CHAPTER VII.
ANOTHER RUMOR AND ANOTHER MARCH - GO TO FINLEY, WHEN ANOTHER RUMOR BRINGS US BACK - BIVOUACK IN THE MUD - THE CHAPLAIN TURNS “JAYHAWKER” - "GUSS" GETS POISONED - MARCH TO CAMP LYON - A CHANGE OF COMMANDERS - THANKSGIVING DAY - ORDERED TO ARKANSAS - A FORCED MARCH OF ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE MILES IN THREE DAYS.
We were encamped on the north side of the town, our brigade (the 2nd) occupying grounds near the centre of the division. A large force of Missouri troops were also assembled here - their camps being situated in rear and west of the line formed by our division. The Block House stood on the summit of an abrupt hill, facing us, on the east, with the town adjoining it on the south. The position of our regiment enabled us to have a good view of all the various objects of interest by which we were surrounded. The camps, with their long lines of white tents whose bright frost-covered cones glistened in the morning sun, stretching away in undulating lines to the east and west, while the air was vocal with strains of martial music swelling up from brigade and regimental bands at reveille - accompanied by the report from a small howitzer at the block house - ushered in our first morning at the post. The only serious drawback on the scene, and one which invariably accompanied our reveille,
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was the unharmonious sounds proceeding from the throats of six hundred hungry mules, who knew by instinct that the hour for feeding was at hand, and determined that a neglect on the part of the drivers to attend to their wants should not arise from an omission on theirs to make them known.
The town itself was small - containing perhaps twenty houses of the smallest dimensions, which were for the most part occupied by the families of men doing duty at the block house and post.
As marching orders were daily expected, our sick men were sent to Springfield, and Lt. Col. LEAKE made another ineffectual effort to procure shoes for those of the men who were barefoot. We had now marched since leaving Rolla, over roads of the worst character, five hundred and twenty miles, and the only shoes which had been furnished us were those drawn at Clinton before leaving Iowa.
On the morning of November 14th, in consequence of a rumor that Hartsville was threatened, we left Ozark - going in a northwest direction. We bivouacked at 7 o'clock the same evening in a newly cleared field, nine miles from Ozark, and resumed our march on the following morning; but after arriving at Finley, five miles further on, the rumor was found to be without foundation and we went into camp. No further alarms occurring to frighten Gen. BROWN at Springfield, we remained in this camp during the 16th, and were victimized by a rumor originating among ourselves, to the effect that we were
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here to pass the winter. We at once set about constructing "winter quarters," and after a laborious day spent in carrying stones and building chimneys in our tents - working in the rain to accomplish the work - were ordered the same night to prepare to march on the following morning.
We left camp at Finley and commenced our return march in a drenching rain - the roads being in the worst possible condition. Passing through Ozark at half past 3 o'clock P. M., without halting, we pushed on - splashing through mud and wading innumerable small creeks, now much swollen from the rain, which fell faster as night approached. About 9 o'clock at night our progress was suddenly checked by coming upon the wagon train of the first brigade, which we found stuck fast in the mud and blocking our way. As the rain still continued, with no probability of the wagons being immediately extricated, we made preparations to bivouack for the night. There being rail fences on either side of us, and several stacks of unthreshed wheat straw close by, our preparations were soon completed. The straw furnished us excellent bedding, and by expending some little "Yankee" skill the same material provided shelter, while the rails served to keep up large fires during the night. We slept soundly until near daybreak, when we arose from our "wheaten couches" and prepared again to breast the sea of mud which the wagon trains and rain had left in advance of us. Our rations having been
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consumed during the previous day, hunger was now added to the other disagreeable features of the march.
On the preceding day, being out of rations, the Chaplain (Rev. U. EBERHART,) and Lt. CAVENDISH determined to avail themselves of the policy recommended by Gen. BURNSIDE, and "subsist off the enemy." The Chaplain being mounted was enabled to leave the main road and forage on the inhabitants some distance from our line of march, but his conscientious scruples had heretofore been a great drawback on the business. Starting off on this occasion, however, early in the morning, with the solemn declaration that "jayhawking from rebels was preferable to starvation," that he "believed it would be no sin," and "that he intended in the future to show less leniency to the families of those in arms against our government," we expected to see him return in the evening with an abundant supply of rations, and in case he should be unable to carry it all, we despatched "Guss" to assist him. After "jayhawking" all day he returned in the evening with one canteen filled with "buttermilk," for which he had paid twenty cents, "to an excellent old sister." We decided to reserve this until next day, hoping in the meantime some interposition of "good luck" would provide us bread also. The milk was left in care of "Guss," who was charged by the Chaplain to be "vigilant lest some of the men should take it from him; but "Guss" becoming hungry during the night, allowed his appetite, as usual, to overcome his honesty, and he drank the milk. It proved an unlucky affair for him, as
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the milk was poisoned, and he narrowly escaped death from its effects. I never knew "Guss" to steal milk after this occurrence, nor the Chaplain "jayhawk" it from "excellent old sisters" at the rate of twenty cents per pint!
Resuming our march we reached "Slippery Bottom Creek" at 8 o'clock A. M. - the most appropriately named creek I had ever met with. A temporary bridge had been constructed by boards laid across, the ends joining and resting on large smooth boulder stones; in crossing on these, which many attempted to do, they were found better adapted for the purpose of a "plunge bath" than bridge. Those who waded were no more fortunate, as the bottom of the creek was covered with large smooth stones on which we slipped, and were treated to as good a bath, but with less plunge. After crossing we found the first brigade resting at Robinson's Mill, on the opposite side, from whom Lt. Col. LEAKE procured a few boxes of army crackers, which were distributed. We rested here an hour and then resumed our march, feeling much refreshed from our frugal repast of tea and crackers. Some of the men remained, however, and after the army had passed set the mill in motion, grinding a quantity of meal, which was brought to camp on the following day.
We reached "Camp Lyon" at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, much fatigued, and encamped on the side of a hill among heavy timber - the rain still continuing. The wagons containing our rations and camp equippage were
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still far in the rear, and entertaining faint hopes of their reaching us that night, the men immediately dispersed over the neighborhood in search of provisions, which were "drawn" in the usual way. An attempt, however, to procure rails for fuel from a fence in front of our camp, proved unsuccessful - the men being notified when they attempted to remove them that "they were reserved for the use of head-quarters."This, in view of the fact that our axes were all on the absent wagons, was justly regarded by the men as an outrage, and they at once adopted the only alternative left, which was to take them clandestinely. So effectually was this done, that on the following morning there was none of the fence remaining except the section beside which the guard was stationed.
Having now performed another fatiguing forced-march, under circumstances of peculiar hardship, the question naturally sprung up in our minds - "what had occasioned it?" I must confess to feeling somewhat indignant on learning that no further cause for it existed than a rumor to the effect that "cannonading was heard coming from the direction of Fayetteville" by persons at Cassville, or Elkhorn, which was supposed to indicate a battle in progress between BLUNT and the enemy. We were consequently on this rumor hurried into a position where we would again interpose between Springfield and an imaginary danger - this time, however, on the south.
Our camp was situated two miles east of the telegraph road running south from Springfield, and twenty-three miles south of that place, while the third division were
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encamped at Wilson's Creek, nine miles north of us. Gen. BLUNT in the meantime was still operating south of' Cassville, but no reliable information as to his movements had for some time reached us.
Col. I. M. GIFFORD arrived in camp on the 20th Nov. bringing many of the regiment kind tokens of remembrance from home, consisting of articles of clothing and delicacies for the table, which were received with a thankfulness it would be impossible to describe. Messrs. A. P. & D. KELLY, who had received the contract for supplying the army with fresh meat, now also joined us, and a marked improvement was immediately perceptible in this department.
Generals SCHOFIELD and TOTTEN left us on the 22nd November, and the command of the army devolved on Gen. HERRON. Col. D. HUSTON, of the 7th Missouri Cavalry, being the oldest Colonel in rank, assumed command of the second division. Col. W. McE. DYE still retained command of our brigade, (the 2d,) leaving Lieut. Col. J. B. LEAKE also still in command of our regiment.
Our grounds were immediately cleared off, and the weather, after a few days, becoming pleasant, we passed two hours each day in drilling. Many of us were without shoes, and, in fact, in great measure, destitute of many other articles of clothing - some, however, had resorted to the expedient of cutting up old overcoats, using the material for the purpose of manufacturing the more necessary article pantaloons. Others had come in pos-
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session of "butternut" uniforms. Some were wearing straw hats, some the "regulation" - some had on the old fashioned "bell-crown," but a large portion were as destitute of hats of any kind as they were of pantaloons and shirts. We were fast approaching a state of complete nudity, when on the 24th of November a partial supply of clothing was received, and issued to those most in need of it. The clothing received was of a poor quality, and the shoes fitted the men so illy that but little advantage was derived from them.
"Thanksgiving" Day, (Nov. 27th) was fine and clear, and the luxuries received from home enabled us to observe it in an appropriate manner - feeling perhaps more true thankfulness than we had ever previously felt under more favorable circumstances.
Many of our men being sick in Springfield, I procured permission on the 2nd of December to visit them. Setting out early on the morning of that clay, I passed the camps of the 3rd division at 11 o'clock, and observed the men busily engaged in fitting up winter-quarters. I arrived at Springfield at 2 o'clock P. M., and after seeing a few of our men in hospital, repaired to a tin-shop for the purpose of purchasing a stove. While there a citizen came in and in an excited manner announced that HINDMAN had crossed the Arkansas River with a large army, had defeated BLUNT, and was advancing towards Springfield. This information brought my preparations for "going into winter quarters" suddenly to an end,
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and mounting my horse at once set out for camp in haste. By hard riding at 5 o'clock I reached the grounds occupied by the camps of the 3rd division a few hours previously. The place was now deserted. Pushing on to the summit of a hill beyond I came in sight of their rear guard and wagon train moving rapidly south on the Cassville road. Overtaking the guard, I learned from them that our whole command was ordered to Gen. BLUNT'S support in Arkansas with the greatest haste.
I reached camp about 10 o'clock P. M., and found active preparations going forward for moving at 1 o'clock on the following morning.
We left Camp Lyon at 2 o'clock on the morning of the 4th of December, and took the road leading towards Cassville, marching rapidly until daybreak, when we came upon the 3rd division which had bivouacked the previous night on a beautiful piece of level bottom land, near the banks of Crane Creek. We halted here, and gathering some sticks kindled small fires on which we boiled our coffee in tin cups. The 3rd division moved off as we came upon the ground, and after an hours' rest we followed. No other halt was made until we reached our old camp at "Three Widows," twelve miles north of Cassville, where we encamped at dark - having marched twenty-five miles.
Many of our men who had drawn new shoes, and now wearing them for the first time, were compelled, after marching a few miles, to take them off, as their feet had
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become badly blistered. Having been for some time previously without shoes, and marching in bare feet, they now felt uncomfortable, and I observed more of them suspended across rifle barrels, and hanging to the knapsacks, than were worn.
We resumed the march at 4 o'clock on the following morning, and arrived at Cassville, at 12 o'clock M. - where we again halted a sufficient length of time to prepare coffee in the usual way. While busily engaged blowing the fire on which my tin cup was placed, a private belonging to the 6th Missouri Cavalry came up and asked me to give him a cracker, stating that he had ridden from Fayetteville in such haste that he had had no time to get his rations. I enquired, after supplying his wants, whether there was any probability of a fight in that direction, to which he replied, that HINDMAN had surrounded BLUNT at Cane Hill, and if' your divisions don't get there pretty soon, BLUNT'S gone up, sure." He also stated that his squad had brought dispatches from BLUNT to HERRON, and that the latter had gone forward in great haste.
After passing through Cassville, which we did by "column of companies," a perceptible acceleration was visible in our movements, and very few halts made for rest. The supply of water was limited on the route, and strict orders given that men should not be permitted to leave the ranks to search for it at the farm houses.
We bivouacked late in the evening of the 5th at
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"Camp Sigel," three miles south of the former site of Keithsville, and, notwithstanding our fatigue after another twenty-five mile march, searched for water until a late hour, and finding none, finally fell asleep under the combined effects of hunger, thirst and fatigue, and wandered, in imagination, "through green fields, along the margin of clear running brooks," and "feasted in palaces."
At the sound of the drums, we arose next morning at daybreak from our dusty couches and feverish dreams, and renewed the march. As no tents were now pitched at night our preparations for moving consisted simply in waking up and "falling in" - our rations of fat pork and army crackers requiring no cooking.
We left camp on the morning of the 6th at daybreak, and after passing over Pea Ridge halted at Sugar Creek about noon, where we remained a sufficient length of time to boil our coffee, but were again hurried forward before drinking it. But little doubt now remained in our minds that an engagement was imminent, and we therefore called up our wasted energies and set forward with renewed vigor and a determination to overcome obstacles.
Descending to the camping ground at Cross-Hollows at twilight, a halt was ordered. Our wagons arriving a few minutes later, rations of salt pork, crackers and coffee were procured, when we availed ourselves of a few hours sleep. We were awakened at midnight by bugle-notes and hastily resumed the march, feeling but little refreshed by our brief rest, and little expecting the day would
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close with our first and hardest fought battle. We had now made an almost continuous march of seventy-six miles since leaving Camp Lyon two days previously, and many of the men were sinking exhausted by the wayside, while others were compelled to fall behind from lame feet.
We passed through Fayetteville at. half past 8 o'clock, A. M., halting one mile beyond, where we prepared to cook breakfast.