At ½ past 7 Oc the
36th Reg of Iowa Vol. formed in line in Camp Lincoln Keokuk & at ½ past 8
Oc we ware mustered into the US Service by Lieut Ball mustering officer The
boys had a good time over it we had one rejected but have a full company yet
every man that we can get in with we had a good dress perade
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October
1925, p. 91
We read the articles
of war to the Company and are all ready & did expect to have been mustered
into the Reg this day evening Mr Murdock & I called & spent an hour
pleasantly at my Cozen MJ Kelleys the boy is better we staid the night at Mrs
Rachael Kendles
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 90
We have had several dress parades, in which we made a creditable appearance, considering the fact that no arms had been issued. On presenting the battalion to the commanding officer instead of the command Present Arms, as we had none to present, the order was Salute, which we executed as only recruits can. We have had rumors, not of war, but Muster in in the meantime the boys are generally up to something or other, to relieve the monotony of Left, Left, Left, from day to day. Some companies have attached flag-staffs to the fronts of the barracks, and our captain not wishing to be behind any others, ordered a detail to proceed to some man’s wood-lot and cut a suitable stick. We started with hatchets, tramping towards the Blue Hills, and finally secured a fine tall tree, which we cut, trimmed, and shouldered to camp, and putting it in position found it to be tallest in the line.
Geo. Russell kindly furnished us with a large flag and then E was high line. There is much emulation among the companies to be the one to lower the flag first, at sunset Russell attached about two pounds of lead to the hallyards, close to the flag, thoroughly greased the pulley, and then all it needed was one strong pull, and a pull altogether, and down comes the flag the quickest of any although our pole is much the tallest.
SOURCE: John Jasper Wyeth, Leaves from a Diary Written While Serving in Co. E, 44 Mass. Dep’t of North Carolina from September 1862 to June 1863, p. 7
One of the days to be remembered, having had a deeper experience of life than ever before. Early in the day orders came to put on our best rig, and get ready to be sworn in, as a mustering officer was coming to camp to perform that (to Uncle Sam) very important duty. Our company was drawn up facing the head-quarters for a long time. The boys being in a fever of excitement as to how the operation would work, whether it would hurt much, or whether the home-folks would know us ever afterward. It turned out about as easy as the measles; some itching for a while, but soon over. The officer, Captain N. B. McLaughlin, of the Regular Army, walked up and down each rank as we stood in open order; looking at each man; picking out one or two and punching them a little, probably to scare them as much as possible; intending to pass them all. Then, coming in front of us while our hats were off and right hands raised, repeated the oath of service, and we were finally soldiers of the Volunteer Army. We felt that we were taller men by at least ten inches, and it is possible if Sergeant Thayer had measured the company then and there it would have been one of the tallest. But it was still "Left," "Left," "Left," again, and we soon found our level.
We are a social party; hardly a day but brings crowds from the city. Our company has its share. One afternoon quite a party of young ladies were with us trying to keep up our spirits. They were to stay awhile in the evening, going home by the late train, so we thought we would get up a little dance, but half-past eight o'clock came all to quickly, they had to go; and then the question arose how were we to see them to the cars. Try our best we could only spare one man. That lucky individual, whoever he was, will remember the incident. As this was probably the young ladies' last visit before our start for the South, we demanded and received our last good-bye kisses, but when they saw the same boys falling in the second time, and some of them strangers, they scattered like a drove of sheep over the fences and far away to the station. I think that was the last effort the company made (as an orgaization) to kiss them all a good-bye.
SOURCE: John Jasper Wyeth, Leaves from a Diary Written While Serving in Co. E, 44 Mass. Dep’t of North Carolina from September 1862 to June 1863, p. 8
CAIRO, ILL. Since the last date I have been to busy to
attempt anything in the way of writing. The Board of Trade Regiment was
mustered into service as the 72d Regiment of Ill. Vol. on the 21st day of
August, 1862, Fred A. Starring as colonel, Joseph C. Wright as lieutenant
colonel, and H. W. Chester as major, the latter being captain of Co. A., to
which company I belonged as first lieutenant. I was by reason of his promotion as
major, made captain. Not being able to leave the camp my brother John and my
sister came to the camp to bid me goodbye. I had no opportunity of seeing my
friends who were kind enough to present me with a full uniform, sword, sash and
belt. There was no opportunity for speech making, but I inwardly resolved I
would not disgrace this friendship or dishonor the sword they were so kind to
present me with. Marching orders came upon us suddenly, only two days after we
were mustered in we received marching orders and on the 23rd of August embarked
on board the Illinois Central train for Cairo, which we reached on the
afternoon of the 24th. Everything is in confusion and we will from this time
commence to realize a soldier's life, try to do a soldier's duty. God alone
knows who will return, but I must not commence thinking of that, as it is a
soldier's duty to die if need be. Our regiment is composed of fine material,
five companies being composed of men raised under the auspices of the Young
Men's Christian Association together with the Board of Trade. The commanding
officers of the companies are as follows: "A"-Stockton;
"B"Curtis; "C"-James; "D"-Sexton;
"E"-Holbrook; "F"-Williams; "G"-French;
"H"-Prior; "I"-Barnes; "K"-Reid. Our Adjutant,
Bacon, is a good soldier and well liked. Starring, a fine disciplinarian;
Wright, a Christian gentleman who will make a fine soldier; Chester, who claims
Mexican War experience. Quartermaster Thomas is a hard worker and Sutler Jake
Hayward, a whole souled, clever fellow. His delicacies, such as ginger bread,
canned peaches, cheese, etc., are relished by the men who still have some money
in their pockets. This Cairo is a miserable hole, the barracks are in a
terrible state, filled with rats and mice and other creeping things. I prefer
to sleep outdoors to sleeping in my quarters. Our time is taken up with company
and regimental drill, weather very hot, no excitement except the passing
through of regiments. We were ordered here to relieve the 11th Ill.. who go to
Paducah. Men are getting sick and I am anxious for marching orders.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton,
War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier
General Joseph Stockton, p. 1-2
As Tennesseans were then offering their services faster than the state was prepared to arm and equip them, it was after hard begging that Governor Isham G. Harris gave his consent to have our company mustered into service; and as he would not receive more than seventy-six men, including the officers, eight of our company had to return home.
About eleven o'clock A. M., the Auburn Company (known afterward as the "Sangs") was sworn into service by J. G. Picket.
The following roll will be found to contain the names of the seventy-six men who were mustered into the service of the State of Tennessee for twelve months, with the present (1886) address opposite the name of each one living, so far as known. I have not been able to learn whether those whose names are followed by an asterisk (*) are dead or living; therefore, in our calculations hereafter, we will call this class the unaccounted for.
COMPANY ROLL.
Allison, T. M., Captain. Killed at home in 1862.To recapitulate, seven were killed, twenty have died, forty-one are living, and eight unaccounted for— total, seventy-six.
The following is as complete a list of the names of those who joined the Auburn Company from time to time during the war as I can now make out, after diligent inquiry among my comrades:
RECRUITS.
ALEXANDER, G. B., Oak Point, Wilson County, Tennessee.Of the Recruits, one was killed, seventeen have died, sixty-two living, and twelve unaccounted for—total, ninety-two.
Add the recruits to the original company, and the result will be as follows: Eight killed, thirty-seven died, one hundred and three living, and twenty unaccounted for—total, one hundred and sixty-eight.
As several were wounded more than once, some thirty-two of the company received between thirty-five and forty wounds.
The above list speaks well for the industry and perseverance of Captain M. W. McKnight in keeping his company well recruited, as well as for the popularity of the company
The “Sangs”4 generally outnumbered any other company in the regiment, and yet they were never consolidated with any other company.
I learn from an old muster-roll, which has been preserved by Lieutenant J. S. Harrison, that sixteen5 of the original company and thirty-five5 of the recruits—total, fifty-one-were present at the surrender of Forrest's Cavalry, May 10, 1865. The muster-roll referred to above is dated thus: "Near Sumterville, Alabama, May 1, 1865." And upon said roll I find the names of nineteen others, who are accounted for as follows: Three (J. W. Webb, W. E. Rich,6 and T. D. Summer6) are reported “Detached by order of Lieutenant-General Forrest;" two (A. G. McKnight and B. D. Ewing6) are reported “Absent, waiting on wounded ;” three (A. B. McKnight,6 W.W. Hawkins,6 and R. R. Hancock*) are reported “Absent, wounded;” six (Captain M. W. McKnight,6 Lieutenant H. L. W. Turney,6 Privates E. L. Ewing,6 J. H. Cavender, Mat Francis and H. C. Odam) are reported “Retired by order of Medical Board;" three (A. G. Ewing,6 J. H. Baxter, and John N. McKnight) are reported “Absent, sick," and two (E. D. Thomas and J. H. Thomas) are reported “Absent on parole."
Though I do not find upon said roll the names of any of the Auburn Company (J. D. McLin,6 C. C. Francis, Eli Barrett,6 and perhaps some others) who were in prison when this muster-roll was made out, I suppose they were omitted from the fact that our officers did not expect to get paroles for those in prison. But, omitting those in prison and the two already on parole, there were sixty-eight of the Auburn Company paroled at Gainesville, Sumter County, Alabama, May 10, 1865. (Gainesville is situated in the center of the western border of Alabama, on the west bank of the Tombigbee River, about forty-five miles southeast of Columbus, Mississippi.) Besides the eight killed, only about nine company died during the war. Alfred Hancock, Dr. G. C. Flowers, William A. Groom, John Overall, George Owen, George Turney, and Captain Sam Y. Barkley were with the Auburn Company from time to time during the war, and did more or less service, though they were not really members of the company. S. Y. Barkley, the last named above, was Captain of a company in Colonel E. S. Smith's regiment; and after that regiment disbanded Captain Barkley, though remaining independent, did service with the Auburn Company a good portion of the time from the fall of 1862 to the close of the war.
We remained at Nashville about five or six days. As they wanted our boots made by the penitentiary hands, we went there and had our measures taken. We moved from Nashville to Thorn Hill, near Goodlettsville, some ten or twelve miles north-east of Nashville, where we found the four following cavalry companies encamped:
The following is the muster-roll of Captain Frank N. McNairy's Company (A):
McNairy, F. N., Captain, d.
Harris, W. H., First Lieutenant, 1.
Brown, C. W., Second Lieutenant, 1.
Hicks, E. D., Third Lieutenant, 1.
Morton, G. H., First Sergeant, 1.
Roberts, William, Second Sergeant, 1.
Maxey, William O., Third Sergeant, d.
Britton, William, Fourth Sergeant, 1.
Drane, J. R , First Corporal, d.
Miliron, A. A., Second Corporal, killed at Milton.
Shute, J. M., Third Corporal, 1.
Craighead, W. J., Fourth Corporal, d.
Bender, John, Bugler, 1.
Winfrey, Andrew, Bugler, 1.
Drane, Tom, 1.
Abbay, R. H., d.
Abbay, R. H., d.
Adams, R. H., d.
Aiken, George, d.
Anderson, J. S., d.
Anderson, J. S., d.
Atkinson, T. C., d.
Bennington, Thomas, 1.
Blackman, Hays, 1.
Bolton, Alex., 1.
Brien, W. A., 1.
Buchanan, J. R., d.
Bush, G. W., d.
Campbell, Joe, d.
Clark, Charles, 1.
Crawford, Scott, 1.
Curran, J. M., d.
Curran, Pat, d.
Dashiells, G. W., d.
Dodd, B. P., 1.
Edmondson, Henry, 1.
Edmondson, W. A., d.
Ferguson, Tom, d.
French, A. H., 1.
Graves, W. H., I.
Griffin, Blank.
Grisham, W. J., 1.
Guinn, W. J.
Guthrie, W.*
Haile, G. E.*
Hallowell, B. F., 1.
Hamill, A. C.; d,
Hamill, M.*
Hancock, G. D.*
Hendricks, A. P., 1.
Hope, R. K., d.
Jackson, Andrew.*
Joplin, Thomas, 1.
Kimbro, Thomas, 1.
Marchbank, Chase, 1.
Marshall, E. S., 1.
Martin, C. C.7
Mathews, S. G., 1.
Morris, R. E. K.8
Natcher, W. K., k.
Nolan, M. D. A., d.
Paul, J. A., 1.
Payne, A. B., d.
Porch, W. A., 1.
Puckett, James.
Ridley, G. C., 1.
Ridley, J. L., 1.
Safforans, T. M., d.
Shields, John, 1.
Shilcut, T. H., 1.
Smith, E. M., d.
Smith, J. M.
Smith, Nat., 1.
Smith, P. A., 1.
Smithwick, George, d.
Steele, J. W., 1.
Steele, William.
Sykes, J. W., d.
Tate, Zack, d.
Thomas, George, 1.
Treanor, J. D.
Tucker. *
Vaughn, J. H., 1.
Vaughn, J. T., 1.
Williams, N. B.*
The following is the muster-roll of the company (B)
commanded by Captain W. L. Horn:
The following is the roll9 of Company C,10 & First Battalion Tennessee Cavalry:
Ewing, William, Captain, d.11
Bond, Burk, First Lieutenant, d.
House, Isaac, Second Lieutenant, d.
Wyatt, Joe, Third Lieutenant, d.
Parrish, William, First Sergeant, d.
Allen, John, Jr.
Allen, John, Sr.
Andrews, William.
Bailey, Pat.
Beech, David.
Blythe, James.
Bostick, Jonn, 1.
Boyd, D. J.
Boyd, Thad.
Brown, John.
Cathrenn, H.
Childress, George.
Childress, William.
Clouston, W. G.
Core, J. G.
Cowles, James.
Crite, J. M.
Crow, J. M.
Crump, G. R.
Crump, Marcus.
Davis, James, d.
Denton, James.
Dodson, Andrew.
Dodson, Byrd.
Dodson, Tim.
Duff, William, d.
Elliott, Joe.
Ellis, John.
Fleming, Lem.
Franklin, James.
House, Mann, d.
Hughes, Brice.
Hughes, Henry.
Hughes, James.
Hughes, Lee.
Hunt, Turner.
Jordan, G. M.
Mallory, Clem.
Mallory, John.
Malone, Hiram.
Maney, H. J., d.
Marshall, William.
McCallister, Joe.
McCrea, ——
McDowell, Sam.
McGan, J- L., 1.
McLane, Ben.
Mebane, Alex.
Merrett, David.
Merrett, J. H.
Mosley, Robert
Mosley, Sam.
Mullins, Doge.
North, J. A., 1.
Oden, Thomas.
Orum, James.
Pollard, N. N.
Reid, W. W.
Smithson, G. W.
Smithson, James.
Sounders, Mark;
Spivy, R.
Tichnenar, G. W.
Tull, Dudle.
Tullan, James.
Underwood, T. B., 1.
Williams, N. C.
Williams, Wm.
Weli, Sam.
Wray, J.
I have failed to get a full report of the living and dead of Ewing's Company.
The following is the muster-roll of Captain E. D. Payne's Company (D):
Payne, E. D., Captain, d.
Petway, R. G., First Lieutenant, l.
Ryan, J. B., Second Lieutenant, l.
Birdwell, J. W., Third Lieutenant.*
Dawson, W. R., First Sergeant.*
Smith, W. H., Second Sergeant, d.
Bevill, J. M., Third Sergeant.*
Hickman, J. A., Fourth Sergeant.*
Knote, T. L., Fifth Sergeant, d.
Walker, E. R., First Corporal.*
Petty, S. H., Second Corporal.*
Sales, W. J., Third Corporal.*
Buckner, J. H., Fourth Corporal.*
Adams, G. W.*
Alexander, J. D.*
Anderson, Alex.*
Armstrong, H. C., 1.
Blackwell, J. W.*
Blair, S. S., 1.
Bledsoe, C. P., d.
Bradley, H. C.*
Bradley, William, d.
Brien, W. A., I.
Caldwell, J. R.*
Camperry, R. J.*
Carler, William.*
Carlisle, W. G., d.
Cavender, J. C., l.
Cayee, F. J.*
Cozatt, G. W., Bugler, d.
Dobbs, J. R., I.
Drane, Thomas. *
Duncan, J. H., d.12
Forehand, Thomas. *
Fox, Thomas.
Glasco, C. L., d.
Good, G. H.*
Handy, D. S.*
Handy, G. M.*
Harbring, J.*
Haynes, J. C.*
Hays, E. C.*
Head, Robert.*
Heiss, Henry, d.
Hester, J. W., d.
Hickle, G. R. H.*
Hill, J. B.*
Houston, J. D., 1.
Hunter, William, I.
Hutchinson, W. B., 1.
Johnson, C., Farrier, 1.
Jones, J. M.*
Jones, Joseph, d.
Kirkpatrick, J. W.
Knott, R. S., 1.
Maratta, S., Bugler, d.
Marks, W. P., k.
Mayfield, W.*
McCartney, L. W., d.
Nelson, N. R., d.
Pendergras, James. *
Petty, J. M.*
Polk, J. A., 1.
Rhodes, J. B., d.
Richardson, J. R.*
Ring, A. N.*
Robertson, J. A.*
Skeggs, C. H., 1.
Smith, W. B.*
Steele, E. F.*
Underwood, F. J.*
Washburn, J. M., d.
West, E. M.*
White, Edward. *
Whittey, D. J.*
Williams, A. J.*
Woods, N.*
At Thorn Hill, during the first week of July, the five companies previously mentioned were organized into a battallion, known as the,
As the Captain of Company A was elected Lieutenant-Colonel, and the Third Lieutenant of the same company was made Adjutant, therefore, by election, W. Hooper Harris became Captain, and Hays Blackman First Lieutenant, and George H. Morton was made Third Lieutenant of Company A in December, 1861.
A few days after the First Battalion had been organized at Thorn Hill, it moved from there to Camp Jackson, near Hendersonville, some five or six miles east of the former camp.
News having reached Auburn, Cannon County, that the First Battalion would start to East Tennessee in a few days, quite a number of the friends and relatives of our company (Allison's) paid us a visit, about the 24th of July, at Camp Jackson. They brought trunks and boxes filled with “good things” to eat. How, for the next three or four days, we did enjoy the company of our friends and relatives, as well as eating the good things they brought for us! Had I an eloquent pen I would here use it in describing those few but bright days. They were, in comparison with the rest of our soldier life, like an oasis in a great desert.
On the morning of the 28th most of our friends set out on their return home, and the three companies enlisted at Nashville (Harris's, Horn's, and Payne's) had previously gone to that place to visit relatives and friends before starting eastward. Allison's and Ewing's Companies were still at Camp Jackson.
_______________
1 Those whose names are in small capitals [in this listing all capitals] were present at the surrender.
2 B. A. and W. C. are brothers of the writer.
3 See Appendix A.
4 The above name (or rather as at first, “Sang Diggers”) was given to the Auburn Company rather as a term of derision; though, in the language of an ancient general (Epaminondas), “they did not derive any honor from the name, but they made the name honorable.”
5 By reference to the preceding rolls their names will be found printed in small [all] capitals.
6 These twelve were members of the original company.
7 Killed at Milton, Tennessee.
8 Killed at Winchester, Kentucky.
9 I am under obligations to J. L. McGann for this roll.
10 This company was from Williamson County, the other three from Nashville, except a few Kentuckians in Company D.
11 Resigned at Cumberland Ford.
12 Made Captain at Cumberland Ford.
I learn from various sources to-day that an impression has been made, or has been attempted to be made on you, that I (and perhaps my brother and nephew) have been trying to induce the company being made up by Capt. Thornborgh, Dr. Virden and others to break off an engagement to join your Company and to join my nephew's Company. I desire to say that if any one has made such assertion in reference to me, it is a colorless falsehood. I heard yesterday for the first time, that any movement had ever been made or thought of by anybody to induce that Company or any part of it to join yours. I had been informed that Dr. Virden and others, engaged in making up that Company, doubted whether they could make up a full Company—and that in the event they could not—that a portion of them would probably join my nephew's Company—that Dr. Virden would probably join it himself as physician, if he could have an assurance of a salary of $100 per month. I have been invited on the day of the Regimental muster to attend at Crawford's on last Saturday and promised to so. I went will the bonafide purpose of aiding them to make up a full Company—and in case of a failure to get them to join in Shubal’s and in your Company and thus make up two full Companies. Dr. Virden, as I had learned, had been treating with my nephew on the basis above stated, and I was willing to guarantee the salary he demanded and so told him, but at that time I had not the slightest suspicion that any negotiation had been thought of by you and him or any body else for you. We were more successful than was suspected. Another effort is to be made next Wednesday to fill up that Company. If it fail I would most gladly aid to try to get them to divide and join in as nearly equal proportions as possible my nephew's and your Company.
Whilst I knew of one or two individuals here base enough to try, by any means, to make the impression on you that I am trying to build up my nephew's Company to the prejudice of yours, I cannot suppose you would allow any such impression to be made on you without allowing me to be heard. I am now and have been at all times ready to do anything in my power to aid you in making up your Company, and such, I know, are the feelings of my brother and nephew—and if you come to the Jackson old place on Wednesday you will find us cooperating with you in the proper spirit to make up both Companies.
SOURCE: J. G. de Roulhac Hamilton, Editor, The Correspondence of Jonathan Worth, Volume 1, p. 154-5
