Page 107 |
Previous | 107 of 303 | Next |
|
|
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
|
This page
All
|
Loading content ...
THIRTY-THIRD ILLINOIS VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
107
paign, 2 officers and 38 men composing our force. 28 men were left behind at Ironton, only two on duty, the rest sick; twenty absentees besides, all sick but two. Nov. 28th the company went back on our track from the camp on Black River detailed as road makers and were so occupied until Dec. 8th. On the loth came the memorable flood which deluged the brigade and drove it out of its camp. Company C was not much damaged and did not abandon its camp grounds. Our road work, however, was completely destroyed. Dec. 28th, while in camp at Van Buren, Mo., Lieut. Fifer went out with about 40 men of the company guarding a foraging train. Some five miles out the guard of a small forage train belonging to another regiment was attacked and captured quite near to C's position at the time by a considerable force (as was supposed), but C was not attacked.
Dec. 31st, 1862, the company was in the regimental camp at Van Buren, Mo., on Current river. The aggregate membership was 82, three having been gained since May 31st, 1862 (recruits R. M. Benson, John S. Moore and Josiah L. Brown), and nine lost (died, L. A. Moore and W. H. Sizemore; discharged for disability, J. M. Hough, J. W. Cox, Wm. John, W. A. Davis, C. S. Smith ; transfer to N. C. staff, J. L. Kitchen; deserted, I. N. Long). The Captain and fourteen enlisted men were absent. Twelve of the latter were sick ; these twelve were Corporals Loss and Taylor, Privates Childers and Tucker, left at Ironton, Mo., Nov. 2nd ; N. C. McClure, since July 26th ; W. L. Horr, since July 14th; Isaac Oswalt, Sept. 29th; H. S. Han-kins, J. W. Davis, Wm. Trimmer, Oct. 20th; W. J. Evans, Sept. 1st; J. W. Shown, Oct. 31st, in hospitals north or at home. The other two were R. Davis, fur-loughed, and Hamill.
Feb. 8, '63, the army began its return march from West Plains toward Pilot Knob. Co. C was on the rear guard that day, following the trains through a 21-mile march over very bad roads; got into camp long after dark and sent back a relief party for exhausted stragglers, some of whom were brought in by ambulance as late as 3 a. m. Feb. 20th the march and campaign ended for us at Bellevue Valley, 145 miles from West Plains, and but a short distance from Pilot Knob. March 10th, 1863, began the march to Vicksburg, and reached St. Genevieve, Mo., March 12th, over a fine road. An experimental march of a mile (between mile stones) was made by the regiment inside of fifteen minutes. March 16th embarked on steamboat "Illinois" and started down the Mississippi. At Memphis, March 21st, Capt. Kellogg rejoined the company from his six months' absence. March 27th landed at Milliken's Bend, La. In the canal digging and other work of the next few weeks we had our share, and in the general advance were in our place with the regiment. Landing at Bruinsburg on April 30th, the company participated in the prompt inarch by which the regiment as support to the skirmishers secured for the army the pass up the Muff to the interior country. Some of our men were
on the provision detail which here had the memorable experience in bringing up rations, a story which is graphically told in the following extract from a letter written by L. Norcross of Co. C to his mother:
THE BRUINSBURG RATION DETAIL. L. NORCROSS'S LETTER.
"It was afternoon when we disembarked and stacked arms on shore. Men were detailed to draw three days' rations to be put in the haversacks to last five days. These three days' rations with two days' rations drawn afterwards was all we got of the commissary for twenty days. I was one of the detailed. While getting the hard tack, coffee and bacon the troops started off, leaving us to bring on the rations as best we could, but we knew that the men were hungry, and worked accordingly. Loading ourselves heavily we started after them, overtaking them in about three miles distance with enough to last them a day or so, and went back after the rest at the landing, for we had no teams, not even an ambulance. Our corps was rapidly crossing and immediately inarching off on the Port Gibson road as fast as they disembarked. Night was setting in ; our regiment was far ahead in advance and with every prospect for a long night's march and we must contrive some way to get provisions ahead. The adjoining country was scoured for teams and everything from a wheelbarrow to a mule was brought in. Our squad was lucky in getting an ox team with a big wagon and a negro driver. Then we started on with our slow team and heavy load. Turning out of the road sometimes to let a body of troops pass, or stopping to get a better yoke of oxen if we could find them, till after midnight, I stopped in a shed by the roadside and throwing myself on some fodder instantly fell asleep with my accoutrements on and gun in hand. When I awoke it was nearly sunrise. Hastily jumping up I started on and found my comrades a couple of miles ahead waiting for Foster's Battery to pass. They were hurrying up their Parrotts, for the artillery on ahead showed that our advance had met the enemy. Our orders were to stay with the teams, but I pushed on to where some of the troops had stopped to" breakfast and left their fires burning by the side of a little stream. Now was my chance to get my breakfast. I had in my haversack crackers and bacon and in my pocket an old letter with some tea which you had sent me. I concluded I had tea enough for two messes, so I took half of it and soon had a breakfast and last night's supper combined. While eating I was joined by another soldier from some other regiment who had been on a similar detail and naturally wanted a little breakfast too. He would have given a big price for the rest of the tea, but I knew you would not wish me to be selfish, and as I had none to sell, I gave it to him. Our team now came up ; we went on and in a short time came up to where we could corrall our teams out of the way of the battle, but close to where our brigade was fighting ; struck out and found our regiment, which
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 107 |
| Transcript | THIRTY-THIRD ILLINOIS VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 107 paign, 2 officers and 38 men composing our force. 28 men were left behind at Ironton, only two on duty, the rest sick; twenty absentees besides, all sick but two. Nov. 28th the company went back on our track from the camp on Black River detailed as road makers and were so occupied until Dec. 8th. On the loth came the memorable flood which deluged the brigade and drove it out of its camp. Company C was not much damaged and did not abandon its camp grounds. Our road work, however, was completely destroyed. Dec. 28th, while in camp at Van Buren, Mo., Lieut. Fifer went out with about 40 men of the company guarding a foraging train. Some five miles out the guard of a small forage train belonging to another regiment was attacked and captured quite near to C's position at the time by a considerable force (as was supposed), but C was not attacked. Dec. 31st, 1862, the company was in the regimental camp at Van Buren, Mo., on Current river. The aggregate membership was 82, three having been gained since May 31st, 1862 (recruits R. M. Benson, John S. Moore and Josiah L. Brown), and nine lost (died, L. A. Moore and W. H. Sizemore; discharged for disability, J. M. Hough, J. W. Cox, Wm. John, W. A. Davis, C. S. Smith ; transfer to N. C. staff, J. L. Kitchen; deserted, I. N. Long). The Captain and fourteen enlisted men were absent. Twelve of the latter were sick ; these twelve were Corporals Loss and Taylor, Privates Childers and Tucker, left at Ironton, Mo., Nov. 2nd ; N. C. McClure, since July 26th ; W. L. Horr, since July 14th; Isaac Oswalt, Sept. 29th; H. S. Han-kins, J. W. Davis, Wm. Trimmer, Oct. 20th; W. J. Evans, Sept. 1st; J. W. Shown, Oct. 31st, in hospitals north or at home. The other two were R. Davis, fur-loughed, and Hamill. Feb. 8, '63, the army began its return march from West Plains toward Pilot Knob. Co. C was on the rear guard that day, following the trains through a 21-mile march over very bad roads; got into camp long after dark and sent back a relief party for exhausted stragglers, some of whom were brought in by ambulance as late as 3 a. m. Feb. 20th the march and campaign ended for us at Bellevue Valley, 145 miles from West Plains, and but a short distance from Pilot Knob. March 10th, 1863, began the march to Vicksburg, and reached St. Genevieve, Mo., March 12th, over a fine road. An experimental march of a mile (between mile stones) was made by the regiment inside of fifteen minutes. March 16th embarked on steamboat "Illinois" and started down the Mississippi. At Memphis, March 21st, Capt. Kellogg rejoined the company from his six months' absence. March 27th landed at Milliken's Bend, La. In the canal digging and other work of the next few weeks we had our share, and in the general advance were in our place with the regiment. Landing at Bruinsburg on April 30th, the company participated in the prompt inarch by which the regiment as support to the skirmishers secured for the army the pass up the Muff to the interior country. Some of our men were on the provision detail which here had the memorable experience in bringing up rations, a story which is graphically told in the following extract from a letter written by L. Norcross of Co. C to his mother: THE BRUINSBURG RATION DETAIL. L. NORCROSS'S LETTER. "It was afternoon when we disembarked and stacked arms on shore. Men were detailed to draw three days' rations to be put in the haversacks to last five days. These three days' rations with two days' rations drawn afterwards was all we got of the commissary for twenty days. I was one of the detailed. While getting the hard tack, coffee and bacon the troops started off, leaving us to bring on the rations as best we could, but we knew that the men were hungry, and worked accordingly. Loading ourselves heavily we started after them, overtaking them in about three miles distance with enough to last them a day or so, and went back after the rest at the landing, for we had no teams, not even an ambulance. Our corps was rapidly crossing and immediately inarching off on the Port Gibson road as fast as they disembarked. Night was setting in ; our regiment was far ahead in advance and with every prospect for a long night's march and we must contrive some way to get provisions ahead. The adjoining country was scoured for teams and everything from a wheelbarrow to a mule was brought in. Our squad was lucky in getting an ox team with a big wagon and a negro driver. Then we started on with our slow team and heavy load. Turning out of the road sometimes to let a body of troops pass, or stopping to get a better yoke of oxen if we could find them, till after midnight, I stopped in a shed by the roadside and throwing myself on some fodder instantly fell asleep with my accoutrements on and gun in hand. When I awoke it was nearly sunrise. Hastily jumping up I started on and found my comrades a couple of miles ahead waiting for Foster's Battery to pass. They were hurrying up their Parrotts, for the artillery on ahead showed that our advance had met the enemy. Our orders were to stay with the teams, but I pushed on to where some of the troops had stopped to" breakfast and left their fires burning by the side of a little stream. Now was my chance to get my breakfast. I had in my haversack crackers and bacon and in my pocket an old letter with some tea which you had sent me. I concluded I had tea enough for two messes, so I took half of it and soon had a breakfast and last night's supper combined. While eating I was joined by another soldier from some other regiment who had been on a similar detail and naturally wanted a little breakfast too. He would have given a big price for the rest of the tea, but I knew you would not wish me to be selfish, and as I had none to sell, I gave it to him. Our team now came up ; we went on and in a short time came up to where we could corrall our teams out of the way of the battle, but close to where our brigade was fighting ; struck out and found our regiment, which |
| Collection Name | Illinois and the Civil War - Documents |
