Captain Charles Wright Wills: June 28, 1864

June 28, 1864.

The attack was not general; it was made by our brigade and M. L. Smith's Division. We lost nearly one-third of the brigade. Our regiment's loss is 17 killed and 40 wounded. My company had five killed and four wounded. Colonel Wright was shot quite badly in the leg, and Lieutenants Montgomery, Branson and Bailey were killed. In my company Corporals Whittaker, Myers, and Private Sam Mclntyre, Art. Myers, and Jacob Maxwell, were killed Sergeant Breed, Privates Bishop, Frank Breed and James Williamson were wounded. We held all the ground we took (under our fire), but had to leave a few of our dead until dark.

On the p. m. of the 26th Colonel Wright told me that General McPherson and Colonel Walcutt (our brigade commander) had been out through the day examining the ground in front, and that it was in contemplation to carry the southwest spur of the mountain by a charge, and further, that it was not impossible that our brigade would be in as usual. This was kept quiet in the command. About 8 p. m. I was at Colonel Wright's headquarters with several of the officers and we were talking the matter over, when an order came for the colonel to report at brigade headquarters. I believe every one present instantly concluded that we were to fight, and knowing the country before us to be about on a par with Lookout Mountain you can imagine we did not particularly enjoy the prospect. The colonel returned in about an hour. We had all, I believe, fallen asleep. He woke us and said: “Have your men get their breakfasts by daylight; at 6 a. m. the fight will begin on the right, and at 8 a. m. our brigade will, with one from the 1st and 2d divisions, charge a spur of the mountain.” I turned away and after notifying my orderly sergeant to have the men up on time, I turned in. Thought the matter over a little while and after pretty fully concluding “good-bye, vain world,” went to sleep. Before daylight in the morning we were in line, and moving a few hundred yards to the rear of our works, and stacked arms in a grove, which would hide us from the observation of the Rebels on the mountain. You know from where we have been for a few days, we could see them plainly. Cannonading commenced on the right at 6 a. m. and at 7:30 we moved a half or three quarters of a mile along-our lines to the right, after piling our knapsacks and haversacks. A canteen of water was the only extra baggage any one carried. The Rebels caught sight of us as we commenced moving, and opened a battery on us It had the effect to accelerate our movements considerably. Right in front of a Division of the 4th Corps we halted, and rapidly formed our line. While forming the line Corporal Myers of my company was killed by a bullet within six feet of me, and one of Company K's men wounded. I don't know how many more. The ground to be gone over was covered with a dense undergrowth of oak and vines of all kinds binding the dead and live timber and bush together, and making an almost impenetrable abatis. To keep a line in such a place was out of the question. Our skirmishers were sharply engaged from the start, and men commenced falling in the main line; at the same time some 50 of the Rebel skirmish line were captured, and many of them killed. A Rebel lieutenant and five men lay dead, all nearly touching each other.

I understand that they had been summoned to surrender, and were shot either for refusing or before negotiations were completed. Not a man in our regiment knew where the Rebel works were when we started, and I think the most of them found them as I did. I had with my company got within, I think, 60 yards of the Rebel works, and was moving parallel with them. The balls were whistling thick around us, but I could see no enemy ahead.

I did not even think of them being on our flank, until one of the boys said: “Look there, Captain, may I shoot?” I looked to the right, and just across a narrow and deep ravine were the Rebel works, while a confused mass of greybacks were crowding up the ravine. These latter, I suppose, were from their skirmish line, which was very heavy, and trying to escape us. The Rebels in the works were firing vigorously and have no excuse for not annihilating our three left companies K, G and B. The right of the regiment had seen them before and already started for them. I shouted “forward” to my men and we ran down across the ravine, and about one-third the way up the hill on which their works were and then lay down. There was little protection from their fire, though, and if they had done their duty, not a man of us would have got out alive. Our men fired rapidly and kept them well down in their works. It would have been madness to have attempted carrying their works then, for our regiment had not a particle of support, and we were so scattered that we only presented the appearance of a very thin skirmish line. If we had been supported by only one line, I have no doubt but that we would have taken their line of works. Colonel Wright was wounded a few minutes after we got into the hollow, and Frank Lermond came to me and told me I would have to take command of the regiment. I went down to the center and the order was heard to retire. I communicated it to the left and saw nearly all the men out, and then fell back.

I could not find the regiment when I came out, but collected about 30 of our men on the left of the 6th Iowa, and after a while Colonel Wright and Captain Post brought the regiment to where we were, when we formed a brigade line and threw up works within 200 yards of the enemy's, where we remained until 9 p. m., when we returned to the position we occupied in the morning. About 12 of our dead were left in the ravine under the fire of the enemy's guns. But we have as many of their dead as they have of ours. Lieutenant Colonel Barnhill of the 40th Illinois, and Captain Augustine of the 55th Illinois were killed and left on the field. My loss is five killed and four wounded. Two of my dead, Corporal Whittaker and Artemus Myers, were left on the field. Loss in the regiment is 17 killed, 40 wounded. In the brigade 245 killed and wounded. It was a rough affair, but we were not whipped. The prettiest artillery fight I ever saw was over our heads in the evening, about 10 guns on each side.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 268-71

Captain Charles Wright Wills: June 19, 1864

June 19, 1864.

This is the 50th day of the campaign. Our brigade has been under musketry fire 12 days, artillery about 30. We have as a brigade fought three nice little battles, in as many days, repulsing two charges, and making one which was a perfect success. We have captured all told about 650 prisoners, and I think 1,000 a very low estimate of the number we have killed and wounded. I think Cheatham's and Bates' Rebel divisions will say the same. We have thus cleared ourselves with a loss to us of nearly 300, or fully one-fifth of the command. The other nine days we were on the skirmish line, in the rifle pits or front line.

This morning an order was read to pursue the enemy immediately and in ten minutes the “assembly” was sounded. The enemy had fallen back on his flanks, and maybe was intending to evacuate, for our right had swung around him further than I, if in his place, would consider healthy. But he had not yet left the Twin Mountains. The line now runs from right to left by Corps 23d, 20th, 4th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th. The 14th Corps lost heavily to-day, but drove the Rebels four miles. The 23d Corps was still going at last accounts. The artillery firing to-day was beautiful. Our division advanced about one-half mile only. The Twin Mountains are right in front of us, and I have seen the Rebels shooting from six batteries on the crest and sides. Our batteries on a line 600 yards in front answer them promptly.

Only one shell has burst near us, and that 100 yards to our right.

The 55th had one killed and two wounded just in front of us, by shells. All parts of the line advanced from one to five miles to-day, the right swinging forward farthest, a-la-gate. Osterhaus' headquarters are 30 yards to our right. A solid shot from the mountain went through one of his tents yesterday. It has rained hard all day, but nobody minds it a particle. The general feeling is that the Rebels have fallen back to their main position, although they have abandoned ground that we would have held one against five. I can't hear that any line of battle has been engaged to-day, but the force on the advance skirmish lines was probably doubled at least. You would not smile at the idea of sleeping on the ground allotted to us to-night. Mud from six to eight inches deep.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 263-4

Captain Charles Wright Wills: April 9, 1864

Scottsboro, Ala., April 9, 1864.

Don't be alarmed and imagine that I have “photos” on the brain. This is in all probability the last remittance of the article that I shall make you. General Corse, our old brigade commander, we think a great deal of, and would like to have you preserve his picture. The little soldier, Johnny Clem, was a sergeant at the time of the Chickamauga battle, and fought like a hero. His comrades say he killed a Rebel officer of high rank there. For his gallant conduct in that massacre, General Thomas gave him a lieutenancy and position on his staff, where he now is. He is almost a perfect image of one, Willie Blackburn, who was my orderly in the 7th.

The day of jubilee has come at this post; that is, we have, once more, something fit to eat. This is the first day since we've been here that our commissary has furnished us with aught but regular rations. We can wish for nothing now, except “marching orders.” My men are in splendid condition. Everyone of them in A1 health and spirits. All the veterans of the division are back, except the three regiments of our brigade. The 55th Illinois has at last concluded to veteran. Two hundred of them will be at home shortly. They held a new election, left Malmsberg and Chandler out in the cold, and I understand, a goodly number of their best officers besides. Men who have not been under good disciplinarians, will almost invariably, if an election is allowed, choose good fellows for officers. That is, men who allow everything to go at loose ends, who have no business whatever with commissions. Captain Milt. Hainey and Captain Augustine, I understand, are to be colonel and lieutenant colonel of the 55th. They are said to be good men and officers, and exceptions to the above, but my experience is such exceptions are rare, and I'd rather time would prove them than man's words. I believe my company would veteran, almost unanimously, to-day. I am still on court-martial duty, and having a very easy time. We seldom sit over two hours, and never more than four hours a day. The most of the cases are for desertion, and absence without leave, with occasionally a shooting or cutting affair among some drunken men. The major and several of the other officers are absent at Nashville on a shopping excursion. Captain Wyskoff is commanding. He has been trying for the last eight months to resign, but papers come back every time disapproved. It's hard work now to get out of the army. By a few items I have seen in the papers, believe the 17th Army Corps is coming up the river. Wish they would be sent here. We need another corps to move with us on to Rome. Suppose that Grant thinks he must have the 17th with him at Richmond. Operations cannot possibly commence here for 25 days yet. Wish we could move to-morrow. Colonel Wright and I were out a few miles this p. m. to see a couple of maidens. While we were enjoying our visit a party of excited citizens (all liable to the Southern conscription) rush in, and kindly invite us to go down to Fossets' in the bottom, and clean out a half dozen “guerils” who were there after conscripts. ’Twas only a half mile through the woods to Fossets’ and that was closer than we wanted to be to such a party (we had no arms). So we told the excited citizens that they and the guerillas could all go to the d---1 and we'd go to camp. Within a mile of camp we met a company on the way to look for the Rebels, but I know they might as well look for a religious chaplain in the army as for the Rebels in that swamp. There is hardly a sign of spring here yet. Have certainly never seen vegetation as far advanced North at this season as it is here now. Need a fire every day. The last month has been colder than January was. I met a woman to-day who prides herself on belonging to one of the first families of Virginia and boasts that her grandsire's plantation and George Washington's almost joined, and showed me a negro woman 110 years old, that formerly waited upon George Washington. She claims to be chivalry, par excellence. Her husband is in the Rebel Army. She lives off of the United States Commissary Department, and begs her chewing tobacco of United States soldiers. She's a Rebel, and talks it with her mouth full of Uncle Sam's bread and bacon.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 223-5

Captain Charles Wright Wills: October 1, 1863

Griffin's Landing, Miss., October 1, 1863.

Clear as a bell this morning; about 8 a. m. we reached Griffin's landing 125 miles above Vicksburg. Said Griffin has some 2,000 cords of wood ricked on his plantation, some 500 of which we propose to gobble for the use of our transportation. We found here a part of Blair's division which left Vicksburg over a week ago. Found the 55th Illinois, 8th Missouri and 13 regiments among other regiments. They finished wooding and left about 3 p. m.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 194-5

Colonel Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, January 3, 1863

Headquarters Fourth Brigade, Second Div.,

“MilliKEN's Bend,” Louisiana, January 3, 1863.

I seize a moment to write you a brief letter, for I know how anxious you all must be about me. The papers, who know everything, and more too, will have apprised you long before you receive this letter that we have had a fight, that we have met the enemy and that they are not ours; and you will imagine, of course, that I am captured, wounded and killed, but by the grace of God I’ve come out of the ruins unscathed. I went under fire Saturday evening, about six o'clock, 27th ult.; was in raging battle Sunday and Monday; and Sunday, very early in the action, Gen. Morgan L. Smith was shot pretty badly in the hip and had to go off the field. I think he’ll die. By General Sherman's order, General Stuart assumed command of the division and I of the brigade, but Stuart being unwell I virtually had command of the whole division during the fight of Sunday. After the first part of the affair was over, Gen. A. J. Smith, as ranking officer, took command. I had ten regiments and three batteries of sixteen guns before Smith came. My men behaved splendidly, especially in our own regiment, which, however, suffered a good deal, nineteen killed and wounded; my best captain badly wounded. Our loss is pretty heavy, but the enemy must have suffered terribly. I am now in command of the old brigade, composed of the 54th Ohio, 55th Illinois, 57th Ohio, 83d Indiana, and 127th Illinois, with two fine batteries. The 83d Indiana is a noble regiment, commanded by Colonel Spooner, of Lawrenceburgh; he knows your father well. I led his regiment under their first fire myself and can testify to their gallantry. I suppose the Administration will have too much to do to think of the promotion of so insignificant and humble an individual as me, but it is pretty hard to take the responsibility of commanding brigades without the rank. Yet this is the second big fight in which I've been compelled to it, to say nothing of minor skirmishes. My own little regiment is a brick; she'll follow me to hell at the word go. Never falters, never complains. We lay in that swamp, among the mud-turtles and alligators, a week, and short of rations, and not the first man whimpered. I had a fellow shot through the hand, shattering it and maiming him for life; the ball broke the stock of his rifle, and instead of complaining about his hand, he went hunting about for another gun, cursing the enemy for breaking his; however, all these incidents of battle are very uninteresting to you and it is really wonderful how soon we forget them. There is a party of officers sitting now at my right hand, laughing and talking and playing cards, whose lives, twenty-four hours ago, were not worth a rush, who have been in the imminent and deadly breach, who have lost comrades and soldiers from their companies, and who this moment are entirely oblivious of the fact.

The weather has been generally warm and pleasant for the past ten or twelve days; is now warm enough, but it rains tremendously. I am told, by those who know the climate, that it rains at this season of the year, after it once sets in, for six weeks, then storms for six weeks, and then rains again. I don't know how this may be, but God preserve us from having days of such rain as has been pouring down this.

They all seem to be looking forward to Christmas, with the usual fond anticipations of childhood, and with that they wish I could be with them. My Christmas was far away, sailing on the Mississippi; my dinner, for supplies were very short, a homely dish of codfish and potatoes minced, with a relish of stewed beans. My New Year's Day was passed under the rifle-pits and batteries of the enemy in one of the vast swamps of the Mississippi, beneath huge cottonwood and sweet gum trees overgrown with the long peculiar moss of the country that flaunts in the breeze like funeral weeds. On Saturday night, while I was planting a battery, a huge owl — one of the species that make these swamps their home — flapped his wings right over me, and roosting in the tree above my head gave an unearthly screech and wound up with a laugh and prolonged ha! ha! ha! so much like the utterance of a human being as almost to startle me. I took it for an omen. Where will my next Christmas be, where shall I make my next New Year's call? The last has been an eventful year to me; for the past nine months each day has been filled with thrilling incidents. I should like a little rest. I should like to lie down and be quiet. I should like to have some one soothe my brow, and make me feel as if I were a little child again. That is a beautiful idea in Scripture, where we are taught that all must become as little children, before they can enter into the kingdom of heaven. It is almost heaven to feel like a little child on earth. But now my business is to slay and destroy, to exercise all my intellect in the destruction of human life and property.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 251-3

Colonel Thomas Kilby Smith to Helen Smith, September 15, 1862, 2 a.m.

CAMP ON HERNANDO ROAD, NEAR MEMPHIS,

2 O'CLOCK A.M., Sept. 15, 1862.

MY DEAR SISTER:

At eleven o'clock last night as I was about to “turn in” an orderly came dashing up through the rain with despatches advising me that the Brigadier-General commanding had reliable information that our pickets were to be attacked this night or morning, rather, by the enemy's cavalry, and ordering me to double my picket guard. Being some distance from our main army and my outside pickets being three miles distant from me, and having a six-gun battery under my command attached to my regiment, after giving my orders and disposing of my forces, I feel indisposed for sleep and know not how I can better put in the residue of the night than by writing to my dear sister Helen, whose affectionate letter of the 8th inst. with inclosure is now before me, being this day received.

I send you a picture of General Sherman and staff, numbered thus —

1. Lieutenant Taylor, 5th Ohio Cavalry, Aide-de-Camp.

2. Major J. H. Hammond, Assistant Adjutant-General.

3. Captain Dayton, 6th Ohio Infantry, Aide-de-Camp.

4. Major Taylor, of Taylor's Battery, Chief of Artillery.

5. Capt. J. Condict Smith, Division Quartermaster.

6. General Sherman.

7. Col. Thos. Kilby Smith, of 54th Ohio Inf. Zouaves.

8. Captain Shirk, U.S.N., Commander of gunboat Lexington, which threw the shells at Shiloh.

9. Major Hartshorne, Division Surgeon.

10. Col. W. H. H. Taylor, 5th Ohio Cavalry.

11. Capt. James McCoy, 54th Ohio Inf. Zouaves, Aidede-Camp.

12. Major Sanger, 55th Illinois Inf., Aide-de-Camp.

These, with two exceptions, were together and did service at the battle of Shiloh; the names of some of them will adorn the pages of history. The Quartermaster looms up among them like Saul among the prophets, a head and shoulder above the rest. He stands six feet four and a half inches high in his stocking feet, and I have a private in the ranks in my regiment who is three inches taller than he.

Tell mother she need not be alarmed about Sherman's sanity; his mind is sound, his intellect vigorous. He is a man for the times. His enemies are seeking to destroy him. The whole article she sends is replete with falsehood. No city in the Union has a better police, is more accurately governed than Memphis. It is sufficient for me to say to mother that the whole article is false from beginning to end. Tell dear mother I will write her shortly; that meanwhile, to be of good cheer. The game of war is fluctuating — their turn now, ours perhaps to-morrow.

And all night long I have waited and watched; the gray dawn is now streaking the eastern sky. No warning shot from the picket guard, all is still, all quiet, as though smiling peace still blessed the land. I have written and paced the sentry's beat at intervals; now sounds the reveille\ The stirring fife and prompt sharp sound of the drum break upon the morning air. The camp is all aroused. My labor for the night is done. Its result a copy of verses and not very interesting letter. It will bring proof, however, that I have thought of you, that for the whole night at least you have been in my thoughts till dawn.

I don't think that Cincinnati is in immediate danger from Smith; he will probably retire. His mission was to watch Morgan at the Cumberland Gap. It was so easy a thing to do, that he made his advance farther than was intended. Bragg is the general to watch. He and Buell will, I think, it is likely, have a big battle. If he is victorious, good-by, Cincinnati. Anyhow I must think she is a doomed city.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 242-4

Colonel Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, May 15, 1862

HEADQUARTERS 54TH REGT. O. V. INF.,

CAMP NO. 6 IN THE FIELD,

MISSISSIPPI, May 15, 1862.

We are still advancing, counter-skirmishing, and the din of cannonading is by day and night. We are close to Corinth. A great and decisive battle must soon be fought. We have been brigaded a second time. My regiment is now under command of Brigadier-General Morgan L. Smith, and consists of four regiments, the 55th Illinois, Colonel Stuart; the 57th Ohio, under Lieutenant-Colonel Rice, the Colonel being absent on sick leave; the 8th Missouri, and the 54th Ohio. I still preserve my position on the left flank, which gives me my position on the extreme left of the brigade, and as we march by the left flank, the advance of the army, which is a post of honor. The integrity and courage of my command is undoubted, and therefore the responsible trust. My address will now be 54th Regiment, Ohio Volunteers, First Brigade, Fifth Division, Major-General Sherman commanding.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 204

Colonel Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, May 8, 1862

HEADQUARTERS 54TH REGIMENT O. V. INF.,

CAMP NO. 5 1N THE FIE1D, May 8, 1862.

I notice the printers make terrible havoc with my name. They call me Kelly, and Kirby, and F. Kirby, and the Lord only knows what else, but I can generally be identified as the Smith who led the Second Brigade on Monday, and that directly under Sherman's eye, and in conjunction with the celebrated Rousseau Brigade. A good many of the local papers up through the country have complimented both the regiment and myself. These, of course, you do not see, but I would advise you to take all of the Cincinnati papers for a while, and look out for official reports of both Sherman and General Stuart. I have not written full details of the battle to you for two reasons. One that I had very little time and one that I thought you would get fuller details through the newspapers. The battle is getting somewhat stale now anyhow. The next one I will try harder.

While I write there is an incessant roar of artillery, heavy siege guns. We made a sortie this morning and had a brush with the enemy's pickets. My Zouaves killed three of them, wounded five, and brought in four prisoners. Our brigade, the Second of the Fifth Division, consisting now of only Colonel Stuart's regiment and mine, is clear in the advance of the whole army and the nearest to Corinth. We heard for two nights the whistle of the cars very plainly. Cannon are playing all the time, and I think a great battle not far off. General Sherman has been made a Major-General, a promotion he well deserves. You must not believe all the newspapers say of him; he is a splendid officer and a most excellent, good man. I have every confidence in him. I sat by his side on horseback for an hour on Monday of that terrible battle while shot and shell, cannon, cannister, and Minieballs rained and rattled all about us. Scores of horses and men killed, and falling so close that the dead and dying piled all up about our horses, his cheek never blanched. He never for a moment lost his coolness. His hand was badly wounded by a piece of shell. He quietly went on giving his orders as if nothing had happened. A few minutes before I joined him he had three horses killed under him. A braver man I never saw, and I saw him in the thickest of it. If you note the official returns, you will discover that the Sherman Division lost a great many more in killed and wounded than either of the other divisions. I had intended to write mother, but have just received orders to get my regiment in marching trim. We go forward, and this time, I think, no halt till we storm the batteries of Corinth. You must make the latter part of this letter do for her. I think of her always, in the still camp at nightfall, on the march, or in the din of conflict her image is always in my heart. I have written very often to her, it is strange she does not receive my letters. She asks for details of my regiment, these she must get from the newspapers. Even they, or those who have written for them, admit my men fought most gallantly. I took three hundred and ninety into the field, of these one hundred and ninety fell killed or wounded. Ask her to search the papers for detailed report General Sherman, and Colonel Stuart, which ought to accompany it. Part of this has been published in the New York Herald. The Illinois papers publish accounts of the 54th. You know, but must write mother, for she, I suppose, has not heard it, that the regiment stood on Sunday under a murderous fire for four hours and a half; that the 55th Illinois and the 54th Ohio with about eight hundred and fifty men were attacked by an entire division, admitted by intelligent prisoners, surgeons, and others to contain nearly ten thousand, with cavalry and artillery, led by some of their best generals; Hardee among the number; that we stood till our ammunition was all exhausted, and then fell back in good order for more; that while standing, we piled the ground with the enemy's dead; that we made two of their regiments break and run, who in running were received on the bayonets of their own men, who forced them back. On Wednesday one thousand five hundred of their dead were buried in one little ravine where they fell. Towards the last and when ammunition got scarce, my Zouaves never fired a shot without drawing a cool bead; and no shot was fired, for we were within less than one hundred yards of them, that a rebel did not bite the dust. We fell back, were reinforced with ammunition, formed a line, and in the rear of the batteries fought till dark. We lay on our arms in the rain and rose to fight all day Monday, and on Monday evening we were in the advance of the army, and the last to stop under orders in pursuit of the fleeing foe. We lay on our arms Monday night, and were in the line of battle again on Tuesday, and on Wednesday we marched forth to bring in thirty-two prisoners.

Individual acts of heroism were performed by men and officers of my regiment that have never been excelled in song or story. There is none to tell the tale for them, and they are too modest to puff themselves. You will not find details, but you will find the main facts in the reports I have spoken of, and these you must hunt up and read. I am considered by my superior officers to have done my duty, and I have their confidence, God has been good in preserving my life.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 201-4

Colonel Thomas Kilby Smith to his sister Helen, April 14, 1862

HEADQUARTERS 54TH REG1MENT O. V. I.,

CAMP SHILOH, TENNESSEE, April 14, 1862.

MY DEAR SISTER:

Well, my dear Helen, the great fight has been fought; I have had my part in it, and, save a slight scratch not worth mentioning, have come out safe. The papers, of course, teem with accounts, which you have doubtless read until you are satisfied; but, at the risk of stale news, I will give you my experience of the battle, of which I believe I saw as much as “any other man.”

On the Thursday preceding, my command had been ordered upon a most fatiguing night march, which lay for six miles through a dense swamp to a point near a ford, where we lay for some hours in ambuscade for the purpose of taking a body of rebel cavalry. On Friday we marched back to camp. On Saturday, nearly the whole regiment was turned out on fatigue duty to build some bridges and a road to cross artillery, and on Saturday night I was ordered to hold my command in readiness for an expedition to march as early as eight o'clock on Sunday. All this service was intensely fatiguing to the officers and harassing to the men, but to the last order I probably owe my life, for, having been prompt in its execution and my horse being saddled, no sooner had the long roll sounded, than my men were in line. The attack was very sudden, and within three minutes our tents were literally riddled with the balls of the enemy's skirmishers. We marched the battalion to a kind of peninsula formed by a dense ravine on the one side and a creek on the other, and there formed the line of battle.

From the fatigue duty I have spoken of, and certain camp epidemics prevalent, our forces had been very much weakened, and we took into the field but about fifteen hundred men. To this force were opposed eight thousand of the enemy's infantry, supported by artillery and cavalry. Now, to the better understanding of my account, you must recollect what I have before written you, that the Second Brigade of Sherman's Division occupied the extreme left wing of the army, whose front lines extended many miles; that my regiment occupied the extreme left of the brigade, and observe that the enemy having surprised the centre which was broken, and having routed and captured the greater part of Prentiss’ command, to whom we looked for support, stole down our front and attempted to outflank us, and now at about nine o'clock on Sunday morning we joined battle. Having seen by my glass the vastly superior force of the enemy, I determined to sell our lives as dearly as possible, but never to surrender, and ordered my Zouaves to lie on their bellies, and, waiting the attack, not to fire until the foe was within twenty yards. We were ranged along the brow of the hill, slightly covered with a small growth of timber, and between us and the advancing ranks was an open plain. On they came, steadily, and save the tread of the well-trained soldiers, led by General Hardee in person, not a sound was heard; at last they were upon us, and then commenced the deafening roar of volley after volley; for four hours and a half the deadly hand-to-hand conflict raged. (I took 390 enlisted men into battle, I left 187 upon the field, killed or badly wounded, but from me they took no prisoners. The 71st Ohio . . . abandoned us early in the action, but the 55th Illinois were staunch. The brigade lost 587 killed and wounded, but most of these are from the 54th Ohio and 55th Illinois). At last our ammunition began to fail, and I never shall forget the despairing looks of some of the boys, who would come clustering around my horse and say, “Colonel, what shall I do; my cartridges are all out?” But, fortunately, the enemy's fire began to slack. My men all fired low, every man made his mark, and though our own men could hardly get round among their own killed and wounded, the field was strewn thick with the dead of the foe. By this time I was in command of the brigade, Colonel Stuart having been wounded and compelled to retire. I fell back in good order for better position and until I could be reinforced with ammunition; my forty rounds were all gone. At last an orderly from General Grant came up to promise the required supply and to order us to a position at which we could cover a battery. I forgot to tell you that the enemy had planted a battery upon a height, commanding our first position, and were shelling us all the while the first fight was going on. One of my horses was struck once by a piece of shell and twice by rifle balls. No sooner had we taken position by the batteries than the attack was renewed with greater vigor than ever; but now the heavy guns from the gunboats in our rear began to throw their shells clean over us and into the ranks of the enemy; never was sweeter music to my ears than their thunder; the shades of night drew on, the enemy began to slacken fire, and, as shell after shell dropped and burst in their midst, gradually retired. Our men dropped exhausted on their arms; all day the battle had raged, all day they had suffered privation of food and drink, and now began to fall a copious shower of rain, which lasted steadily till morning; through that shower without a murmur they slept, and the next morning at seven o'clock I, having been formally placed in command of the brigade by order of General Sherman, began the march towards the right wing, where we were to take position. General Nelson, who with General Buell had brought up reinforcements during the night, had commenced manoeuvres at daybreak. As early as eight o'clock my brigade was in the line of battle and under a heavy fire of shell. At about nine o'clock we were ordered into action, which was hotly contested all the day long. About four o'clock I was ordered to the command of another brigade, or, more properly, a concentration of skeleton regiments, which I had got into line, and, leaving my own command with Lieutenant-Colonel Malmborg, carried my new command far into an advanced position, then returning, brought up my own brigade upon the left of Shiloh Chapel. Now the Pelican flag began to waver and droop. All the day long we, that is, my immediate command, were opposed to the “Crescent City Guards,” the pet regiment of Beauregard, to whom in the morning he had made his whole army present arms, and whose flag he had at the same time planted, saying of us, the Northern army, “Thus far, but no farther shalt thou go”; vain boast; at even tide, like a gull upon the crest of the wave in the far-off ocean, it fluttered and went down.

I drew my forces up in good order under the eye of General Sherman, and Monday night again under a most drenching shower, which lasted all the night through, the men even now without food or drink lay upon their arms, and on Tuesday morning were again in line; the enemy had gone, but not their occupation; all day they stood guard upon the outposts, and the next day we marched the whole regiment onward for three miles and a half to bring in the wounded of the enemy. That day I took thirty-two prisoners, and brought in the bodies of an Arkansas colonel and Major Monroe, of Kentucky, the latter one of the most distinguished men of the State, and both of them I had decently interred. Oh, Helen, if you had seen the horrors of that battle, as I saw them when the rage of battle had passed, the heaps of slain, the ghastly wounds, had you heard the groans of the dying, had you seen the contortions of men and horses; but why dwell on the theme which abler writers will so vividly portray? I have given you one hasty sketch of the humble part it was my good fortune to be able to play in one of the greatest dramas of the age. Thank God for me, for in His infinite mercy He alone has preserved me in the shock of battle; pray for me always. One more conflict, and I leave a memory for my children or make a name for myself. My flag is still unstained, my honor still bright.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 195-8

Col. David Stuart’s Headquarters Monument: Larkin Bell’s Field, Shiloh National Military Park

U. S.

* * *

HEADQUARTERS, 2^D BRIGADE,

5^TH DIVISION,

ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE.

COL. DAVID STUART,

55TH ILLINOIS,

COMMANDING.

* * * * *

ESTABLISHED MARCH 19, 1862.

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, Sunday, April 6, 1862

The long roll sounded about half-past seven in the morning, and at once we formed a line of battle on the regimental parade ground. At about 8 o’clock we were ordered to the front, and marching out in battle line, about one-half mile, we met the rebels at Water Oaks Pond.  Dresser’s battery was just in front of our regiment, we acting as a support to it. The rebels came up on our right, compelling us to fall back about eighty rods to our second position, where we remained until we were again flanked, when we fell back to within about one hundred yards of our parade ground, where we lay down on the brow of a hill awaiting the approach of the rebels in front. While in this position, Thomas Hains of Company E took off his hat, placed it upon his ramrod, and holding it up, shouted to the boys along the line to see what a close call he had had while out in front, for a minie ball had passed through the creased crown of his hat, making four holes. Before he could get his hat back on his head, a small shell burst over us and mortally wounded him.

By this time the rebels were marching right oblique, just in front of us, in double line of battle with their two stands of colors flying. By order we waited until we could look them in the eye and then rose up and fired a volley at close range into their ranks, throwing them into great confusion. We then made a bayonet charge, capturing one of their standards, and together with the Eleventh and the Twentieth Illinois Infantry we captured Cobb's battery and retook General McClernand’s headquarters. In this charge Company E met its greatest loss of the day.

My musket became so dirty with the cartridge powder, that in loading it the ramrod stuck fast and I could neither get it up nor down, so I put a cap on, elevated the gun and fired it off. But now I had no ramrod, and throwing down my musket, I picked up a Belgian rifle lying at the side of a dead rebel, unstrapped the cartridge box from his body, and advanced to our company, taking my place with the boys. While in this position I witnessed a wonderful sight — thickly-flying musket balls. I have never seen hail falling thicker than the minie balls were flying in the air above us, though too high to do any harm. Our ammunition soon ran out and the entire regiment was ordered to the rear to replenish our cartridge boxes.

When leaving with my company for the rear to restock our ammunition supply, I passed a severely-wounded boy (a stranger to me) who begged me to help him to the rear and out of danger. I stooped down and let him put his arms around my neck, but finding that I could not rise up with him hanging on my neck, I assured him that he would be safe there among the logs, and explained that if I should stay with him, I would surely be taken a prisoner, so left the poor fellow to his fate.

After filling our cartridge boxes, we again formed in line of battle close by the cavalry field and right in the midst of heavy brush timber. Here we remained for about two hours, when we were ordered by General Grant (in person) to a position on the extreme left of the Army of the Tennessee, in support of Dresser's battery, being placed in line by Webster of General Grant's staff, just to the left of the siege guns. Here we were engaged for more than two hours. The Fifty-fifth Illinois and the Fifty-fourth Ohio were placed to our left in support of two batteries hard by the river. Here about 5 o’clock in the evening, three regiments of Buell's army, just arriving, helped to repulse the fearful charge of the rebels.

The Eleventh Iowa was taken from its brigade early in the morning and remained separated all day. Now with the end of the day's fight, and after dark, we retired a few rods distant from our last line of action and without food or shelter bivouacked for the night, lying down on the wet ground in the rain.

This was our first battle and our company was hard hit, our losses being as follows: Killed, Lieut. John F. Compton, Serg. Ezra McLoney, John R. Buckman, George Croak, Thomas M. Hains and Carlton Frink: mortally wounded. George W. Simmons and John W. Dwiggans; severely wounded, Elmore Chrisman and John T. Rice.¹ About ten other boys were slightly wounded.

__________

¹ Rice finally died on April 19th, from the effects of the wound and typhoid fever. — A. G. D.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 40-2

Daniel K. Maxwell

D. K. MAXWELL, an enterprising citizen of Green Bay Township, residing on section 30, is a native of Fulton County, Illinois, born August 8, 1842, a son of Absalom and Polly Ann (Cameron) Maxwell, the father a native of Virginia, and a pioneer of Fulton County, and the mother born in Florida. They were married in Sangamon County, Illinois, and to them were born nine children – William, Martin, Thomas, Tabitha, David, Martha, Albert, Daniel K. and Emma. Daniel K. passed his early life in assisting on the farm, receiving his education in the common schools of his neighborhood.  August 5, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry, in answer to the call of Abraham Lincoln for more men. He participated in some of the most important battles of the war, among which may be mentioned Shiloh, Siege of Corinth, Champion Hills, Raymond, Siege of Vicksburg, and Kenesaw Mountain. At the battle of Kenesaw Mountain he was wounded in the right leg by a minie ball and confined in the hospital for some time, when he was granted a furlough for five months. He was in the hospital at Quincy, Illinois, for three months, when he was discharged, March 10, 1865, and returned to his home in Fulton County.  He came to Clarke County, Iowa, in February, 1868, and settled on his present farm in Green Bay Township, which was at that time entirely unimproved. He was married March 31, 1871, to Sarah Ellen Tanner, of Farmington, Fulton county, a daughter of Daniel and Susan (Berry) Tanner, who were pioneers of Fulton County. To Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell were born five children – Ora M., Angie G., Florence C., Herbert D. and Bertha G.  In 1881 Mr. Maxwell removed to Weldon and purchased a hotel, which he conducted till the winter of 1886, and from 1884 until January 1886, he filled the position of postmaster at Weldon with credit to himself, and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He returned to his farm in April, 1886, where he has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. His farm now contains 200 acres of choice land which is well improved and under high cultivation, and is located three miles northwest of Weldon. In politics Mr. Maxwell is a Republican. He is a member of the Odd Fellows order, belonging to Weldon Lodge, No. 441.

SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 414

Caring for the Wounded

LA SALLE, Ill., Feb. 18. – A large meeting was held in this place to-night at Cady’s Hall to take action towards the relief of our wounded at Fort Donelson, there being from this place two Companies of the 11^th Illinois, and one in Col. Lynch’s and one in the 55^th Illinois regiment.

A committee of seven was appointed to go or send delegations to Fort Donelson to see that our wounded are properly taken care of, and to bring back the dead.  Three hundred and seventy dollars was at once raised and placed in the hands of the committee, that they might at once proceed upon their mission, seventy of which was contributed by the Ladies Soldiers Aid Society.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 22, 1862, p. 3

St. Louis, Feb. 28 [sic] [1862]

The following is the official report of Gen. Cullum:

COLUMBUS, Ky., March 4.

To Maj. Gen. Halleck, Commanding Western Department – Columbus, the Gibraltar of the West, is ours, and Kentucky is free.  At 4 o’clock this morning the flotilla under Com. Foot, consisting of 6 gunboats, 4 mortar boats and transports, conveyed the 37^th Illinois regiment, a battalion of the 54^th, the 74^th Ohio and the 55^th Ill. under command of Gen. Sherman, proceeded to this place.  On arriving here it was difficult to say whether the fortifications were occupied by our own cavalry, or scouts from Paducah, or by the enemy.

Every preparation was made for opening fire and landing infantry, when Gen. Sherman and Capt. Phelps, with 30 soldiers mad a reconnaissance with a tug, steering directly under the water batteries.  Satisfied that our troops had possession, they landed, ascended to the summit, and together planted the stars and stripes, amid the cheers of our brave tars and soldiers.  Though rising from a sick bed to go upon the expedition, I could not resist landing to examine the works, which are of immense strength, consisting of tiers upon tiers of batteries upon the river front, and a strong parapet and ditch.

On the land side the fortifications appear to have been erected hastily.  A considerable quantity of ordnance and ordnance stores, a number of anchors, the remains of the chain once stretched over the river here, and a large supply of torpedoes are in our hands.

The desolation of hasty evacuation was visible everywhere.  Huts, tents and barracks presented nothing but their blackened remains, though the town was spared.  A garrison was left in the works consisting of nearly 2,000 infantry and 400 cavalry.

(Signed,)  G. W. CULLUM, Brig. Gen.

Gen. Halleck has telegraphed the following to Maj. Gen. McClellan:

Our cavalry from Paducah, marched into Columbus yesterday, at 6 p.m., driving before them the enemy’s rear guard.

The flag of the Union is flying over the boasted Gibraltar of the West.  Finding himself completely surrounded on both sides of the Mississippi, the enemy was obliged to evacuate or surrender.  Large quantities of artillery and stores were captured.

Signed, H. W. HALLECK, Maj. Gen.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, March 6, 1862, p. 1

Columbus, Ky., March 4 [1862]

At 10 o’clock this morning the 27^th, 52d and 55^th Illinois Regiments hoisted the stars and stripes over the rebel fortifications at Columbus.

The gunboats Cincinnati, Flag ship Louisville, Carondelet, St. Louis and Lexington, with four more boats in tow of the steamer Lake Erie, and the 27^th Ill., Col. Buford, 52d Ill., Col. Roberts and 55^th Ill., Major Sanger, acting Colonel, upon the transports Aleck Scott, Illinois, Magill and Ike Hammit, left Cairo this morning at 4 o’clock for Columbus.

The fleet arrived at Lucas Bend, about two miles above Columbus, at 6 o’clock, and was drawn up in line of battle.  The drums beat to quarters, and guns were manned ready for action.  Two tugs were sent in advance reconnoitering, but failed to provoke a shot from the enemy.  Everything about the works was quiet.  Glasses revealed stragglers on the bluff and about the water batteries, and in a few moments a flag was raised.  Its character could not be made out.

The fleet gradually neared the town, and laid in the stream of Belmont battlefield, while scouts were sent out upon tugs towards the rebel works.  The tugs cautiously approached until within a quarter of a mile of the batteries, found the works deserted and both set off at the top of their speed for the honor of landing first.  The scouts rushed on the ‘double quick’ to the top of the bluff, and unfurled the stars and stripes, which were saluted by the crews of the gunboats as they steamed up to the town.  The transports landed their troops, and Columbus was in our possession.

The works were entirely destroyed, and the barracks, or rather rough board and log cabins, were burned.  An immense amount of stores and ordnance fell into our hands.  Many of their cannon were thrown into the river.  Six thirty-two pounders, some howitzers, and an almost innumerable quantity of grape, canister, shell and round shot, were found in the batteries.  The fortifications were very extensive, and its natural position almost impregnable.

Columbus is completely destroyed. – Every building was thoroughly ransacked and the contents destroyed by the rebels.  The rebels commenced leaving on Thursday last and finished yesterday.  The largest number ever there was 37,000.  Beauregard was not there.  It is believed that when the river falls all their guns will be found.

The land forces, mortar boats and the gunboat St. Louis remain in possession of the town.  The balance of the boats returned to Cairo in the afternoon.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, March 6, 1862, p. 1

Deceased Soldiers

Francis Herrington, of Co. H, 55th Illinois, shot in left thigh, and Albert S. Keeler of Co. H, 14th Iowa, of Dysentery. Both died on the 22d of April, on board the floating hospital D. A. January. Their remains were buried in the cemetery. – {Gate.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 26, 1862, p. 3

Further Particulars of the Battle

KILLED AND WOUNDED

Gallant Conduct of the 15th Iowa Regiment

Col. H. T. Reid Wounded

CAIRO, April 12, 10 p.m. – The body of Gen. Wallace of Ottawa, accompanied by his staff and Col. T. L. Dickey, arrived on the steamer Woodford this evening. She brought down some 500 prisoners, on their way to St. Louis.

A special train with the body of Gen. Wallace will leave this evening for Ottawa.

Col. Hugh T. Reid, 15th Iowa from Keokuk, was paralyzed by a ball in the back of his head.

Lieut. Dewey, badly wounded in shoulder.

Major Belknap, slightly wounded.

Captain Hendericks killed.

This noble regiment had just arrived on Saturday with 1,045 men. Only 407 answered to their names after the battle. They had received their guns at St. Louis, and left Keokuk only two weeks ago – were in Prentiss’ Division.

An officer just arrived, says Prentiss is still a prisoner.

Nearly all of the 55th Illinois, and the 12th, 14 and 8th Iowa were surrounded and taken prisoners, while maintaining their ground and fighting like heroes.

The 14th, 16th and 18th Wisconsin were all in the fight. The 16th was in Prentiss’s Division, and with others were mostly dispersed and captured. What remained fought bravely and suffered terribly.

The 18th reached Pittsburg Saturday evening and marched to the front of Sherman’s Division; were exposed on Sunday to the heaviest fire, returning it with an energy worthy of veterans. This Regiment was entirely raw; had been paraded only a few times; had been hurried down from Milwaukee right into the heat of the fight, and many had never loaded a gun till they did it before the enemy. All these regiments did splendidly.

It is impossible as yet to procure a list of casualties.

Gov. Hovey and party with a boat load of hospital stores left this evening to relieve the wounded.

Fifty-fifth Illinois – Co. C – 2nd Lieut. Thorden Hodges, Corp. Dan’l Sullivan, Sergt. Myron Gunning, Privates Brazella Orewell, Nathan Knapp and O. Aellgernon, killed. Wounded, Capt. Boyd Rich, slightly; Sergt. Orville Parch; Chas Turney, seriously; Joseph Goodwin, Clark Winchester, Michael Ambery, slightly; Nelson Helgeroson, seriously; Theodore Shultz, Jacob Simpcox, J. Filmore Christopher Kittleson, slightly.

Thirtieth Indiana – Col. Boss seriously wounded. Half the regiment reported killed or wounded. They fought bravely.

Forty-fifth Ill. – Co. B. – Sergt. B. Burch, Killed. Wounded – Halloway Wood, Geo. Warner, seriously; Israel Tower, Charles Hollenback, slightly; L. Tower, John Holean, James Colimer Geo. W. Hayden, Jas. Robinson, White Sanford

Twenty-eighth Ill. – Col. H. A. Johns, slightly wounded; Maj. Grisham, Adjt. F. B. Dead, wounded. Lieut. Col. Kilpatrick, killed.

Company a – Dan’l Newton, Jeremiah Hedder, killed. Corporal Henry Walker, John E. Nash, Henry Keath, James McKinney, Richard Linch, Henry Coopenborough, George Hatchan, John Cordys, wounded. Total killed and wounded in this company, 25.

Captain Butler, Company B, slightly wounded.

Company F – Capt. Esell, Lt. Sawyer, slightly wounded.

Illinois 55th. – Col. D. Stuart, short through the breast.

Company F – Henry Rogers, Loyd Davis David Older, Blank Heuel, and Geo. Long, supposed to be killed, Capt. S. A. Wright, Corporal R. Hanna, Serg’t James M. Shavers, Wilber Leibiger, A. Moore, Sam’l Johns, James McKnight,.[the next line of text was blurred by the microfilm printer & thus was rendered illegible] Joshua Benton, Alvin Shannon, Phillip H. Ferguson, Wounded.

Illinois 4th – A. Fibs, killed. Colonel Hicks, Capt. Hooper and Lieut. Humphrey wounded.

Chicago Artillery – Edward Russel and a few others. Thirty wounded.

Taylor’s Battery – Blank Putz, killed and ten wounded. No guns lost.

Col. Dillon’s Cavalry had two privates mortally wounded. The whole regiment was on the field and had 15 horses killed.

– Published in the Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Tuesday, April 15, 1862