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THIRTY-THIRD ILLINOIS VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 25
exchange prisoners of war held by us for those taken by Gen. Thompson at Big River Bridge on the 15th of October last. I would respectfully request that if inconsistent with your rules to permit Captain Elliott to visit New Madrid, you forward the proposal of Col. Carlin to Gen. Thompson, and return his reply to Cairo by any means that may suit your pleasure. Very respectfully, Your obdt. servant,
U. S. GRANT, Brigadier General.
When he handed me this letter, he stated that his boats were all in use, and there was nothing suitable in which 1 could go down the river, but that there was an old ferry boat tied up at the wharf which 1 could have if I cared to risk it. 1 gladly accepted his offer, found the boat, hunted up a pilot and engineer, hired a negro for fireman, took on wood, and bought a piece of white muslin and ran it up on the jack staff for a flag of truce.
The next day, in this crazy old craft, we started down the river, which was very high and running full of ice. About half way to Columbus we met a steamboat, the "Ohio Belle," carrying a Confederate flag of truce. Thinking it just as well they should not see the loaded transports at Cairo, I hailed the boat and went on board and submitted my letter to the commanding officer, and requested that he return with it to Columbus, while I would transact any business he might have at Cairo and come down to Columbus next day for a reply to my communication.
My proposition was curtly rejected, and my immediate departure suggested with some politeness and a good deal of earnestness. The "Ohio Belle" was filled with officers and finely dressed ladies, who were evidently having a delightful time. The Confederacy was feeling a bit gayer just then than it did somewhat later. It was their last excursion that far up the Mississippi for some time.
When nearing the batteries at Columbus a gun
brought us to, but on coming about it was discovered that our boat could hardly be held against the swift current. I expected a boat would be sent out to us at once, but none came, and after waiting a long time, I thought we might safely drop down nearer the batteries and perhaps see something of interest. I did see something of great interest. It was a solid shot splashing the water close under our stern. No doubt it was fired simply to scare us, and the success of the idea was perfect.
Our boat had a whistle with a most pitiful screech that was soon heard, and our engine worked to its full power, and, putting on all steam, we crept back to our former place. 1 have thought a thousand times how those rebs must have laughed when they heard our whistle.
No boat came out until the return of the "Ohio Belle," when one was sent. I submitted my letter and asked to go ashore to await a decision, but was told that I must return at once to Cairo, where a reply would be sent in a day or two. I was in a frenzy to be exchanged, and begged to go to Gen. Thompson at New Madrid, but it was of no use.
On returning, the night was very dark and our boat could not make a mile an hour. When about half way to Cairo our tiller rope broke, and the boat began whirling around in the rapid current. The easy inference was that it would soon be blown to atoms by the batteries, but upon the suggestion of the negro fireman, when the bow came toward shore steam was put on, and when the stern pointed in that direction the engineer gave her "a lick back," and in this way we ran into the woods and tied up to a tree until morning.
We reached Cairo at one o'clock on the afternoon of February 3rd. Two days later a boat arrived from Columbus, and the long wished for exchange was brought about. I hurried to Princeton, the paroled men were quickly assembled, and joined the regiment the day before it started on the march into Arkansas.
CHAPTER VI. FROM ARCADIA, MO.. TO HELENA, ARK.
On March 1, 1862, the companies of the 33rd, being all together for the first time in six months, started south for Arcadia, Mo., at three o'clock in the afternoon, its objective being to join the army of the Southwest under General Curtis somewhere in Arkansas.
I have not access to any records which enable me to name all the organizations which started on this campaign, but 1 remember that the 21st and 38th Illinois and the First Indiana cavalry moved some days before.
The regiment began this march with great rejoicing.
4
It had been inactive through the winter, had heard of the great victory at Donelson, and was fearful that the war would be over before it had a chance to do some important service, an anxiety that proved to have no foundation.
Our march the first day was but the short distance of five, miles, and was notable only for the enormous amount of what Caesar would call "impedimenta" that was carried. We had seventeen army wagons, each drawn by three mule teams, and in addition there were
Object Description
| Title | History of the Thirty-Third Regiment Illinois Veteran Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War, 22nd August, 1861, to 7th December, 1865 |
| Creator | Way, Virgil Gilman, 1847- |
| Contributors | Elliott, Isaac Hughes, 1837-1922 |
| Subject [LCSH] |
Illinois. 33d Regiment, 1861-1865 United States --History --Civil War, 1861-1865 --Regimental histories --Illinois Infantry --33d |
| Description | History of the Thirty-Third Regiment Illinois Veteran Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War, 22nd August, 1861, to 7th December, 1865 |
| Date Original | 1902 |
| Format | Book |
| Digital Format | JPEG |
| Language | eng |
| Contributing Institution | Illinois State Library |
| Rights | Materials in this collection are made available by the Illinois State Library. To request reproductions or inquire about permissions, contact: islimg@ilsos.net. Please cite the item title and collection name. |
| Identifier | 2849438 |
| Type | Text |
| Collection Name | Illinois and the Civil War - Documents |
| OCLC number | 830038418 |
Description
| Title | Page 25 |
| Transcript | THIRTY-THIRD ILLINOIS VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 25 exchange prisoners of war held by us for those taken by Gen. Thompson at Big River Bridge on the 15th of October last. I would respectfully request that if inconsistent with your rules to permit Captain Elliott to visit New Madrid, you forward the proposal of Col. Carlin to Gen. Thompson, and return his reply to Cairo by any means that may suit your pleasure. Very respectfully, Your obdt. servant, U. S. GRANT, Brigadier General. When he handed me this letter, he stated that his boats were all in use, and there was nothing suitable in which 1 could go down the river, but that there was an old ferry boat tied up at the wharf which 1 could have if I cared to risk it. 1 gladly accepted his offer, found the boat, hunted up a pilot and engineer, hired a negro for fireman, took on wood, and bought a piece of white muslin and ran it up on the jack staff for a flag of truce. The next day, in this crazy old craft, we started down the river, which was very high and running full of ice. About half way to Columbus we met a steamboat, the "Ohio Belle," carrying a Confederate flag of truce. Thinking it just as well they should not see the loaded transports at Cairo, I hailed the boat and went on board and submitted my letter to the commanding officer, and requested that he return with it to Columbus, while I would transact any business he might have at Cairo and come down to Columbus next day for a reply to my communication. My proposition was curtly rejected, and my immediate departure suggested with some politeness and a good deal of earnestness. The "Ohio Belle" was filled with officers and finely dressed ladies, who were evidently having a delightful time. The Confederacy was feeling a bit gayer just then than it did somewhat later. It was their last excursion that far up the Mississippi for some time. When nearing the batteries at Columbus a gun brought us to, but on coming about it was discovered that our boat could hardly be held against the swift current. I expected a boat would be sent out to us at once, but none came, and after waiting a long time, I thought we might safely drop down nearer the batteries and perhaps see something of interest. I did see something of great interest. It was a solid shot splashing the water close under our stern. No doubt it was fired simply to scare us, and the success of the idea was perfect. Our boat had a whistle with a most pitiful screech that was soon heard, and our engine worked to its full power, and, putting on all steam, we crept back to our former place. 1 have thought a thousand times how those rebs must have laughed when they heard our whistle. No boat came out until the return of the "Ohio Belle," when one was sent. I submitted my letter and asked to go ashore to await a decision, but was told that I must return at once to Cairo, where a reply would be sent in a day or two. I was in a frenzy to be exchanged, and begged to go to Gen. Thompson at New Madrid, but it was of no use. On returning, the night was very dark and our boat could not make a mile an hour. When about half way to Cairo our tiller rope broke, and the boat began whirling around in the rapid current. The easy inference was that it would soon be blown to atoms by the batteries, but upon the suggestion of the negro fireman, when the bow came toward shore steam was put on, and when the stern pointed in that direction the engineer gave her "a lick back," and in this way we ran into the woods and tied up to a tree until morning. We reached Cairo at one o'clock on the afternoon of February 3rd. Two days later a boat arrived from Columbus, and the long wished for exchange was brought about. I hurried to Princeton, the paroled men were quickly assembled, and joined the regiment the day before it started on the march into Arkansas. CHAPTER VI. FROM ARCADIA, MO.. TO HELENA, ARK. On March 1, 1862, the companies of the 33rd, being all together for the first time in six months, started south for Arcadia, Mo., at three o'clock in the afternoon, its objective being to join the army of the Southwest under General Curtis somewhere in Arkansas. I have not access to any records which enable me to name all the organizations which started on this campaign, but 1 remember that the 21st and 38th Illinois and the First Indiana cavalry moved some days before. The regiment began this march with great rejoicing. 4 It had been inactive through the winter, had heard of the great victory at Donelson, and was fearful that the war would be over before it had a chance to do some important service, an anxiety that proved to have no foundation. Our march the first day was but the short distance of five, miles, and was notable only for the enormous amount of what Caesar would call "impedimenta" that was carried. We had seventeen army wagons, each drawn by three mule teams, and in addition there were |
| Collection Name | Illinois and the Civil War - Documents |
