great and powerful -people who built populous cities, were possessed of a high -grade of military science, were advanced in the arts, founded -dynasties, had an educated priesthood, and were of a heroic -frame.</p> - -<p>I have not time to moralize upon this, but I venture a few -practical suggestions which may appeal to us as citizens of a -great nation whose prosperity and happiness we desire may -continue through all time. If we would realize this expectation -we must have an honest government, Federal, State, and local. -I have given the figures which show the enormous expenditures -for pensions. It is common rumor that this sum has been -swelled by perjury and fraud. Every faithful soldier who receives -a pension from the Government justly regards it as a -badge of honor. He should watch with jealous care that no -deserter, no skulker, no unworthy camp-follower, through the -cunning of dishonest claim agents, should have the same badge -of honor. So, also, bribery and corruption in our public and -municipal bodies, may soon destroy the foundations of our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> -national life. All good citizens should denounce and combine to -punish every attempt at corruption.</p> - -<p>As we should have an honest government, so we should have -a pure government. I have spoken of State pride. More than -once I have been made to blush when away from home to hear -the charge that the elections in Indiana were sometimes corrupt. -I trust I may entertain the hope that there is exaggeration -in this, and that our errors of the past no longer exist. It -is a sure sign of national decay in a republican government, -when the fountain head of power, the ballot, becomes corrupt.</p> - -<p>While we must have an honest and pure government to insure -the perpetuation of our institutions, we should also have -an efficient government. And this I think can best be brought -about by the universal application of the system of competitive -civil service. I know that many an Indiana politician has -mocked at it as the dream of the idealist, but it is the only democratic -method of filling the offices where all applicants stand -upon a common level, and the only way of securing the best -results in administration.</p> - -<p>I have entered upon a fruitful theme, but must not pursue it -further. I have suggested three points which seem appropriate -for our consideration to-day, when we are gathered to honor the -soldiers who died that our country might live. We owe it to -them to so act as citizens that they shall not have offered up -their lives in vain. Let us cherish their memory, and in our day -and generation do what we can to perpetuate for the people in -the ages to come the blessings of free institutions among men. -Should we thus prove true to our trust, this imposing memorial, -so patriotic in design, and so perfect in execution, will stand in -future years as a testimonial, not only to the fallen heroes of the -war, but also to the faithful citizens, who handed down unimpaired -their heritage of republican government to mankind.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> - -<div class="center"> -MILITARY SERVICE OF JOHN W. FOSTER<br /> -<br /> -<span class="smcap">War Department<br /> -The Adjutant-General's Office</span><br /> -<br /> -<span class="smcap">Statement of the Military Service of<br /> -John W. Foster</span> -</div> - -<blockquote> - -<p><i>Lieutenant-Colonel, Twenty-fifth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and -Colonel, Sixty-fifth and One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiments, Indiana -Volunteer Infantry</i> -</p> -</blockquote> - - -<p>The records show that John W. Foster was mustered into service -August 19, 1861, as major, Twenty-fifth Indiana Volunteer -Infantry, to serve three years. He was subsequently commissioned -lieutenant-colonel of the regiment and is recognized by -the War Department as having been in the military service of -the United States as of that grade and organization from April -30, 1862. He was mustered out of service as lieutenant-colonel -to date August 24, 1862, to accept promotion. He was mustered -into service as colonel, Sixty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, -to date August 24, 1862, to serve three years. He was in command -of the District of Western Kentucky, Department of -Ohio, with headquarters at Henderson, Kentucky, in October -and November, 1862, and in March, April, and May, 1863, but -the records do not show either the date on which he assumed -command or the date on which he was relieved therefrom. From -August 21, 1863, to September 5, 1863, and from September 7, -1863, to October 18, 1863, he was in command of the Second -Brigade, Fourth Division, Twenty-third Army Corps. The -designation of the brigade was changed to the Fourth Brigade, -same division, October 18, 1863, Colonel Foster remaining in -command to November 3, 1863. This brigade was assigned to -the Second Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Ohio, November -3, 1863, and Colonel Foster commanded the Second Brigade -of that division from November 3 to November —, 1863, and -he commanded the Second Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> -the Ohio, from November —, 1863, to January —, 1864, exact -dates not shown. He was honorably discharged March 12, 1864, -as colonel, upon tender of resignation.</p> - -<p>The records further show that John W. Foster was mustered -into service as colonel, One Hundred Thirty-sixth Indiana -Volunteer Infantry, May 23, 1864, to serve one hundred days, -and that he was mustered out of service with the regiment as -colonel September 2, 1864, at Indianapolis, Indiana.</p> - -<p>In the operations February 12-16, 1862, resulting in the -capture of Fort Donelson, Tennessee, Major Foster was commended -by his brigade commander for "the fearless and energetic -manner" in which he discharged his duties. His conduct -was said to be "worthy of the highest commendation."</p> - -<p>At the battle of Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, April 6-7, -1862, the command of his regiment devolved upon Major -Foster on the first day. The brigade commander, in his official -report of that battle, stated with reference to Major Foster as -follows: "The command devolved on Major Foster, who proved -himself every way worthy of it. He was active, brave, and energetic, -inspiring his men with courage and confidence. His worthy -example was felt by all around him."</p> - -<p>Official statement furnished to Hon. John W. Foster, 1323 -Eighteenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., October 13, 1915.</p> - -<p>By authority of the Secretary of War:</p> - -<div class="right"> -<span class="smcap">P. C. Marth</span><br /> -<i>Adjutant-General</i><br /> -<i>In charge of office</i><br /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p> </p> - -<div class="transnote"> - -<h2>Transcriber's Note</h2> - -<p>Obvious errors of punctuation and diacritical markings were corrected.</p> - -<p>Hyphenation was made consistent.</p> - -<p>P. 37: to take steamer for Cairo -> to take a steamer for Cairo.</p> - -<p>P. 156: Brunside's cavalry -> Burnside's cavalry.</p> -</div> - -<p> </p> -<hr class="full" /> -<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR STORIES FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN***</p> -<p>******* This file should be named 51552-h.htm or 51552-h.zip *******</p> -<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> -<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/5/1/5/5/51552">http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/5/5/51552</a></p> -<p> -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed.</p> - -<p>Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: War Stories for my Grandchildren - - -Author: John Watson Foster - - - -Release Date: March 25, 2016 [eBook #51552] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR STORIES FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN*** - - -E-text prepared by Moti Ben-Ari and the Online Distributed Proofreading -Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by -Internet Archive (https://archive.org) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 51552-h.htm or 51552-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/51552/51552-h/51552-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/51552/51552-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/warstoriesformyg00fost - - - - - -WAR STORIES FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN - - -[Illustration: Major John W. Foster, Mary Parke Foster] - - -WAR STORIES FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN - -by - -JOHN W. FOSTER - - -[Illustration: Emblem] - - - - - - - -Washington, D.C. -1918 -Printed for Private Circulation -The Riverside Press Cambridge - -Copyright, 1918, by John Foster Dulles -All Rights Reserved - - - - -PREFACE - - -As they were growing up, I was frequently importuned by my -grandchildren to tell them of my experiences in the Civil War for the -Union; and now as the great-grandchildren are coming on, their parents -are asking that these experiences be put in some permanent form, as -their children may never have the opportunity to hear the narrative -from me. I naturally shrink from giving general publicity to my -personal experiences, especially as the field has been already so fully -covered by comrades in arms; but I have consented to prepare such a -narrative on condition that its circulation be confined to the family -circles. - -In preparing the narrative I have not thought it wise to trust to -my memory of events which happened more than half a century ago; -and fortunately I have at hand my many letters written to my wife, -giving in detail my experiences during my entire service in the army, -and while they are in some respects too intimate and confidential -for general publicity, they have the merit of freedom from studied -preparation and constitute an account of events as they occurred. - -In this preparation I have indulged the hope that through it our -children of this and coming generations may be inspired by a greater -devotion to the American Union, for which their forefathers hazarded -their lives and endured the hardships of war. - - JOHN W. FOSTER - - - - -CONTENTS - - - I. INTRODUCTION 1 - II. THE MISSOURI CAMPAIGN 5 - III. THE BATTLE OF FORT DONELSON 37 - IV. THE BATTLE OF SHILOH 52 - V. ON TO CORINTH AND MEMPHIS 81 - VI. GUERRILLA WARFARE IN KENTUCKY 95 - VII. THE EAST TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN 119 - VIII. WITH THE HUNDRED DAYS MEN 161 - APPENDIX 179 - - - - -WAR STORIES FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN - - - - -I -INTRODUCTION - - -After the inauguration of President Lincoln, March 4, 1861, much -discussion followed in Washington and in the North, and plans were -proposed respecting peaceable adjustment of the troubles occasioned -by the secession of the Southern States from the Union. But the first -hostile gun fired at Fort Sumter and the National flag, on April 12, -put an end to all peace proposals, and solidified the North in favor -of restoring and preserving the Union by force of arms. As one of our -statesmen of that day expressed it, yesterday there had been difference -of opinion, to-day there was unity. - -When two days afterwards the President's call for seventy-five thousand -volunteers for three months' service was issued, my first impulse was -to respond to that call; but before any movement for enlistments could -be made in our locality the quota of Indiana was filled to overflowing. -I was content for several reasons to await the progress of events. - -I cherished no desire for military glory, and distrusted my special -fitness for the life of a soldier. In my college days I had contracted -a horror of war and regarded it as the most terrible and futile of -human follies. Shortly before my graduation I had delivered a public -address for my literary society on peace and war, using as its title -Charles Sumner's well-known oration--"The True Grandeur of Nations." I -regarded myself as a peace man. - -I had only recently entered upon the practice of my profession, and was -ambitious to make a reputation as a lawyer. But, most serious of all, I -had just established a modest home with a young wife and our first-born -babe of less than a year old. It would be a terrible strain upon my -affections and hopes to break these dearest of all ties for a life in -the military service. - -I, with the great body of the people of the North, entertained the hope -that the seventy-five thousand men, who constituted the army so quickly -formed, would prove sufficient for the reestablisment of the Federal -Union. But the battle of Bull Run, July 21, dispelled that delusion, -and the President's call for three hundred thousand afterwards -increased to five hundred thousand volunteers for three years' service -indicated that a long and bloody war was in prospect. I resolved no -longer to delay my entrance into that service. - -Two days after that battle I wrote my wife as follows:-- - -"I intended to have written you a long letter last night in reply to -your good one received yesterday afternoon, but I had no heart to -write. The terrible and disastrous calamity to our army has made me -sick. A thousand times rather would I have given my life and left you -a widow and my darling child fatherless than that this defeat should -have happened. I think I shall go to Indianapolis to-morrow to urge my -immediate appointment in our new regiment. I want to help retrieve our -lost fortune. I have no fear of our ultimate triumph." - -When the President's second call for volunteers was issued, a movement -was at once set on foot to organize a regiment at Evansville, my home, -and the Governor of the State had intimated his intention to appoint -me major of this new regiment. On August 9 my appointment as major was -made. The next day I sent my wife's brother, Alexander, to Glendale, -near Cincinnati, where she was visiting her mother, to notify her of -the event and give her details of the situation. He bore her a letter -in which I wrote: "Zan [Alexander] will explain the cause of his -coming. I want to be with my wife as much as I can before I go, so you -must hurry home _as fast as you can_.... While you are a loving wife, -remember to be a _brave woman_ and your husband will love you the more." - -I had gone to Glendale some time before to talk over with my wife my -intention to enter the army, and she had given her consent; but when -the time came for me to take the final step she seemed to hesitate and -draw back. It was a terrible trial to contemplate, her solitary lot -with her little babe and I away in the army. In answer to her letter -I wrote: "You seem in your last letter to be about to withdraw your -consent to let me go. That was the special reason of my late visit to -Glendale, and I thought it was agreed. I have a very honorable and, to -me, very flattering position, and in some degree removed from danger; -and of course I shall, for the love I bear my wife and child, be as -careful of my life as my duty will permit. The President has called for -four hundred thousand men, and of that number it is my duty to be one. -I regard this as important a war as that of the Revolution, the issue -is the life and maintenance of the Government, and I would be ashamed -of myself, and my children should be ashamed of me in after years, if -I declined so honorable a position as that tendered me. Be of good -courage." - -In response to my call she came at once to Evansville, and soon entered -into the spirit of my work in organizing and outfitting the regiment, -and, as will be seen later in these pages, she remained to the close of -my service my faithful and devoted supporter. - - - - -II -THE MISSOURI CAMPAIGN - - -The organization at Evansville became the Twenty-fifth Indiana -Infantry Regiment of Volunteers. On August 22, thirteen days after its -official staff was appointed, the regiment was ordered to St. Louis, -Missouri. It was a notable farewell the citizens of Evansville and the -surrounding country gave the regiment on its departure. The deportment -of my wife I refer to in one of my first letters to her from St. Louis. -I copy it at some length because it reflects the sentiments of hundreds -of thousands of other soldiers:-- - -"I felt proud of you as my wife and loved you the more for the manner -in which you acted on the departure of our regiment from Evansville. -While I know that no wife loves her husband more than you do me, yet -you could let me go off, for how long you know not, to brave the -dangers of the battlefield, because I thought it my duty, without a -murmur or reproach or entreaty. And now that I am away, I hope you will -be the true woman still. You know that our separation is not harder -for you to bear, surrounded by home and all its comforts, your darling -child and dear mother, than it is for me deprived of all these. You -must be hopeful and cheerful. I am here because duty prompts me, and -you would be ashamed of me if I were not here. - -"I will try to do all I can to preserve my health and so far protect -myself from dangers as my duty and honor will permit. You must remember -that there are tens of thousands of wives who bear the same lot as you -do. It would make me very unhappy to know that you were disheartened -and lamenting my absence and exposure to danger; and, on the contrary, -it would lighten my trials to know that you were bearing it like a -brave, true-hearted woman. I know you are my devoted wife, and I know -you will act your part nobly." - -Our regiment was ordered to St. Louis because the State of Missouri -was in a critical condition and in danger of being swept onto the side -of the rebellion. St. Louis had been placed on the side of the Union -by the daring and promptness of Frank P. Blair and General Lyon, the -commander of the arsenal and barracks, in the seizure of the rebel Camp -Jackson, and dispersion of the State Guards stationed in the city. -But before our arrival the Union forces had met with a disastrous -repulse at Wilson Creek, and General Lyon killed, one of the most -promising of the Union generals. Soon after we reached St. Louis, the -Confederate General Price captured Lexington, took the entire Union -force prisoners, and was overrunning the greater portion of the State. -General Fremont had been assigned to the command of the Department, and -troops were being rushed forward to enable him to clear the State of -rebels. - -The Twenty-fifth Indiana remained at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, for -three weeks, while Fremont was organizing his army to drive General -Price and his forces out of the State. How we occupied our time is in -part shown by my letters. James C. Veatch, the colonel of our regiment, -was appointed largely because of the service he had rendered in the -campaign for the election of Lincoln, but it proved a good appointment. -The lieutenant-colonel, William H. Morgan, had seen some service with -the three months' volunteers and as a member of a military company had -acquired some knowledge of drill and tactics. He was the only person in -our regiment of 1047 officers and men who knew anything about military -affairs. - -After being in camp at Benton Barracks a few days, I wrote:-- - -"Our colonel is doing all he can for the comfort and convenience of -his men. Ever since we arrived, he has been stirring up headquarters -in our behalf. In a day or two he will have us paid off, which will be -decidedly acceptable; and is now bent on having us supplied with good -guns before we leave here, and though good guns are scarce here, he -thinks he will succeed. - -"Colonel Morgan is invaluable as a drill and camp officer. He devotes -three hours each day to the instruction of the officers, and two hours -to battalion drill, besides his other duties. He has the officers -recite to him daily from the Book of Tactics. Our regiment is under -excellent discipline and very orderly, and I am satisfied if they will -give us a few weeks to drill and good guns, that we will do honor to -the State and country." - -In the same letter to my wife, I wrote of myself:-- - -"Although the place of major may be one of ease, if an officer desires -he may keep himself busy and be quite useful in regulating the camp, -seeing that the officers and men do their duty, looking after the -wants of the men, assisting in battalion drill, etc. And I am the more -busy, because in addition I devote from two to five hours in study and -recitation of the tactics. I accepted the position in our regiment, not -as a sinecure, but because I thought my country needed my services, and -I have resolved to leave nothing undone that will fit me to discharge -my duties properly, and so prepare myself that if it should ever happen -that the lives of a thousand men should be placed in my keeping, I -might, as Dr. Daily would say, be competent for an emergency. So that -now the time does not hang heavily on my hands. Personally I am getting -along very well in camp." - -A few days later I report that the regiment has received its first -payment, and I make a remittance to my wife of $130 in gold. - -My father, then in his sixty-second year, was an ardent defender of the -Union, and took great interest in the organization of our regiment, to -which he contributed two of his sons, my brother, next to me in age, -being the quartermaster of our regiment. He had ordered to be made the -flags of the regiment, and as they were not finished before it left -Evansville, they were presented at Benton Barracks, of which I give the -following account to my wife:-- - -"We had the ceremony of the Flags' Presentation yesterday at dress -parade. Colonel Veatch read father's letter and made some very -appropriate remarks, and the thanks of the regiment were unanimously -tendered to him for his appropriate and valuable gift. The National -flag is very fine, but I think the regimental flag is the best and most -elegant I ever saw. There is no regiment from Indiana and I think none -in the West that has as fine a stand of colors as ours. The men are -very proud of them." - -The following extract describes a treat at Benton Barracks, the like -of which we had more than once during the year, as we were on or near -the Mississippi, Cumberland, and Tennessee Rivers within easy reach of -Evansville:-- - -"Your box of good things came on Sunday and was opened immediately. -That evening we had what your Cincinnati cousin would call 'a sumptous -tea.' William, our cook, got out all his dishes and I furnished him -with a new tablecloth and he got up a table in fine style with your -dainties, with the aid of the bouquets and fruits our kind neighbors -here had sent. Not only Aleck and I, but all our _mess_ have enjoyed -your treat very highly." - -One of the matters that troubled me about giving up my affairs at -Evansville was the continued maintenance of a large Mission Sunday -School which I had organized and kept up in a flourishing way for some -years. I did not get encouraging news as to its condition, and I wrote -my wife about an efficient superintendent:-- - -"I hardly know whom you can get in my place. There are very few men who -will take the trouble and have the patience and perseverance to keep -the school up through the hot summer and cold winter successfully as -I have done for four years. But it ought not to go down." - -The school was maintained for some time, but it was discontinued long -before the war closed. - -Some of the embarrassments attending my new and untried duties are -described in the following letter:-- - -"I was detailed to-day as field officer of the brigade, and have been -kept busy all day, in the saddle almost continuously from 8 A.M. to -5 P.M., and am tired enough. I went over this morning and reported -myself to the general for duty, and the first thing he said was that -the adjutant-general was away and I would have to mount the brigade -guard. As I had never even mounted a regimental guard, you may be sure -it rather stumped me, but like a soldier I did my best, and in the -presence of the general, the officer of the day, and other officers I -performed the duty and passed the guard in review satisfactorily." - -After three weeks of instruction and comfort at Benton Barracks we -received orders to go to the front, and fearing my wife might be -disturbed by the movement, I wrote her a consolatory letter:-- - -"We have orders to leave to-morrow for Jefferson City. Of course we -are in great hurry and have very little time to write letters, even to -dear and loving ones at home. We left our homes to fight our country's -battles, and naturally we are glad to see a prospect of that kind of -work before us. You must not be unduly solicitous or alarmed. You may -hear reports of the Twenty-fifth being entirely cut to pieces or all -prisoners, even before we are in sight of our enemy. Don't place any -confidence in vague rumors. If anything serious takes place, Aleck or I -will send early word home, or some of our friends will for us, and if -you do not hear, you may be certain we are busy or out of telegraphic -or mail communication, and you need not think we are dead or prisoners. -Be a true, brave woman. Act worthy of a soldier's wife, and put your -trust in God, remembering that He does all things well." - -The trip to Jefferson City was one of many railroad rides the regiment -had, all more or less uncomfortable. I wrote, September 16:-- - -"I have only time to write you a pencil note at the depot. We arrived -here safely yesterday at noon, but tired and in bad condition. As -we began our march from Benton Barracks a hard rain set in and so -continued half the day. Reached the depot at 3 P.M., but did not get -off till 10 P.M., in crowded cars, little sleep, rain all night, with -leaky cars. It took us fifteen hours to run to this place, one hundred -and twenty-five miles. Just as we reached our camp it commenced to rain -in torrents again and so continued nearly all night. We got the tents -out in the rain. If we get through safely with our first experience in -hardships of soldiering we will do pretty well." - -Our regiment had been ordered to Jefferson City to form part of the -grand army with which Fremont was expected to sweep Price and his -forces out of Missouri, and for the next three months and more we were -engaged in marching and counter-marching with hardly any fighting -worth recording. One of the not unusual experiences of camp life, when -the enemy were supposed to be near, I gave my wife while at Jefferson -City:-- - -"The news here to-day is that Lexington is taken by the secessionists. -If that is so we are going to have some warm work in this part of the -country. Night before last several shots were heard in the direction -of our pickets two or three miles out, which caused the alarm to be -sounded and brought out all the regiments of the brigade into line of -battle. Some of them came out with a great deal of noise and confusion. -Ours came in perfect order and to our full satisfaction; a person fifty -yards from our line would not have known that there was any disturbance -at all going on in our camp.... - -"I get along tolerably well in daytime, as I keep so busy with other -matters I don't have time to get homesick. But last night I had such a -sweet dream about little Alice; and then when I woke and found it only -a dream, how I wanted to be at home just a little while to see you and -her. But let us be of good cheer and hope. I will be with you again." - -This is a frequent topic of my letters. A few weeks later I write:-- - -"The parts of your letters about our Alice were the most interesting to -me. The dear little darling, how I would love to see her walk. Don't -let her forget her papa." - -How my dream recalled one of Campbell's war poems with which I was so -familiar in college, "The Soldier's Dream":-- - - "The bugles sang truce, for the night cloud had lowered." - -In another letter from Jefferson City I write:-- - -"You say in your letter received to-day that you are so glad we did -not go to Kentucky, because they are going to have fighting there. We -were very much disappointed in not being ordered to that very place, -and just because there was to be fighting there, and we might aid -our brethren in Kentucky. If our Government is worth anything it is -worth defending and to maintain it thousands of our lives would be a -cheap price. We must all look at it in this light, and do our duty -fearlessly." - -A further extract from the same letter:-- - -"We have had considerable trouble in having our guards learn their duty -as sentinels. This week one of our sentinels was found asleep on his -post. We sentenced him to be shot, at a court-martial, but recommended -him to clemency; at the same time privately having the colonel -understand it was merely formal to make the soldiers more careful -hereafter. - -"So yesterday at dress parade the regiment was thrown into a hollow -square, the prisoner brought out and sentence pronounced with great -gravity, making to all who did not understand it a very solemn scene. -The prisoner was remanded to confinement to await execution. This -morning the members of the companies all cast lots to decide who should -be in the unfortunate squad to shoot him. The ten men who drew the -_black beans_ were brought up before headquarters this morning and -notified that to-morrow morning at daylight they would have a terrible -duty to discharge, without telling them what it was, they readily -imagining it. - -"To-day the young man was suffering greatly, but he would not tell -where his father or family are, for fear we should write them about -it. He says his father told him if he died in battle he would be -satisfied, but never to disgrace himself. And he promised that if we -would only release him, he would give a good account of himself on the -battlefield. He will be released in the morning, and we won't have any -sleepy sentinels soon again." - -Five days later I write from Georgetown:-- - -"We left Jefferson City Monday morning and came up to Lamine River, -fifty miles, where we joined the Eighth and Twenty-fourth Indiana, -and Colonel Veatch took command. Tuesday morning we heard there were -seven thousand rebels near here [Georgetown]. The colonels of the -other regiments wanted Veatch to stay at Lamine, but Colonel Morgan -and I urged him on, knowing that we were equal to two to one, or -even three, on the prairie with our long-range guns. It was greatly -through our urging that Colonel Veatch decided to go forward. We were -anxious to have a pure _Hoosier_ fight with the rebels, and were glad -of the prospect. We left at 3 P.M., all of us expecting to meet seven -thousand at night or in the morning. It was a race, we supposed, for -the possession of Georgetown, and by ten o'clock at night we passed -over the seventeen miles with our whole force, and entered the town -peaceably, without disturbing a citizen from sleep, and slept in the -court-house yard. It was our first march on foot and a hard one, but -we made it finely. The last two miles were very trying on the men. The -only way we kept them up was by riding down the lines and telling the -men it was only over the hill to the enemy, and we would have them -certain. But no enemy was near, none nearer than Lexington. I don't -know how I will feel on the battlefield, but as yet I have no fear of -going into a fight. - -"We are at last settled after hard marching, rainy weather, and various -hardships. I have been in the saddle nearly all the time for four days. -Yesterday I stationed the picket guards, and it took about forty miles' -riding, but I am standing it well. It is just what I need. I enjoy it -finely, eat largely, and have no dyspepsia [a trouble at home]. - -"Near to our camp is a neat little cottage all furnished with -everything, nice beds, furniture and carpets, dining-room and kitchen -furniture complete. It is the house of a young lawyer, who was married -this spring, was a secessionist, was taken prisoner, took the oath of -loyalty, violated it, and is now in the rebel army, and subject to be -shot if he is ever caught. His wife has fled to her father's. Colonel -Veatch has established his brigade headquarters in his house, and we -are living in style. I am writing at his desk, using his paper." - -While in Georgetown I gave this picture of the country:-- - -"For the first time we are really in the enemy's country, and are -seeing the effects of secession and some of the terrible results of -war. As we passed through the villages on our march here, the houses -were nearly all deserted, the doors closed, and very few persons to be -found. A sign of dreariness rested on everything. And when we arrived -here at Georgetown, the county seat and numbers about a thousand -people, at least one half of the houses were vacant, the stores closed, -and business suspended. - -"Georgetown has seen several reverses since the rebellion broke out, -being several times in possession of both rebel and Federal troops. -When the rebels came in, the Union men fled the country or took to -the woods and slept among the bushes. Many women so exposed on the -cold, damp ground lost their lives by the exposure. I took dinner a -day or two ago with a gentleman, a citizen here, who formerly lived at -Mount Vernon [near Evansville]. He had his store broken open in broad -daylight by a company of the rebel army, and fifteen hundred dollars' -worth of his goods carried away, while he was a refugee in the woods. -Many men have lost their all. - -"Such outrages have naturally enough begotten a spirit of revenge -among Union men, and those of them of more violent passions and lesser -principles have retaliated, until one wrong begetting another has -brought on a spirit of bitterness and enmity among the people which is -truly deplorable. I never want to see such a state of society again. -The dregs of the population are uppermost, and the honest and innocent -suffer. Surely it is a holy mission of ours to give peace, and safety, -and law to this country. This part of the State is the most beautiful -farming country I ever saw, and certainly it needs peace. Here truly -'only man is vile.'" - -In another letter from Georgetown, I report:-- - -"As to the enemy I don't know anything that is definite. We have a -report this evening that they are only twenty-six miles away, but we -have had them right on us so often before, that I hardly believe any -reports we hear about them. But we try to keep prepared, our men sleep -on their arms, and we station our pickets out five or ten miles." - -As already noticed, the first payment to our regiment was made in gold -coin, but the second one is noticed from Georgetown as follows: "I sent -you by the Paymaster to be expressed from St. Louis $150 in _Treasury -Notes_. I suppose the Treasury Notes are good, but when you can get -them changed into gold I would do it, to lay by for later use." - -This suggests that I had early anticipated the coming depreciation of -Government paper currency, and in later remittances I repeated this -injunction, so that when I retired from the army my wife had as her -savings from my pay a considerable sum in gold, which she converted -into "greenbacks" at the rate of two dollars and fifty cents for one -dollar gold. - -In her letters more than once my wife writes of the alarm created among -her neighbors for fear the rebel forces would capture Evansville, our -home. In a letter, October 13, I wrote her:-- - -"You say in some of your letters that the people were packing up to -leave Evansville when the rebels come. I do not believe they will -ever reach there, but if they should come I would not, if I were you, -leave your home or pack up. Your valuables you might put into a place -of security, but they will not injure peaceable and discreet women at -least." - -In a letter of October 15, I report a movement of our brigade to -Otterville:-- - -"We have come here to go into Major-General Pope's division of -Fremont's army in Davis's brigade. How long we will remain here is -uncertain, but I guess only a few days, when we shall go south in -search of Price. - -"The bad weather has made a large number of our men sick, and two or -three hundred were left behind. General Davis put me in charge of them -with orders to get wagons and bring them forward. The sick department -of our army is the most unpleasant, the most troublesome, and the most -neglected in the whole service. I would rather at any time encounter -the dangers of the battlefield than the hospital and receive the -treatment of privates. It is a shame to humanity and our Government -that it is so much neglected, at least here." - -A few days later I wrote:-- - -"I have no time to write you a letter. I am doing most of the business -of the regiment, both of the colonels being sick. All of our brigade -left this morning in the forward movement except our regiment, which -was left behind for three reasons--the brigade took all our wagons, we -had so large a number of sick, and a regiment was to be left to forward -supplies. We will leave as soon as we get transportation. - -"Aleck [my brother, regimental quartermaster] has been promoted to -post quartermaster of General Pope's division, and will be stationed -at Otterville, charged with the duty of drawing from St. Louis and -forwarding supplies to the division, a very responsible position, and -earned by his attention to his duties." - -Three days later I wrote:-- - -"The health of our regiment has been very bad. It is almost unfit for -duty. We could only turn out two hundred for company drill, and could -hardly march five hundred to-morrow. Diarrhoea, chills and fever, and -measles are prevalent. Our officers are almost all laid up. Colonel -Morgan has gone to a private house to recruit for a few days. Aleck and -I have been the only officers at headquarters who have been entirely -fit for duty for several days." - -Notwithstanding the condition of the regiment it became necessary for -me to run down to St. Louis by rail to bring forward our supply of -winter clothing, blankets, etc., and my wife met me there for a day. I -am answering her first letter after her return to Evansville, October -23:-- - -"I am sorry to have you write so despondingly, or rather was sorry to -know you felt so lonely (I always want you to write just as you feel). -But it was natural that you should feel badly after our separation, -for I know what my own feelings were. I trust you are more hopeful and -cheerful now. You must remember it is all for the best. I would be with -you in our comfortable home, enjoying all the happiness which you and -my dear and kind friends could bestow upon me, if I could. But it is -impossible. I should be a miserable coward to stay at home in ease and -luxury at such a time of national calamity and need." - -I wrote again two days later, showing that I had a clear vision of the -result of Fremont's grand march to destroy Price:-- - -"I hardly think we can get off before the first of next week, but it -doesn't make much difference to us. We will hardly have a battle at -any rate, and will only march down into the lower part of the State to -winter, or drag our weary way back again. If this expedition is not a -Moscow defeat, I shall be highly gratified. But you must not be alarmed -about me. The officer who has a horse to ride and comfortably equipped -will be well situated, but it is the poor foot soldier who has to -suffer." - -I at last chronicle our departure:-- - -"I have only a moment to write you that we are just about marching to -the South. I am very busy, both the colonels and quartermaster being -sick. I am colonel, quartermaster, and almost everything else. My -health is very good. I see you are secretary of the Ladies Soldiers' -Aid Society. You can't do too much for the soldiers, but their greatest -need is in the hospitals, good nurses, good cooks, clean shirts, -sheets, and kind treatment. If I am to die in the army, I want it to be -on the battlefield, never in the miserable hospitals." - -The following presents not an unusual phase of soldiering, but new to -me:-- - -"About this hour (3 A.M.) more than two months ago [the day the -regiment left Evansville] my good wife was up to give me a good -breakfast and bid me good-bye, and I ought to be able to write her a -short letter at the same hour. - -"We left Otterville day before yesterday with all our regiment that -could march, with a train of fifty wagons. We had unbroken, balky -horses, and have had a hard time with the train. Our division is fifty -miles below Warsaw, and about out of provisions, and we have to use -great haste to get them forward. To expedite matters I have taken -personal command of the provision train and have been working hard at -it. Sometimes it takes us two hours to get over one hill, then two -hours to get through one mud-hole. I am not much of a wagoner, as you -know, but I have the authority and the knack of getting a good deal -of work out of the men. I have two good wagon-masters along with me. -I take their advice, and then assume to know all about it with the -drivers. You ought to see me preside over the difficulties of a hill or -a mud-hole. When a wagon gets stalled, I just get off my horse and put -my shoulder to it. The men work twice as hard when I help them. We got -along pretty well to-day and reached our camp long before dark. This -morning we have two heavy hills before us, and are up at three o'clock -to have the horses fed and ready for a move as soon as it is light. -Breakfast is announced and we must be ready to be off soon. If I get -through with the provisions in good time it will be equal to a _small -victory_ for our division of the army. I am well and hearty; this kind -of work makes me fat." - -The culmination of this campaign is noted in a letter of November 7:-- - -"I have only time to write you a note to let you know we are safe in -Springfield, without a fight or loss of life. When we reached Warsaw we -received our orders from General Pope to come to Springfield by forced -marches with all possible rapidity, as the enemy were advancing upon us -in force. So for four days we marched twenty miles every day, which was -something unusual for any army, but our men stood it very well, and are -now much better for the exercise. - -"When we arrived here we learned that Price was seventy miles away -from us and that there never was any danger. Officers speak very -disparagingly of Fremont. The indications are that we will march back -again in a few days. 'Up the hill and down again.'" - -Sometime before the next letter was written from Warsaw, November 14, -on the march "down the hill," we had heard of the removal of General -Fremont:-- - -"Our Missouri campaign has been a very barren affair. It may suit a -fellow who likes long walks and heavy marching, but there has not been -much of war in it. The only time there was to my mind any prospect of -a fight was at Georgetown. If Price had ever intended to fight, it was -his best chance. We have been chasing him all through the southern -part of the State on long and forced marches, wearing out our troops, -and spending immense sums of money, and Price keeping fifty miles away -from us all the time, and he is now clear over into Arkansas. The -Springfield campaign is over at least, and Fremont's reputation and our -soldiers' feet have been the sufferers. However popular Fremont may be -his military glory is ended. - -"Our Colonel Veatch I regard as a man of unusual good judgment and has -been an ardent friend of Fremont, and yet says his removal was just -and needed, and such is almost the unanimous opinion of officers here. -Tell father if he has not become reconciled to the removal, a personal -knowledge of matters at St. Louis and here would satisfy him." - -My youngest brother, Willie, was eight years old at this time, and I -make frequent references to him in my letters. From Syracuse I wrote -November 18:-- - -"We arrived here yesterday from our march of two hundred and fifty -miles. We left Otterville on October 29 and arrived here yesterday the -17th, having had only one day of rest during the whole journey. If I -had time I would write Willie a letter (but you can tell him) of our -march, what a long line our division made, troops and trains of near -three miles, what a time the poor soldiers had with sore feet, how we -sat around big blazing camp-fires, how we got up before daylight and -ate our breakfast on a log, and were marching before the sun was up, -and give him a list of all the towns we passed through so he can find -them on the map I sent him. About these I can give him the details when -I come home. But this is only the least exciting of the soldier's life -stories. We can't come home till I can tell him something about our -experience on the battlefield, which we have not yet had." - -A week later I write still from the same place, expressing great -impatience that we are kept in Missouri, and the desire on the part -of myself and the men to be ordered into Kentucky, but I add: "I am -beginning to understand that the army is one vast machine, and the mass -of us need not trouble ourselves about our future, as our generals -will determine that. We have only to do our duty and execute their -commands." But I caution my wife if we are ordered to Kentucky: "You -must not flatter yourself that, if I get nearer home, I will have a -much better opportunity of paying a visit to the dear ones there." - -Then I entered upon a topic which seemed to be a familiar one in my -letters, about home:-- - -"The commanding officers at St. Louis will be very particular about -absence, and when we get into the active field again it will be -worse. And it must be so, if the army is to be kept in any state of -efficiency. How much I would love to come home. No one ever more highly -prized the blessings and comforts of a happy home than I,--a dear, -loving, and noble wife, a sweet, darling little daughter, and so many -kind kindred and friends,--but it must be otherwise. I am called to the -place of duty, away from all these. I would be a craven, a disloyal -citizen, if I did not do what I am doing in this time of peril to our -country. And I rejoice that I have a wife, with a heart so noble, so -patriotic and so brave, as to share this feeling with me, and who -submits to her situation without a murmur. This pleasant home which you -and I both long to enjoy together would be worthless and ruined, if -our once prosperous Government falls to pieces. It is far better that -we endure this separation and that our country suffer this terrible -war for a time now, than that we permit the whole nation to fall to -pieces, and for years and years after to see nothing but civil war and -continued bloodshed between little factious States. We hope and pray -that God will speedily restore the country to its wonted peace, so that -we may all return to our families and friends." - -A little later, in acknowledging receipt of one of my wife's letters, -I say: "I am glad you are reading Washington's letters. You will find -he was a good husband and loved his home, but he _went to war for seven -years_!" - -While waiting in suspense at Syracuse, I tell of another -court-martial:-- - -"I was all day yesterday engaged in a court-martial and until late last -night. A lieutenant in the Eighteenth Indiana was arraigned by his -captain for attacking and slandering him in a newspaper in Indiana, -and the lieutenant came to get me to defend him. I tried to beg out -of it, but he insisted so strongly that I had to undertake it. The -court was presided over by the general commanding, and was composed -of the colonels and other field officers of the division, and I was -somewhat abashed in appearing before it, the practice of the court -being altogether different from our civil law courts, and I being -unacquainted with it; but I thought I might as well learn now as at any -other time. I think I got through with it pretty well. If I keep the -lieutenant from being cashiered it will be fortunate for him." - -The coming on of winter made the generals, as well as the men, think of -winter quarters. In a letter dated November 24, referring to another -of the reports about a threatened attack on us by Price and the -probability of marching again, I write:-- - -"In the meantime we are shivering around our camp-fires in this winter -weather, and stuffing our tents full of straw, blankets, and buffalo -robes to keep warm. Last night I managed to sleep comfortably. I made -my bed right down on the ground. It is warmer than to have my cot up on -its legs. These Missouri prairie winds are such winds as Hoosiers don't -know anything about. - -"You ought to see some of the expedients we resort to for comfortable -camp-fires. At headquarters of the regiment we have a big roaring log -fire built, and have small logs propped up on the forks of saplings -for seats or benches, and then we barricade ourselves from the wind _a -little_ by tents and stretching wagon covers around the saplings.... -But at the best this winter campaigning is not comfortable for officers -or men." - -Notwithstanding the cold weather, I note in my letter of December 3, -that we are keeping up the drills:-- - -"Yesterday and to-day we have been kept quite busy, General Pope -having issued a strict order in reference to regimental and brigade -drills. We are out both morning and afternoon with the regiment, -notwithstanding that the ground has been covered with snow and it is -very cold. It comes a little hard on us, cold fingers and cold feet, -but it is all the better for both officers and men. As for myself I am -in much the best health when I am kept busy, and on the march or move. -This afternoon we had a review of the whole brigade, preparatory to an -anticipated grand review by General Halleck, Department Commander, in -a few days." - -It finally seemed settled that the army was to remain in this part -of Missouri, and we were to go into winter quarters. So our brigade -marched down to Lamine River December 7, preparatory to a permanent -encampment. I report:-- - -"We will have a large city of log huts, probably 15,000 or 20,000 -troops. We are commencing operations to-day by clearing off our camp, -preparatory to building our log huts. I shall be in command of the -working forces of our regiment and shall soon know how to build a log -house in the most approved style. So you see I am having a varied -experience in my army life." - -I seemed to be quite possessed with the project of building our -huts and getting into winter quarters, as I was planning to extend -hospitality to dear friends. I write my wife:-- - -"How would you and little Alice like to come out and live with me in -a log hut for a while this winter? If the little darling will learn -to say 'papa' right sweet and right plain, maybe I will have her come -out and see and talk with her 'papa.' That will depend on how long we -will stay here, and how well I shall be fixed up. But you must not be -certain of it, for a soldier's life is a very uncertain one." - -And sure enough all our plans and anticipations came to an end, as a -letter from Sedalia, December 21, relates:-- - -"After more than a week's silence I have only time to drop you a note. -The newspapers will doubtless tell you of our last expedition. We went -out in a hurry and came back in a hurry. We just missed by three hours' -march a rebel supply train with a guard of three thousand: but we -succeeded in capturing an entire regiment, with a full complement of -officers, and Colonel Magoffin, a notorious secessionist, and a lot of -other prisoners, making altogether about one thousand. - -"There was no fight of any consequence. The cavalry surrounded them and -they surrendered after a short skirmish. The Twenty-fifth was in the -advance of the infantry and would have been in the fight, if needed. -The only one of our regiment killed was Sergeant Ray, of Company G, who -was acting as a mounted scout. Our regiment was assigned as a guard to -the prisoners, and will have the post of honor in conducting them to -St. Louis. We will leave by train in the morning. I am very tired with -guard duty and marching for two days and nights, and must be up early -in the morning." - -This march proved the last of our campaigning in Missouri. Not a -glorious record, but a lot of experience and useful training as -soldiers. The regiment was assigned to quarters at Benton Barracks. I -write:-- - -"It is uncertain how long we shall stay here or what they will do with -us. We may be all winter or possibly only two or three weeks. They -have given the field officers of our regiment a little house just -outside the Barracks, four rooms, a kitchen, cellar, and attic for the -servants, and a stable. If we can arrange things to suit us and it is -agreeable to the other officers, I expect Colonel Veatch and I will be -sending for our wives. What think you of it?" - -A few days later I received her reply on which I made the following -comments:-- - -"You never wrote a more noble letter. I have read it over and over -again. You could have written in a way which might have been more -likely to have brought you over to visit me, but you could not have in -a way more surely to make me love and admire you. I know how much you -love to be with me and how much I would enjoy your presence. I have -been thinking, ever since we came back to St. Louis [seven hours by -rail from Evansville], about the propriety of having you come over to -spend a few days or weeks with me, and had hardly decided what to do -about it. - -"While in many respects it would be pleasant, in others it would not -be. If you took up quarters with me, it would be in a very comfortable -room for a soldier, but not very comfortable or attractive for a -lady--no furniture except stools, plank tables, and bunks with straw -to sleep on, and soldiers' blankets and buffalo robes for covering. -And then it would be in a house filled with officers,--gentlemen, it -is true, but _not at all times_ pleasant companions for a lady. If -you went with me to a hotel, I would have to neglect my duties, which -neither you nor I would desire me to do. And even in my own quarters -I could not pay that attention to you which I would desire without -some, at least apparent, neglect of duty. There are quite a number -of officers' wives here, and I know that they do not in any degree -promote the efficiency of the service. When I decided it to be my duty -to go into the army I anticipated I would have to give up my dear home -comforts and enjoyment, and when you gave your consent to my going you -so regarded it, and though we may both lament the necessity, we should -not complain. I believe under the circumstances you will agree with me -that for the present it is best that you should not come over,--will -you not?" - -When we returned to Benton Barracks we found that gallant soldier -General W. T. Sherman in command. I had only a formal acquaintance with -him then, but years after we were near neighbors in Washington and -became intimate friends. When at the Barracks he was under a cloud of -ridicule, and was known throughout the country as "Crazy Sherman." This -appellative was given him because, a few weeks before, while in command -at Louisville, he had told Mr. Cameron, Secretary of War, he would -require two hundred thousand soldiers to rid the State of Kentucky of -rebel troops. The sequel proved that more than that number had to be -sent into that State before it was free of Confederate troops. Sherman -was at that period one of the few _sane_ men who realized so early -the magnitude of the task before us. His "Memoirs," published years -after the war, show that at the time he was much distressed at the -appellative. - -Our stay at Benton Barracks was prolonged for nearly six weeks, and was -the usual experience of such soldier life. In a letter of January 14, -1862, I write:-- - -"It is now between eleven and twelve o'clock at night, and I am writing -you while you are sleeping with our little darling near you,--if she -hasn't waked you up! You may wonder why I am writing you at this late -hour. Well, I'm 'officer of the day' for the Barracks, and a part -of my duty is to make 'the grand rounds' of the guards at least once -_after twelve o'clock at night_. Rather than get a half sleep and be -waked up, I prefer to sit up and write my wife till the time comes. - -"We were very agreeably surprised this morning to have _Captain_ -Willie [my brother] step in on us, as we were not looking for him. I -am very glad he came. We will try to make it a pleasant visit to him, -and he will be much company for us. As I am 'officer of the day,' I -took him around with me as my 'orderly'! When I visited the different -guard-houses and sentinel-posts, he was very much interested in seeing -the guards 'turn out' and the other military civilities. It has been -very cold to-day, but both the infantry and cavalry were out for the -afternoon drills of battalions and brigades. Willie stood out in the -cold wind to see the maneuvers as long as he could. - -"We have had a very pleasant evening at our quarters to-night. At dress -parade Colonel Morgan invited all the officers over to take supper with -us. They came, about thirty of them, about seven o'clock, and at eight -we had supper. We had oysters fried, oysters stewed, oysters raw, and -oyster patties, with their accompaniments, followed by meats, pickled -pig's-feet and salad, and topped off with pound cake and champagne -wine. You would hardly approve of the wine part, but we could scarcely -do less at a soldiers' supper. Very few would have stopped at that. -Then those who smoked devoted themselves to a plentiful supply of -cigars. - -"In our regimental brass band there is a fine string band. I wish you -could hear it, as I know with your love of music you would enjoy it -very much. It gave us music all the evening. The officers got up a -'stag dance' and enjoyed it greatly. Then we had some first-rate songs, -and wound up the evening by the officers presenting Dr. Walker [our -regimental surgeon], in an _appropriate_(!) _speech by the major_, a -beautiful medical staff sword, belt, gold tassel, and green silk sash, -in token of a most faithful discharge of his onerous duties." - -About this time I reply to a letter from my wife, regarding some -domestic matters, as follows:-- - -"I was somewhat affected and a little amused at the account you give of -your household and financial troubles. You must not let a little gas -bill of fourteen dollars worry your life out of you. It is possible it -was a little exorbitant, but none to hurt. I don't want you to worry -yourself about these business matters. Where there are any troubles you -will find your mother and father safe and willing advisers. I know that -you are careful and prudent in your family expenses. I never thought -you spent a cent unnecessarily. I don't want you to be thinking you are -spending too much money; I just want you to get all you want to eat or -wear. - -"When I left home I got you a good house to live in, and I want you to -live in it in proper style and comfort. If I was at home you know I -would have broiled quails, stewed rabbits, roast turkeys, venison, all -varieties of oysters, and all kinds of good things for the table, and -there is no reason why 'a lone, lorn' wife should starve just because -her husband has gone off to the war. If I was at home I would have two -or three gas burners going to your one, if I wanted the light; and -there is no reason why my wife should grope around in the dark for fear -of a gas bill at the end of the month. I know you are not extravagant -and therefore there is no danger of useless expenditure, and no -occasion for troubling yourself on that account. I have no fear but -that you will save all the money you can conveniently with your family -wants. I am drawing pretty good pay, and therefore can afford to keep -my family in good circumstances." - -Frequent reference in my letters is made to the way in which the -Sabbath is spent in camp. In one of my letters I express the hope that -"I will not lose or forget my Christian standing. I want to come home -as good a Christian at least as when I left, though the temptations to -evil and bad habits are very great." - -Here is a description of one while at Benton Barracks:-- - -"Another Sabbath day has nearly passed, but before I go to sleep I must -write you at least a short letter. To-day has been a quiet and rather -profitable Sabbath, at least more so than most of those which I spend -in camp. In the forenoon Willie and I went to the First Presbyterian -Church, expecting to hear Dr. Nelson, but after we were in and well -seated, who should I see going up into the pulpit with Dr. Nelson but -Mr. ----, the Home Missionary agent who preached at Evansville last -year, you will probably remember him. And he gave us the very same -sermon to-day that he did then _verbatim_. The text was the same--'The -Kingdom of Heaven is like unto leaven which a woman took and hid,' etc. -Having heard it before, I was not much interested in it, so that my -visit to the city through the mud was not a very pleasant or profitable -one. - -"But this afternoon I read the 'Evangelist' [the Presbyterian Church -paper] all through, reading almost every article, and it generally -interests me, occupying most of the afternoon. This evening I read -several chapters in the Bible, the 60th of Isaiah, 1st, 2d, and -3d of John, and my favorite chapters, the 14th, 15th, and 16th of -John, and others. I also read two of the little books you sent us in -the Soldier's Library. So you see the day has not been an entirely -profitless one, but how much more pleasantly I could have spent it at -home with my dear wife and child! But when I come back the Sabbaths -will be the more pleasant and sacred with you, and we shall have an -added pleasure in teaching our little darling holy hymns and holy -truths." - -I had occasion often in my letters to thank the folks at home for the -useful things and dainties they were frequently sending to camp. The -correspondence shows that I was not bashful in making our wants known, -as, for instance, this extract:-- - -"You have written me several times asking what I wanted. Well, really, -we don't want much of anything but our wives and families, as we are -living very comfortably; but if you want to send us a present you might -send us a box or two of eatables. Say you bake us one of your good -jelly cakes, and mother try her hand on one of her first-quality fruit -cakes, and Eliza and Cassie [my sister and sister-in-law] see what they -can do on a lady cake or something of that kind. And then, if you have -in any of the various Foster families any extra supply of fruits, or -preserves, or jellies, or tomatoes, or such like, you might send them -by way of ballast." - -In one of my last letters from Benton Barracks I gave this account of -the Sunday inspection:-- - -"This forenoon I was busy at the Barracks. Every Sunday morning when -it is pleasant weather we have a general inspection. The troops turn -out in the best clothes they have, with shoes cleaned and blacked, -knapsacks packed and on their backs, guns brightened up, and looking -as well as they can. They are inspected by companies. Then the -sleeping-quarters, dining-room, and kitchen are visited to see that -they are kept in good order, etc. This inspection is sometimes made by -the general. When not made by him, it is made by the field officers. -Colonel Veatch and I made the inspection this morning, and it kept us -busy till near noon." - -Our marching orders came finally as recorded in my last letter written -from St. Louis at the Barracks:-- - -"We have been anticipating marching orders for several days, but have -at last received them. Orders came out from General Halleck this -evening that 'The Twenty-fifth Indiana would prepare to march to -Cairo.' The exact date of our departure is not definitely known, but it -may be early to-morrow. It is quite cold, but we can stand it as well -as any of this army. We are very willing to leave the Barracks and -get into the field, and especially as we are going down the river and -most likely will be sent to Paducah or Smithland. Barracks life doesn't -agree with me near so well as active work." - - - - -III -THE BATTLE OF FORT DONELSON - - -Greatly to our relief the Twenty-fifth Indiana was surely out of -Missouri, with the prospect of active campaigning in Kentucky or -Tennessee. Although we had orders to take a steamer for Cairo on January -30, we did not get away from St. Louis till February 2. On the steamer -I wrote my wife in a tone which indicated that I was taking a more -serious view of our future than I had in Missouri:-- - -"It may be that when we get to Cairo we shall find orders sending us -up to Smithland, but wherever we go you will have abundant rumors -of army movements and great battles fought. I trust you will not be -unnecessarily alarmed or solicitous. I will write you as often as I -can, keeping you as well posted as possible, but I expect I shall only -be able to write you at considerable intervals.... We will both pray -our Heavenly Father to be my guard and protector, and return me safely -to my home and dear family again. Let us have faith, and hope for the -best." - -On the 6th of February I write again from Cairo: "We are quartered -here in the barracks, in the muddiest place imaginable. No one who has -not been in Cairo knows what mud is. How long we shall remain here is -altogether uncertain." - -My next letter was written the 9th on a steamer going up the Tennessee -River:-- - -"We seem fated to make or commence all our marches on the Sabbath. How -often do I long for the enjoyment of one of our home Sabbaths. We were -ordered to go aboard the steamboat at nine o'clock Saturday morning, so -we had the men up before day to cook two days' rations and were packed -up all ready to leave. But we did not go until noon to-day and we -should be at Fort Henry to-morrow forenoon. We have six hundred barrels -of powder on board, which makes traveling a little dangerous, but shall -be at Paducah in an hour or two, where it will be unloaded. Our orders -are to 'join General Grant,' so I suppose we will be with the army as -it goes forward into Tennessee and South to victory. - -"I am just in the locality I have been wanting to be all during the -war, and I have only to do my duty like a soldier and a man. You must -not be unduly solicitous about my welfare, or pay much attention to -the rumors by telegraph, as they are at first always uncertain and -generally erroneous. If our regiment is in an engagement, I will see -that a carrier is sent to the first place to get the news home. So that -if you do not hear you can be satisfied that _all is right_. You will -remember me in your thoughts and prayers always, and have faith that -all will be well." - -This was the last letter I was able to write home until after the -battle of Fort Donelson. On the 10th our regiment reached Fort Henry on -the Tennessee River which had been captured by General Grant only four -days before our arrival. On the 12th we marched over to the vicinity of -Fort Donelson with the rest of General Grant's army, eleven miles from -Fort Henry, and situated on the west side of the Cumberland River. We -were a part of the division commanded by General Charles F. Smith, and -which occupied the extreme left of General Grant's army. That army, -when it went into camp on the evening of February 12, covered the -entire front of the Confederate forces. From our encampment the rebel -line of rifle-pits and fortifications could be seen, we occupying one -series of ridges and the enemy those confronting ours. - -The fighting began on the morning of the 13th, our picket lines being -pressed toward the enemy's front, mainly to develop their position. -In view of the eagerness of my own account in my letters, I quote the -part of the official report of Colonel Veatch, which relates to the -operations of the Twenty-fifth Indiana on the 13th:-- - -"At 10 o'clock A.M. we moved forward in line of battle to the top -of the hill which was between us and the enemy's breastworks. Here -I received orders to fix bayonets and charge the rebels, and, if -possible, drive them from their works. The timber was so thick that we -could only see here and there a part of the rebel works, but could form -no idea of their range or extent.... At the foot of the hill the enemy -poured on us a terrible fire of musketry, grape and canister, and a -few shells. The rebel breastworks were now in plain view on the top of -the hill. The heavy timber on the hillside had been felled, proving a -dense mass of brush and logs. Through and over these obstacles our men -advanced against the enemy's fire with perfect coolness and steadiness, -never halting for a moment until they received your order. After a -halt of a few minutes they then advanced within a short distance of the -enemy's breastworks where the fire from a six-pound field-piece and -twelve-pound howitzer on our right was so destructive that it became -necessary to halt and direct the men to lie down to save us from very -heavy loss. - -"After remaining under a very heavy fire for two hours and fifteen -minutes, with no opportunity to return the fire to advantage, the enemy -being almost entirely hid, and seeing no movement indicating a further -advance from any part of the line, I asked permission to withdraw -my regiment. In retiring, owing to the nature of the ground and our -exposed position, the men were thrown into slight confusion, but they -rallied promptly at the foot of the hill, and remained in that position -until night, when we moved back, as directed, to the ground we occupied -in the morning. We lost in this action fourteen killed and sixty-one -wounded." - -On the 14th the battle was continued almost entirely by our naval -forces, the army taking no part except the pickets and sharp-shooters. -It was General Grant's hope that the gunboats would be able to silence -the Confederate water batteries and pass up the Cumberland, and thus -cut off reinforcements to the enemy, but in this they failed and were -forced to retire. - -In view of this situation it was the intention of Grant to establish -a siege of the fortifications and await reinforcements. But on the -morning of the 15th our right wing under General McClernand was -attacked in force, the enemy coming out of their intrenchments -with the apparent intention of cutting their way through our line -and abandoning the fort. McClernand being hard-pressed, General Lew -Wallace's division went to his assistance, and the battle raged in that -direction with great intensity all the forenoon. We lay upon our arms -in line of battle, ready and impatient to take part in the contest, -listening to the roar of battle in the distance. General Smith, our -division commander, about three o'clock in the afternoon received -orders to advance upon the enemy in our front, and immediately our -attacking force was formed by Lauman's brigade, in column of regiments, -consisting of the Twenty-fifth Indiana, and three Iowa regiments, -General Smith himself leading the attack. - -It was a martial sight, this column of regiments advancing down into -the ravine and ascending the hill on which were located the enemy's -fortifications, struggling through the abatis of fallen timber, with -the bullets whistling thick among our ranks. But it was an event of -only a few minutes; our column, never halting, was soon in front of -the intrenchments, when the enemy broke and fled, and the day was -won. Colonel Veatch says in his report that the skirmishers of the -Twenty-fifth Indiana were among the first, if not the very first, to -enter the fortifications. - -General Grant, in his account of this charge, says: "The outer line -of rifle-pits was passed, and the night of the 15th General Smith, -with much of his division, bivouacked within the line of the enemy. -_There was now no doubt but that the Confederates must surrender or -be captured the next day._" It was an inspiring sight for us, as we -ascended the hill, the general on his white horse, hat in hand, waving -us forward into the enemy's lines. He was the hero of the battle. On -the 19th General Halleck telegraphed to Washington: "Smith, by his -coolness and bravery at Fort Donelson, when the battle was against us, -turned the tide and carried the enemy's outworks." General Sherman, -in his "Memoirs," has this to say of the capture of Fort Donelson: -"He [General Charles F. Smith] was a very handsome and soldierly man, -of great experience, and at Donelson had acted with so much personal -bravery that to him may be attributed the success of the assault." - -Although this charge of our brigade, the last fighting of the battle, -was the decisive event which brought about the surrender, it was -attended with little bloodshed. The charge was so rapid and the enemy's -fire so unsteady, that we entered the intrenchments with little loss of -life. More men were killed and wounded in the fight of the Twenty-fifth -on the first day of the battle, as described in Colonel Veatch's -report, than by the entire brigade in this charge so decisive in its -result. - -At dawn on the morning of the 16th white flags were seen along the -whole of the enemy's lines, and the notes of a bugle were heard by us -advancing to the outworks where our brigade had bivouacked during the -night. It announced an officer, who delivered to General Smith a letter -to General Grant from the rebel commander, General Buckner, asking upon -what terms he would receive a surrender. General Grant's famous reply -was: "No terms except an unconditional surrender can be accepted. I -propose to move immediately on your works." The forces engaged as given -by General Grant were twenty-one thousand Confederates and twenty-seven -thousand Federals. - -The only extant account of the battle I sent home was written to my -wife on the day after the surrender, dated the 17th:-- - -"I can write to you to-day with great thankfulness to our Heavenly -Father for the privilege of again addressing my dear wife, and sending -my congratulations to my home. You will have learned before this -reaches you that Fort Donelson has surrendered. I am happy to write -that the Twenty-fifth Indiana bore a worthy part in the conflict and -triumph. We made two charges on the rifle-pits and fortifications, -on the 13th and on the 15th. Yesterday, after the surrender, the -Twenty-fifth Indiana was the second regiment to enter the fort. We are -now occupying huts in the fort lately occupied by the Second (rebel) -Kentucky. This was the regiment which fought us so desperately in the -rifle-pits on the 13th. - -"Our charge on the 13th was desperate, over the steep and rugged hills, -covered with felled timber and under a most terrific fire. The fire of -musketry was thick as hail. The cannon raked us on both flanks and in -front, and the storm of shot, shell, grape, and canister was awful. You -can say to our friends that the Twenty-fifth has been tried in most -perilous positions and has acted like veterans. In the thickest of -the fight the officers and most of the men seemed to lose all sense of -personal danger. - -"We have a host of prisoners and a large amount of stores. I am very -tired and sore from our four days' labor. Four nights we slept on the -wet or frozen ground, without tents or fires, and both day and night -under arms. When I get a little sleep and rest I will write you fully. -In our regiment the total of killed is 14; wounded, 99." - -General Grant's account of the weather, alluded to in this letter, -was: "It was midwinter, and we had rain and snow, thawing and freezing -alternately. It would not do to allow camp-fires except far down the -hill out of sight of the enemy, and it would not do to allow many -of the troops to remain there at the same time. The weather turned -intensely cold on the evening of the 14th." - -Immediately after the battle a representative of the "Evansville -Journal" was sent to Fort Donelson to make a report of the battle and -the situation. I extract the following:-- - -A detailed account of the battle will not be attempted, as you have -already published an excellent one. I will speak more particularly of -our Twenty-fifth, and of the incidents of the battle and the appearance -of the field as seen by us. - -The Twenty-fifth covered themselves all over with glory. Everybody -we talked to gave them credit for the utmost bravery. Exposed to a -terrible cross-fire of artillery and musketry, having to charge through -the difficulties I have described right up in the teeth of the rebel -batteries and into their murderous volleys, they passed through the -fiery ordeal like veterans. On their end of the line the rebels first -proposed to surrender, and to them belongs a large part of the glory of -the victory. This honor is conceded to them. - -It is hard, and would be invidious, to mention particular cases of -gallantry in the Twenty-fifth, where all did their duty so well.... The -field officers all did their duty nobly. For coolness and determination -Major Foster is the theme of general praise.... Quartermaster Foster -and Chaplain Huring made themselves very useful, and showed great -courage in attending to the dead and wounded on the field. - -I have thus given an account of the battle from participants and others -who had seen the field. But there is always another view of every -battle--that to be seen in the faraway homes of the wives and mothers -of the combatants. As representing the thousands who waited at home -through the days of dread anxiety to know the fate of their loved ones, -I give a letter from my wife dated February 20:-- - -"After four days of painful suspense and anxious waiting, when the -news came last night that you were safe, you may be sure there was -one thankful, grateful heart. Such dreary days and sleepless nights I -hope I may never pass again. The first news of the battle reached here -Saturday noon, and not one word did we hear of you till last night. -Such a relief I never before experienced in my life, to know that you -were safe and well. - -"All the accounts say you acted bravely and nobly, and we are all as -proud of you as we can be. Oh, if I could only see you once more, my -own dear husband! No one knows how thankful I am that you were spared, -while exposed to terrible dangers. I began to feel on Tuesday that you -must be safe, or we should have some report of it. I remembered that -you said if I didn't hear, I might know all was right, but I could -not rest until Willie Gwyn dispatched that all was right. I have heard -to-day that on Monday it was reported and believed at first that you -had been mortally wounded, and next that you were killed, but kind -friends did not let those reports reach me. - -"A party went down to the fort from here on Tuesday. I then had heard -nothing from you, and I thought I would hear sooner by staying at home. -Then father was away, and I didn't know what to do. Another boat goes -to-day. If we thought there was any prospect at all of seeing you, -father and I would go, but every one regards it as so uncertain about -your still being there that I guess we won't go. It would only be an -aggravation to go and not see you. I hope it will not be long before -I have something from your own dear self. Mr. Schoenfield [regimental -sutler] was very kind. He dispatched and wrote father that you and Alex -were safe and did bravely. The dispatch came last night (Wednesday) and -the letter by packet this morning. He said you wrote a few lines and he -sent it, but fearing it did not reach us, he wrote himself. We have not -received anything from you at all, and are very thankful to him indeed. -Such kindness, I assure you, we appreciate. - -"The news of the surrender reached here Monday, causing intense -excitement and wild joy; but I could not rejoice till I heard from my -dear one. And, oh, the dead and wounded, how much suffering and grief -has been brought to many, many hearts! When we think of the suffering -it takes away most of the rejoicing. - -"I am proud of you, my dear John. I always knew you would do your duty -nobly, and I thank God your life has been spared. Father and your -mother came back from Cincinnati on Tuesday. I was glad to see father, -for he is so kind to me. Write soon." - -Reference is made in this letter to the steamboats making trips to -Fort Donelson after the battle. The cities and States of the Middle -West vied with each other in dispatching steamers, carrying hospital -supplies and in bringing home the wounded and sick. Governor Morton -of Indiana was a visitor, and immediately after the writing of the -foregoing letter my father brought on one of these boats my wife, my -little daughter, and brother Willie. Their stay was only for one day, -but it brought to us all much joy and consolation. - -On our first day's fighting I had found one of the lieutenants -skulking, having left the ranks, and he was hiding flat down under the -bank of a little stream. I punched him out with my sword and made him -join his company, much to the delight of the men who saw the act. The -story went home in a very exaggerated shape, and I was credited with -using to the lieutenant some very severe and profane language. Willie, -who had heard the story and who entertained a high admiration for me, -was greatly grieved and shocked. As soon as the boat landed at the -fort, Willie rushed up to me, and throwing his arms about me, said: -"Brother John, you did not curse and swear at the soldier, did you?" - -The capture of Fort Donelson was the first important and complete -victory which had been won by the Union armies since the war began, -and it was hailed with great joy throughout the North as the harbinger -of further victories. General Sherman, ten years after the event, -characterized it as "the first real success on our side in the Civil -War. Probably at no time during the war did we feel so heavy a weight -raised from our hearts, or so thankful for a most fruitful series of -victories." - -In a letter of February 23, I acknowledged the receipt of my wife's -letter above quoted, in these terms:-- - -"George [my eldest brother] brought me yesterday the letters by you -and father on the 20th, and they were such good ones I could not help -the tears coming to my eyes. When I read your letters I began fully -to realize how great was my deliverance. During all the war I most -probably never will be in so hot a fire and in so much danger as that -through which I passed during the late battles. Truly we have great -reason to thank God for his kind protection over me. Do you remember -the Psalm Mr. McCarer [our pastor] read the last night at our house, -before I left with the regiment, the ninety-first? I got out my Bible -and read it to-day again. I have read it many times since then. - -"I am proud of you, my dear Parke, for the manner in which you have -acted ever since I have been in the army, but especially during and -since the attack on the fort. You have learned by the experience of -the late battles to put little reliance in the first reports of an -engagement; they are always exaggerated. - -"I was very glad to have a visit from George. I sent home some -_play-things_ for Alice by him. The rebels had fixed them up to shoot -her papa with them. She can make better use of them, some canister and -six-pounder shots. I sent you a letter right after the fight, and sent -father one after the first day's fight. But the mails are so irregular -it may be you did not get them. I would have sent a dispatch, but there -was no telegraph nearer than Cairo. - -"We were greatly exposed during the four nights of the siege, and the -officers had the same exposure as the men, at least all those who stood -by their posts, sleeping on the ground with no tents and no fires, two -nights both rain and snow, the others severely cold. By the time we -got into the fort I was nearly tired out, and during all this week I -have been resting. The exposure did not affect me much, except that it -increased a cold already contracted. But I am 'all right' again and -ready to go into active service. How long we shall remain here I do not -know. It may be for some time, it may be only to-day." - -Under date of the 24th I wrote:-- - -"We are still in the fort, living in the rebel huts. I am getting very -tired of our inactive life of the past week, and the worst of it is -I'm afraid we will be left here for some time to come, as we see no -evidence of preparing for our advance. We would like very much to be -sent forward. I suppose you have no special desire to have me get into -another fight soon, but from present appearances there is not much -probability of more fighting in Tennessee. - -"This is a very poor country around the fort, and had already been -eaten out by the rebel troops before ours came. There is nothing in the -eating line we can buy for our mess, and we have had poorer fare here -than at any time since we have been in the service. I begin to feel -like I could relish a good dinner at home!" - -The following, dated March 1, is a reference to the visit to the fort -of my wife and father already noticed:-- - -"Only day before yesterday my dear wife and darling babe were with -me here. I need not tell you how pleasant was your visit to me, made -doubly so under the circumstances here, and then that I missed you so -sadly after you were gone. But we cannot have pleasures _unalloyed_. I -was glad you made the trip, aside from the pleasure of seeing you, as -the excursion was a pleasant change for you and Alice. - -"I wonder if you will remember to-morrow that it is my birthday, -twenty-six years old. Quite an old man!" - -Under date of March 4 record is made of the expected order:-- - -"We received marching orders yesterday. We are to go from here to -Fort Henry, there to take steamers on the Tennessee River, whether up -or down the river we do not know, but our supposition is that we are -destined for the direction of Florence, Alabama. It may be a movement -on Memphis by the flank. We are all pleased with the prospect of -getting still farther South. - -"Our greatest want now in the way of marching is wagons for -transportation, and that is likely to be the want during all the -marches. I, with quite a number of officers, have concluded to send our -trunks home. We field officers are limited by General Grant's orders -to one hundred pounds of baggage, to include clothing, bedclothes, -mess-chest, and everything personal. And as I think as much of a warm -bed and good rations as I do of good clothes, I have put a change of -underclothes into my saddle valise, and with my carpet-sack can get -along. Then Colonel Morgan and I have gone in partnership in an old -trunk, for our dress uniforms, shirts, etc. I send my shabrack [saddle -cover] in the bottom of the trunk. Have it taken out, well brushed, -and hung up in the attic. It is rather too gay to wear out here in the -woods. It will do for musters and parades at home!" - - - - -IV -THE BATTLE OF SHILOH - - -We were much pleased to turn our backs upon Fort Donelson, as the -movement gave promise of an advance still farther into the South. In my -letter dated Fort Henry, March 7, I write:-- - -"We left Donelson on the 5th. The roads were terribly muddy, and it -took us two days to get here, about twelve miles. Besides, the weather -was quite cold and snowing, being one of the most blustery days of -March, making the march a most uncomfortable one. But we arrived here -in pretty good season yesterday evening, and were fortunate to get into -the same cabins we occupied when here before. - -"The troops here are all embarking on steamboats, and it is understood -that we are to go up the Tennessee River, how far we don't know, -but hope through to Florence, Alabama. It is said (_it is said_, -_reported_, _understood_, _they say_, are unofficial terms, you must -understand) that none of the boats will leave till all the regiments -are embarked, and that the whole fleet will move together. The river is -very high, and on account of backwater we can't get nearer than four -hundred yards of the boats. - -"The Twenty-fourth Indiana went up the river this morning to find a -convenient place to embark. We may have to go up there also to get -aboard. Just as we were marching through the cold and snow last night -I met Uncle Tom going down to the boat on his way home. He told me he -had resigned, had caught a severe cold and had a bad cough. I think he -has taken the best course, as his health can hardly stand the exposure." - -I refer here to my mother's youngest brother, Captain Thomas Johnson, -whose case was that of many other officers in our army. He had been -suffering for some years with tuberculosis, and would not have been -able to pass the physical examination to which the soldiers in the -ranks were subjected, but the examination of the officers was less -strict. He was not fitted for the service and ought not to have entered -it, but his zeal to serve his country in the time of its sore trial -was so great that he could not be persuaded to stay at home. As we -expected, he broke down within a year of his enlistment. We shall -see that he was not content to remain inactive at home after he was -relieved of his attack of cold, and in less than six months he obtained -an appointment in one of the new regiments, only to be again sent home -before another year of campaigning was over. - -As anticipated, the regiment was the next day ordered to go six -miles up the river to get a convenient place of embarkation. The day -following was spent in camp:-- - -"As I listened to our chaplain in his Sunday service to-day, how I -wished I could have enjoyed our own church service at home with my -wife. As I walked out through the woods this pleasant spring evening -with Colonel Morgan, I could not help thinking of the times we enjoyed -together in our many evening walks. I have been reading to-day the -life of General Havelock, that noble Christian soldier. I was very much -interested in the affectionate and touching letters he wrote his wife -and children; they made me think of my absent ones.... - -"Adjutant ---- has resigned, and as he wants to go home immediately, -before his resignation can go to St. Louis, be accepted, and returned, -he has applied for a leave of absence. If he gets it, I will send this -letter by him. He puts his resignation on the ground of _ill-health_, -but the young man is mistaken. A look at his fat jaws and healthy -appearance will tell a different tale. He is in as good health as I am. -The trouble with him is homesickness from _love_. We are out of the -range of regular mails, and he can't get letters from his lady-love -often. He can't endure the situation. We tried to talk him out of it, -but he insists. He has at the best taken a bad time to resign, just on -the eve of an important expedition against the enemy. I told him last -night that no one wanted to be at home more than I did, and that if I -could get out of the service honorably in view of my duty, I would do -so, but this I could not do. He can draw his own inference. I think the -young man is making a mistake personally. Here he is drawing a good -salary, and at home he can do nothing, even if he wasn't too lazy." - -The next letter was written on board a steamboat lying at the town of -Savannah, Tennessee, dated the 12th:-- - -"Here we are away down on the southern border of Tennessee, only a few -miles from Alabama and Mississippi, 'away down in Dixie.' We went on -board the steamboats day before yesterday, the 10th, four companies -on the _Uncle Sam_, and six companies on the _Conewaga_, the latter -under my command. We have had a very pleasant trip up the river, -being comfortably situated on the boat, and plenty of good eating. -The Tennessee is quite a pretty river, but not very thickly settled -immediately on its banks. At the farmhouses the people were collected -in little groups, with waving handkerchiefs by the women, and frequent -cheers for the Union. It was a new sight to the inhabitants, such an -immense fleet of boats, black with troops, and bristling with cannon -and munitions of war. The boats are all lying up here, most of them -having arrived this morning, the river full of them on both sides. -It is stated by officers who ought to know that we now have seventy -steamers in the fleet, and that ten more are on the way.... - -"Remember me to Mr. McCarer and family. Tell him I am afraid we are -persecuting our old-school, southside Presbyterian brethren, as they -have called their General Assembly to meet in Memphis in May. I fear we -shall get in the way of some of them, and scare them away. - -"There is a set of chessmen on the boat, and I have had several -pleasant games, the first for a long time. How I would like to take a -game with my dear wife, as of old. - -"Large numbers of Union men are coming in both to enlist and for refuge -and protection. Some of them came more than a hundred miles and had to -travel at night, fleeing from the persecutions and cruelties of the -rebels." - -Writing on the 16th, I report:-- - -"We are still lying at Savannah. More steamers with troops have -arrived, so that now we have about ninety boats, and I estimate about -sixty thousand soldiers. We are getting tired of staying on the boat, -but it has been raining most of the time, and therefore our quarters -are better than they would be ashore. The river has again risen and -flooded over the banks." - -Two days later I write:-- - -"We are still lying along the shore on the boats 'awaiting orders' -rather impatiently too, the eighth day aboard. Yesterday we left -Savannah and came a few miles up to a farm where we found a good -landing. We turned our men out on the shore to enjoy the exercise -and fresh air (it was a most beautiful day), while we had the boat -thoroughly cleaned. The men had been kept cooped up on the boats for so -long they enjoyed the day very much. - -"We have a rumor of the taking of New Orleans by our forces from the -Gulf, but can hardly credit it. It will be glorious news, if true, and -a rapid step toward the end of the rebellion.... - -"I have no news; mostly write to let you know I am in the best of -health and in safety." - -At last my letter, dated in camp at Pittsburg Landing, gives account of -our having left the boats:-- - -"We are now in camp about a mile from the river in a pleasant forest. -How long we are to remain here we do not know, but as to-morrow is -Sunday we may get our marching orders then! We are ordered to keep in -readiness to march at one hour's notice. We are also ordered to take -with us in each company wagon seven days' rations of provisions and -five days' rations of grain for horses, besides three days' rations in -each man's haversack, making ten days' rations. As the roads are now, -we won't be able to travel very fast. - -"Our force has been increasing every day by the arrival of new -regiments. How large our army is I do not know, but the woods are -perfectly alive with men. Regiments of tents are in every direction -and extending for miles around. We have no doubt of our successful -progress, whether it is to march upon Memphis or farther down South -into the heart of 'Dixie.' You need have no fear for my personal -safety, or for the success of our army. We are only hoping we shall be -sent by rapid marches against Memphis, and when we get there you can -come down and pay me another visit, if I cannot get off home for a few -days." - -March 24 I wrote:-- - -"I have not heard from you for two weeks, but to-day I have three -letters from you and one from Father, and I can assure you your good, -dear letters are most acceptable. I think of you and our dear little -one so much and long for the time speedily to come when I can be with -you again. I trust and believe that God is so ordering events that the -time is not far removed. In the meantime we will hope and pray and be -patient. - -"You need not be the least troubled about me. I am in perfect health, -and General Buell with more than one hundred thousand men is making a -junction with us; so that our combined army of two hundred thousand has -only to _move_ to sweep every vestige of opposition out of the way, I -don't think the enemy will make a stand before us at all." - -The foregoing illustrates how little the subordinate officers know -of an army's strength or its future. It is a common error to make -exaggerated estimates of an army. The figures given above place the -numbers of the joint armies of Grant and Buell at more than double -their actual strength. And so far from sweeping the enemy before them, -within two weeks from the writing of this letter Grant's gallant army -was attacked in its own camp, and barely escaped being swept into the -Tennessee River. - -I wrote on the 27th: "I have been detailed by General Hurlbut as judge -advocate of a general court-martial, and am kept very busy with its -duties. That's what I get for being a lawyer." - -A letter on March 31 has the following:-- - -"We had yesterday our monthly regimental inspection and in the -afternoon we had a grand review of the division by General Hurlbut. -In both these exercises it became necessary for me to command the -regiment. The division review was very fine, the finest we have seen -since we have been in the service. There were twelve regiments, with -artillery and cavalry. Our regiment was highly commended by the general. - -"It has been a week since I have had a letter from you. Probably you -sent a letter by Schoenfield [the sutler], but if you did it has -not come, neither has Schoenfield. He started up the Tennessee River -with his stores, among which was some whiskey. The troops on the boat -discovered the whiskey, broke it open, and got into a general drunk. -The consequence was he was sent back to Paducah with all his stores. -That's what you get for having your letter in company with whiskey! -It reminds me that if you have a chance I would be very glad if you -would send me a pint bottle of the best quality of pure brandy. The -worst I have to fear in the army is diarrhoea, on account of bad -water, especially in the warm weather. St. Paul was sensible when he -recommended 'a little wine for the stomach's sake.' My little wife -won't fear I am going to be a drunkard." - -Some of the minor trials of a soldier's life are recorded in my letter -of the 3d:-- - -"I have not told you that when we left the boats here, old Bill, our -negro cook, left us. I caught him selling whiskey to the soldiers -contrary to orders, and confiscated his whiskey, with a sharp lecture -which he took so seriously as to quit us without notice. Surgeon Walker -has loaned us his boy Frank, and he has been doing the cooking _under -my superintendence_, and we haven't been living so bad either. Frank -and I get up some first-rate meals. I do the plain cooking, such as -frying potatoes and meat, making hash, cooking rice, beans, hominy, -etc., while Frank makes the pies, biscuits, etc. We are not in danger -of starving while Frank and I have charge of matters! We used up the -last can of fruits to-night for supper of the fine lot you and mother -sent us. I can assure you we relished them greatly; they come in very -good place out here in the woods where our mess can't buy anything, -and have to depend on the commissary supplies for all our eatables. -Schoenfield is coming back to the regiment again, but you home-folks -must not rob yourselves of fruits, preserves, apple-butter, catsup, -etc., on our account!" - -On April 2 I write:-- - -"I see by the newspapers that the great Waterloo is to take place up -here in the vicinity of Corinth. Well, it hasn't taken place yet, and -you can rest yourself in the assurance that it will hardly take place -for some time to come. We are resting quietly in camp, except that we -have our daily drills and parades and an occasional review. To-day -Major-General Grant reviewed our entire division; the troops looked -very well." - -In a letter dated the next day, the 3d, I write:-- - -"The weather is very pleasant now. The trees are coming out in full -bloom. I took a long ride out into the country to-day; went as far as -it was safe to go this side of the rebels. The woods are full of wild -flowers; I got quite a bouquet which I would love to have presented to -my wife, but she was not here to get it; maybe I may enclose you some -of the violets I have among them." - -And yet notwithstanding the quietness and confidence prevailing in the -army encamped at Pittsburg Landing, as indicated in these extracts -from my letters, on the 2d of April the entire Confederate army under -General A. S. Johnston had marched from Corinth, and on the 3d, the -day I took my "long ride into the country," it was within striking -distance of our camp, designing to make its united attack on Grant's -army on the 5th. Being unexpectedly delayed one day, the rebel -onslaught broke upon our lines at day-break on Sunday the 6th. Of the -terrible two-days battle which ensued, I was able the night of the -second day to write to my father a pretty full account:-- - -"_Pittsburg Landing, Tenn._, -"_April 7, 1862_. - -"DEAR FATHER:-- - -"Tired, worn out, almost exhausted, I have just brought the remnant -of the noble Twenty-fifth Indiana back into our old camp from the -front of the hardest-fought, most strongly contested, and bloodiest -battlefield upon the American continent. But I cannot lie down without -first preparing a short account of it, to assure you of my own personal -safety, the gallant conduct of our regiment, and the glorious triumph -of our arms. A terrible conflict of two full days of continuous -fighting has this evening left us in possession of the field which was -at one time almost lost. - -"Yesterday (Sunday) morning, about 6.30 o'clock, just after we had -finished breakfast, we were attracted by a continuous roar of musketry, -with occasional discharges of artillery on our extreme left, near the -river. In a few minutes we were in line of battle, and moving forward -to the attack. We had hardly left the camp before we saw the roads -full of our flying men, and all along the route for the two miles we -passed over were strewn guns, knapsacks, and blankets, and we found, -to our dismay, that our front had been completely surprised, one whole -division scattered and retreating in utter confusion, and the enemy in -force already a mile within our camps. - -"We were drawn up in line of battle, our brigade, under command of -Colonel Veatch, in a skirt of timber bordering a large field, on the -outer edge of which our troops were engaging the enemy. But the enemy -pressed on in overwhelming force, and just as the troops in front of -us began to waver, we discovered that the enemy had flanked us on the -right and was rapidly advancing (in what force we knew not, but the -woods were perfectly swarming), to attack our brigade on the right and -rear. So it became necessary for us to change our front to the rear to -meet them. - -"The Fifteenth Illinois was on the right, the Fourteenth Illinois -in the center, and the Twenty-fifth Indiana on the left, the other -regiment, the Forty-sixth Illinois, by the rapid flanking of the enemy -becoming detached from the brigade, was not with us again during -the whole action. This brought the first fire upon the Fifteenth -Illinois, which stood it nobly, but was soon overpowered; likewise, -the Fourteenth. In the meantime the troops in front and on the left -were completely routed by the enemy and came pell-mell right through -our lines, causing some little confusion, and hardly had they passed -through to the rear before the enemy were upon us, and here the fire of -musketry was most terrible. - -"Our men tried to stand up to it, but everything was breaking to -pieces all around us, and it was more than we could do, short of -annihilation. We poured in a few well-directed volleys, and reluctantly -left the field--many of our men firing as they fell back. The loss here -was very heavy. All the field officers of the Twenty-fifth Illinois -were killed instantly, and many commissioned officers; two of our -lieutenants were killed and three wounded, and one of our captains is -either killed or a prisoner. We will make thorough search for him on -the field in the morning. - -"We left dead on this field fifteen men killed almost instantly -on the first fire, and a large number wounded. At the first fire -Lieutenant-Colonel Morgan was wounded in the leg (not seriously), -and was immediately carried off the field. From this time I led the -regiment in person. I did all I could to make the men contest the -ground firmly as they fell back, and on the first favorable ground, -about one hundred yards from the first line of battle, I planted the -colors and mounted a fallen tree, and, waving my hat with all my might, -I cheered and called upon the men to rally on the flag--never to desert -their colors. - -"All of the left wing responded to my call most nobly, and rallied with -considerable alacrity under a most galling and dangerous fire. I did -not see Colonel Morgan fall, and supposed he had charge of the right -wing; but the various captains collected a large number of their men, -and as soon as I got under cover of the regiments on the left and rear, -they brought their men up and joined me, and I thus had still quite -a battalion, notwithstanding the killed and number wounded, and the -straying or lost ones. The men who came to me at this time had been -'tried in the furnace,' and were true men, and during all the trying -scenes of the rest of the day and of to-day, they never faltered in -obeying my commands, and did most bravely. - -"As soon as our brigade was collected, Colonel Veatch moved us over to -the right to support General McClernand's division, which was being -very hard pressed by the enemy, said to be commanded by Beauregard. The -left, so our prisoners report, was commanded by Bragg, and the center -by Johnston. They also report that the column that attacked our brigade -in the morning, of which I have just spoken, numbers twelve thousand, -under Bragg, and that the whole force was near one hundred thousand; -but we do not know, only that it was very large, sufficiently so to -attack the entire line of our extensive camp in heavy force. - -"In the afternoon our pickets reported the enemy advancing against us, -on the left of General McClernand. As soon as we had drawn them well -up by our picket skirmish under Captain Rheinlander, the Fourteenth -Illinois flanked them, and was just beginning to pour upon them a heavy -fire, while we were moving up to the assistance of the Fourteenth in -fine style, when the whole mass of our left, which had, for five or -six hours, been steadily and stubbornly contesting the victorious -advance of the enemy in that direction, gave way in all directions, -about half-past three, and came sweeping by us in utter and total -confusion--cavalry, ambulances, artillery, and thousands of infantry, -all in one mass, while the enemy were following closely in pursuit, at -the same time throwing grape, canister, and shells thick and fast among -them. - -"It was a time of great excitement and dismay--it appeared that all was -lost; but I was unwilling to throw our regiment into the flying mass, -only to be trampled to pieces and thoroughly disorganized and broken. -So I held them back in the wash on the side of the road until the mass -of the rout had passed, when I put my men in the rear of the retreat, -and by this means fell into a heavy cross-fire of the enemy, but I -preferred that to being crushed to pieces by our own army. Here we lost -a number of our men killed, and many wounded. - -"Among those who fell, wounded badly in the leg, was Sergeant-Major -William Jones, who had stood right by me fearlessly through the whole -day. This rout decided that day's work. We were driven back nearly to -the river landing, but the enemy kept pressing us in all the time, -and, if, at this time, they had made a bold and united charge all -along their line, we would have been totally and utterly routed; but -a half-hour's apparent cessation of heavy firing gave our scattered -forces time to rally, while the first two regiments of Buell's -long-expected advance took position on the hill in the rear, and our -forces fell back and formed with them near the landing for a final -stand. - -"About five o'clock in the evening the enemy made a heavy charge and -attempted to carry this position. The contest was most terrible--the -roar of musketry was one continuous peal for near half an hour. All -that saved us was two heavy siege-pieces on the hill and the firmness -of our men on this last stand. Night closed in on us, with almost -the whole of our extensive camps in the hands of the enemy. It was a -gloomy night for us all, and to add to our discomforts we had a heavy -rain with no shelter. But we had saved enough ground to make a stand -upon, and during the night twenty thousand fresh troops from Buell's -army were transported across the river, and Lew Wallace moved up his -division from below on our right. - -"This morning at dawn of day began one of the grandest and most -terrific battles ever fought. Buell moved forward on the left and -center, and Wallace on the right, with their fresh troops, while -Grant's army steadily followed them up and held the ground firmly as -it was gained. From early in the morning until three o'clock in the -afternoon the roar of musketry and artillery was one almost continuous -thunder. It was grand beyond description. I have not time to tell you -of it in this letter, and you will have it fully described in the -newspapers. - -"The enemy fought with great desperation and steadiness, but Wallace -continued to press them on the right, driving them to the left, and -Buell pressing them on the left, driving them to the right, until -they were getting completely outflanked, when at three o'clock our -brigade was ordered up to the front and center, and directed to charge -the retreating enemy, but they traveled too fast for us. Nothing but -cavalry could reach them. We remained on the outposts till evening, -and then came in to get a good night's sleep in the tents of our own -camp after the fatigues of a two days' steady fight. The night is -terribly disagreeable--rainy and chilly--and tens of thousands of -troops are sleeping on the bare ground with no covering, just as we did -last night. - -"Indiana has borne an honorable part in the great battle. I know -that the Ninth, Eleventh, Twenty-fifth, Thirty-first, Thirty-second, -Forty-fourth, and Fifty-seventh Regiments were engaged, and I think the -Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth, with several others, I have no doubt, -though I have been too busy on the field to know much of it--have not -even had time yet to see Colonel Morgan or our wounded officers and -men. The Forty-second was busy here to-day, but I hardly think it was -in the fight, though it may have been. Thomson's Battery is said to -have done noble work. Aleck [brother of the writer] was busy with the -trains and baggage--the enemy came right up to our tents--the camp was -shelled; he had to move wagons and baggage to the landing. Did his duty -well. But we are back again to-night. - -"I tried in this terrible conflict to do my duty well, and I am willing -to leave to my officers and men the judgment. - -"I forgot to mention Colonel Veatch. He acted with great coolness and -courage, always with his brigade in the thickest of the fight. He had -two horses shot under him, but escaped unharmed. - -"I have written this hurried letter to you for the family, not the -public. My deliverance was almost miraculous and I am grateful for it." - -After finishing the foregoing letter, I wrote a short one to my wife:-- - -"_My own dear Wife_:-- - -"Your husband is still safe and unharmed, though he has passed through -a most terrible and deathful battle, the bloodiest ever fought on the -continent. While it was terrible, it was grand. - -"I have just written a long letter to father, which is for you all. -I would write you at length, but it is now past midnight, and after -two days of hard fighting and one rainy night of gloomy and fearful -watching, I need rest. You will excuse me, will you not? - -"My dear Parke, God, our merciful Father, has been my shield and my -protector; let us give Him all the glory. - -"Captain Dudley Smith [a relative of my wife] is badly (not mortally) -wounded. His regiment fought next to us, and I shook hands of -encouragement with him not five minutes before he fell. Both his -lieutenants and first sergeant were shot. - -"I believe, my dear, that God will continue to preserve my life for you -and my dear child. Live in hope and faith. I will write a long letter -soon." - -In the letter to my father, given above, I refer in commendation to -my brother Alexander H. Foster, the regimental quartermaster. He -rendered a most valuable service in saving all our camp and personal -baggage. When during the first day's fighting it became evident that -the battle was going against us, he brought up the wagons and loaded -up all the company and headquarters baggage and outfit, and took them -to the rear. The rebels occupied our tents on Sunday night, and would -have plundered everything but for our quartermaster's thoughtfulness. -He also displayed great daring in keeping us supplied with ammunition -during the first day's heavy fighting. - -Another incident respecting our tents may be noted. When attending -the Harvard Law School, I had formed a very close friendship with a -classmate from Alabama, Walter Bragg. I corresponded with him for some -time, but lost sight of him when the war began. Years after he came to -Washington to fill an important official position. I learned from him -then that on Sunday night of the Shiloh battle his regiment occupied -the camp of the Twenty-fifth Indiana, and he slept in our headquarters -tent. - -General Grant in his "Personal Memoirs" says: "The battle of Shiloh was -the severest battle fought at the West during the war, and but few in -the East equaled it for hard, determined fighting." General Sherman, in -his "Memoirs," characterizes it as "one of the most fiercely contested -of the war." - -The number of the Confederate forces engaged in the battle, as reported -by Beauregard, was 40,955. Grant reports the Federal forces in the -first day's fighting at 33,000, and that on the second day he was -reinforced by General Lew Wallace with 5000 and from Buell's army -with 20,000. The losses of the Federals were, killed 1754, wounded -8408, missing 2934. The Confederate losses were, killed 1728, wounded -8012, and missing 957. In my official report I placed the loss of the -Twenty-fifth Indiana at 149. - -While the battle was recognized as a distinct Union victory, it was -followed in the North by severe criticism of the generalship displayed -on the Federal side. Sherman says that "probably no single battle -of the war gave rise to such wild and damaging reports"; and in his -"Memoirs" Grant writes: "The battle of Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing has -been perhaps less understood, or, to state the case more accurately, -more persistently misunderstood, than any other engagement during the -entire rebellion." - -The main criticisms were three in number: first, that no intrenchments -or fortifications of any kind were made to protect the encampment; -second, that our army was surprised; and, third, that the retreating -enemy was not pursued. It is generally conceded that the encampment was -well located for defense, as three sides were protected by the river -and creeks full of water. Sherman, in discussing the first criticism -in later years, said, "The position was naturally strong; ... we could -have rendered this position impregnable in one night." General Force, -in reviewing the battle after the close of the war, wrote: "The army -had many things to learn, and the use of field fortifications was one -of them." - -The charge that our camp was surprised was indignantly denied by -both Generals Grant and Sherman, and they produce statements of -fact, not generally understood at the time, which seem to sustain -their contention. But a different impression was generally prevalent -in the camp. One of the most intelligent and daring of the Civil -War correspondents was a young man writing under the _nom-de-plume_ -of "Agate," who became afterwards well known throughout the world, -Whitelaw Reid. He was on the battlefield during the two days' fighting -and wrote lengthy reports of the battle. His contention was that it -was a complete surprise. Years afterwards he had a discussion on this -matter with General Sherman, and in the course of it he cited my letter -to my father, above quoted, to sustain his contention. - -Doubtless the rebel army would have been much more demoralized and have -sustained great loss in military equipment and supplies, if it had been -vigorously pursued. The greater part of Grant's army was so reduced -and fatigued as not to be able to make an effective pursuit of the -retreating Confederates, but Buell's army was not in that condition. -Publications made after the war by Grant and Buell make it plain that -there was want of harmony, if not an unfriendly spirit, that prevented -the cordial cooperation which might have made the battle much more -decisive. - -For some months previous to the battle of Shiloh General Halleck had -been commanding the Department of the West, with his headquarters at -St. Louis, from which place he was directing the movements of the -armies. Immediately after this battle he came to Pittsburg Landing, -arriving on April 11, and, assuming personal command, he began the -reorganization and reinforcement of the army in the vicinity, for -a march on Corinth, where it was understood the Confederates were -concentrating. This step on his part had the effect of practically -relieving General Grant from command. - -The news of the battle and heavy losses suffered by the Union forces -awakened throughout the country great interest and sympathy, and from -all the leading cities of the West located on the Ohio and Mississippi -Rivers steamers were chartered and dispatched to the battlefield, -loaded with hospital supplies, volunteer surgeons, and friends of the -soldiers. A boat was sent from Evansville, and among the passengers was -my brother George, bringing letters from home and delicacies for the -wounded soldiers of the Twenty-fifth and our mess. In a letter of the -11th, four days after the battle, I wrote to my wife:-- - -"I can assure you I was glad to see the _Bowen_ with a load of our kind -friends after the terrible experience of the last week, and to know -that the great patriotic heart of the Nation was going out in sympathy -and in acts of mercy to our suffering wounded, who have been so sadly, -cruelly neglected by our army general medical officers. I thank you and -Eliza and Eleanor [my sisters] and our good friends at home for their -presents. In our hard-fought battle of last Sunday the enemy drove us -back clear behind our camp and rascally carried off or devoured all our -eatables, and your delicacies came just in time to be fully appreciated. - -"I haven't seen Captain Smith since he was wounded. I suppose he has -gone down the river in the boats. You remember I wrote you we were on a -court-martial together; I was finally excused from it to take command -of our regiment. I saw Colonel Harlan [afterwards Justice of the United -States Supreme Court; married Miss Shanklin, of Evansville] to-day. He -was in good health. His regiment is lying near us, in the woods without -tents. I meet a large number of acquaintances in the Indiana regiments -of Buell's army. - -"I send by George a copy of my official report of the Twenty-fifth. -Tell father I cannot have it published yet, but I thought he and our -home folks would want to read it, but don't circulate it too freely. -As soon as I can get the necessary consent, I will have both Colonel -Veatch's brigade and my regimental reports sent home for publication. I -am anxious that our regiment should have a fair share of the honor, as -it had of the fighting. - -"Say to father and our friends that our regiment fought bravely and -did itself and the State credit. I had the entire responsibility of -the command. I believe I did my duty well; all assure me of it in -the highest terms. I know I saved the regiment from disgrace and -annihilation by a little daring exposure and vigorous encouragement of -our men. This I write freely, but privately, to you and father. It is a -great consolation to me as a citizen to know I have done my duty, but -it is a further gratification to know that my friends at home give me -credit for it." - -On the 13th I write about the return of the steamer _Bowen_ to -Evansville:-- - -"I was much out of humor because they let the boat be filled up with -slightly wounded of other regiments, and left thirty or forty of our -badly wounded Twenty-fifth in the hospitals at Savannah, to linger and -suffer from neglect and bad treatment, and run the chance of getting -home on the charity of other parts of the State. But I suppose the -committee in charge did what they thought was for the best; still, we -are naturally sensitive and jealous for the comfort of our own men." - -In my letter of the 13th I speak of the difficulty of getting my -letters. Officers and men of the regiment were constantly going and -coming from Evansville on furlough or sick-leave, and they were often -availed of to carry mail matter, as the mail was not regular, but I -note one instance in which my letters by private hand did not reach me -for thirty days. I tell my wife:-- - -"When you can't have opportunities of sending letters to me by private -means, send them by mail; they will get here _afterwhile_, and they are -never old. Your letter of Sunday was seven days in coming. I have just -received your three letters sent by Schoenfield. They were a _little_ -behind time, being dated March 14! but they were still very welcome. I -received by him the 'Evangelist' and 'Independent.' I always like to -get them, especially the 'Evangelist,' as it gives a little variety to -my religious reading. - -"Colonel Morgan's father arrived in camp to-day, expecting to find the -colonel nearly dead, and found he had gone home only slightly wounded. -These newspaper reporters ought to be severely punished for their -wicked and foolish exaggerations. The idea of reporting twenty thousand -of our troops and forty thousand of the rebels killed and wounded -serves only to fearfully excite the country, and is so very grossly -absurd. It was a terrible fight, but not such as was reported in the -first dispatches. These reporters _see_ but little of the fight, hear -a great deal, and tell all they hear and a great deal more. - -"I have nothing new to write, but thought you would love to hear after -this terrible battle. Be cheerful, hopeful and patriotic." - -My letter of the 15th was in the most desponding tone since I had -entered the service. It must be confessed it presented a sorry picture -of the 1046 stalwart men who left Evansville eight months before for -the war:-- - -"I enclose you an extract from a communication addressed to our brigade -commander. You will see from it that our regiment is pretty well used -up, between sickness and the bullets of the enemy, having suffered -more than any other regiment from Indiana in battle. In this condition -of affairs, I feel constrained to ask that the regiment be somewhat -relieved. - -"Aleck has been troubled with camp dysentery, and wants to resign soon -but I have been doing all I can to keep him up and in good spirits, and -to stay with us." - -Col. James C. Veatch, -Commanding Second Brigade, Fourth Division. - -_Sir_:-- - -Permit me to call your attention to the present condition of the -Twenty-fifth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. - -In the late action at Fort Donelson we sustained a loss in killed and -wounded of one hundred and fifteen, and in the late battle of Pittsburg -Landing of one hundred and forty-nine, making a total of _two hundred -and sixty-four_. A number of the wounded have since died; a large -number are entirely disabled for any military duty, and nearly all of -the wounded will be unfit for duty for some time. - -There are now absent from the regiment, sick, three hundred and nine -enlisted men, and sick in the regiment one hundred and thirty, making -a total sick of four hundred and thirty-nine. - -I am left in sole command of the regiment, the lieutenant-colonel being -wounded and the adjutant having resigned. Three of our most efficient -officers were killed in the late action, and six of them severely -wounded and disabled. Two of our captains absent; one of them badly -wounded at Fort Donelson, the other sick. Three other of our captains -broken down with continuous sickness and hard service, and are asking -that they may be relieved or resign. We now report only three hundred -and eighty-seven men for duty. - -Under date of the 18th I write:-- - -"It is now nearly two weeks since the battle, and our camp is again -resuming its quiet and accustomed ways, as if no terrible conflict had -taken place over these grounds. All our wounded are gone, and are now -in the hospitals at home. I hope they will be well cared for, as I am -sure they will be. - -"We don't know how long we will stay here, or what are the intentions -of the generals; but I think we shall remain for at least ten days. -General Halleck will hardly move till he has his army so disposed as -to make victory certain. He says, so it is reported, that enough lives -have been lost here, and that he will accomplish the rest without -much fighting. I suppose you all hope this will be the case. General -Hurlbut says he will not take his division into the next battle, if he -can prevent it, owing to its heavy losses in the late battle. In our -regiment and the brigade every third man was either killed or wounded. - -"So you may rest in considerable quiet, as I think the probabilities of -_us_ having much fighting is very remote. But if it becomes necessary -and we are called upon, we will do our duty; you would want us to do -nothing less. I never expect to witness such another battle in my life; -it was most terrible and grand. I could not describe it; it is only to -be seen and heard. I had no conception of what a battle was before. The -Fort Donelson fight was a mere skirmish by the side of it. You will -preserve all things of interest in the papers, especially relating -to our regiment in the battle; but there were so many regiments in -the fight we do not expect to get much notice, especially as we have -no reporters in our employ. I trust, my dear Parke, you will have -confidence in my continued safety and health, wishing for a happy -termination of our troubles and my speedy return, remembering that -I will not expose myself or our regiment more than is essential to -our duty, safety, and honor. I send many kisses to my darling little -daughter." - -My letter of the 20th acknowledges the receipt of the first letter from -my wife after the battle of Shiloh:-- - -"You cannot know how glad I was to receive your letter of the 12th. -I have read it over many, many times during the last two hours since -I received it. When I read your letter and knew with what feelings -of joy you learned of my safety, I could not keep back the tears. -I have something to live for and something to encourage me to do my -duty bravely, when I am assured of so dear and loving a wife and -such good relatives and friends. I was very anxious to hear from you -after the battle, and this was the first letter. I knew there would -be great anxiety at home both for myself and the regiment, so I sent -full particulars and list of the killed and wounded by the first -opportunity." - -I have already given a copy of the letter I wrote my father the night -after the second day's fighting. Although I cautioned him that it was -only for the family, and not for the public, he was so much pleased -with and proud of it that he let the newspaper men take a copy of it. -The "New York Tribune," in publishing it on April 22, headed it with -this comment: "The following account of the great battle, written by -Major John W. Foster, of the Twenty-fifth Indiana, is the most clear -relation we have yet met with." In my letter to my wife of the 20th I -make this comment: "I was very sorry to see my letter to father in the -newspapers. I did not want it published. I so stated to him. I don't -want to blow my own trumpet. If the people at home can't learn of my -exploits in some other way, it is better that they should not hear them -at all. Don't publish any more of my letters unless I give my consent." - -But other accounts than mine were published. I make an extract from one -of them written the day after the battle: "The Twenty-fifth has gained -fresh renown, and can point to their thinned ranks as the record of -their part in that dreadful fray. Colonel Veatch had two horses shot -under him while commanding the brigade. Lieutenant-Colonel Morgan was -wounded in the first fierce charge that brought down so many of his -men. Major Foster was everywhere in the thickest of the fight, leading -the charge or directing the backward movement. The men will follow -those officers anywhere and Indiana may justly be proud of them." - -In my letter of the 20th, I report a proposed movement of our camp:-- - -"Our old camp becoming unpleasant after the great slaughter of men -and animals in the battle, we have been ordered to a new camp four -miles nearer the enemy. We made our preparations, but a heavy rain has -delayed. - -"I think when Colonel Morgan rejoins the regiment, after we have -whipped the rebels at Corinth and our men have a prospect of a little -rest, I will have to manage to get sick!--and by this means get a -sick-leave of a month, and come home to see my little daughter to -keep her from growing entirely out of my knowledge, and to enjoy the -long-desired society of my dear wife and friends. But I won't set my -heart upon it, neither must you, for the probabilities are we will have -to finish up this rebellion before any of us can get home. Then I will -come and make a lifelong visit with you; for it will take a very loud -and patriotic call from my country to make me leave my family again." - -In my letter of the 21st I note an event which led to an important -change in my military service. My wife had two brothers, younger -than herself, Theodore, a student in the senior class at the State -University, and Alexander, then a clerk in the post-office at -Evansville. When the war broke out Alexander (or "Zan") was very -anxious to enlist, but he was only sixteen years old, and we refused -our consent largely on account of his youth, and besides, as I was -about to enter the service, I wanted him to stay at home to look -after my wife and their mother. But after the successive victories at -Donelson and Shiloh, and he heard from the returned soldiers about me, -he became restless to join our regiment. I refer to him in my letter of -the 25th:-- - -"I sent Zan a telegram and also wrote him a letter yesterday, saying if -Theodore could take his place in the post-office, I would have him made -a lieutenant and assign him to duty as regimental commissary. But I do -not want you to be left at home without one of the boys with you, while -I am away, and he is not to come without the approval of father and his -mother. - -"Another reason which has caused me to decide for him to come, on the -above conditions, was that Aleck [my brother] has been a little unwell -for some weeks, is getting tired, insists on going out of the service, -and says he has only stayed on my account. He says if Zan comes he -can act as commissary and he (Aleck) will stay a month until Zan gets -posted in the business; and we can have him appointed regimental -quartermaster. If Aleck goes home, as he seems determined to do, I -would like to have Zan with me, as I don't fancy being here alone." - - - - -V -ON TO CORINTH AND MEMPHIS - - -Evidently General Halleck's efforts to reorganize the army after -the battle of Shiloh were having a salutary effect in the camp, as -indicated in my letter of the 21st of April:-- - -"We are having greater confidence in the army now. We think Halleck -will manage affairs with much system and skill, and will not cause such -needless slaughter of brave soldiers as we had on the 6th. I am glad -to see the public journals exposing the wretched generalship which -permitted a complete surprise of a large army, and its almost complete -annihilation. But matters will go on much better now. System is -beginning to be apparent in every department, and care and foresight. -If we only had a good, full regiment everything would go well with -me, but we are sadly cut up. Sickness has weakened us very much, and -the two last battles have seriously reduced us. Our officers from -sickness, exposure and other causes are resigning; two of them go home -to-morrow. My own health and spirits are very good, but it is a little -discouraging to see the regiment so weakened." - -But I cannot end the extracts without a little glimpse at our home -life, for which I so often express a longing in my letters. The Mr. -Tubbs referred to was the bearer of my wife's letter:-- - -"Mr. Tubbs said he called on you before he left and heard you play, -and praised your music extravagantly. I hope you do not neglect your -practice, as I want you always to be able to play as well as when we -were married. He spoke of what a pleasant home I had; it made me want -to be there. I was much moved at father's last letter in which he said -I was always in the thoughts of the folks at home; that _the little -ones talked about me every day_. How I wish I could be at home with -them again to enjoy the company of the little ones, of my own Alice and -the rest." - -After three weeks of waiting, recuperation, and reinforcement, General -Halleck began the movement of his grand army against Corinth in the -last days of April. General Grant places its number at 120,000. I -reported this movement in my letter of May 3 as having already begun, -and in anticipation of another battle I seek to quiet my wife's fears: - -"I wrote you of our change of camp, going four miles away from the -river beyond Shiloh Church toward Corinth; and we are now under orders -to proceed to Monterey, five miles from this camp, so that to-morrow -night we hope to be thirteen or fourteen miles from the river, and five -or six miles from Corinth. But I think we shall not have a great battle -for some days yet, for I think the enemy will wait for us to attack -them in their intrenchments. - -"You must not be too solicitous if you hear of a great battle, or be -too credulous of telegraphic reports. I will try to do my duty, and we -will leave the result to our Heavenly Father, who has kindly been my -shield and protector thus far through terrible dangers." - -On the 7th of May I write:-- - -"We are all packed up in camp under marching orders to go two miles -farther to the front, and are quietly waiting for the orders to move, -so while we are waiting I will try to pencil you a little note at -least." - -For the first time since I entered the army, with the exception of -temporary colds, I report a slight illness:-- - -"I have been a little unwell for two or three days past, but we are -having very pleasant weather to-day, and I shall soon be well again. I -cannot afford to be sick at this time; I must wait at least till we get -the enemy out of Corinth or wherever we meet them. I see by the papers -that the reporters have got the enemy out of Corinth. It may be so, but -we don't know it here." - -May 8 I note the arrival at the camp of Alexander McFerson:-- - -"Zan arrived at the river night before last, but did not get out here -till this morning. I sent a recommendation to Governor Morton this -morning for his appointment, and he will go at once to work. - -"We are now fourteen miles from Pittsburg Landing, and six miles from -Corinth. We are getting forward gradually; moved one mile to the front -yesterday." - -The letter of May 12 says:-- - -"We have been moving out slowly and by degrees from Pittsburg. We are -now about eighteen miles from the river, and six miles from Corinth. -Our pickets are within three or four miles of Corinth, and can hear -very plainly the locomotives whistle and the drums beat. We have -various rumors of its evacuation, but can tell nothing of their truth. -I think the enemy are still there. - -"I have come very near being quite ill for the last few days with -fever, but fortunately have escaped and am nearly well again. We were -called out in line of battle the other day by a false alarm, and I -thought I _must_ go out with my men, though I had a high fever; and -standing out in the hot sun for two hours (and we have hot sun now) -nearly laid me up permanently. It is the nearest I have come to being -real sick since I have been in the service; but I am pretty well over -it now, thanks to my strong resolution and Dr. Walker's good treatment. -Dr. Walker says I have barely escaped typhoid fever. I have taken -medicine quite freely. I cannot afford to be sick now; the enemy must -first be driven out of Corinth." - -On the 16th I write:-- - -"We move up slowly, and as we go we fortify our camps by a continuous -line of breastworks of logs, brush, and earthwork. The newspaper -reporters have kept you unnecessarily alarmed about the battle '_which -could not be delayed a day longer_,' and yet it has been delayed for -a month. When it is to come off I do not know, or whether it is at -all. We have for more than a week past been right in the face of the -enemy's pickets, the men of our regiment fighting them all the time; -and whenever it becomes necessary for us to move our camp forward, -our pickets make a push on them and drive them back the required -distance, rather obstinately however. The pickets are now about a -mile in advance, and almost any time we can hear the rifles crack, and -frequently they go by volleys. If the enemy are going to fight we can't -go much farther. - -"Zan is in good health and doing well. He is the most anxious man in -the regiment for a fight." - -In a previous letter I noted that Colonel Veatch had received his -commission as brigadier-general, and that Governor Morton was on a -visit to the camps and we might expect our promotions soon. I had -also reported Governor Morton's visit to Fort Donelson after the -battle there. He was one of the most distinguished civilians which -the Civil War brought into public notice, and was especially esteemed -for his services toward the soldiers. Many years after the war one of -our Presidents, in a public address, said: "When history definitely -awards the credit for what was done in the Civil War, she will put the -services of no other civilian, save alone those of Lincoln, ahead of -the services of Governor Morton." - -I reported May 19:-- - -"Governor Morton visited us yesterday and was warmly received by the -boys. He told them he would make Lieutenant-Colonel Morgan colonel and -me lieutenant-colonel for our services in the field, and the captains -have voted for Captain Rheinlander for major. I will get my commission -to-day, and so you can address me as Lieutenant-Colonel Foster -hereafter, and call me _colonel_, not _major_! - -"We are called out into line of battle now every morning at daylight, -and some mornings we are out in line by three o'clock; thus, you see, -we are determined not to be surprised again by the enemy, if early -rising is to have anything to do with it. So I am writing my letter to -you before sunrise!" - -A short letter on the 22d says:-- - -"I write you this note to say I will write you a long letter to-morrow, -to assure you of my increasing health and strength, and to let you know -we are still out of a battle. Since Captain Rheinlander has been made -major, I can be relieved of a portion of the outside heavy work, and -have the responsibility of the command divided. If Colonel Morgan was -back again, I could take things comparatively easy." - -In the letter of the 23d it is stated that the St. Louis, Chicago, and -Cincinnati papers are now regularly on sale by newsboys, showing that -the communication with the rear was well maintained, but I still want -the Evansville papers, the magazines and the "Evangelist." I go more -into detail in the method of our advances:-- - -"We are slowly and safely approaching Corinth, making our way secure as -we go. We have a heavy skirmish with the enemy's pickets; if they are -obstinate we get out the artillery, throw a few shells into the woods, -drive them back over a ridge into a hollow a half mile or so, then -leave our camp equipage behind, and march out with guns, knapsacks, -haversacks, spades, axes, and picks in hand and throw up breastworks on -the ridge. When that is done we move up our camp equipage and remain -in camp here for a day or more. Then we shove up the enemy's pickets -again, and make another camp; and thus we are approaching the enemy's -works. Our generals, I believe, are going to consult the lives of the -soldiers in winning the next battle. The most of the people in the -States seem anxious that the fight should come off _in a hurry_. If -they had to do the fighting it might be different. - -"If Beauregard will really stand, he will surely be defeated, though it -may cost the lives of many brave soldiers; but the life of any of us -is nothing in comparison with the life and safety of the Nation. If it -were not so I would not risk my life in the contest." - -Under date of May 29, I allude to a forward movement of the -Twenty-fifth Indiana, similar to others previously made, but which, -unknown to us at the time, was a general advance of Sherman and -Hurlbut's divisions, and proved to be the last military demonstration -against Corinth, as the enemy was then engaged in the evacuation of the -place:-- - -"We went forward yesterday with our brigade and drove the enemy back -a mile, thus getting room for a new camp. To-morrow we all move up -another mile, getting close neighbors with Corinth. - -"We were all glad to welcome Colonel Morgan back to-day, and I have -been busy talking regimental matters with him. - -"The paymaster has been with us to-day, and I am sending you six -hundred dollars. I want you to be at perfect liberty in using the -money. Make your house and family comfortable, live well and enjoy -yourself. Consult father about the rent of the house, respecting which -you wrote me. Don't let these business affairs worry you. Take the -world easy." - -At last the grand march on the rebel stronghold of Corinth was over. My -letter of June 1 says:-- - -"I suppose there was at least one anxious heart relieved by the -news which ought to have reached home yesterday that the rebels had -evacuated Corinth, and concluded not to give us battle. So you, and -the thousands of wives and relatives of our soldiers, can rest quiet -for some time. After the long preparations and constant and watchful -readiness we had maintained for battle, it was and is now a great -relief for us to relax and take some comfort. For weeks men have been -sleeping with all their accouterments on and their arms by their sides, -and were ordered out in line of battle sometimes at midnight, or any -other hour; but always at early daylight. It is a great relief to us -all to lie down quietly now and sleep without being disturbed by the -'long roll' or hasty orders from the generals. I have enjoyed the -luxury of the good morning naps, waiting for the rays of the sun to -waken me. Until last night I have slept with all my clothes on and in -utmost readiness for a prompt turnout. I am thankful for good sleep -now, and you are thankful that we had no battle. - -"None of our regiment has been killed, but several were wounded on -picket and in the recent skirmishes. I have passed through several -narrow escapes, but then 'a miss is as good as a mile.' In the last -skirmish three days ago, Dr. Walker and I were talking together, on -horseback, discussing the close range the enemy had upon us with their -cannon, while the shot would occasionally rattle through the trees, -when an unwelcome visitor in the shape of a shell came whizzing along, -and went into the ground right between our horses, tearing up the dirt -at a fearful rate. The boys dug it out, and it was found that the -rebels in their hurry had forgot to gouge the fuse, and fortunately it -did not explode. - -"I rode into Corinth yesterday. The fearful ravages of war are visible -on all sides, in the charred walls, solitary chimneys, smoking ruins, -and waste all around. The rebels burned all their storehouses full of -supplies, their magazines, armories, etc. In peaceful times the town -was a very attractive place. - -"General Hurlbut is said to be anxious to get the position of -commandant of Memphis, and to march our division over immediately and -occupy. It is uncertain whether he will succeed. My health, also Zan's, -is good now." - -The escape of the Confederate army from Corinth, and the subsequent -breaking up of Halleck's great army was a disappointment to the people -of the North. Halleck's generalship has been severely criticized by -both Grant and Sherman in their "Memoirs." Grant describes the movement -upon Corinth as "a siege from the start to the close" and says, "I am -satisfied that Corinth could have been captured in a two days' campaign -commenced promptly on the arrival of reinforcements after the battle -of Shiloh." Sherman laments that "the advance on Corinth had occupied -all of the month of May, the most beautiful and valuable month of the -year for campaigning in this latitude"; and he adds that "by the time -we had reached Corinth I believe that army was the best then on this -continent, and could have gone where it pleased." - -While Buell's army was sent toward the east, Sherman and Hurlbut were -sent west toward Memphis. Our regiment was destined to have no rest, as -the day after we entered Corinth, June 1:-- - -"We received orders to support Sherman's division which had gone -forward on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad toward Memphis. In half -an hour we were in line of march, with two days' rations and no tents. -We had a heavy rain that evening. The men marched two hours into the -night, and then lay right down by the roadside on the wet ground and -slept till morning. In the morning we went to work cleaning out and -chopping the fallen timber from the railroad, and then went into camp, -and here we are now, five miles out west from Corinth. Our camp baggage -was not all up for five days. - -"We have a very pleasant camp in a shady forest, everything to make -us comfortable in camp but the _wood-ticks_, which are multitudinous, -pestiferous, and unescapable; they have almost worried the life out of -me by their biting. This country abounds in snakes, lizards, and all -kinds of troublesome insects. - -"I have taken a few rides out into the neighboring country, and find -it tolerably well settled, but the soil is very poor, the people -likewise and very ignorant. Since we have been in this camp we have -managed to get for our mess fresh milk, young chicken, eggs, green -peas, onions, and lettuce, which are great luxuries with us, who had -had nothing but Government supplies and what we could get from the -settlers. - -"We find very little bitter feeling or hostility exhibited toward us -by the country people, and all willing and longing for peace. But the -men are almost all gone, either in the army or afraid to trust us. -They who did not volunteer have been forced into the rebel service by -the conscription system, until there are hardly enough left to gather -the wheat, which is now ready for harvesting. The farmhouses were full -of women and children. They have no money but Confederate scrip and -'shin-plasters.' How it makes their eyes sparkle to see our soldiers' -silver and gold. But what is more desired by them than silver and gold -is _coffee_. It very often happens that we are utterly unable to get -their consent to sell one of the few remaining chickens on the farm -with silver at high prices, but a pound of coffee will get the last old -hen on the place. - -"We don't certainly know what is to be our future destination, but it -is semi-officially stated in camp that W. T. Sherman's and Hurlbut's -divisions are to constitute the branch of the army which is to move on -Memphis. We are anxious to go to that place, but our wish has nothing -to do with it, as we are Government soldiers to be disposed of as our -generals think best. There you see I have filled up the sheet with a -matter-of-fact business-like letter, without assuring you how much I -long to be with you and at home. But I don't allow myself to think too -much of these things or I would get homesick. I long with you for the -war to end, that I may lay aside my emblems of the army, and return to -my dear wife and child, and the comforts and enjoyments of civil life, -but I must be patient." - -Some days later an undated letter says:-- - -"I had thought of writing you a good long letter this morning, but all -human hopes are vain. This morning we have marching orders for the -west, and there is no time for letter-writing. We are not informed as -to our destination, but the general impression among the officers is -that we are bound for Memphis. Will you come down to see me there, or -shall I jump on a boat and come up the Mississippi and Ohio and see -you?" - -My next letter was written from Grand Junction, a station on the -Memphis and Charleston Railroad, midway from Corinth to Memphis. The -marching orders mentioned in the preceding letter were for Memphis, but -on reaching this station our regiment was diverted from its course, as -will be seen from the letter of June 20:-- - -"We arrived here five days ago, but our brigade was sent on an -expedition down to Holly Springs, thirty miles south in Mississippi, -to destroy the Mississippi Central Railroad, which took us till last -night: the rest of the army remaining here to support us in case -of danger. We came back all safe. The march was a very rapid, but -pleasant one, through a beautiful country and to one of the prettiest -towns in the South. We hope to leave for Memphis to-morrow." - -This was the last letter written by me from the Twenty-fifth Indiana. -On my arrival at Grand Junction I learned that Alexander McFerson, my -wife's brother, was ill at Lagrange, a station on the railroad a short -distance from Grand Junction. I at once hastened to his bedside, and -found him suffering from a severe attack of typhoid fever, which was -prevalent in the camps. Notwithstanding he received the most skillful -medical attendance, the virulence of the disease soon placed him beyond -human aid, and he died on June 27. - -I secured a furlough to take his body home. The regiment continued -on its march to Memphis, and I went on my sad journey to Evansville, -bringing the body of the young soldier to his bereaved mother and -sister. The sequel shows that I never returned to the Twenty-fifth -Indiana, with which I had passed through so many dangers and -privations, and with whose men I had formed the deep attachment of -soldier comradeship. - -The following editorial in the "Evansville Journal" of July 2, 1862, -reflects the sentiments of all who knew him:-- - -A telegram last night brought the melancholy news of the death of -Lieutenant Alexander McFerson to his friends in this city. He died at -Lagrange, Tennessee, on the 27th ult. at the age of seventeen. - -When he asked permission to join the army he said that he felt it -his duty to go into the service; that neither of his mother's sons -were there, and he would never feel satisfied unless he did his share -in putting down the rebellion. Less than two months ago he left his -friends and home, buoyant in health, and with high hopes of a pleasant -and useful career in the grand army of the Mississippi, having been -appointed commissary to the Twenty-fifth Indiana Volunteers. But how -soon those hopes are blasted, how soon that health is destroyed by a -fatal disease. In early youth, he is cut off. Young McFerson was a -generous, noble youth, warm-hearted, and highly esteemed by the whole -community, who will warmly sympathize with his bereaved friends in this -hour of their affliction. - - - - -VI -GUERRILLA WARFARE IN KENTUCKY - - -When I arrived at Evansville in July, 1863, on furlough, I found the -border country on both sides of the Ohio River in Indiana and Kentucky -in a state of feverish excitement. The counties of western Kentucky -were overrun with Confederate soldiers, who had secretly and singly -passed through the military lines, and were engaged actively in the -work of securing recruits for the rebel army, and, after mounting them -on horses taken from loyal citizens, sent them back through the lines -to the South. Guerrilla bands were roaming through these counties, -terrorizing the Union men, and threatening to cross the Ohio. In fact, -about the time of my arrival at home a small guerrilla force had -occupied Newburg, a town nine miles above Evansville, and robbed the -stores, striking terror into the inhabitants. - -As no regular forces were available for defense, Governor Morton had -rushed several bodies of Home Guards to Evansville, and was organizing -thirty and sixty days' men for service in various parts of Indiana, to -serve until the Federal Government was able to protect the disturbed -districts by regularly organized and armed troops. General Love, who -had charge of these State forces, with his headquarters at Evansville, -requested me to take command of these irregular levies, and occupy -Henderson, the most important town in that section of Kentucky, ten -miles below Evansville on the Ohio River, as a base for operations -against these marauding rebels. This I consented to do, as a temporary -expedient. - -On the 26th of July, a few days after we had occupied Henderson, -Governor Morton repeated from Indianapolis a telegram from General J. -T. Boyle at Louisville, commanding the United States military forces in -Kentucky as follows: "Give the order to Lieutenant-Colonel Foster in -my name to command at Henderson." As my furlough from the Twenty-fifth -Indiana was about to expire, and neither Governor Morton nor General -Boyle would listen to my intimation that I would have to rejoin my -regiment, estimating highly the value of my military experience in the -absence of other available officers, the Governor secured from General -Grant an order detaching me temporarily from the Twenty-fifth Indiana, -and authorizing me to continue in the service in Kentucky. - -I was clothed by General Boyle with the most drastic authority to put -an end to the troubles in western Kentucky. The order above quoted by -which I was placed in command at Henderson contained also the following -instructions:-- - -Order the officers in my name to kill every armed rebel offering -resistance and all banded as guerrillas. I want none such as prisoners. -Order them to disarm every disloyal man. - -Only a few days after I was put in command by General Boyle. August 2, -he sent the following telegram:-- - -If officers and men do not obey my orders to shoot down the armed -rebels, every bushwhacker, guerrilla, or banded villains, our forces -had better be withdrawn from the field. We can only save the State by -putting them to the sword. I want none of them as prisoners. Take no -oath or bonds. You will shoot down the scoundrels. - -These and other orders from him of like character which I quote -will indicate the bitter spirit which prevailed at that time in -Kentucky between the loyal and disloyal citizens. General Boyle was a -native-born citizen of Kentucky. - -Immediately after I assumed command at Henderson I set to work to -get the irregular and inexperienced forces collected there into such -organized shape as would enable me to go out into the country to attack -and drive out the rebel bands which were infesting that region. While -engaged in that work, I was embarrassed by a civil duty which I had -to face. A short time before my arrival an election had been held in -Kentucky for city, county, and other officials. General Boyle had -issued an order regulating the election to this effect:-- - -No person hostile in opinion to the Government will be allowed to -stand for office in Kentucky. The attempt of such a person to stand -for office will be regarded as in itself sufficient evidence of his -treasonable intent to warrant his arrest. In seeking office he becomes -an active traitor, if he does not become one otherwise, and is liable -both in reason and in law to be treated accordingly. All persons of -this description in offering themselves as candidates for office will -be arrested and sent to these Headquarters. - -The election at Henderson had resulted in the choice of a mayor and -city council, all of whom were sympathizers with the rebellion. On my -arrival the mayor fled from the city. I telegraphed General Boyle: -"The mayor of this city has left town without leave. Been absent a -week. Strongly suspected of being among the guerrillas. The city -council are secessionists in sympathy. Have you any action to direct?" -He replied: "When mayor returns arrest him. If you deem proper arrest -any of the council, and send all to Camp Morton. The men elected to -office in Hopkins County I wish taken and sent in with others. Leniency -and conciliation do no good. The scoundrels must be subjugated or -killed." - -It was soon established that the mayor had fled through the lines and -joined the Confederate forces, whereupon I summoned a meeting of the -council and requested them to declare the office of mayor vacant, and -each of them to take the oath of loyalty exacted of suspected citizens. -Rather than take this action all the members of the council resigned. -The city marshal likewise refused to take the oath of loyalty, and -I declared his office vacant. This left the city without any civil -government. - -I therefore issued a proclamation as military commander of the post, -assuming control of the civil affairs "until the loyal citizens shall -have filled the offices with loyal men," and ordering an election to -be held on a day designated. Meanwhile a citizen of Henderson was -appointed by me provost marshal and furnished with a military guard -to enforce order. My action in the matter was approved by my superior -commanders. Thenceforth during my command in western Kentucky I had no -trouble with the civil authorities of Henderson. - -Having gotten my forces in a fair condition for a campaign against the -guerrilla bands, I was about to make an expedition into the adjoining -counties, when I received a report that the Confederate trooper John -Morgan, with a large force, was just across the line in Tennessee and -learned that one of his subordinates, Adam Johnson, a noted guerrilla -chief, was already in my district. Before moving, I inquired of -General Boyle as to Morgan's whereabouts, and he replied: "Morgan is -near Gallatin. He cannot venture into your section. No danger from -that source. Johnson is a great liar, as all rebels are. You can go -where you please. Act on your own discretion. Shoot down the banded -scoundrels as guerrillas or as recruits for the rebel army." - -I had received reliable information that a considerable band of armed -and organized rebels were quartered at Madisonville, the county -seat of Hopkins County, about forty miles from Henderson, actively -recruiting for their army and levying upon the loyal citizens for -horses and supplies. With several companies of infantry and such force -of cavalry as I could get (a mere handful), I embarked at night on a -steamer, going up the Ohio and Green Rivers to within three miles of -Madisonville, where we disembarked early in the morning, and moved -toward the town, hoping to surprise the enemy. But we found them posted -in a forest, heavily wooded and thick with underbrush, in the suburbs -of the town. I ordered forward our skirmishers, who engaged them with -a brisk fire, but before our line of battle could reach them they -fled precipitately, mounting their horses and scattering in every -direction. The result of the skirmish was a few soldiers wounded and a -number of the rebels as prisoners. - -We went into camp at Madisonville, and scouting parties were sent out -in various directions. A few prisoners were brought in, but no banded -rebels could be met with, as, being mounted on good horses and aided by -resident sympathizers, they were able to get out of the way. During our -stay some of our soldiers on picket duty were shot down, murdered in -the darkness of the night, by persons claiming to be Southern soldiers, -skulking behind rocks and bushes. We were indignant at such warfare, -and I issued a proclamation which was scattered throughout the county, -denouncing this irregular and barbarous warfare as contrary to the -rules of civilized nations, declaring that the firing upon pickets, -when no enemy was near, was cold-blooded murder, and giving notice that -for every picket thereafter murdered one of the captured guerrillas in -our hands would be put to death as a felon. I never had occasion to put -this threat into execution, and probably never would have done so, but -the proclamation had its desired effect, and the killing of our pickets -ceased. - -The expedition to Madisonville was heralded by the papers of Indiana -as a great victory and magnified into a battle, but to me who had so -recently come from Fort Donelson and Shiloh it seemed a mere skirmish -of slight proportions. I soon returned to the post at Henderson, -leaving a small detachment at Madisonville to protect the loyal -citizens from the depredations of the guerrillas. - -On my return I found that a reign of terror existed in the adjoining -county of Union; that the loyal officers recently elected were not -permitted by the secessionists to act; that a returned Union soldier -at home on furlough had been ambushed and murdered; and that unarmed -steamers on the Ohio had been repeatedly fired on from Uniontown. -Reporting these facts to General Boyle, I was authorized to levy on the -secession sympathizers of the locality a fund for the support of the -family of the murdered soldier. As to Uniontown he telegraphed me: "If -the rebels take any town on the river and use it to fire on boats, you -will burn or demolish it. It would be well to burn down Uniontown, if -it is likely to fall into the hands of the rebels." - -I made an expedition into Union County with a view to overawe the rebel -sympathizers and place the loyal officers recently elected in the -exercise of their duties. But it proved of no avail. The guerrillas -easily got out of our way and the rebel residents denied all knowledge -of them or of the parties guilty of the soldier's murder. The loyal -officials were unwilling to attempt to assume their duties unless I -would agree to keep a force of soldiers permanently at the county seat, -and this I could not do with my inadequate command. - -For the first month or six weeks of my Kentucky service I put forth -as much activity as was possible with the forces I had, to destroy or -drive out of my district the guerrillas and Confederate recruiting men, -and I received the repeated thanks of Governor Morton and my commanding -officer, General Boyle, for what I accomplished. But I encountered -considerable embarrassment in the exercise of my command. I was still -lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-fifth Indiana, then in General Grant's -army on the Lower Mississippi, and the troops sent into my district -might be, and at times were, commanded by officers of higher rank than -mine, and who according to the Army Regulations would displace me. -It was the desire of both Morton and Boyle that I should continue in -charge of the district, and they recognized that I deserved promotion. - -In a letter, dated September 19, Governor Morton wrote me as follows:-- - -"I desire to say frankly that it would be very gratifying to me to -have you remain in command of the forces at and in the vicinity of -Henderson, if in justice to your own feelings and the interest of -your own regiment, you could do so. The ability, energy, and sagacity -you have thus far displayed is sufficient proof of your fitness for -the command. But should you, on any account, feel embarrassed in your -personal position, I cannot insist that you shall remain; and, as to -this, I beg you will exercise your own discretion. - -"It would afford me much pleasure to show my recognition of your -gallant, efficient, and faithful services, by promoting you to a -colonelcy, and I should have done so before this, giving you one of the -new regiments, had not orders from the War Department, a copy of which -is herewith enclosed, prevented me from promoting officers connected -with 'old regiments' to new commands. I regard you as entirely -competent to lead a regiment, and your experience and uniform good -conduct in the field, in my judgment, fairly entitle you to promotion. -The orders alluded to have embarrassed me very much, but the Secretary -of War has announced them as inflexible." - -When it became apparent that I would have to rejoin the Twenty-fifth -Indiana unless I was promoted, a way was found (how I do not know) -whereby I was appointed colonel of the Sixty-fifth Indiana Infantry, -a new regiment which had just been organized at Evansville. The -Lieutenant-Colonel of the Sixty-fifth was Thomas Johnson, my uncle, who -six months before had been forced to resign on account of ill-health. -My promotion enabled me to continue in command of the district of -western Kentucky continuously until our forces were transferred to -another field in the following year. - -The action on my part, during my command of the district of western -Kentucky, which attracted the most attention and comment, was the -enforcement of a money levy made upon the disloyal residents of Hopkins -County to reimburse the Union citizens for losses sustained at the -hands of the guerrillas. This action on my part was reported in full -at the time to General Boyle and to Major-General Wright, commanding -the department, and was unreservedly approved by them. General Wright, -in endorsing his approval, added: "A few such exhibitions of zeal and -energy would go far toward breaking up the lawless bands, which have -been so long a terror in that quarter, and restoring peace and quiet in -that section of Kentucky." Efforts were made in vain to the military -commanders to have this levy revoked. Finally Hon. L. W. Powell, -one of the Senators from Kentucky and a citizen of Henderson, after -having failed with the War Department, visited President Lincoln in -person, presented to him a list of the names of individuals assessed -by me and the amount, and asked that in the exercise of his power as -Commander-in-Chief of the Army he disapprove of the levy and order the -money returned. - -The request of Senator Powell, with his list, was sent by President -Lincoln through the military channels calling for a report from me. I -quote the following from my letter to General Boyle, dated February 16, -1863, in reply:-- - -"I am in receipt of the letter of President Lincoln, with your -endorsement thereon, instructing me to report on the names contained in -the paper submitted by Senator Powell. - -"You will remember that I made a full report of all my action in these -matters at the time, giving in detail the condition of the country, -the causes which led to my action, the amount levied, the manner in -which it was distributed, and the effect which it has had upon the -community. This report has been read by yourself and Major-General -Wright, commanding this department, and in all respects fully approved. -I desire that this report be sent to the President. It was made upon my -honor as an officer, and by it I desire that I may be judged. The money -levied had been appropriated and paid out, as stated in my report, to -the citizens of Hopkins County, who were the sufferers by the action of -these very men and their friends, who ask the President for redress. -The money cannot now be refunded by them. I am the only person who -should be held responsible, for if any wrong was committed it was -through the action taken by me as set forth in my report. - -"I know that my action in the matter has had a most salutary effect -upon the people, and Hopkins County is now enjoying a degree of peace -and security which has not heretofore existed since the commencement of -the rebellion. I trust my action may be approved by the President, as -it has so flatteringly been done by yourself and Major-General Wright." - -As I relied entirely upon my previous report to General Boyle for my -vindication, I make some extracts from that document:-- - -"For more than three months previous to this levy, I had been laboring -as earnestly as the force under my command would permit, in efforts to -rid this part of Kentucky of the lawless bands of guerrillas. They had -succeeded in breaking up the civil organization in all the counties -lying between Green and Cumberland Rivers; forcibly preventing the -administration of the laws; stopping the mails; robbing peaceable -citizens on the public highways, causing loyal men to flee from their -families and homes; plundering them of horses, arms, goods, and -anything of value that their comfort required, or fancy demanded; -interrupting the navigation of the rivers by firing into unarmed -steamers; and were engaged in carrying on a warfare, cowardly and -cruel, and entirely unwarranted by the rules of civilized nations. - -"These bands of guerrillas were mounted on the best horses in the -country, stolen from the citizens; they were active and wily, and -thoroughly acquainted with the byways and hiding-places; and were -supported by vigilant friends on every side. I found it very difficult -to drive them out. And one great obstacle to this was the fact that -they were supported, encouraged, and harbored by the friends and -sympathizers of the rebellion, who were enjoying the possession of -their property and their homes under the protection of the Government, -while very many loyal citizens were driven from their families, and -their homes plundered by these armed robbers. The guerrillas possessed -not a single tent, and made no arrangements for a commissariat, -yet they never wanted for a friendly roof to shelter them and were -bountifully supplied with cooked rations. Wherever they went they were -encouraged by hearty welcomes and approving smiles. They never could be -surprised in their hiding-places or overtaken in their flight, because -some sympathizers, enjoying the immunities of the Government, would go -before and warn them of our approach. I had exerted myself to drive out -these bands and restore peace to these counties and had only partially -succeeded. I had time and again warned the secession sympathizers that -if they continued to harbor, feed, and encourage these plunderers and -assassins, I would be compelled to hold them responsible; that Union -men, on account of their patriotic faithfulness to the Government in -this time of public distress, should not be driven from their homes, -their property carried away, and their lives endangered, without some -compensation for their losses. They were daily making their complaints -known to me, some loyal farmers having lost their last horse, not one -being left to gather the corn, or till the soil. Others had their -stores or houses plundered. The secessionists were living in the -peaceful enjoyment of their homes, and the undisturbed possession of -their property. - -"The county of Hopkins was one of the strongholds of the guerrillas and -their friends; they were numerous, active, and bold. After consulting -with the most prominent Union men of the county as to the proper course -to pursue, I organized the expedition, a partial report of which I -gave you, in which I succeeded in scattering, capturing, or driving -away all the organized bands in that county. Then in order to give -peace in future to the county, I determined to carry out the threat -I had so often made to the aiders and harborers of the guerrillas -by holding them responsible for the depredations committed by their -lawless friends. I accordingly made a money levy upon every prominent -harborer or sympathizer of the guerrillas that I could reach, making -the assessment against each individual in proportion to his property -and support or countenance of the traitors. The amount so levied and -collected has reached the sum of thirteen thousand three hundred and -thirty-five ($13,335) dollars. This fund I have caused to be paid over -to an upright, loyal, and responsible citizen of Henderson, Kentucky. I -have appointed a committee consisting of men of acknowledged probity, -influence, and responsibility of Hopkins County, who are thoroughly -acquainted with the people of the county. I have placed the matter -entirely in the hands of citizens, removing it as far as possible from -the control of the military. I have made it the duty of this committee -to investigate the losses sustained by Union citizens of Hopkins County -through the agency of the guerrilla bands, and to compensate them out -of this fund in proportion to their necessities and losses." - -My report was forwarded through the War Department to President Lincoln -and approval of my action was made by the endorsement of the President -in his own handwriting. Nothing further was heard through official -channels of the levy. - -The town of Smithland at the mouth of the Cumberland River was in my -district, and as it was an important depot for supplies for the forces -operating at and through Nashville, I was required to maintain a force -there, and I was often called there in discharge of my duties. Under -date of November 1, I received a letter from General Boyle enclosing -two orders from Major-General Wright, one placing under arrest and -ordering a court-martial for the major commanding a detachment of a -Wisconsin regiment stationed at Smithland, and the other ordering the -detachment to be sent away to another army. It appears that the major -enforced very little discipline and that the troops were inflicting all -kinds of outrages and terrorism on the residents. I was directed to -take with me one or more companies of Indiana troops for a garrison. -He added: "I think, if practicable, you had better go down in person -to Smithland. The citizens are apprehensive of an outbreak and great -wrongs to them, on finding that the Wisconsin troops are ordered off -and the major placed under arrest. You will take prompt and decisive -steps to prevent anything of the kind, even if you shall be under the -necessity of using the musket or bayonet for the purpose. Exercise -prudence but firmness." - -I encountered no difficulty in executing my orders. The major quietly -accepted his arrest, the disorderly troops were sent away, and the -garrison of a portion of my Sixty-fifth Regiment gave the citizens -assurance of order. - -Some time after this visit I was again called down to Smithland, but -for a very different reason. The emancipation of the slaves, brought -about by President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, was greatly -resented by many of the Union men of Kentucky. Upon the publication by -President Lincoln of the notice of his intended action on September -22, 1862, quite a number of the officers of Kentucky regiments in -the Federal army resigned their commissions and returned home. -Others, while remaining loyal to the Government, deeply regretted the -President's action, and General Boyle was among them. Large numbers of -slaves escaping through the lines from Tennessee sought refuge within -our encampments. In November, I received the following letter from -General Boyle: "Do not allow negro slaves to come into your lines. All -such must be turned out and kept out. Have nothing to do with negroes. -Let them go. You will see that your command attend to this matter. -I am anxious that Indiana troops especially have nothing to do with -slaves." - -I sought to have this order observed by my command, distasteful as it -was to many, and General Boyle commended me for my action, but called -attention to the non-observance of the order, especially at Smithland, -and asked me to give it my personal attention. I wrote my wife under -date of January 25, 1863: "I shall have to go down to Smithland again -to-morrow. Considerable complaint is made about Major Butterfield -on the negro question; Governor Robinson of Kentucky complaining -to General Boyle and the general referring the matter to me. This -eternal negro question is a perfect nightmare to our loyal Kentucky -patriots. We have to humor them amazingly. I try to act prudently, but -I sometimes get vexed and disgusted." - -I have already noticed various occupations in which I have been engaged -other than of a strictly military service. While in command of the -district of western Kentucky I was ordered to go with a suitable force -to the Cumberland River, midway between Smithland and Nashville, where -the rebels had obstructed navigation by sinking barges loaded with -stone in the channel. With vessels suited for the purpose, I spent -two weeks in cleaning the channel for navigation. I sent my wife a -Christmas greeting by telegraph from this point, reporting my success, -and also that we had captured thirty guerrillas. - -During the greater part of my service in Kentucky I had been much -hampered by the lack of a sufficient force of cavalry to enable me to -pursue and hunt down the guerrillas. After continued efforts in that -direction, I received the following Special Order from General Boyle's -headquarters. "Colonel John W. Foster is hereby authorized to mount the -Sixty-fifth Regiment Indiana Volunteers to be used as mounted infantry. -The Quartermaster's and Ordnance Departments will furnish the necessary -horses and horse equipments upon Colonel Foster's requisition." After -my regiment was mounted and fully equipped, I had little trouble in -clearing the country of guerrillas and giving peace to the Union -citizens. - -I was greatly grieved in January, 1863, to receive a letter from my -wife telling me of my father's failing health. He had always been a -devoted parent to his children, but he had doubly attached me to him at -the opening of the war in patriotically encouraging his boys to enter -the army, with the assurance that he would look after and care for -their families. He wrote me frequent letters, and no day passed without -a visit from him to my house to inquire for the health and needs of my -wife and child. I wrote my wife: "Your letter made me sad when I read -of father's poor health. I wish I was at home to comfort him somewhat -and to aid him in his business. You will do all you can to make his -time pleasant. He thinks much of you. Visit him often, and let Alice go -over to see him whenever he wants her or she wants to go, and teach her -to be affectionate to him. These little acts of kindness will gratify -him in his feeble health and declining years." - -My father's ill-health continued after the date of this letter, but I -was afforded the opportunity of visiting him several times and doing -what I could to comfort him in his last days. On April 13, 1863, he -passed away. An account of the manner in which he met death is recorded -in the "Biography of Matthew Watson Foster," pp. 81-83. - -Fortunately for the human race, our sorrows and our joys follow -each other, often in quick succession. Two weeks after the death of -my father, while on an expedition into the interior of my district -in pursuit of guerrillas, I received intelligence of the birth of -our second child, Edith. She was our "war baby," but she proved the -harbinger of peace. Blessed with a sweet and even temper from her -birth, she has spread peace and sunshine in her path through life. - -Although my field of military service was so near to my home, I did not -cease to long for the time when I might return to my family. Writing to -my wife on a Sabbath day, January 11, I say:-- - -"Oh, when will this terrible war be over, so that we may spend our -Sabbaths together as we have in the past, so peacefully, so pleasantly, -so profitably? It has always been one of my greatest privations in the -army that I was away from my family and Sabbath Church enjoyments. God -in his own good time will give us peace, and return us to our Christian -privileges and our home blessings. I can't help but wish I was at home, -and wish it every day, and that circumstances were such that I might -come with honor. I trust that time may come soon. But I do not want to -dishonor all I have done by leaving at present. I want first to see -the war looking toward its close." - -I wrote the following brief epistle to my wife in a jocose spirit: -"For the love I bear you, I herewith enclose to you the fruits of my -toil, danger, privations, and glory for the past two months, $381.65, -according to the estimate of my services by the paymaster." - -I have referred to the embarrassment and trouble which came to me -soon after I assumed command at Henderson by the condition of the -State elections and the rebel civil officials. Another annual election -occurred just before the close of my service in 1863, and I was -required by General Boyle to see that his orders were enforced. In -addition to the order that no one who was not _in all things_ loyal to -the State and Federal Governments should be allowed to be a candidate, -a further order was issued which made it the duty of the judges of -election to allow no one to vote unless he was known to them to be -an undoubtedly loyal citizen or unless he took the "iron-clad" oath -of loyalty prescribed by the State law. It was made the duty of the -military authorities to see that these orders were enforced. I did not -have a sufficient force to station a detachment at every voting-place, -but I scattered the military election proclamation broadcast, and had -a force at a number of the leading voting-places. - -In one of the Congressional districts within my command I had a -peculiar condition. The regular or State Union candidate was opposed -by a prominent citizen, who had stood by the Federal Government at the -beginning of the rebellion, had raised a Federal regiment, and had -fought gallantly at Donelson and Shiloh. But after the President's -announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation, he resigned from the -army and returned to Kentucky to array himself with the peaceful -opponents of the Administration. He was permitted to make a canvass -of his district without any interference by the military, and at the -election none of my command found it necessary to interpose. But the -fact was that many who would have supported him at the polls abstained -from voting because they were unwilling to take the "iron-clad" oath. -Although the State Union candidate received a decided majority of the -votes, his seat was contested by his opponent on the ground, among -others, of military interference with the election, and my name was -freely used in the debates; but the Union candidate was seated by -Congress. In the course of the debate, the Union candidate, referring -to the attacks upon me, said: "Colonel Foster's services protected all -that region of Kentucky, my home, the contestant's home, from rebel and -guerrilla outrage and depredation. Without those services the courts -could not have been held nor the laws administered in a large district -of country. He afterwards led a brigade with brilliant success in East -Tennessee. And the contestant will not forget that day on the banks -of Green River, when he and I waged a bloodless battle of words about -politics in stone's throw of where Foster and his gallant Hoosiers -stood in battle order, expecting John Morgan and his avalanche of -cavalry." - -During my year's service in Kentucky my command was frequently -disturbed and put in battle array by reports from time to time that the -rebel General Forrest or John Morgan was about to enter my district -with a large force of cavalry. These reports were so frequent and -unfounded that we became incredulous, but Morgan finally did come into -Kentucky with quite a formidable force. General Boyle early notified -me of his presence in the State, and that he might seek his way out by -crossing Green River and passing through my district into Tennessee; -and I was ordered to move my entire command to Green River, remove or -destroy all the boats, and give him battle if he came my way. - -But Morgan had other schemes on hand. At noon July 9, 1863, General -Boyle telegraphed me that Morgan had crossed the Ohio River into -Indiana some distance below Louisville with a cavalry force of four -thousand men. I was ordered to secure transports and put my command on -board to move up the river. At 9 P.M. the same night I received the -following from Boyle: "Morgan may deflect west and try Evansville. I -think he will move on New Albany. Gather your men, seize boats, and -come up river. Send out scouts on Indiana side to learn of enemy's -movement. Direct your movements accordingly. Attack and fight Morgan -wherever he can be met." About the same time I had telegraphic advices -from Governor Morton of Morgan's presence in Indiana, and that he was -likely to move toward Evansville. - -When I received these orders and the information that Morgan had -crossed the Ohio River into Indiana, in accordance with previous -instructions I was with my entire command on Green River awaiting an -expected attack from Morgan in that locality. I at once crossed Green -River on the night of the 10th _en route_ for the Ohio, but did not -reach its banks until the night of the 11th, by which time Morgan was -well on his way toward the State of Ohio. I was therefore not to share -in the pursuit of this noted raider. - -I returned with my command to Henderson and redistributed them at -various exposed places in my district. But this proved the end of my -military operations in Kentucky. General Burnside had been ordered -from the East to assume command of the Department of the Ohio, and was -preparing the concentration of his forces for a movement for the relief -of the loyal people of East Tennessee, and I felt sure my regiment -would be included. Hence I was not surprised to receive orders on the -7th of August, 1863, to move the Sixty-fifth Indiana Mounted Infantry -to Glasgow, from which place Burnside's movement was to begin. - -I was quite satisfied at this change. As early as February I had made -a visit to Louisville to ask General Boyle if he could not give me a -more active service. The guerrilla warfare which I was carrying on -was of a very unsatisfactory and unprofitable kind. My troubles with -the disloyal citizens and the civil duties as to officials and the -elections were not to my taste. As a soldier I longed to be relieved -from these unwelcome duties, and to bear my share in the real military -campaigns of the war. During my year's service in the district I had -received the warmest exhibitions of friendship from the Union citizens -of Henderson and that region. Being stationed so near to my home, my -wife often visited me, and these kind-hearted citizens always insisted -on making her their guest. I received various testimonials of their -esteem, among others a beautiful jeweled sword, sash, and belt. When -it became known that my regiment was to be ordered away, an earnest -petition was sent to General Boyle asking our retention, signed by all -the Union citizens, headed by ex-Governor and ex-Senator Dixon. - -Hon. Thomas E. Bramlette, Governor of the State of Kentucky, wrote -President Lincoln, asking that I might "be retained in western Kentucky -in charge of the defenses of that section. I have recently passed all -through western Kentucky and find from personal observation the immense -good which the vigilant and successful military guardianship of Colonel -Foster has done for that section." General Boyle, in a letter to the -Secretary of War, said: "I beg to say that Colonel J. W. Foster is one -of the most vigilant, active, and useful officers in the volunteer -army. He is a man of the first order of ability, with capacity to fill -almost any place in the service, and no man known to me has done better -service than Colonel Foster." - -In an editorial notice of some length the "Evansville Journal," in -noticing the departure of the Sixty-fifth Regiment, said:-- - -While we are glad the gallant boys of this excellent regiment are about -to be afforded an opportunity to engage in more active service, and to -see some of the excitement of war on its grander scale, yet we cannot -help regretting their departure from our vicinity. For a year past the -people along the border have felt that the Sixty-fifth was a wall of -safety, a mountain of rocks between them and the guerrillas. Colonel -Foster during his administration of affairs in the Green River region, -has won not only the admiration of the friends, but also the respect of -the enemies, of the Government. - - - - -VII -THE EAST TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN - - -No portion of the people of our country had shown more devotion to -the Union or suffered greater hardships on account of their loyalty -during the Civil War than the citizens of East Tennessee. Almost the -entire population of military age had fled over the mountains into -Kentucky and enlisted in the Federal army. And those who remained--the -old men, the women and the children--endured many privations and much -persecution. It had long been the desire of the Federal Government to -occupy East Tennessee with troops and free the loyal people from their -oppression, and President Lincoln in 1863 determined that this relief -should no longer be delayed. - -The army under General Burnside numbered approximately twenty thousand -men, a force which it was thought was sufficient for the purpose in -view of the fact that General Rosecrans with a much larger army was -moving from middle Tennessee toward Chattanooga and northern Georgia. -In a letter to my wife from Glasgow, dated the 18th of August, I say:-- - -"We arrived here yesterday. Found marching orders for this morning to -go to Burksville with our brigade. The brigade left this morning, but I -got permission to stay over to-day to shoe horses and more fully equip -the regiment. The indications are that the cavalry division will go -direct to Knoxville, after a few days' delay at Burksville." - -From Ray's Cross Roads, I write on the 20th:-- - -"We reached here yesterday. How many days we will remain I do not know. -We are anxious to move forward, wanting to get into East Tennessee -as soon as possible. I drilled my regiment to-day, had a good dress -parade, and made a very fine appearance. I think there is no regiment -in the corps that will make a better show. It attracts very general -attention. We are stopped here waiting for the supply trains to come -up. If it were not for the stomachs of men and horses an army could -accomplish wonders. Kiss little Edith for me and tell Alice her papa -thinks of her very often and loves her very much." - -A letter the next day from the same place says:-- - -"We leave at 11 A.M., camp to-night at Marrowbone, to-morrow at -Burksville, thence to Albany and Jamestown, Tennessee. I am well and -in good spirits. Do not be uneasy if you do not hear from me very -soon again, as we shall probably draw in our couriers and close our -line of communication to-morrow. The Twenty-third Army Corps has one -cavalry division of three brigades, each brigade consisting of four -regiments and one battery; also one independent brigade of cavalry. The -second brigade is the one in which is our regiment, and is commanded -by Brigadier-General Hobson. You see we have a very strong force of -cavalry, with which we can overrun the whole of East Tennessee and a -good part of North Carolina, if we can ever get through the gaps and -over the mountains, and can manage to take along with us our supply of -forage and rations. - -"General Hobson is absent from the brigade sick. I am the senior -colonel of the brigade, and in the absence of the general, I will be -entitled to command. Before I arrived, Colonel Graham, Fifth Indiana, -was commanding, and as I had even more than I could well attend to, and -as General Hobson was expected soon, I did not ask for the command, and -will not do so unless I learn that General Hobson will not be able to -join us soon. My regiment is the largest (and I think the best) in the -brigade, having eight hundred and fifty fighting men with us." - -On August 28, I wrote:-- - -"We have been here in the vicinity of Jamestown for a few days. We -are out of forage for our horses, and have to get green corn and what -hay, straw, and oats we can find, feeding them also on wheat and rye. -We are up on the top of the mountains, and the soil is very poor, the -farms small, and there is little forage of any kind; consequently, if -we stay here much longer we shall be driven to pretty close straits for -our horses and possibly for rations for ourselves. We are already short -and very little prospect of any soon, but as long as there is green -corn the men will not starve. The route from Glasgow is very hilly and -rugged, and we had great difficulty in getting our wagons over it. We -are now up on the level of the mountains where it is not so hilly. All -the country is very poor, and the only good features about it are that -it is healthy, has good water, and a goodly number of Union people. -I will take command of the brigade to-day, as General Hobson is still -sick at home. When we are so straitened for forage and rations the -responsibility is great and the task not a very desirable one." - -My next letter dated September 2, gave an account of our occupation of -Knoxville, the goal of our long march over the mountains:-- - -"Yesterday was the proudest day of my life. Sunday last Generals -Burnside and Curtis came up and a juncture of the forces was formed at -Montgomery. My brigade arrived at that place on Saturday in advance of -all other. On Sunday afternoon General Burnside sent for me to report, -and I received orders to move my brigade five miles to the front. This -seemed to indicate that I would be permitted to keep the advance and -we were all well pleased. But about daylight the First Cavalry Brigade -marched past us and out to the front on the Kingston road, and we had -no orders to move. At sunrise, the Third Cavalry Brigade (General -Shackelford) passed by and out to the front toward the reported enemy -on the Kingston road. I began to be impatient and somewhat disgusted. I -waited for two hours more very anxiously, but no marching orders came. - -"At nine o'clock Generals Burnside and Curtis, with their staffs and -escorts, came up and I thought then we were to go clear to the rear. -But they halted at my headquarters, came in, and after examining the -organization of my brigade, General Burnside held a private interview -with me, in which he told me he wanted me to take my brigade on the -Knoxville road and force Winter's Gap, which would flank the enemy -on the right and compel them to fall back, when, if matters went on -smoothly, he would give me orders to push right on to Knoxville. -Nothing could have suited me better. I would rather then have had -those orders than to have received the commission of a general. So -at 11 o'clock I formed my brigade, and, leaving every one of our -wagons behind, marched to Winter's Gap, arriving there at sundown and -occupied it, finding that the enemy had fled in the morning. I reported -promptly to General Burnside, and about four o'clock yesterday morning -I received orders to push on into Knoxville and occupy the town, -attacking any force of rebels which might be there. - -"We were in motion within an hour, and all along the road, as -everywhere heretofore in our march through East Tennessee, we were -received with the warmest expressions and demonstrations of joy. In the -morning I expected that I would not be able to take the town without -a fight, but as my brigade had been assigned the post of honor, I was -satisfied it would do its full duty. A few miles before we reached the -town we ascertained that the rebels had all left, the last of them -that morning. The Fifth Tennessee Cavalry, which was in the advance, -surrounded the town, and about four o'clock yesterday afternoon I -rode into town with the staff and escort, and such an ovation as we -received was never before during this war given to any army. The -demonstration beggars all description. Men, women, and children rushed -to the streets,--no camp-meeting shouting ever exceeding the rejoicing -of the women. They ran out into the streets shouting, 'Glory! Glory!' -'The Lord be praised!' 'Our Savior's come!' and all such exclamations. -The men huzzahed and yelled like madmen, and in their profusion of -greetings I was almost pulled from my horse. Flags long concealed were -brought from their hiding-places. As soon as I could get to a hotel -I was waited upon by the mayor (a true Union man) and a large number -of loyal men, prominent citizens, and they received me with heartiest -congratulations and welcome. All afternoon and into the night until the -provost guard sent all citizens to their homes the streets resounded -with yells, and cheers for the 'Union' and 'Lincoln.' A marked feature -of the loyalty of this section (so different from western Kentucky) is -that the people have no scruples about hurrahing for Lincoln,--they -recognize him as the leader and head of the Government. - -"It is stated that last night, after the occupation of the town, the -intelligence was communicated to the people throughout the country -by the firing of guns from place to place and by signal fires on the -mountains. And this morning the streets were crowded with people from -the country far and near, and such rejoicing I never saw before. How -they shouted and stood with uncovered heads beneath the old Stars and -Stripes. With what sincere welcome they met the soldiers. The mayor -of the city brought forth an immense flag, which he had kept, waiting -anxiously for the day when he could unfurl it. This was suspended early -this morning over Main (or Gay) Street, and at the sight of it the -people as they came in from the country yelled with a perfect frenzy -of delight. Early in the day a procession of ladies was formed, and -bearing two American flags, they marched down Main Street and under -the large flag, in order that they might fulfill a vow they made early -in the war that they would in a body march under the first American -flag raised in Knoxville. It does soldiers good to fight for such a -people. It is a labor of love. Every soldier in my brigade has been -paid a hundred times over since we came into East Tennessee for all our -hardships, short rations and exposures, by the hearty welcome of the -people. We can see upon their faces the recognition of the fact that we -have delivered them from a cruel bondage. - -"Although the rebels have for five days been removing their property, -we came upon the town so suddenly yesterday that we captured a large -amount of army property, five locomotives, a number of cars, and saved -the mills, foundry, railroad works, hospitals, and other army buildings -from burning. - -"_September 3._ - -"I went yesterday to visit the prison where the rebels kept the Union -men confined. It is a dirty, filthy, jail, hardly fit for the lowest -criminals. I saw the room in which Parson Brownlow was confined. On -the wall of it in large black letters is written,--'_Death to our -persecutors._' - -"When we came in on Tuesday the gallows was standing near the railroad, -at the edge of the town, where the Union men were dragged from the -jail and, contrary to all law and civilized warfare, hung like felons -for faithfulness to their Government. You will find something of this -in Brownlow's narrative. I rode over to see it as soon as I could on -the morning after we arrived, and to place a guard over it, but some -enraged soldiers and citizens had gone there before me and cut it down -and burnt it. I was sorry, because it was in a prominent place and I -wanted it preserved as a monument of the wickedness and cruelty of the -persecutors of these people. - -"We had this morning a fresh outbreak of patriotism. The news of the -Federal occupation of the town had by last night spread into the -adjoining counties, and the people flocked in from every direction. -A large delegation of men and women of all ages formed in long -procession (from Sevier County) and carrying the American flag, paraded -through the town and out to camp, and the town again ran wild with -patriotic joy. Men who had been hiding among the rocks and caves of -the mountains, and who had not seen each other for years or since the -rebellion broke out, stood grasping each other's hands beneath the -folds of the old flag, while tears streamed down their cheeks. I have -read of 'tears of joy,' but never saw so much of it as here. - -"But General Burnside and the rest of the army will be in town this -evening and I must get ready to receive them, so good-bye for the -present." - -In my letter of the 7th I gave an account of my first expedition out of -Knoxville:-- - -"A day or two after his arrival General Burnside sent for me to say -that he had received information which he thought was reliable to the -effect that the rebels had left the railroad up as far as Bristol, -on the Virginia line one hundred and thirty miles, in good condition -and unguarded; that at Bristol there was a round-house and a great -supply of locomotives and cars; and that it was very desirable to get -possession of this rolling-stock, if possible. He proposed that I make -up a train out of the rolling-stock I had captured on my occupation of -Knoxville and go up the railroad as far as I could do so safely, and -reach Bristol if possible. - -"It was a new business for me to go a-soldiering on a railroad train, -but I cheerfully undertook the expedition. I had to secure the -engineer and brakemen out of my own command, as there were none others -available. Putting three of the companies of the Sixty-fifth dismounted -on the train, we started out early in the afternoon, hoping to get over -a good part of the road before dark, but within ten miles of Knoxville -we encountered a small bridge burnt, but with the tools we had brought -with us some of our expert railroad men were able to arrange a -temporary crossing for the train. It was nearly dark when we reached -Strawberry Plains, only seventeen miles out, and here we stopped the -train, as I had learned that the President of the railroad lived here, -and he would probably be at home, as he had fled from Knoxville before -our arrival. I took a small guard with me to his house, where I found -him. I explained that our general had sent me on an expedition up -his road toward the Virginia line, and as we had no one on the train -who was familiar with the road, I should esteem it a great favor if -he would accompany us. Seeing the situation with my armed guard, he -accepted the invitation with the best grace possible, but as we moved -off the ladies of the household set up a fearful wailing, beseeching -me not to take him, as they felt sure he was going to his death, -notwithstanding I assured them that no harm should come to him. - -"After comfortably seating the President, I took post with the brigade -bugler on top of a pile of wood on the locomotive tender, and the -train moved off at slow speed in the darkness on the strange road, -without a stop until we reached Jonesboro, ninety-eight miles from -Knoxville, after midnight. Here our engineer, not being familiar -with the switches, ran the fore wheels of his locomotive off the -track. While a few of us dismounted to aid in getting on the track -again, I discovered that another train was lying on the track with a -lot of invalid Confederate soldiers, who told us the train had just -arrived that evening from Richmond. About the same time we heard a -great commotion in the town, with loud military commands indicating -the presence of troops. It was very dark and we were strange to the -locality, but I ordered out a platoon of soldiers, who fired a volley -or two in the direction of the noise, which was followed by a great -clatter of horses' hoofs. The next day, as we came back, the citizens -told us that the rebel troopers could be seen in all directions flying -away, some bareback, others without firearms or hats. It proved to be -a detachment of Confederate cavalry stationed in the town. - -"At Jonesboro we learned from the station employees that another train -would be due from Richmond about eight o'clock in the morning. Thirteen -miles above that place the railroad crossed the Watauga River, where -there was a rebel blockhouse or fort protected by artillery, and which -we learned was garrisoned. Our only hope of getting to Bristol was -to capture the incoming train and rush our own train unawares into -the fort and take the garrison by surprise. So after leaving a guard -in charge of the train found at Jonesboro, we moved up quietly about -day-break to the first station this side of the fort, surrounded the -town with orders to allow no one to pass out, and we lay quietly in -ambush waiting for the train. Sure enough, it came along on time and -we were greatly elated. But just before it got within gunshot of -our ambush, it whistled down the brakes, stopped, and instantly ran -backwards at full speed and whistling into the fort. Some one had -given them a warning signal, and the fort was at once notified of our -presence. With that our expedition to Bristol came to an end. General -Burnside had been misinformed. The railroad above Knoxville was not -only guarded but was in use from Richmond. - -"Our return journey was uneventful except that, as we neared Jonesboro, -some of the soldiers we had scattered had quite dexterously loosened -a rail and slightly displaced one end at a sharp curve in the road -on a down grade, which tumbled our locomotive down an embankment and -disabled it. Several of the soldiers were bruised and the railroad -President got a few slight scratches on his face. Fortunately we had -the captured locomotive, and with it we took all the cars back to -Knoxville. Our return was on Sunday, and as the news of our passing up -in the night had got noised about, the whole country turned out in gala -dress and with flags to welcome us." - -My next letter is from Greenville, seventy-four miles above Knoxville -on the railroad, the home of Andrew Johnson, afterwards President of -the United States. It is dated September 12:-- - -"I have my brigade at this place, as also the One Hundred and Third -Ohio Infantry assigned to my command and stationed here as a provost -guard. Generals Burnside and Hartsuff (corps commander) have been -very pleasant and kind and are disposed to do everything they can -for me. They promise to send me on an expedition by way of Bristol -into Virginia to destroy the Salt Works, probably the most important -movement left in East Tennessee. I am in very good health and spirits." - -We were still at Greenville on September 16. My chief trouble seemed -to be with the mails. I had not heard from home for nearly a month. I -write my wife:-- - -"It has been so long since I have heard from you. How I would -appreciate a letter to-day from my dear wife, telling me about our -family affairs, that she was well, that our dear little children were -well, giving me some of the sayings and doings of my little Alice, to -have some news from Evansville and the families there. If it had not -been that I had so very much to do and such great responsibilities -resting upon me that kept me actively employed, I should have been -lonely, indeed. When I go a-soldiering again I want it along a river or -railroad so I can get some communication with the outer world _and my -wife_. - -"I am glad to assure you that in this long interval of suspense I have -been in good health and I think discharging my duties to the entire -satisfaction of my superior officers. I am very well satisfied at being -ordered away from Henderson and placed in active service. It has given -me a very prominent and choice command, and brought me in close contact -with the commanding generals of the army. During the past three weeks -I have been in close and intimate relationship with Generals Burnside -and Hartsuff, and acting directly under their orders. - -"We have been for a week at this place in front of an army of rebels -at Jonesboro twenty miles above here, momentarily expecting an attack. -I think that within a few days we will make a movement that will -completely drive them out of Tennessee. If so you may expect to hear of -the Second Brigade dashing away up onto the sacred soil of Virginia. I -have a very good brigade of near three thousand effective men. For the -present I am holding this position with my brigade and two regiments -of infantry till General Burnside comes up with the army which is on -the way. Several times a day I am called to the telegraph office for -conversations over the wires with General Burnside on the situation at -the front and he freely calls for my views as to movements. He is a -very kind-hearted and pleasant gentleman, and willing to give every -officer his full share of credit. I write thus freely to my wife of -these matters because she will be interested to know them and to her it -will not appear boasting or self-praise. - -"I wish I had time to prepare a letter for the friends at home on -the state of affairs in East Tennessee, and give a simple narrative -of facts as to what the Union men have suffered. Such cruelty, such -oppression, and heartless wrong has no parallel at least on this -continent. It may have been equaled by the barbarians of Europe. No -wonder that the people receive us with tears and perfect ecstasy of -rejoicing and unbounded enthusiasm. The rejoicing and demonstrations I -have witnessed will be probably the brightest of my reminiscences of -the war. No wonder these people have wept tears of joy at the sight -of the old flag, for it has brought to them freedom from a tyrannical -oppression. It was the happiest epoch of my life to first carry that -flag into Knoxville, and to bear it in the advance along up this valley -for more than a hundred miles, and receive the welcome of the loyal -people. And I hope in a few days to have the honor to say that we have -driven the enemy entirely beyond the borders of the State. - -"At our advance men have come to us all bleached and weak, who have -been hiding in the rocks and caves and in pits away from the light -of day for months. Men have been chased through the mountains for -conscription in the rebel service, and a bounty offered for their -arrest or death. Women have been driven from their homes, and their -houses and their all were burnt before them, because their husbands -were in the Union army. The scaffolds were to be seen where loyal -men were hung for suspicion of bridge-burning without any trial -whatever. The tales of cruelty and wrong which I have heard go to make -up a history of tyranny which will be the blackest record of this -slaveholders' rebellion. - -"There is a valley over the line in North Carolina about twenty-five -miles from this place, just under the shadow of the Great Smoky -Mountains, almost shut out from the world. The valley along the -creek is rich and inhabited by a bold but simple race of men. These -men, partaking of the true spirit of the mountains, were true and -unalterably attached to the Government, and no bribes or threats -could induce them to go into the Southern army. There was but a small -community of them and they were unanimous. When the conscripting -officers came to take them into the army by force and the foragers -to carry off their horses and provisions, they met them along the -mountain-sides with their squirrel-rifles and drove them back; it was -almost worth a Confederate officer's life to venture into the valley. -Finally they sent a large force of cavalry and Indians among them and -drove the mountaineers before them. They fled to their hiding-places -and none of the men fit for military duty could be found. The cavalry -gathered up all their horses and cattle. The women and children, old -men and boys, were left at home, thinking them safe from conscription. -The savage traitors drove the families from their houses and burnt -them and everything in them. But this was not all. The old men, the -women, and children were driven out of the valley and made to walk -on foot over the mountains and down to Greenville. Old and prominent -citizens of this place have told me that it was the most pitiable sight -they ever beheld. A stout-hearted and manly citizen in talking to me -about it could not restrain the tears, saying that he never related the -circumstances without tears, because it brought the sight so vividly -before him. Women came carrying children in their arms, with other -little ones barefooted and almost naked clinging to their skirts. -There were women of all ages and children driven like sheep before the -soldiers. There were women in a most delicate situation who were made -to walk with the rest; if the suffering were the greater the punishment -was the more appropriate. They were brought to the railway station -and kept over night, and it was the determination of General (called -'Mudwall' in contradistinction to 'Stonewall') Jackson in command here -to send them over the Cumberland Mountains to Kentucky. Governor Vance -of North Carolina heard of the brutal proceeding in time, and declared -that women and children should not be banished from his State so long -as he was its governor, and they were ordered to be returned. - -"Since then these men of the Laurel Valley have been the wild men of -the mountains. Their homes have been in the caves and cliffs of the -rocks, and woe to the rebel soldier who came within range of their -rifles. The most vigorous measures have been taken to ferret them out, -but few of them have ever been caught, their hiding-places and their -daring were a good protection. A company of them twice attempted to -break through and cross the Cumberland Mountains to join the Union army -in Kentucky, but were driven back before they could get out of East -Tennessee. Day before yesterday a company of over fifty of these brave -men came over from the mountains and asked me for help. An old man, -who was the spokesman and the wise man of the valley, said they were a -poor, ignorant, wild set of 'cusses' who didn't know much but devotion -to the flag of their country and how to shoot. He asked me to give them -a little good advice and _some guns_. I could not refuse the latter, at -least. I gave them the arms and sent them home, and a merciful God will -have to protect the savages who have murdered their fathers, plundered -their farms, burnt their houses, and driven their wives and mothers -from their homes, for these men with their muskets will not remember -mercy. - -"This is no fancy sketch or exaggerated story of the war. It is the -plain, unvarnished truth, to be vouched for by hundreds of citizens of -Greenville. Could you have believed that such atrocity could have been -committed in the land of Washington? This same General Jackson is now -in front of us, and I have been asking General Burnside for days to let -my brigade after him, but he withholds for the present. It will not be -many days before I shall try to capture him or drive him out of East -Tennessee, I hope forever." - -The expedition from which I had so greatly longed to drive out the -rebel General Jackson, and which General Burnside had promised, did -not come off. General Rosecrans had suffered a severe repulse at -Chickamauga, and Burnside was ordered to give him what support he -could. This brought all of Burnside's plans above Knoxville to a dead -halt. Bragg's rebel cavalry was reported to have crossed the Tennessee -River and was threatening Rosecrans's rear, and all of Burnside's -cavalry was ordered to follow up Bragg's movement. My next letter -was written at Knoxville, October 1, to which place I had come with -my brigade. On arrival here I was still without letters from home. I -had attempted to telegraph, but could get no replies. Apparently my -disconsolate condition had worked upon General Burnside's sympathy, -as he sent a telegram in his own name inquiring about the whereabouts -and health of my wife, which soon brought an answer that she was at -Evansville and "all well." How this news was received is told in the -letter:-- - -"You can hardly imagine how gratifying it is to me to know to-night -that my dear wife and children are well, from whom I am so far -separated. I can go to-morrow to execute the orders of the general with -much more alacrity that I now know that you are well and at home. - -"Aside from its inaccessibility for the mails, I find East Tennessee -a very pleasant country to be in. The Union people are very kind and -friendly, the climate is very healthy, and the valley of East Tennessee -one of the most beautiful in America. I tell the people here that if -we can get peace again and they will abolish slavery, I would like -very well to come and live with them. I have been very kindly and -considerately treated by them. Being in the advance all the time, I -have been the first to make their acquaintance, and they consequently -know me better than others. I need not live in camp at all while about -Knoxville. I have been here now four days and have had only one meal in -camp. The society of the Union people of Knoxville is very pleasant and -quite cultivated. - -"But my visits to Knoxville are only pleasant episodes in my military -life. Cavalry must be active. I am off again. The brigade left -to-night for Loudon, starting at dark in a pitiless rain, and it -has been raining ever since. General Burnside had me wait over here -to-night that he might confer with General Shackelford and me as to -my movements, and he will give me a special train in the morning for -myself and staff. He has invited me to come in the morning and take -breakfast with him, when the matter will be definitely settled and I -will be off. Bragg's cavalry has crossed over to the north side of -Tennessee River, threatening Rosecrans's rear and communications, and -we must do something to checkmate them if possible. I have a good -brigade and the general is disposed to give me work to do. General -Shackelford commands our division now, and is very kind and partial to -me." - -My next letter was written from Knoxville October 4:-- - -"I wrote you three nights ago. Then my brigade had been ordered to -Loudon, and I was only remaining behind to get the last and special -instructions of the general before going myself, expecting to be off -in the morning, but I am still here and my brigade at Loudon. Every few -hours I have been expecting definite orders, and something transpires -to prevent it. During the last few days I have been getting a pretty -good insight into the inner workings of our military affairs. I have -been in General Burnside's private room daily and frequently, in -conference with him and other generals, and know something about the -interference of Washington City. - -"The plans were all laid, my guides were selected, the rations were all -issued, my brigade was ready and waiting, and in a short time I was to -be off on a grand raid into Georgia in rear of Bragg's army, tear up -the railroad system of the State, and alarm the rebels generally, when -orders were received from General Halleck that raids into Georgia are -not now contemplated, and all that is stopped. Probably you will thank -General Halleck for that. It may have made me a general. It may have -run me into Libby Prison. But it was a great disappointment to me and -I think to the general. - -"I have seen more of General Burnside than any of our generals, and -I regard him as one of the best of men, a pure patriot, a just man, -and, I hope, a Christian. Let me give you an instance. Yesterday -evening everything was ready for a general movement of his whole -army. I telegraphed my brigade at Loudon to be ready to move at two -o'clock this morning; the forces at Cumberland Gap were notified to be -in readiness; it appeared a matter of importance that we should be -off. I went up to his room last night to get my final instructions. -The general said he believed we would wait a day, as he forgot about -to-morrow being Sunday. He said he always felt a disinclination to -commence a movement on Sunday, and he would not do it, unless he should -learn during the night that it was very urgent. So to-day we have a -quiet Sabbath, the only one since we left Kentucky. It is very pleasant -to me and doubtless is to the whole army." - -It turned out that Bragg's cavalry was not a severe menace to Rosecrans -and my brigade was recalled from Loudon and we moved up into Virginia -as a part of the general movement just indicated. In a fight near -Bristol the Sixty-fifth Regiment lost four killed and thirteen wounded, -and had another fight at Jonesboro, from which place the letter of -October 18 is written:-- - -"We have just returned from a fatiguing march into Virginia. We have -succeeded in driving the enemy away from Zollicoffer, having another -fight at Blountsville, and destroying the Virginia Railroad for ten -miles, but I have no time now to write about it. I have stood the last -two weeks' campaign remarkably well and continue in the best of health. -I enjoy the cavalry service very much, only lately we have had a little -too much of a good thing. During the past five weeks we have been -continuously on the march, with a number of sharp fights. But we have -now a prospect of a few days' rest. If I get it I will improve it to -write you a good long letter, but the enemy may interfere with my plans -any day. This is likely to be our outpost station until Rosecrans and -Bragg settle affairs below. - -"How often and how much I desire to be at home with the dear ones and -families of relations and friends. As we rode along through the mud and -rain to-day I thought of home and what a pleasure it would be for me -to be with you all at home. But I must content myself, believing I am -in the line of duty and pray that a kind Providence may bring me home -at an early day. I have always believed that God is doing his will and -accomplishing his purposes of right and freedom in this war, and if I -can be one of the instruments in his hands of accomplishing a portion -of this work we should be content. Kisses in abundance to my darling -little children. Does my little Alice talk much about her papa? Tell -her he thinks all the time about her." - -Extract from letter of October 25:-- - -"I wrote you a few days ago, just as I was starting on a reconnoissance -toward Bristol. We found no enemy nor heard of any this side of -Abingdon, Virginia, in any force. We had a very disagreeable march, -raining most of the time, very hard on both men and horses. Our -campaigning has been very hard and tiresome, though I have stood it -myself very well, in fact better than if we had less active duty; but -it has tried the mettle of our brigade. We have run our horses nearly -down, a large number of the men are dismounted, and more than half of -the rest have horses that will not stand a march of any length. The -Sixty-fifth came out with eight hundred and fifty men; there are now in -camp about six hundred. The marching, rain storms, short rations, and -especially the whistling of bullets and ball have driven a number of -our officers out of the service. - -"But I fear the worst of our campaigning is yet to come. It is becoming -a serious question how we are to sustain our army in East Tennessee -this winter. There is enough bread and meat, but the men have no winter -clothing, and unless it comes soon it cannot get over the mountains. -Winter will soon be upon us, with muddy roads and swollen rivers. We -have just started a train of wagons from our division over to Kentucky -for clothing and supplies, but I do not expect to see it short of six -weeks, if ever. We had been hoping to get railroad communication open -by way of Chattanooga, but the disaster to Rosecrans has at least -postponed that. Just now I am anxious to get over into North Carolina -with my brigade, but military movements are very uncertain and most -likely I shall be disappointed." - -On the 29th of October I wrote again:-- - -"General Shackelford had a report of the advance on us of an army of -eighteen thousand and out of due precaution ordered us to fall back -eighteen miles, but this morning matters look as if we ran too soon -from an invisible enemy. It will not surprise me if we are ordered back -to our old camp at Jonesboro. It will suit me very well if we are, -for I may then have a chance to make my contemplated raid over the -mountains into North Carolina. I am anxious to get over there to see -the people. The trip would take us through the Blue Ridge." - -I quote from a letter of November 1:-- - -"I wrote in my last how we got down here, how we ran from Sancho -Panza's windmills. We are still here. We had orders to march and were -all ready an hour before daylight yesterday morning, when the orders -came countermanding the marching. We were to go back to Jonesboro. We -are having a delightful day and a very quiet and most welcome Sabbath. -I have been reading 'The Words and Mind of Jesus,' and I got hold of -an 'Independent,' which was quite a treat, as I don't often see any -religious paper here. I went over to the house of Mr. Henderson (the -leading citizen of this place) and found he had quite a good religious -library; plenty of Presbyterian works. I told him he appeared to be -sound religiously, if not politically; he is considerable of a rebel. - -"We have been enjoying our rest of late very much, and if we were not -stirred out every little while with reports of large rebel forces right -upon us, we could get more real enjoyment out of it. This evening a -citizen (a _reliable_ one, of course) reports the enemy advancing in -force. To-morrow an equally reliable and _intelligent_ one will know -that there are none this side of the Holston River. If Willie were out -here he would see a great deal more about soldiering than he used to -see at Henderson." - -In my letter of November 8 I give an account of a bold dash of the -rebels to Rogersville, which routed a Federal force stationed there, -and captured four hundred and four guns:-- - -"General Wilcox, who was in command in upper Tennessee, when he got -the report of the fight from the scared fugitives, became alarmed for -fear the enemy would get in our rear, and he caused a general retreat -of the whole army. Our cavalry and all marched all Friday night and -till late in the morning of Saturday, and abandoned the whole country -for eighteen miles below Greenville, thus giving up all we had gained. -And all without reason, for as it turned out while we were marching all -night one way the rebels were retreating with their booty and prisoners -the other! Where we will go next I do not know, but I hope right back -and occupy the country clear up to the Virginia line. We can do it -without difficulty. - -"The whole cavalry force of Burnside's army has been formed into a -cavalry corps and placed in command of General Shackelford. The corps -is composed of two divisions. Our brigade is in the Second Division. -It would be commanded by Colonel Carter, if present, but he may be -absent for some weeks, and I have been assigned to the command of this -division. It will be a very nice command and quite complimentary to me." - -I may state that I remained in command of this division of cavalry -during the remainder of my service in Tennessee. I extract from my -letter of November 13:-- - -"Major Brown and nine men of the Sixty-fifth are about leaving for a -recruiting service in Indiana, and I send this letter by him. I told -Major Brown that I did not know that I could say I wished (as he) that -I too was going home, but I could say with emphasis that I wished the -war was over and that I was going home to return no more. This going -home to stay a week or two and then come back, tear away from home and -all its dear attachments, is worse than the first departure. I can't -say that when the campaign is pretty well over I may not apply for a -leave of absence; but when I think of the parting from home again and -the long muddy winter ride across the mountains, I begin to balance the -matter. When I come home I want it to be my last 'leave.' When shall -that be? I am too great a lover of my little wife, my darling children, -and my happy home to make a good soldier, at least a professional -soldier. How sweetly you wrote in your last letter of our little -Alice praying her evening prayer for her absent papa. I believe He -who noticeth the fall of a sparrow will hear and answer the prayer of -innocence and childhood, and bring me home in safety that I may be the -guardian of our dear family." - -My letter of November 14 reports an unfavorable change in the situation -in East Tennessee. General Bragg commanding the rebel forces in front -of Chattanooga, feeling that he had Rosecrans's army safely besieged, -dispatched Longstreet, one of the ablest of the Confederate generals, -with his army corps to capture or drive out Burnside. It is to that -situation my letter refers:-- - -"The intelligence this afternoon from Knoxville was rather ominous of -evil to us. General Wilcox telegraphs me that the enemy have forced -the right bank of the river below Loudon, that General Burnside had -gone down to-day, and that if the enemy were too strong for our forces -there we would have to look out for a retreat to the gaps in the -Cumberland Mountains. Our line of march would be to Cumberland Gap, and -I am notified that I with my division will have the important work of -guarding the approaches to this route, down the valleys of the Holston, -Clinch, and Powell Rivers, and also keeping open the communication -with General Burnside on our right to Knoxville. We will know more -definitely to-night or to-morrow. - -"I hope and pray that we may not be driven to that dire necessity. -In proportion as our joy was great in the occupation of this country -would our regrets be deep at being compelled to abandon it. But I have -hope that to-morrow will bring the welcome intelligence that our army -below has driven the enemy back over the river. It would be with a sad -and heavy heart that I turned my back upon the loyal people of East -Tennessee. I have confidence that God does not will it so." - -When my next letter November 22 was written from Tazewell, on the -route to Cumberland Gap, Burnside had been besieged for a week by -Longstreet:-- - -"We are lying quiet here, just out of hearing of the fighting -that is raging at Knoxville. Our messengers from Knoxville report -Burnside holding out heroically. I have little time to write and less -inclination, even to my dear wife. I am heart-sick and gloomy, though -not discouraged. General Burnside, the best man of the generals I know, -and a gallant army have been beleaguered at Knoxville for a week, and -are still fighting manfully. We are almost powerless to do him any -good, but I have asked General Wilcox to let me take my cavalry and -support me at the fords of Clinch River with his infantry, and I would -make at least one vigorous effort to break the rebel lines and raise -the siege. He is at the Gap. General Burnside ordered him to look out -for his line of retreat and at all events to hold Cumberland Gap. This -he is in a position to do." - -I wrote the 26th from Cumberland Gap, where I had come to try to get -horses:-- - -"We have no news from General Burnside direct since the 23d, when -he said he could hold out ten days, that his position was a strong -one, and we are hopeful of his success for Grant at Chattanooga will -push vigorously against Bragg. I will be off in the morning to harass -the enemy. I shall make my headquarters at Tazewell, and send my old -brigade over Clinch River toward Knoxville to stir up the enemy a -little, and try to divert them from Burnside. Our cavalry is in such -wretched condition it is almost impossible to do anything, the horses -worn out, without shoes, and with very little forage. I regret it -exceedingly when so much is expected of us and needed. General Wilcox -is ordered to keep his infantry near the Gap and send my cavalry out -toward the enemy to gather information and annoy them." - -I wrote again on the 29th when we had just heard of Grant's victory at -Chattanooga, but were without information of the gallant defense of -Fort Stevens and the bloody repulse of the rebels at Knoxville:-- - -"We have no news except the glorious victory of Grant's army, and -we are hoping to see its effect in the deliverance of Burnside. The -enemy seek to starve him into a surrender. I sent out yesterday my -old brigade to go down toward Knoxville and feel out the enemy. I am -getting a little anxious about them as there was cannonading heard -below and I have had nothing from them since they left. It would be a -serious affair for me to have my old brigade captured. - -"We are having rather a hard time to live, subsisting entirely upon the -country. Our cavalry get along better than the infantry; the latter -have been for days without flour or meal. Twenty-five cents have been -refused for a cup full of corn. Parched corn is a luxury. But we are -hoping for better times in a few days. The men bear it manfully." - -In my letter of December 4, in acknowledging receipt of a late letter -from my wife, I reply:-- - -"I wish very much I could be at home to enjoy with you the -entertainments you write about, but I shall have to forego all these -pleasures, and live on corn-bread and pork, cold nights, muddy roads, -and occasional skirmishing. I don't know when I can promise you to -come home, but not while the enemy is before us, as now. I think a few -days hence will see them driven away. I mentioned in my last letter -sending the Second Brigade down to the vicinity of Knoxville. They were -attacked by the whole of Longstreet's cavalry and pressed back. They -gave the enemy a severe fight, killing and wounding a considerable -number of them. Our losses were a few taken prisoners, four killed and -thirty wounded. Our men did bravely. My whole division will try it -again to-morrow. We expect Sherman, who was sent up by Grant after his -victory to relieve Burnside, will reach Knoxville to-morrow, when if -Longstreet has not retreated there must be a severe battle. We want to -be near at hand with our cavalry. I would have been there two or three -days ago with my whole division, but have been constantly held back by -General Wilcox." - -Sometime before the siege of Knoxville General Burnside had asked to be -relieved of the command of the department, and General John G. Foster -(of New Hampshire) of the Eastern army had been appointed to succeed -him. He arrived at my headquarters while the siege was in progress. -In this letter writing about a leave to come home, I refer to General -Foster:-- - -"If matters quiet down here there is a probability that I may come -this winter, but nothing certain; a man in the army can't go when he -pleases. If General Burnside had remained, I think I would have had -no difficulty, but it is uncertain as to General Foster, how strict -he will be. I have been with him here for three or four days, being -frequently consulted by him as to movements, the country, etc., and -have been quite intimate at his headquarters. He is quite a Yankee and -not so agreeable in his manners as Burnside, but withal he may make a -good commander. But there is no man like Burnside for this department -with his soldiers. I especially will regret his leaving." - -The day after I wrote my last letter, Longstreet retreated from -Knoxville (December 5) up the valley toward the Virginia line, and the -next day (the 6th) General Sherman reached Knoxville. On December 10 I -wrote:-- - -"Bean Station, where we are now camped, you will find on most maps of -Tennessee. It is ten miles from Morristown on the road to Cumberland -Gap, just at the foot of the Clinch mountains, forty-two miles from -Knoxville. We have followed the enemy this far up from Knoxville. From -Tazewell I joined the Second Brigade near Knoxville. Colonel Graham -of that brigade reported that an encampment of the enemy was over the -mountain about five miles, so I sent him over, had a skirmish, captured -a captain, several prisoners, and seventy-five horses, and drove them -clear over Clinch Mountain. Since then we have followed the enemy in -their retreat, skirmishing with their rear guard all the way. I doubt -whether we shall push the enemy much farther, as it will be difficult -to get supplies." - -The siege of Knoxville was one of the most gallant events on the -Federal side during the Civil War. Burnside with an inferior force -successfully sustained a siege of twenty days, resisting the assaults -of the enemy with comparatively small losses, endured short rations, -and by the heroism of his command saved East Tennessee to the Union. -The result gave great joy to all loyal men, and President Lincoln -issued a proclamation, calling on the people "to render special homage -to Almighty God for this great advancement of the National cause," and -Congress thanked Burnside and his army. General Grant in his "Memoirs" -says: "The safety of Burnside's army and the loyal people of East -Tennessee had been the subject of much anxiety to the President, and he -was telegraphing me daily, almost hourly, to 'remember Burnside,' 'do -something for Burnside,' and other appeals of like tenor." In my letter -of December 10, I say: "Burnside goes out of this Department with the -admiration of the whole army. His defense of Knoxville was glorious, -and his goodness of heart and purity of character endear him to all who -know him." Years after, while Minister to Mexico, I visited Washington -at the time when Burnside was a Senator from his State, and received -from him much social attention in recognition of our army friendship. - -From Bean Station I wrote again on December 13:-- - -"We are still at this place, from which I last wrote you, being -comparatively quiet. We daily send out reconnoissances toward -Rogersville and Morristown. They generally meet the enemy nine and -twelve miles out, have a pretty sharp skirmish, lose a few men killed -and wounded, and then return to camp. The enemy do not appear to be -retreating, or rather appear to have stopped retreating. My health -continues very good, and I am in good spirits, only I get quite -homesick at times. I will get home as soon as I can, but the prospect -for doing so is not very flattering." - -In a hurried visit to Knoxville I wrote on the 23d of December:-- - -"As I got to thinking about home, I said to General Foster that when -my services could be dispensed with, I would like to take a leave of -absence. He says he cannot think of letting me go for ten days or two -weeks, but hopes at the expiration of that time that the exigencies of -the service will permit him to let me go home. That means that I may -probably go home if the enemy will let me. Don't fix your heart on my -coming soon. It will be as soon as I can consistently." - -This is my Christmas letter:-- - -"I can do nothing better to-night than to write you a letter by way of -a Christmas present. We have to-day unexpectedly had a quiet, if not -a Merry Christmas, though it did not appear last night as though it -would be so. About 3 P.M. yesterday I received orders (in camp near -Blain's Cross-Roads) to move over at once and join General Sturgis at -New Market, where the main body of the cavalry are. We got off about -sunset, but did not arrive here till midnight, having to ford the -Holston and travel over a very bad road. How longingly I thought of -what you and the dear ones at home might be doing at that hour as I -marched along in the clear, stinging cold night. - -"After the cold and cheerless ride we fortunately got into comfortable -quarters, and have been quiet to-day, enjoying the rest and comfort. -We improvised a pretty good Christmas dinner. Among the delicacies we -don't get often, we had eggs and butter. We are not living in excellent -Epicurean style just now, as the country is pretty well eaten out. - -"I cannot see any prospect of our getting into winter quarters, such -as the papers report the Army of the Potomac and of the Cumberland are -enjoying. The climate of East Tennessee is very similar to that of -Indiana, and the men are very scantily supplied with 'dog' or shelter -tents and many have not even these to cover them. My commands since we -came into East Tennessee have been on one continuous campaign without -cessation. Up the country, over the mountains, across the rivers, down -the valley, then up again, driving the enemy before us, then falling -back, to drive the enemy up the valley again--thus we have been for -four months, until we have run down our horses and about half of our -men. But we are enduring it very well, still after the rebels with as -much zest as ever. There is a vast deal of excitement in the cavalry -service." - -My last letter to my wife from East Tennessee was written on the last -day of 1863, which I began with a prayer:-- - -"Let us not forget to thank our dear Heavenly Father for all His -mercies of the past year. Oh, how good He has been to us, even with -all our troubles! How little we have done in our lives to repay that -goodness! May He make us more worthy of His mercies and blessing in the -New Year, and may He preserve our lives that we may together meet and -praise Him. To His watchful care I commit my dear wife and little ones. - -"I last wrote you from New Market. I was enjoying a quiet rainy -Sunday there, reading some good book I found at the house where I was -quartered, when about noon I received orders for my division to move -forward and attack the enemy and drive him back from Mossy Creek. It -was an unwelcome order that rainy Sabbath, but we executed it, and -after considerable skirmishing took up a new line two miles beyond -Mossy Creek. Yesterday Colonel Wolford's division and mine were ordered -out at three o'clock in the morning to Dandridge, where it was reported -a division of rebel cavalry was encamped. We went, but found the enemy -had left the night before, and we returned at 4 P.M. just in time -to miss a nice little fight at Mossy Creek. The enemy attacked our -outposts at 11 A.M. and drove our troops back two miles, but ours in -turn drove them back again beyond our lines. It is not often that my -men have the fortune, or misfortune, to miss the fighting, as we did -yesterday. - -"We have here our entire force of cavalry, and one brigade of infantry. -The rest of the army is at Strawberry Plains and Blain's Cross-Roads. -Longstreet is reported at Morristown with the main body of his army. -I suppose General Foster intends to drive him away from there, if -possible, how soon I don't care because I want to come home as soon as -the fighting here is over, and take a little rest with my dear wife and -darling little girls." - -I may venture, before closing my East Tennessee correspondence, to -give in part the last of these letters, as a specimen of letters to a -soldier's child, written on January 1, 1864:-- - -"Why should I not write a letter this New Year's Day to my dear little -Alice? I am so far away I can't give you any nice present; all I can do -is to try to write you a good letter.... - -"What have you and Lillie and the other little children been doing -to-day? And did you have a Christmas tree and a happy time then? Papa -has not had much of a New Year's Day. It has been so cold, oh so very -cold to-day. Was it cold at home? I could tell you a story about the -cold. Would you like papa to tell you a little story in his letter? Do -you still like to hear stories? Well, I can tell you part of it, and -mamma can tell it over to you and _fill it up_. - -"Papa, you know, is away off, out in the mountains, so far away from -home, in the army, and you know there are so many poor soldiers in the -army. Yesterday, the last day of the old year, was such a gloomy day, -it was so muddy and wet and rainy. And then last night it blew so hard -and rained so much; it was like a hurricane (get mamma to tell you what -that is). And the poor soldiers have no houses to live in, like little -Alice, with nice warm beds, and they don't have large tents like you -saw out in the woods near home last summer when Uncle Jimmy and the -rest of the boys and men were out soldiering. They have to live in the -fields and woods, and their tents are like grandma's tablecloth, only -smaller, and they stretch that up over a pole and it is open at both -ends, and at night two or three or four of them get down on their hands -and knees and crawl into it and pull their blankets over them when -they go to bed. The soldiers call them 'dog-tents.' Ask Lillie if she -thinks it would be good enough for her 'Trip.' Well, last night, after -many of the soldiers had been marching in the rain, and when most of -them were wet and their blankets wet, they built large fires, but they -wouldn't burn well because it was too wet, and they crawled into the -'dog-tents,' and were trying to get to sleep when the naughty wind -commenced to blow and it began again to rain, and the rain would blow -on their heads and they would draw them further into their tents, and -then it would rain on their feet, and pretty soon there came up such -a hurricane that it blew all their tents clear off of them, and there -they were lying on the muddy ground, and the cold rain pouring down -on them. And they all had to get up out of bed. It had rained so hard -that it put all their fires nearly out so they couldn't get warm. Poor -soldiers, don't you pity them? - -"Some of the soldiers were out, away off in the dark woods on that -terrible night on _picket_ (get Willie or Uncle Aleck to tell you what -that is). And they had to sit all night on their poor horses away out -by themselves with their guns in their hands and swords by their sides, -watching to keep the wicked rebels from slipping into camp in the dark -night and killing your poor papa and the rest of the soldiers. After a -while the rain stopped, but the wind kept blowing and whistling through -the trees and over the mountains and making such a terrible noise. -You can hear it whistle around the corner of grandmamma's house, but -it moans and whistles so much louder out here over the mountains, it -might frighten little girls if they did not know what it was. Soon the -wind began to change around toward the north where Jack Frost lives and -from where the white snow comes, and the rain began to freeze, and the -ground got hard, and it was so cold, oh bitter cold. The poor soldiers -could sleep no more that night, their blankets were all frozen stiff -as an icicle, and they had to build great big fires to keep their coats -and pants from freezing on them. It was all they could do to keep from -freezing; they could not keep warm. - -"Some of the men, when we went out to drive away the rebels from the -other side of the mountain, were hungry and they stopped behind us at -a farmhouse to get something to eat, and the wicked rebels caught them -and took their overcoats away from them, and took their warm boots off -their feet; and some of the poor fellows got away from them and walked -all the way from the rebel camp over the frozen ground barefooted. -To-day the soldiers have done nothing but build big fires and stand -close up to them and try to keep warm. - -"These poor soldiers and your papa have come away from our homes and -left good mammas and dear little daughters to keep the wicked bad -rebels from making this country a poor, unhappy one, and that when -little Alice and the dear children of the other soldiers grow up they -will have a good and a happy country, and won't have to know about wars -and such terrible things. You must remember about the poor soldiers, -and pray God that He will be very kind to them and make the time soon -come when they and your papa can all of them go home to their dear -little daughters and good mammas. - -"Kiss mamma and little Sister Edith for me, and tell your little -cousins Gwyn and Foster and Johnny that your papa hopes to come home -soon and that he will then come around with you and see them all." - -As intimated in the last letter to my wife, General Foster did make a -forward movement with his entire force, and pushed the enemy toward the -Virginia line, but thereafter there was a lull in army operations for -the rest of the winter on both sides. The time had come for which I -had so long looked when I could without injury to the service ask for -a leave of absence, which General Foster, commanding the Department, -cheerfully granted, and before the last of January, 1864, I was on my -way home, going by way of Chattanooga and Nashville, as the railroad -communication was then well established. - -I have noted the death of my father in April, 1863. He had been -actively engaged in extensive mercantile affairs, and while not wealthy -(as the world estimates wealth now), was possessed of considerable -property, both real and personal. By his will he made me the executor -of his estate and guardian of the two minor children. In August, 1863, -after I was well on the march to East Tennessee, I received a letter -from my brother stating that the court at Evansville had required my -presence in the proceedings for the settlement of my father's estate, -but I obtained a stay until I should be able to get released from my -army duties, with the assurance on my part that I would make as little -delay as possible. - -When I reached home I found the affairs of my father's estate in such -condition that I could not conclude my duties as executor in the time -fixed for my "leave" from my command. There was the widow, two minor -and four adult heirs claiming attention to my duties as executor. -Under the circumstances I felt it proper to tender my resignation -from the army, especially as I had already determined to do so at the -expiration of my three years' term of service, which would be within -four months. - -There was no reason for me to tender my resignation except the -undischarged duty of executor and my earnest desire to be with my -family. During my entire army service I had enjoyed good health and -was pleased with the active life. I had been reasonably successful in -military affairs, and had held large and important commands to the -satisfaction of my superior officers, and there was every prospect of -my early promotion in rank. But I put aside preferment and possible -military distinction for the more immediate call of family duty. The -outlook for the suppression of the rebellion was at that date most -favorable. Grant had been made commander-in-chief, and was organizing -his army for the final march on Richmond; Sherman was preparing for his -advance on Atlanta and his march to the sea; and at no time since the -opening of hostilities had the cause of the Union looked so auspicious. - -General Sturgis, in command of the cavalry corps to which I belonged, -in forwarding my resignation to the Department general made the -following endorsement:-- - -"In approving this resignation, I cannot refrain from expressing my -deep regret in parting with so intelligent, energetic, and brave an -officer. I have for some time been aware of the business and family -interests which I feared would sooner or later deprive the army of -the services of Colonel Foster, yet after so long and faithful service -he should be, I think, relieved under the circumstances. His loss, -however, will be severely felt in this corps and his place hard to -fill." - -When my resignation became known to the Sixty-fifth Regiment the -officers held a meeting in which a series of resolutions were adopted -declaring "that Colonel Foster, since his connection with the regiment -has been unceasing in his labors in, and untiring in his devotion -to, the cause in which we are engaged, and has spared no means to -render his regiment efficient; that he has commanded the regiment -with distinguished honor to himself and to the regiment; that in his -resignation the regiment and the service have lost an efficient and -valuable officer; and that he bears with him to his home our highest -esteem and our best wishes as a citizen." - -An editorial of considerable length appeared in the "Evansville -Journal," from which the following is an extract:-- - -We regret exceedingly to learn that Colonel John W. Foster has felt it -to be his duty to resign his commission as colonel of the Sixty-fifth -Indiana Regiment, and that his resignation has been accepted. We have -known for some time that circumstances--growing out of his father's -death, occasioned an almost absolute necessity for his personal -attention to the settlement of a vast amount of unfinished business -left by the Judge--were conspiring to force Colonel Foster out of the -service, but we were in hope that matters might be so arranged as to -enable him to remain in the field. It seems, however, that this could -not be done, and our Government loses the services of one of its most -gallant, energetic, and experienced officers. Colonel Foster entered -the service of his country in the summer of 1861, as major of the -Twenty-fifth Regiment Indiana Volunteers. He laid aside the profession -of the law, and took upon himself the profession of arms, from a -conscientious belief that his first service was due to his Government. -Without experience, or even a theoretical knowledge of military life -when he entered the service, so close was his application to study, -that but a short time elapsed before he was a thorough master of all -the duties incumbent upon his position as Major of the regiment, or -for that matter with any position connected with the regiment. Colonel -Foster was a rigid disciplinarian, yet he exacted nothing from his men -that was not essential to the efficiency of his regiment, or that he -was unwilling to perform himself. - -After a detailed review of my military service, it adds:-- - -Colonel Foster has proven his patriotism by his actions and in -retiring to private life he will carry with him the assurance that he -has merited the good wishes of his countrymen and secured the great -satisfaction of an approving conscience. - -From an editorial in the "Louisville Journal" the following is -extracted:-- - -The resignation of Colonel John W. Foster of the Sixty-fifth Indiana -Regiment has been accepted. His retirement from the army is to be -regretted, as he was one of the most experienced, efficient and gallant -officers in the service. - -After a sketch of my military career, it says:-- - -Colonel Foster accompanied the expedition of General Burnside in the -movement on East Tennessee, at times commanding brigades and even -divisions. Just before tendering his resignation he was recommended -for a brigadier-general's commission by Generals Burnside and Grant. -Important business relating to his father's estate demanded immediate -attention, and forced his resignation. The army and the country alike -regret his retirement to private life. - - - - -VIII -WITH THE HUNDRED DAYS MEN - - -About three months elapsed after my return home from the East Tennessee -campaign when a new appeal was made to me to reenter the military -service. General Sherman was assembling at and near Chattanooga an -army to make his great drive on Atlanta and into the very heart of -the rebellion. To succeed in his decisive movement he had to draw -his supplies from north of the Ohio River over a single long line of -railroad communication, reaching from Louisville through the States -of Kentucky and Tennessee to Chattanooga, and beyond as his army -advanced. This line of supplies was mainly through hostile territory, -and every part of it had to be guarded by armed soldiers. In order -to give Sherman every possible trained soldier to swell his army so -as to make the movement a success, it was determined to send all the -soldiers then guarding this line of railroad to the front, which would -prove a large addition to the fighting force of Sherman's army, and to -replace them as guards with new recruits, who could be effective behind -intrenchments and when on the defensive. Accordingly the Governors of -the States of the Middle West made a call upon their several States for -regiments of volunteers to serve for one hundred days, the estimated -period of Sherman's campaign to Atlanta. - -The call upon the State of Indiana was responded to with alacrity, -and within a few days several regiments were formed and in a short -time made ready for service. It was the desire of Governor Morton to -have these raw recruits commanded, as far as possible, as colonels and -other staff officers, by men who had already seen service and were -experienced in actual fighting. One of these regiments, largely made -up from Evansville and the adjoining counties, expressed a strong -desire that I might be appointed to command them, and this action was -followed by a telegram from Governor Morton tendering me a commission -as colonel, and making a strong appeal to me to again give my services -to the country in this great emergency. - -I confess the call did not strongly appeal to me from a military -viewpoint, as the contemplated service did not promise any distinction -in warlike operations; but on the other hand, it was a service which -would be just as useful in promoting Sherman's success as if we should -be sent to the front and take part in the actual fighting, for without -this line of communication for supplies being maintained his campaign -must assuredly prove a failure. I recalled the fact in ancient history -that the greatest of Hebrew generals, following the well-recognized -rules of warfare, insisted on giving to those who guarded the camp and -protected the line to the rear the same honor and emoluments as those -who did the fighting. The Scriptural historian has preserved King -David's words: "As his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall -his part be that tarrieth by the stuff; they shall part alike." So -important did he deem this principle that the historian records that -"from that day forward he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel -unto this day." - -I had made much progress in the business of settling my father's -estate, the cause of my previous resignation, and having secured my -wife's consent to my reenlistment, there seemed to be no good reason -for not responding to the call of the Governor and my townsmen and -neighbors, and within three days after tender of my commission I was on -the way to put myself at the head of the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth -Indiana Infantry Volunteers. I have indicated that the character of the -service to which we were to be assigned, the guarding of the railroad, -did not promise any brilliant military exploits, and the extracts -which I shall make from my letters may not be found of much interest, -but they will at least set forth the manner in which we filled up our -Hundred Days' service in the cause of our country. - -The One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Indiana was mustered into service May -23, 1864, at Indianapolis, and passed through Louisville. My letter of -the 31st states:-- - -"We left Louisville on Saturday morning, and I stationed the companies -along the railroad from Shepardsville to Nolin, ten miles below here -(Elizabethtown) on the railroad. I had hardly got the companies -distributed, selected my headquarters here, and got my dinner, before -the train arrived from Nashville bringing an aide to Major-General -Rousseau, who was on the hunt for the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth -Indiana, which should go to his command in Tennessee, but he saw by -the Louisville papers that it had been stopped, and would go along -the railroad. The aide had orders for me to go direct to Nashville at -once, disregarding all orders from all sources but the War Department; -but as General Burbridge had ordered me to come here, and as I was -in his district, and was guarding important bridges which should not -be abandoned, I decided to wait until the generals should get their -conflict in orders adjusted. We have been waiting in doubt as to our -future for two days; meanwhile the generals had been telegraphing with -each other and with me, until last night I received orders to go to -Nashville as soon as transportation was provided. How soon the cars -will be ready to take me down I do not know." - -Within two days we arrived in Nashville whence my letter of June 4 -says:-- - -"I wrote you a note yesterday that we would go to Murfreesboro. I went -down there yesterday and returned this morning. I will be off for that -place again in an hour with three companies. The rest of the regiment -will follow to-night and in the morning. We shall not be quite so well -situated there as we were at Elizabethtown, nor for that matter as -comfortably situated as _at home_, but I think we can get through the -one hundred days there at least tolerably _safely_, which is the great -point with you, is it not? Uncle Tom arrived here yesterday from the -Sixty-fifth in poor health. I have been hunting for him this morning, -but have not as yet been able to find him." - -This last refers to Colonel Johnson, of whom I have made reference -in previous letters. Three times he had been granted furlough on -account of ill-health, but with the grim determination of a martyr, he -persisted in his effort to remain with his command, at that time at the -front with Sherman's army. - -In my letter of June 8, I give an account of our camp and surroundings -at Murfreesboro:-- - -"When we arrived here the general directed me to camp the regiment -in the fortress, a large and very strong series of earthworks and -rifle-pits, built by Rosecrans's army after the battle of Stone River. -The enclosures are large, open spaces, without a particle of shade or -grass, entirely exposed to the sun. The troops already in the fortress -have erected tolerably comfortable barracks, but there was no material -out of which to make any more; and as our men had nothing but shelter -tents, I was afraid if put into such a camp the exposure would bring -on sickness. So I rode all round the vicinity of the town and found -several very good camping-places, and induced the general to let us -camp out of the fortress, in such suitable place as I might select. I -found a very fine camp in a beautiful grove just at the edge of the -town, and adjoining a very fine spring of water, which pleases officers -and men very much. Two companies are stationed below on the railroad, -and we shall have eight companies here, making a very respectable -battalion. - -"How long we will remain here is very uncertain, but we shall be very -well satisfied to stay here during the remainder of our one hundred -days. Since we went into camp I have been putting the regiment through -in drill and duties of soldiers, keeping officers and men quite busy. -Besides these drills, Lieutenant-Colonel Walker drills the officers an -hour, and I have two recitations of officers an hour each in Tactics -and Regulations. In the evenings after supper I give them a lecture -on the Army Regulations, organization, and military customs, which is -quite as profitable to me as to them, as it requires considerable study -and posting on my part. We had our first battalion drill to-day and it -proved quite interesting. At the present rate of daily duties in one -month I shall have the regiment in a condition to compare favorably -with the veteran regiments in drill at least. I want to bring them home -well drilled and thoroughly instructed in the duties of the soldier. -I have the reputation of being a strict disciplinarian, but I think -the officers and the intelligent men appreciate it. The exercises not -only make them better soldiers, but the active service makes them more -healthy than to lie idle in camp. - -"Our camping-ground is on the lawn in front of one of the finest houses -in the State. The surroundings were before the ravages of war very -beautiful. The house was the headquarters of the rebel General Bragg, -before he fell back after the battle of Stone River. The owner was -formerly quite wealthy, the possessor of a large plantation here and -one in Mississippi. He is now keeping a store in town for the support -of his family, reaping the reward of the rebellion of himself and -relatives." - -In my letter of June 13 I give another view of camp life:-- - -"Yesterday was our first real Sabbath in camp, and we spent it very -pleasantly. We had the Sunday morning inspection at eight o'clock, -beginning it with a short religious exercise by the chaplain. The -inspection would have been very creditable to old soldiers. The men -had their arms and accouterments and clothing in fine order and looked -well. These Sunday morning inspections have a fine effect, it causes -the men to clean up themselves and their arms, and makes them feel it -is a real Sabbath, which they are likely to forget in camp. - -"After inspection we were quite liberal in allowing the men more passes -for the day, going out in squads in charge of officers. Some went to -church, but many went to stroll over the battlefield of Stone River, -which is about two miles from town. Major Hynes and I went in town -to church, and heard Dr. Gazeton preach. He has just returned from -the South. The Doctor is (or was) a New School Presbyterian of some -reputation in Tennessee before the rebellion. He is a bitter rebel, -but, of course, did not give any manifestation of it in his services. -There was a strong New School Church here before the war, but they were -all rebels; the church building almost ruined by the armies, and its -members very much scattered. - -"At five we had preaching by our chaplain, a Baptist brother from -Spencer County, a good man but a very poor preacher, an old farmer and -ignorant; is worse than the chaplains of my other two regiments. I -shall go out of the war, I fear, with a poor opinion of chaplains from -personal experience. Although our chaplain's sermon was a poor affair, -the men were attentive and respectful. Altogether the day was very -creditably passed by the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Indiana. But how -much more pleasantly and profitably it would have been spent by me at -home, with my own family and in our own church." - -In a letter of June 15 I refer to the character of the regiment:-- - -"We are getting along very pleasantly in camp; everything passes off -quietly; the men are making a commendable degree of progress in the -drill, and take to soldiering very readily. Thus far I have had no -difficulty in controlling the men. I never saw a regiment more easily -governed. This comes in part from its personnel. Being called upon -for only one hundred days of service, many business and professional -men, who could not well afford to give up their business entirely, can -arrange to go into the army for so short a time; and as a result the -lower officers and the men are many of them among our best citizens. -Besides, the service is easy. We have none of the hard marches and -exposures described by me in the campaigning of the Twenty-fifth and -Sixty-fifth Indiana. As a private in one of the Evansville companies, -was my younger brother James H., who left the senior class at the -Indiana University before graduating to serve his country." - -This letter also relates an event which brings out the terrible -consequences of war in dividing families, especially in the border -State of Kentucky:-- - -"I wrote you some time since that a brother of Major Hynes (of our One -Hundred and Thirty-sixth) was in the rebel army and had been at home -at Bardstown, Kentucky. Hynes received a letter this evening from his -father telling him that his brother had been killed in trying to get -back through our lines to the Southern army. He was shot in the woods -and lay in the bushes two weeks before his father found the body." - -Referring to the rebel cavalry raids which were just then threatening -Washington and Baltimore, I wrote:-- - -"Even if Washington is burnt the rebels can't hold it, and it would -be the means, I hope, of raising up the North to renewed efforts, and -then there would be a good opportunity to remove the Capital to the -West, where it ought to be. We have not suffered enough in the North -yet to make the people see that there is to be no peace with the rebels -except by their complete overthrow. Otherwise we are disgraced, ruined, -forever destroyed as a nation. We must and will in the end put down -this wicked rebellion. The ways of Providence are inscrutable. 'God -moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform,' but He is a God -of Justice and Right, and we will triumph in the end. Had I been an -infidel or a weak believer in the righteousness of God, long since I -would have been discouraged, but I am not. Let us pray for our country, -for the triumph of right, of truth, of freedom, and that God may in His -wisdom hasten the end of this bloody war and the return of peace; and -that we may together live to enjoy our family and Christian privileges -under it." - -On July 16 I report:-- - -"General Van Cleve has been called temporarily to Tullahoma, which -leaves me in command of the post and brigade here, including Fortress -Rosecrans. The change will probably be only for a few days or a week. I -would much rather be with the regiment, as I am interested in the drill -and instruction of the regiment, and can spend the time pleasantly with -them. - -"I am now at headquarters of the post very comfortably situated; have -a room for myself carpeted and well furnished. Captain Otis, General -Van Cleve's adjutant-general, a very competent officer, is left here, -and he has his wife with him. It looks quite homelike to sit down at -a table with a lady to preside, and also to nurse the baby. It was -reported that the rebels were crossing the Tennessee River yesterday -at Claysville, intending to make a raid on the railroad, but I hardly -believe it." - -A bright side of the soldier's life is given in my letter of July 21:-- - -"We have no news of special importance. I don't have very much to do -in my post command, am comfortably situated in quarters, and have -about enough business to keep the time from being dull. Captain Otis -and his wife and I are the only members of our mess, and we have a -very pleasant table. When General Rosecrans was in command here he -established a large hospital garden, worked by the convalescents in the -hospitals. It is now producing large quantities of vegetables, and our -table is very liberally supplied from it with green corn, tomatoes, -beets, cucumbers, potatoes, squashes, etc. We also enjoy plenty of milk -and butter, with ice to cool them. The general left his servant here, -and he has nothing to do but take care of my room, black my boots, and -brush my clothes, etc. There are a number of officers' wives here, and -we have frequent company in our parlor of these and occasionally of -rebel ladies. So you see the hardships of the poor soldier's life at -present being undergone by me are such as I may be able to endure with -safety to my life!" - -In my letter of July 30, I report my return to the regiment:-- - -"General Van Cleve arrived last night and I returned to the command of -the regiment. I think it was needing my attention from appearances. -In the two weeks I have been absent there has been only one battalion -drill. Although this is Saturday afternoon and we are not accustomed -to having drill that afternoon, yet I am going to give them battalion -drill to make up for lost time. I want them to make a fine appearance -when we return to Indiana. We are now drilling in the bayonet exercise, -which interests the men very much." - -A week later I write:-- - -"We are having as usual a quiet Sabbath. My present term of service -is so very different from that which I have heretofore been used to. -Before it was all activity, bustle, battles, pursuits or retreats. -But now it is all the quiet monotony of camp life, broken only by the -routine of drill. Heretofore I seldom had a quiet Sunday. Now I can -read my Bible and religious papers regularly, write to my dear one, -and attend Church services. But with all these privileges there is no -day in which I miss home so much." - -Taking advantage of our quiet camp life, I obtained leave to visit -Knoxville, where I had spent so many pleasant days the year before. My -letter of the 13th of August gives some account of that visit:-- - -"Does it look natural to you to see this letter dated from Knoxville? -I left Murfreesboro day before yesterday, woke up in the morning -and found myself across the Tennessee River and in the midst of the -mountains. The scenery is quite romantic and attractive. I felt at -once that I was in East Tennessee. There is nothing in scenery like -the mountains. In a little while we came in sight of Lookout Mountain, -stretching far away with its range into Georgia, and jutting up with -its bold promontory into the Tennessee River, and far above the mist of -the river rose the spur so celebrated as Hooker's Battle of the Clouds. -Soon we came into Chattanooga, bristling with its many battlements, -and alive with the hurry and bustle of that great army depot. It is -astonishing to note what a vast machinery it requires in the rear to -support and keep supplied a large army. - -"The run up to Knoxville was quite pleasant, where we arrived at -half-past five in the evening. On my way up to the hotel I met an old -Tennessee acquaintance who acted as a guide for me in my raids last -autumn. He would listen to nothing but that I must be his guest, so I -went around and stopped with him. I came down in town in the evening, -and called on some of my old friends who showed much pleasure in -seeing me again. To-day I have been busy in calling on other old -friends, and took dinner to-day with Mrs. Locke, who was very glad -to have me again at her house. I am to take supper with General -Tillottson, commanding the post. I have found a number of the old -Sixty-fifth and of my staff here on detailed duty. - -"They are organizing an expedition for a raid into upper East -Tennessee, in my old route of campaigning, and, to be frank, I have -been very much tempted to go up with them, as they are anxious to -have me. But it would detain me beyond my leave, and I might expect a -scolding from my dear little wife. So I will leave in two or three days -and return direct to Murfreesboro." - -As the term of enlistment of our regiment was drawing to a close, a -movement was set on foot to have me continue in the service. The Union -men of western Kentucky were very anxious to have me return to that -district and drive out the guerrillas, who had been very troublesome -after I had left that region. They had been in conference with my -older brother George, who took a great pride in my military career and -was very ambitious for me. The plan was to have me made a brigadier -general, and given a special command of western Kentucky. When this -was made known to me I answered my brother George that if the command -was tendered me without any effort on my part I might take it into -consideration, but only on the express condition that my wife would -consent to it. It is to this plan I refer in some of my letters to her. -In the one of July 31 I say:-- - -"The expiration of our term of enlistment is drawing near and a strong -effort will be made to get our regiment to reenlist for one, two, or -three years. What do you say,--must I go in for it? They are also -writing me from Kentucky urging me to come back there and clear the -guerrillas out of my old field of operations. I must confess the latter -proposition is something of a temptation to me. I would like to spend -three or four weeks there in chasing out the guerrillas, and then I -really do believe I could come home and stay there in peace." - -On August 7 I write my wife:-- - -"I had been back from the army just long enough with my wife and little -darlings to appreciate how much I had missed during the three years -gone, and I do believe when I get home this time I shall be able to -conclude that I have discharged my duty to my country and done my -share of the fighting, and that I have also a duty to discharge to my -family, which I have sadly neglected for the three years past; and I -hope that for the rest of my life I shall devote myself to them. Major -Hynes was saying to me the other day that you had acted so nobly during -my absence he thought I owed it to you and my children when I was out -of the service this time to stay at home. But I take so much interest -in the war and am so thoroughly satisfied with the correctness of the -principles for which it is being prosecuted, that I must confess I do -not like to leave the army, when all of our experienced officers and -men are so badly needed, but I hope I will be able to see my duty clear -to stay at home. I trust my influence and efforts there will not be -entirely useless." - -I wrote fully to my wife of the plans of my Kentucky friends and my -brother, and from my letters it appears they met with her decided -disapproval. On August 20 I wrote: "I was sorry on my return from -Knoxville and read your letters and saw how you felt about my going -into the service again, that I had written George on the subject." And -again I wrote: "I was sorry to know from your letter that my letter -in which I had said something about reentering the service had given -you any pain or solicitude, as I did not design that it should do so. -I never yet have entered the service or left home except with your -consent or approval, and I will not do it in the future. As I have -written heretofore, I think I have served my country long enough to -serve my family awhile; and I hope nothing will occur to prevent my -early return to my home." - -Some fear was entertained that the efforts of the Confederate cavalry -to break up the railroad connections would detain our regiment in -Tennessee beyond the term of enlistment, but no such untoward event -occurred. The One Hundred and Thirty-sixth left Murfreesboro on -August 25 under my command, passed through Louisville the next day, -and the day following took the cars at New Albany for Indianapolis. -The citizens of Bloomington, the seat of Indiana University where the -"Foster boys" had received their education, having notice that the -regiment would pass their town about noon, entertained them with a -hurried but sumptuous dinner. We found a warm supper awaiting us and -were comfortably quartered at Indianapolis in barracks, where we -spent one week waiting to be paid off and mustered out of the service. -During this time we took part in a review by Governor Morton of six -thousand troops gathered at the Capital of the State, and in this and -our regimental parades we were enabled with much pride to exhibit our -accomplishments in soldiery. - - - - -In the introduction to the compilation of these letters I described -myself in entering the service as a peace man, as having no desire for -military glory, having no special fitness for the life of a soldier, -and entertaining a horror of war. The reader of these letters must -have noted the gradual development of a taste for or satisfaction -with the service. Even at the outset in Missouri, in describing in -glowing colors the exposure to the climate and the hard marching, I -manifest a certain enthusiasm for my success as a wagon-master, or for -my prospective work of an architect of the log-hut winter quarters. -I early mastered the tactics, army regulations, and camp regime, and -often wrote of my interest in the drill and regimental and brigade -exercises. I refer to the gallant charges of our regiment and brigade -at Donelson, and speak of some parts of the bloody battle of Shiloh as -"grand beyond description." I hardly had words sufficient to describe -the deliverance by our army of the Union citizens of East Tennessee. -My intercourse with my comrades, superior and inferior officers and -men, is noticed as in all respects agreeable. When I entered the army -I was not robust, having too long led a student and office life, but -during my entire service I enjoyed almost uninterrupted good health, -the letters constantly speaking of how the outdoor life and the most -active campaigning best agreed with me. So that it has been seen that -while at the end of three years of army service I was rejoiced to go -back to my home, to my wife and little ones, an offer to reenter the -army was quite a temptation to me. - -But my life in the army did not alter the views I had formed in my -college life of the horror and futility of war, but rather strengthened -and confirmed them. I witnessed the sad effects of the conflict in -dividing and embittering brothers of the same blood, the ravages of the -battlefield and the hospital, the valuable lives lost and the widows -and orphans, the enormous expenditure of money, and the great war debt -and pensions to be paid by a coming generation. All these evils might -have been avoided by a peaceful adjustment of the questions which -were settled by the armed conflict. The emancipation of the slaves by -purchase would have been many times less than the cost of the war in -money, without counting the saving of the lives lost, the widows and -orphans, and the bitterness engendered. There is a certain glamour -about warfare which attracts the participant, but it is fictitious and -unchristian. I pray God that our country may be delivered from its -horrors in the future. - - -THE END - -[Illustration: -Copyright by Bass and Woodworth, Indianapolis -SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, INDIANAPOLIS] - - - - -APPENDIX -INDIANA SOLDIERS' MONUMENT - - -Some years after the close of the Civil War the Legislature of Indiana -determined to erect a monument at Indianapolis, "designed to glorify -the heroic epoch of the Republic and to commemorate the valor and -fortitude of Indiana's Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Rebellion -and other wars." - -The corner-stone of this monument was laid in 1887 with appropriate -services, including an oration by President Benjamin Harrison. It was -completed and dedicated in 1902. It stands upon a terrace 110 feet -in diameter, with a foundation of 69 by 53 feet, the height of the -monument from the street level is 284 feet, and is crowned by a Victory -statue of 38 feet. On subordinate pedestals occupying positions in the -four segments are bronze statues of Governor Morton, Governor Whitcomb, -General William Henry Harrison, and General George Rogers Clark. It is -claimed to be the largest and most expensive soldiers' monument in the -United States, and one of the grandest achievements of architectural -and sculptural art in the world. - -The dedication services on the completion of the monument were held -on May 15, 1902, attended by military and civic delegations from -all parts of the State, parades, salutes, dedication exercises, and -illuminations, occupying the entire day and evening. The dedication -address follows. - - -ADDRESS OF JOHN W. FOSTER, DELIVERED AT THE DEDICATION OF SOLDIERS' -MONUMENT, AT INDIANAPOLIS MAY 15, 1902 - -_Mr. Chairman, Governor Durbin, Comrades and Fellow Citizens_: - -We are gathered to-day inspired by mingled feelings of joy and sadness, -of pride and sorrow. To the generation who have come upon the stage -of public life since the scenes were enacted which are glorified in -this noble monument, it may well be an occasion of exultation, for -they see only the blessings conferred upon the State and Nation by the -deeds of the heroic dead whose memory we are assembled to honor. But to -those of us who were their comrades in service, there arises the sad -recollection of the carnage of battle and the wasting experience of the -hospital. While the stirring notes of martial music, the booming of -cannon, and the waving of flags awaken the enthusiasm and the patriotic -pride of the people, there are many mothers and widows to whom this -brilliant scene is but the reopening of the fountain not yet dried up -by twoscore years of weeping. - -It is for no idle purpose I recall the solemn phase of the pageantry of -these dedication exercises, for it cannot fail to impress more deeply -upon us the debt we owe to the men for whom this magnificent memorial -has been raised. - -It commemorates the sacrifice of twenty-five thousand men--Indiana's -contribution to the cause of the Union. A fearful price this Nation -paid for its life. A veritable army is this, larger than any gathered -under Washington or Scott. In those dark days, when our comrades were -pouring out their life's blood on a hundred battlefields, when new -calls were made for more men to fill the depleted ranks, when the -scales hung trembling between success and failure, it seemed sometimes -as if the State could not endure the fearful slaughter. But the triumph -of the right came at last. And time has healed the scars of war. We can -now look back upon the scene as one only of heroic deeds. - -It was highly appropriate that on the apex of this shaft there should -be placed the emblem of Victory. Never in the history of human warfare -has there been a triumph more significant of blessing to mankind. The -Goddess of Victory crowns this monument, but it is not in exultation -over a fallen foe. I thank God that in the dedication services to-day -there is no feeling of bitterness toward the men who fought against our -dead comrades. We rejoice to know that they are loyal citizens with us -of a common country. We must not, however, belittle the sacrifice of -our honored dead. Right, humanity, and progress were on the side of -the Union armies, and it was chiefly for this reason we have reared -this noble pile of bronze and marble. - -What the victory they gained signifies to this Nation, to this -continent, and to all peoples, has been so often, so exhaustively, -and so eloquently told, that I hesitate to even allude to it. But my -observation in foreign lands has so forcibly impressed on me one of -the inestimable blessings which has been secured to us and to future -generations by the triumph of the Union arms, that I deem this a -fitting occasion to call it to mind. - -Scarcely second in importance to the maintenance of republican -government in its purity and vigor and the extirpation of slavery, -are the reign of peace and deliverance from standing armies, which -the unbroken Union guarantees to us and to our children. It requires -no vivid imagination to conceive of some of the results which would -have followed a division of the states--a frontier lined with -fortifications, bristling with cannon and garrisoned by a hostile -soldiery; conscription and taxation such as had never been known -before; constant alarms of war; and political and international -complications which would have put an end to our boasted American -policy and Monroe Doctrine. - -One of the things which most attracts the attention of foreigners who -visit our shores is the absence of soldiers about our public buildings, -in our cities, and along the thoroughfares of commerce. And those who -have never seen our country can scarcely realize that it is possible to -carry on a government of order and stability without a constant show of -military force. In all the nations of Europe it has been for so many -generations the continuous practice to maintain standing armies, that -it is considered a necessary and normal part of the system of political -organizations. The existence of rival and neighboring nations, -constantly on the alert to protect themselves from encroachment on -their territory and to maintain their own integrity, and the recent -advances in military science and warlike equipment, have caused a great -increase in the armies, enormously enlarged the expenditures, and -compelled a rigorous enforcement of the most exacting and burdensome -term of service; until to-day, in this high noon of Christian -civilization, Europe is one vast military camp, and, with such tension -in the international relations, that the slightest incident may set its -armies in battle array--the merest spark light the fires of war and -envelop the continent, if not the whole world, in the conflagration. - -Germany and France maintain an army on a peace footing of about a -half-million of men each, Russia of three quarters of a million, and -other Continental powers armies of relatively large proportions. The -term of military service required in each is from three to four years. -To support these enormous burdens the nations of Europe have imposed -upon their inhabitants the most oppressive taxation, and, besides, have -multiplied their public debts to the utmost extent of their national -credit. But great as these exactions are, they are as nothing compared -to the heavy demands made for the personal military service of the -people. To take from the best energies of every young man's life from -three to four years, just at the time when he is ready to lay the -foundations of his career and establish his domestic relations, is a -tax which can scarcely be estimated in money value, and is a burden -upon the inhabitants so heavy and so irritating that they stagger under -its weight and would rebel against it, did they dare resist the iron -tyranny of military rule. - -Thanks to the soldiers who fought triumphantly for the maintenance of -our Union of States, and that there might continue to be one great and -supreme nation on this continent, we are released from this curse of -a large standing army, we are free from its burdensome taxation and -debt, our young men are permitted to devote the flower of their lives -to useful industry and domestic enjoyment, and our free institutions -are not menaced by military oppression. To conquer a peace such as the -world has not heretofore seen, and to secure a reign of prosperity and -plenty which no other people of the present or the past has enjoyed, -did the men of Indiana fight and die. - -We are here to honor the soldier and the sailor; but it is well to -recall that ours is not a warlike people, and I pray God they never may -be. An event which greatly attracted the attention of Europe was that -when our Civil War was over the vast armies of near two millions of -men quietly laid down their arms and, without outlawry or marauding, -retired to their homes to renew their peaceful avocations. They had not -become professional soldiers. They were citizens of a great republic, -and felt their responsibilities as such. - -In all, our foreign wars have occupied less than five years in a -period of one hundred and twenty of our independence. Our greatest -achievements as a nation have been in the domain of peace. The one -aggressive war in which we have been engaged was that with Mexico, -and it was the unrighteous cause of slavery which led us to depart -from the line of justice in that instance. It is to be hoped that -no evil influence or ambition will ever again lead us into acts of -unjustifiable aggression. In the Spanish War, I think I speak the -sentiment of the great majority of my countrymen when I say, it was a -feeling of humanity which occasioned that conflict. It brought with -it results which we could not anticipate and which many of our people -lament. It has led to the expulsion of Spain and its bad system of -government from this hemisphere, certainly not an untoward event. If it -was a desire to benefit our fellow men that led us into that contest, I -feel sure the same spirit will control our conduct toward the millions -of people on the other side of the globe whom the fortunes of war have -so unexpectedly brought into our dominion. - -We are proud of the record which our country has made in the settlement -of disputes with foreign nations by the peaceful method of arbitration. -It is possible that all matters of difference cannot be adjusted in -that way, but it offers a remedy which commends itself to the lover -of peace and good-will among men, and it is our boast that we have -resorted to it more often than any other nation. - -It is not incumbent on me to give any account of this structure, -so perfect in art, so appropriate in design, embracing all arms of -the military service on land and sea. I must, however, as a comrade -of those whose fame it perpetuates, bear cheerful testimony to the -generosity of a grateful people, who have reared this costly column. -It is in keeping also with the munificence of the Federal Government -in all that relates to the memory and the welfare of those who fought -to secure the Union of these States. In the National Capital and -throughout the land, in every city, and in almost every town, there are -monuments to the Union soldiers, and the important battlefields have -been turned into public parks consecrated to the Nation's dead. - -And no government has been so liberal in its provisions for the -surviving veterans. Listen to a few eloquent figures. At the close of -the War for the Union our national debt amounted to the stupendous sum -of $2,700,000,000. And yet there has been paid out of the National -Treasury, since that date, for pensions an amount equal to that sum. -Before the Spanish War the pension roll amounted to two fifths of the -entire expenses of the Government, and it is even now, with the large -increase of both the civil and military list, one fourth of the total. -The payments on this account for the last year were about $140,000,000. -There are now on the roll, nearly forty years after the war, 997,735 -pensioners. Of the amount paid out, the pensioners from Indiana receive -$10,291,000 every year, and the Indianians on the list number 66,974. -The two great martial nations of Europe are France and Germany, but -their expenditures for military pensions are only one fifth and one -sixth of ours. In addition to these unparalleled disbursements, vast -sums have been expended for the establishment and maintenance of -Soldiers' Homes in various parts of the country. Surely the old soldier -cannot charge his Government with ingratitude. - -This day constitutes the culmination of the history of Indiana. This -imposing monument, peerless of its kind among the nations, the gift -of a rich and prosperous Commonwealth, the testimonial of a grateful -people to the men who gave their lives to save the Union and perpetuate -free institutions, stands to-day, with the quaternion of soldiers -and statesmen about it, a memorial of past achievement, an evidence -of present accomplishment in government, society, and industry, an -assurance of future prosperity and happiness. It was a wise discernment -of the memorable epochs in the history of the State which cause to be -associated with this central monument the statues of the two soldiers -and the two statesmen who adorn this artistic Circle. - -Of all the soldiers who were famous in the War of the Revolution, few -have rendered more imperishable services to the country than General -George Rogers Clark. I have not the time to dwell upon his military -career. You recall the repeated journeys he made across the mountains -from his Kentucky home to implore the Revolutionary authorities to -furnish him the means to save the great Northwest to the new nation. -The story of his voyage down the Ohio with a mere handful of resolute -patriots, his capture of Kaskaskia, his marvelous march in the dead -of winter to the assault and capture of Vincennes, are among the -most thrilling narratives of that heroic struggle; yet history has -failed to give him due credit for his great achievement. But for his -expedition, it is safe to say that the Northwest would have remained -British territory, and Indiana would to-day be a crown colony or a -Canadian province, rather than a free commonwealth of an independent -people. Had the United States been confined in its territorial extent -to the Atlantic seaboard, as our ally France wished it to be, the young -republic might have survived as a shriveled and sickly nation under -the guardianship of France; but the vast expansion to the Northwest, -across the Mississippi, to the Pacific Coast, and to the Islands of -the Orient never could have taken place. As we look upon that dashing -figure, moulded in bronze, let us not forget the great debt we and all -this Nation owe to the intrepid soldier who conquered the Northwest. - -The second period of the history of Indiana is fitly represented -by General William Henry Harrison, the territorial Governor and -the defender of the frontier. He stands for the men who laid the -foundations of our government and society, and freed the territory from -the ruthless savage. - -In Governor Whitcomb we have a typical Indianian of the early period -of statehood. A farmer's son, he had his share, as a boy and young -man, of the privations of frontier life, the Herculean labor of -clearing away the forests, and bringing the land under cultivation. -At the same period of time Indiana was nurturing another young man in -like experience and labors of frontier life--that matchless American, -Abraham Lincoln. In this era of abounding prosperity and luxurious -living, we are too apt to forget that they rest upon the toils and -trials of our fathers. Whitcomb showed the stuff of which he was -made by supporting himself at school and college by his own manual -labor. He filled many public offices with usefulness and honor, and -had the distinction of occupying the gubernatorial chair during the -Mexican War, in which Indiana soldiers did their full share toward the -victories which gained for us the wide domain stretching to the Pacific. - -For the fourth period of the history of Indiana, which records the -contest for the preservation of the Union, there could be but one man -whose statue should be a companion piece to this superb monument. No -soldier, no citizen, no man high or low, could take rank in point -of heroic service, of tireless labors, of commanding influence, of -exposure to dangers, of courage, self-denial and suffering, with Oliver -P. Morton. He was a man endowed with rare intellectuality, and made a -high place for himself in the Nation as a statesman, but to the people -of Indiana, and especially to the old soldiers, he will be remembered -as the Great War Governor. - -It is fitting that the name of another son of Indiana should be -mentioned on this occasion. His statue is not in this Circle, but -will soon adorn another portion of this beautiful capital. When the -corner-stone of this edifice was laid thirteen years ago he took part -in the exercises, and, but for his untimely death, would doubtless -have been called to occupy my place in this day's dedication. Benjamin -Harrison has the distinction of being one of the first to inspire this -great undertaking now so happily consummated. He himself was a gallant -soldier and would have rejoiced to participate in this pageant. In -every department of public and private life he did his work well, and -we are proud to honor him as President and citizen. - -It is a pleasing service to thus recall the names of some of our public -men. I heartily believe in State pride. I believe in local attachments. -The associations which cluster about the home are the dearest and the -best. If we as Indianians have not, in times past, been as conspicuous -as some of our neighbors for our State pride, it was not because we -loved Indiana less, but the Union more; and since we have forever -settled the question of State rights, I see no reason why we should -not on all proper occasions and with the vehemence of domestic loyalty -exalt our State, and boast of its resources, its merits, and its -memories. Among these there are none which constitute a nobler heritage -or awaken more enthusiastic pride than the services and attainments of -our public men. - -I have not dwelt at any length upon the wonderful prosperity which -our country is now enjoying, as one of the direct results of the -preservation of the Union. We all rejoice in our present high and -honorable position among the nations of the earth, and we may well -look forward to a continuance of this era of peace and prosperity. -But in the day of our exaltation we should remember that no people of -the earth have proved to be indestructible as a nation. Every country -may carry within itself the seeds of its own dissolution. We need not -revert to the history of Rome, Greece, Egypt, or Assyria to learn of -the decay and death of empires. The archaeologist tells us that in -the territory covered by the State of Indiana there once existed, -at a period so remote that no legend of them remained among the -aborigines at the discovery by Columbus, a great and powerful people -who built populous cities, were possessed of a high grade of military -science, were advanced in the arts, founded dynasties, had an educated -priesthood, and were of a heroic frame. - -I have not time to moralize upon this, but I venture a few practical -suggestions which may appeal to us as citizens of a great nation whose -prosperity and happiness we desire may continue through all time. If -we would realize this expectation we must have an honest government, -Federal, State, and local. I have given the figures which show the -enormous expenditures for pensions. It is common rumor that this sum -has been swelled by perjury and fraud. Every faithful soldier who -receives a pension from the Government justly regards it as a badge of -honor. He should watch with jealous care that no deserter, no skulker, -no unworthy camp-follower, through the cunning of dishonest claim -agents, should have the same badge of honor. So, also, bribery and -corruption in our public and municipal bodies, may soon destroy the -foundations of our national life. All good citizens should denounce -and combine to punish every attempt at corruption. - -As we should have an honest government, so we should have a pure -government. I have spoken of State pride. More than once I have been -made to blush when away from home to hear the charge that the elections -in Indiana were sometimes corrupt. I trust I may entertain the hope -that there is exaggeration in this, and that our errors of the past -no longer exist. It is a sure sign of national decay in a republican -government, when the fountain head of power, the ballot, becomes -corrupt. - -While we must have an honest and pure government to insure the -perpetuation of our institutions, we should also have an efficient -government. And this I think can best be brought about by the universal -application of the system of competitive civil service. I know that -many an Indiana politician has mocked at it as the dream of the -idealist, but it is the only democratic method of filling the offices -where all applicants stand upon a common level, and the only way of -securing the best results in administration. - -I have entered upon a fruitful theme, but must not pursue it -further. I have suggested three points which seem appropriate for -our consideration to-day, when we are gathered to honor the soldiers -who died that our country might live. We owe it to them to so act as -citizens that they shall not have offered up their lives in vain. Let -us cherish their memory, and in our day and generation do what we can -to perpetuate for the people in the ages to come the blessings of free -institutions among men. Should we thus prove true to our trust, this -imposing memorial, so patriotic in design, and so perfect in execution, -will stand in future years as a testimonial, not only to the fallen -heroes of the war, but also to the faithful citizens, who handed down -unimpaired their heritage of republican government to mankind. - - - - -MILITARY SERVICE OF JOHN W. FOSTER - -WAR DEPARTMENT -THE ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE -STATEMENT OF THE MILITARY SERVICE OF -JOHN W. FOSTER - - _Lieutenant-Colonel, Twenty-fifth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer - Infantry, and Colonel, Sixty-fifth and One Hundred and Thirty-sixth - Regiments, Indiana Volunteer Infantry_ - - -The records show that John W. Foster was mustered into service August -19, 1861, as major, Twenty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, to serve -three years. He was subsequently commissioned lieutenant-colonel of -the regiment and is recognized by the War Department as having been -in the military service of the United States as of that grade and -organization from April 30, 1862. He was mustered out of service as -lieutenant-colonel to date August 24, 1862, to accept promotion. He -was mustered into service as colonel, Sixty-fifth Indiana Volunteer -Infantry, to date August 24, 1862, to serve three years. He was in -command of the District of Western Kentucky, Department of Ohio, with -headquarters at Henderson, Kentucky, in October and November, 1862, and -in March, April, and May, 1863, but the records do not show either the -date on which he assumed command or the date on which he was relieved -therefrom. From August 21, 1863, to September 5, 1863, and from -September 7, 1863, to October 18, 1863, he was in command of the Second -Brigade, Fourth Division, Twenty-third Army Corps. The designation of -the brigade was changed to the Fourth Brigade, same division, October -18, 1863, Colonel Foster remaining in command to November 3, 1863. This -brigade was assigned to the Second Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the -Ohio, November 3, 1863, and Colonel Foster commanded the Second Brigade -of that division from November 3 to November --, 1863, and he commanded -the Second Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Ohio, from November ---, 1863, to January --, 1864, exact dates not shown. He was honorably -discharged March 12, 1864, as colonel, upon tender of resignation. - -The records further show that John W. Foster was mustered into service -as colonel, One Hundred Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, -May 23, 1864, to serve one hundred days, and that he was mustered -out of service with the regiment as colonel September 2, 1864, at -Indianapolis, Indiana. - -In the operations February 12-16, 1862, resulting in the capture -of Fort Donelson, Tennessee, Major Foster was commended by his -brigade commander for "the fearless and energetic manner" in which -he discharged his duties. His conduct was said to be "worthy of the -highest commendation." - -At the battle of Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, April 6-7, 1862, the -command of his regiment devolved upon Major Foster on the first day. -The brigade commander, in his official report of that battle, stated -with reference to Major Foster as follows: "The command devolved on -Major Foster, who proved himself every way worthy of it. He was active, -brave, and energetic, inspiring his men with courage and confidence. -His worthy example was felt by all around him." - -Official statement furnished to Hon. John W. Foster, 1323 Eighteenth -Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., October 13, 1915. - -By authority of the Secretary of War: - -P. C. MARTH -_Adjutant-General_ -_In charge of office_ - - - - - * * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber's note: - -Obvious errors of punctuation and diacritical markings were corrected. - -Hyphenation was made consistent. - -P. 37: to take steamer for Cairo -> to take a steamer for Cairo. - -P. 156: Brunside's cavalry -> Burnside's cavalry. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR STORIES FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN*** - - -******* This file should be named 51552.txt or 51552.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/5/1/5/5/51552 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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