Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: January 15, 1864

The train carrying the Seventh is now near Springfield; soon we expect to meet a grateful people, who have already been informed of the hour of our arrival. The train moves slowly across Sangamon river, and as it emerges from the timber and approaches the city we hear the cannon's roar. The echoes roll across the prairie, telling to us that the great loyal heart of Illinois still beats true for liberty and its defenders. The train moves into the Great Western depot, and a vast crowd is now moving towards us. The patriot fathers are here; mothers, sisters and lovers, with anxious throbbing hearts whose pulses have ever beaten true for Union and liberty, come like a beautiful sun-tinted wave against the Seventh. Tears fall like dew drops for the loved and lost, who come not back, but when the returning comrade says to that sister or that maiden, "your Willie fought bravely on Shiloh's field, until liberty in her trying hours claimed him upon her hallowed altar," their faces sparkle with holy light and they reply: “How proud I am to know that they were thus brave soldiers in the war for republican nationality.” Oh! how noble these loyal hearts that open so wide for the boys in blue. The regiment sways back the crowd and forms in line. Wheeling into company column, Colonel Rowett commences to move through the city; a grateful people continues to follow the regiment wherever they march; the men move firmly-their steps are even.

Some one says "they are proud," and another replies, “and well may they be; for the record they have made in this crusade for freedom is enough to create within them a feeling of pride.” After marching through some of the principal streets of the city, the colonel leads the regiment into the State House yard, where he forms the regiment in divisions and closes in mass. Our old Colonel, now Brigadier General, John Cook, commanding the military at Springfield, appears at one of the windows, and with his loud and familiar voice says: "Colonel Rowett, by the direction of Governor Yates, you will proceed with your regiment into the Representatives Chamber.” The hall is now densely crowded with the Illinois Seventh and her loyal men and women. Governor Yates now comes forward and in behalf of the loyal people of Illinois he says: "Welcome! Welcome, Seventh! to your homes and friends. The heart of this great commonwealth goes out in love for you, starting tears to the memory of those of your number whom you have left in the sunny south. Again I say in behalf of the loyal people, welcome, welcome Seventh.” His big heart being so full he could say no more, and was compelled to sit down. Brigadier General Cook now comes forward, carrying on his arm the Seventh's old Donelson and Shiloh banner, and as he unfurled it in that chamber, those men who stood around it amid tempest and smoke, like a pillar of steel and fire, seemed to move towards it with all their hearts, for men never appeared to love a flag more; they loved it because of its associations, for when they gazed upon its shot-torn folds they remembered the eventful past, remembered the terrible battle flames through which it had been carried, remembered the loyal soldiers whose hearts ceased their pulsations beneath its shadow. General Cook commences to speak, and for one hour holds the vast audience spell-bound by his eloquence. He pays a touching tribute to the regiment's fallen, and we dare say a more beautiful tribute was never uttered in this chamber than this tribute delivered by General Cook. He spoke to the loyal heart, and it seemed that every word as fast as uttered entered there, for when he closed few eyes were dry in that vast audience. After a few apt and appropriate remarks by Colonel Rowett and Major Estabrook the audience disperses. The hotels are thrown open and the loyal people invite the regiment to throw themselves upon their hospitality during their stay in the city. Having free access, a portion of the regiment remains during the night in Representatives Hall.

Remaining in Springfield until the furloughs are issued the different companies on the 19th day of January, leave for their homes. We will now for a while leave the Seventh Illinois Veteran Volunteer Infantry with their friends, trusting that the loyal people will lavish upon them their hospitality and love in consideration of the noble part they have played thus far in the war for human freedom.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 221-4

Private Daniel L. Ambrose: June 26, 1861

To-day a member of Company F is “drummed out of the regiment” per verdict of Court Martial. Two single lines were formed facing inward, with a space between of about thirty feet. The disgraced soldier was marched along between the two lines, accompanied by two drummers, who kept up a terribly discordant drumming, while the men kept up a hooting and hissing.

SOURCES: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 9

Confession of John E. Cook (Excerpt)

There were some six or seven in Brown's party who did not know anything of our Constitution, and were also ignorant of the plan of operations until Sunday morning, October 16. Among this number were Edwin and Barclay Coppoc, Merriam, Shields Green, Copeland, and Leary. The Constitution was read to them by Stephens, and the oath afterward administered by Captain Brown. On Sunday evening Captain Brown made his final arrangements for the capture of Harper's Ferry, and gave to his men their orders. In closing, he said: “And now, gentlemen, let me press this one thing on your minds. You all know how dear life is to you, and how dear your lives are to your friends; and in remembering that, consider that the lives of others are as dear to them as yours are to you. Do not, therefore, take the life of any one if you can possibly avoid it; but if it is necessary to take life in order to save your own, then make sure work of it.”

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 552

Cairo Budget

CAIRO, 2. P. M. April 2. – Brig. Gen. John A. Logan has so far recovered from his wound received at Fort Donelson as to be able to rejoin his brigade, and to-day started for the seat of war on the Tennessee.  His wound is still very painful.

Lieut. Col. Ranford has been appointed Colonel of the 11th regiment to fill the vacancy occasioned by the promotion of Col. Wallace to Brigadiership.

Lieut. Col. Dunlap of the 29th regiment has resigned and arrived [at] Cairo, as have also several other officers of a lesser grade.

Brig. Gen. John Cook, of the 7th regiment is here, in route, for the theater of operations in Tennessee.

It is a very singular fact that those who have resigned, are invariably those who have hitherto escaped unharmed, while the wounded ones are as invariably returning to their duties.  Comment is unnecessary.

Gen. Strong is absent to-day, at Island 10.

The Hospital boat, Louisiana, started for the Tennessee river with a full compliment of doctors and nurses on board.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 5, 1862, p. 3

Specials to New York Papers

(Special to Tribune.)

WASHINGTON, March 3. – The following nominations were made to the Senate to-day as Major Generals: McDowell, Burnside, Buell, Pope, Lewis and Wallace.  As Brigadier Generals, Cols. Oglesby, W. H. Luella, Cook, McArthur and J. G. Lauman, who commanded brigades at Donelson.  Col. Berry of Maine and Fry of Connecticut, are to rank in the order named – Gen. McDowell thus out ranks the rest  and out ranks Sigel.

In Answer to a requisition of the Senate, the Secretary of War incloses [sic] the instructions of the Adjutant General to Gen. Hunter touching the Hunter Lane expedition, dated Jan. 20.

The order to Gen. Hunter says the General in Chief, in giving you this information, desires it to be understood that a command independent of you is not given to Gen. Lane, but he is to operate to all proper extent, under your supervision and control and if you deem propert, you may yourself, command the expedition which may be undertaken.

Under these circumstances the General in Chief will not give you a formal leave according to your instructions, but he authorizes you to absent yourself from your command for 30 days at your discretion.

The Herald’s Washington dispatch says it is understood that arrangements have been made for release from their parole of all the officers of our army, regulars and volunteers, who have been out on parole by the enemy.  We have such a host of rebel prisoners that there is no longer need that a single officer or private shall be any longer on parole.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 8, 1862, p. 3

New York, March 4 [1862]

A special to the Tribune says that the following nominations were made in the Senate to-day as Major Generals: McDowell, Burnside, Buell, Pope, Curtis, McClernand, C. T. Smith and Lewis W. Williams, acting Major Generals at Fort Donelson.  As Brigadier Generals: Colonels Oglesby, W. H. L. Wallace, Cook, McArthur, Lauman, who commanded brigades at Donelson.

Cols. Berry, of Maine, and Ferry, of Ct., are to rank in the order named, General McDowell thus outranking the rest and Curtis outranking Sigel.

In answer to a resolution of the Senate, the Secretary of War encloses the instructions of the Adjutant General Touching the Hunter-Lane expedition, dated January 3d.

The order to Hunter says:  The general-in-Chief, in giving you this information, desires it to be understood that a command independent of you is not given to General Lane, but he is to operate to all proper extent under your supervision and control. – If you deem it proper, you may yourself command the expedition which may be undertaken.  Under these circumstances the General-in-Chief will not give you a formal leave according to your application, but he authorizes you to absent yourself from your command for 30 days at your discretion.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, March 5, 1862, p. 1

Latest from Grant’s Army

Special Dispatch to Chicago Tribune

CAIRO, April 15 – M., 1862

Auditor Dubois and Gen. John Cook, of Springfield, left Pittsburg on Saturday, by mail packet Van Patten, and arrived here this morning. General Cook is unwell and going home to recruit his health. From them and from others we learn additional particulars.

Gen. Hurlburt [sic] lost, out of 7,000 men, in killed wounded and missing 1,983. He had a splendid army, choice troops, who fought like Turks. Lieut. Col. Tupper of Decatur was killed.

Colonel Bane, of the 50th Illinois, is dangerously wounded. Lieutenant Col. Phillips is also dangerously, and Colonel Morley slightly.

When the Illinois 11th were mustered on Monday morning they could bring but 45 men into the field. The 9th Illinois (Paine’s old regiment) mustered only 200 effective men, Col. Fry’s regiment were the only Illinois boys that acted badly. They had never been in action before.

The battle was stayed on Sunday by the gunboats and heavy siege guns of Matteson’s and Silversparre’s batteries, and the arrival of part of Buell’s forces.

A council of war was held by Beauregard and 11 principal Generals of the rebel army before the attack on Pittsburgh. If successful they would follow us and try to hold the Border States. If beaten, withdraw to the Gulf States with all their forces.

Van Dorn was not in the fight.

Our Cavalry was not very effectual in following up the retreating rebels. They were hindered by underbrush.

Rebel prisoners say Gen. Prentiss’ men (prisoners) were marched into Corinth in good order.

Gen. Grant was at Savannah, 8 miles below Pittsburg, when the battle opened, and did not arrive till 10 o’clock.

When our informants left Gen. Halleck was organizing the army as fast as possible, and preparing for every emergency.

SECOND DISPATCH

9 o’clock, p.m. – The following rebel officers participated in Beauregard’s council of war: Breckenridge, Bragg, Floyd, Hardee, Cheatham, the three Johnstons (Sidney, Bushrod and the Kentucky provisional Governor.)

The cause of the Sunday repulse is not definitely ascertained. The roads are now impassable from heavy rains.

General Hurlburt [sic] has discovered one of Matteson’s six 64-pound howitzers abandoned, and called on a man near by to work it. He did so, and fired and sighted sixty-five times, mowing down the enemy terribly every fire. The man was Dr. Corning of St. Louis surgeon, and inexperienced in artillery practice. Gen. Hurlburt [sic] thought him an old artillery officer.

A Federal wounded and captured in our tents, Sunday, and afterwards left when the rebels retreated reports Beauregard making a strong speech Sunday night to his officers and men. He assured them that they would make an easy prey of us on Monday; exhorted them to be brave, cool and self possessed; bed them injure nothing they had taken as booty, for it would all be needed in the rapid marches they were about making in pursuit of the federals, who might escape. Rebels taken prisoners on Monday confirm this statement.

Brigadier Gen. Johnston [sic], rebel provisional Governor of Kentucky is killed, and his body is at Paducah.

Different accounts agree in making the rebel force at Corinth estimated from 75,000 to 130,000 of whom 65,000 to 70,000 were in action. Our forces was 45,000 in action.

The Hiawatha brought down 260 wounded to Mound City, to-day at noon. An adequate supply of transports lying at Pittsburgh have been loaded with the wounded ready to come. Some go to Cincinnati.

The Cincinnati Sanitary Commission did nobly in relieving the wounded; so did those of St. Louis.

Orders were found on Gen. A. S. Johnston from Jeff. Davis to press on and attack Grant on Wednesday before Buell would join him by Thursday. Bogus Governor Johnston [sic] of Kentucky, said he did not want to live, as the Confederacy was ruined. He did not want to see it.

Gen. Ruggles was killed. Bushrod Johnston [sic] is also reported dead.

– Published in the Daily State Register, Des Moines, Iowa, Saturday April 19, 1862