85th Illinois Infantry: Chapter 9

History of the 85th Illinois Volunteers
Illinois Volunteer Infantry
by
Henry J. Aten

CHAPTER IX.
Pages 83 - 96
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April 1863 - July 1863

     On the eighth of April Brigadier General James D, Morgan received orders to take the First and Second brigades from the garrison at Nashville and relieve the troops then stationed at Brentwood. All soldiers not able to march were sent to hospitals in that city, and the usual preparations made for breaking camp. Promptly the command took up the line of march, arriving at Brentwood about five o’clock in the afternoon, when the troops relieved returned to Franklin. The Sixth Kentucky cavalry, under command of Colonel Louis D. Watkins, remained at Brentwood, and was attached to the command of General Morgan for the time being. The Eighty-fifth was assigned a very pleasant camp near the railroad station, the Eighty-sixth Illinois occupied the earthworks on a nearby hill, while the other regiments of the command occupied camps convenient for the defense of the place.
    Glad to escape from the exacting duties of garrison life in the city, the men quickly made themselves familiar with the resources of the surrounding country, and have ever looked back upon their stay among the Brentwood hills with pleasure. Between the high hills were fertile valleys which had not as yet greatly suffered from the ravages of war. And although they had to be a little careful, owing to the active guerrilla bands scattered through the hills, the men made frequent excursions in the country, from which they returned with potatoes, chickens, fresh pork and cornmeal. No doubt more than one citizen was surprised on attempting to milk his cows in the morning to find that he had been anticipated by enterprising Yankees.
     About noon on Friday, the 10th, heavy firing was heard in the direction of Franklin, and in a moment all was excitement at the camp. Without delay a line of battle was formed and the entire command was ready for action. But the force at Franklin was sufficient to repulse the enemy, who made a very determined attack with a large force after two hours fighting. The enemy’s cavalry charged through the line of outposts and dashed into the town, which lies on the south side of the river. Some of the most reckless of this troopers rode almost to the bridge across the Harpeth, just beyond which was a force of over seven thousand Federals, supported by the artillery in Fort Granger. When he retired, the enemy left nineteen dead in the town and quite a number of wounded. It is difficult to see just why this attack was made and so suddenly abandoned. But many queer maneuvers were made by the enemy and some extraordinary events occurred in and near Franklin, while the Eighty-fifth lay at Brentwood.
     Major Earl Van Dorn resigned his commissioned in the Second United States cavalry on January, 31st, 1861. Major Van Dorn had been educated at West Point at the expense of the United States. On June 19th, of the same year, William O. Williams, a first lieutenant in the regiment of which Van Dorn was major, resigned, and both at once engaged in open rebellion. They had sworn to defend the flag and support the constitution of the Federal Union, nevertheless they immediately engaged in a wicked conspiracy to disgrace the one and subvert and overthrow the other. But an avenging hand was pursuing them, and both met a well-deserved but tragic fate. One fell by the hand of a comrade whose brain had been crazed when he learned that his young wife had been defiled by a brother officer; the other died at the end of a rope after having been duly convicted as a spy.
     Van Dorn was made a lieutenant-general in the rebel army, and after being defeated at Corinth and Iuka, in Mississippi, he was sent with his command to reinforce the army under General Bragg in Tennessee. He was placed in command of the left wing of Bragg’s army, and for a time in the spring of 1863, himself and staff were at Spring Hill, about midway between Franklin and Columbia. While at Spring Hill, Van Dorn enjoyed the hospitality of one Dr. V-----, whose two sons were in the rebel army. His only daughter was living at home, while her husband, Dr. Peters, was a surgeon in the Confederate army. Soon after the enemy retreated from Spring Hill, Dr. Peters returned home, to find that while a guest at her father’s house, Van Dorn had dishonored his young wife. When he learned of the scandal, Dr. Peters mounted his horse and rode over to Columbia, handed the reins to an orderly at headquarters, entered the general’s tent and shot and instantly killed Van Dorn. Then before those at headquarters recovered from their surprise, Peters threw himself into his saddle and rode into the Union lines, where he told what he had done, and claimed the protection of the flag he had insulted – the country he had tried to overthrow.
     Late one afternoon two men rode into the Union camp at Franklin, Tennessee, and proceeded to the headquarters of Colonel J. P. Baird, of the Eighty-fifth Indiana infantry, then commanding the post. To him they introduced themselves as Colonel Orton and Major Dunlap, inspector-generals of the United States army. They presented an order from the war department at Washington, directing Colonel Orton, in company with Major Dunlap, to proceed to make a careful inspection of the outposts and defenses of the Union army in Tennessee. They also presented an order from General Rosecrans, then at Murfreesboro, to all officers commanding outposts and detachments to afford every facility possible to enable these officers to promptly perform their duties. The paper appeared to be genuine, and the soldierly bearing and fine address of the men won the entire confidence of Colonel Baird. He accompanied them in their examination of the defenses, and was complimented by them upon the splendid sanitary condition of the camp. On returning to headquarters he gave them a substantial supper, and upon the request of Colonel Orton, he loaned the men fifty dollars. In the dusk of the evening the men, after stating that they were going to Nashville, started in that direction. But fortunately Colonel Watkins, of the Sixth Kentucky cavalry, was at headquarters when the men rode away, and suspecting that they might not be what they appeared, he concluded to satisfy himself as to their real character, and calling his orderly to follow, Watkins was off in hot pursuit. It was getting dark and there was no time to call a guard, so Watkins instructed his orderly to unsling his carbine and carry it at a ready, and when they overtook the men, if he saw any suspicious motions on the part of either to fire on them without waiting for orders. The men were quickly overtaken and informed that Colonel Baird wanted them to return to headquarters, as he desired to make some further inquiries. After expressing surprise at the request, and offering some remonstrance on account of the lateness of the hour, and the distance they had to travel, they consented to return. Colonel Watkins led them to his own tent, where he placed them under guard, and relieved them of their side arms. They complained of this as an indignity offered, but when the major’s sword was drawn from the scabbard these words were found on its blade: “Lieut. W. G. Peters, C. S. A.” Upon further search many papers were discovered on their persons, which showed that they were rebel spies, and they then confessed the whole matter. The facts were telegraphed to General Rosecrans, who ordered that the prisoners be tried by a drum-head court-martial, and if found guilty, that they be hanged immediately.
     The court convened, and before daylight the case had been decided, and the prisoners informed that they must prepare for immediate death by hanging. When they learned that they were to be hanged, they requested that the sentence be commuted to being shot to death with musketry, but this request could not be granted. A chaplain of the command visited the condemned men, and at their request administered sacrament to them. A scaffold was erected in a public place near the depot, with two ropes hanging from a beam. At nine o’clock in the morning, the garrison was paraded around the scaffold, near which lay two coarse board coffins. Twenty minutes later the guards escorted the prisoners within the hollow square of glistening steel, and with firm and stead step they mounted the fatal cart, apparently unmindful of the awful fate awaiting them. Handkerchiefs were tied over their faces and the rope adjusted to their necks. They were requested the privilege of bidding each other farewell, which was promptly granted and they tenderly and lovingly embraced each other. Then the cart moved under them and they hung in the air. When life was pronounced extinct by the attending surgeon they were placed in the ride coffins in their full dress, and buried in one grace, companions in life and crime, and in death they were not separated.
     The elder and leader of these reckless men turned out to be First Lieutenant William O. Williams, who resigned from the Second United States cavalry at the beginning of the rebellion. Later he seemed to have been inspector-general on the staff of General Bragg, but more recently he had been in command of the brigade of Confederate cavalry under his old-time comrade Van Dorn. The other victim of this mad-cap adventure was Walter G. Peter, who was a tall, handsome young man, about twenty-five years old, but of whom nothing further could be learned. Both were men of captivating address, finely educated and of rare intelligence, but they must have sadly lacking in judgment to engage such reckless folly as that which cost their lives. History fails to furnish a parallel in character and standing of the parties, the recklessness of the undertaking, and the swiftness with which discovery and punishment were visited upon them.
     Monday, the 27th, the entire command was called out at three o’clock in the morning, and after marching some two miles or more to the south, remained in line of battle and under arms until after daylight. In the meantime, the Sixth Kentucky cavalry, under Colonel Watkins, who was out on a surprise party, descended upon a rebel camp in the Tank hills, and captured one hundred and twenty-eight prisoners, three hundred horses and mules, eight wagons, and a complete outfit for a large force. The expedition was well planned, and brilliantly executed, reflecting great credit on the Kentuckians and their dashing commander.
     Thursday, the 30th, was set apart by President Lincoln as a day of fasting and prayer, and the commanding general issued an order that the day be observed by appropriate religious service. Consequently there was no drill or dress parade, but in the morning there was muster and inspection, and the chaplain preached a sermon in the afternoon. The chaplain of the Eighty-fifth was greatly respected – even loved by the men. He mainly devoted his time to works which helped to promote their comfort and welfare, and thus endeared himself to the soldiers.
     The men were not in the service on account of the wages, nevertheless they watched eagerly for pay-day, and wanted a settlement with the United States as soon as possible after their money became due. That was one of the links that kept the soldier in touch with his family and home. Early in the month of May, the troops at Brentwood received four months’ pay, and the long-delayed remittances could be made to those at home, where the money would prove most welcome, although the amount was small. At this time the express companies would not guarantee safe delivery on account of the risk on part of the route northward, but officers who had resigned or soldiers who had been discharged for disability, lent their kindly offices on this behalf, and so far as the writer knows no one betrayed the trust reposed in them. Then there were many who liked to fold up the crisp new bills and put them in a letter and send it to the woman who always wrote so cheerfully, regardless of the suspense that made even her dreams a source of agony. Some had arrearages to settle with the sutler for goods had and consumed, others found a charge for extra clothing or lost accoutrements standing against their names on the pay-roll, which reduced the amount coming to them, and a few retained a little change to invest in chuck-a-luck and draw poker, but almost everyone sent part of his pay to friends at home.
     The Eighty-fifth remained at Brentwood with the other regiments of the brigade until the first of June, and as no important event occurred beyond the ordinary routine of camp duty, and account of the daily doings of the command would prove rather monotonous. About the middle of the month General Morgan took the First brigade and returned to Nashville, which increased the daily detail for picket duty. But for much of the greater part of the time the weather was all that could be desired, and the stay at Brentwood was about as near ideal soldiering as the regiment was ever destined to see.
     Here as elsewhere, the men in the ranks were much given to speculation concerning the future movements of the army. They could not know what unseen complications their commander had to deal with, nor what sinister influences sometimes frustrated the best laid plans. But frequently they anticipated important events, with as much accuracy as if they had been fully advised. They kept themselves thoroughly posted on the movements of all the armies of the Union. They knew that Grant was smashing things in the rear of the enemy at Vicksburg, and never doubted his entire success. They also knew of the second invasion of the North by General Lee, but had no fear but what he would be overthrown when the hours of battle should come.
     On Wednesday, May 6th, Major Samuel P. Cummings resigned and returned home, whereupon Captain Robert G. Rider, of Company K, was promoted to be major; First Lieutenant Samuel Yates was made captain of Company K; Second Lieutenant Isaac C. Short being promoted first lieutenant, and Private Eli F. Neikirk was promoted to second lieutenant.
     On the 9th, Captain William H. Marble, of Company I, resigned, First Lieutenant David M. Holstead being made captain; Second Lieutenant Albert P. Britt was promoted to first lieutenant, and and First Sergeant Albert O. Collins promoted to be second lieutenant. On the 14th, Captain David Maxwell, of Company H, resigned and returned home, whereupon First Lieutenant James T. McNeil was promoted to be captain, and First Sergeant Ira A. Mardis was made first lieutenant.
     The service at Brentwood improved the health of the command, and the death rate decreased. Those dying during the months of April and May were: John S. Gardner, George Howell and Idea F. Peters, of Company A; Corporal Almon Brooks, of Company C; Isaac Stilts, of Company D; William Deford, of Company F; Michael Fawcette and Franklin Kerns, of Company G, all of whom died in the hospital at Nashville, Tennessee.

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     Wednesday, June 3rd, the defenses at Brentwood were demolished, and the brigade returned to Nashville that evening. The Eighty-fifth occupied its former camp ground, which the men thoroughly cleaned, but they missed the shade the trees at Brentwood afforded , and the pure spring water found there so abundant and easy of access. Company and battalion drill was had each day, and the brigade was again called upon to furnish heavy details for train guard. No train was permitted to leave for the front at Murfreesboro without at least one car filled with soldiers ready for instant battle. Every possible effort was being put forth to accumulate sufficient supplies of forage, provisions and ammunition at the front to enable the army to advance against the enemy. New clothing was issued to the men at Murfreesboro, the excess of baggage was stored or destroyed, and the allowance of tents and camp equipment greatly reduced in expectation of a vigorous campaign.
     June14th, Colonel Robert S. Moore resigned his commission on account of failing health, whereupon Lieutenant Colonel Caleb J. Dilworth was promoted to be colonel, Surgeon James P. Walker being made lieutenant colonel, and Assistant Surgeon Philip L. Deiffenbacher surgeon.
     On the 23rd, General Rosecrans moved army against the enemy, and in a campaign of nine days, conducted in a series of rain storms the like of which had not before occurred in Tennessee at that season of the year, drove General Bragg and his army beyond the Cumberland mountains. Through this brief but brilliant campaign, Middle Tennessee was again placed in possession of the Army of the Cumberland. General Rosecrans lost in killed, wounded and captured five hundred and eighty men. Bragg’s loss in killed and wounded was not ascertained, but he left behind him as prisoners sixteen hundred and thirty-four men, eleven pieces of artillery, and a large amount of stores and supplies. Bragg’s army arrived in Chattanooga during the first week in July, where he established headquarters, and at once began to fortify his position, and so that point became the objective of the next campaign.
     On Monday, June 30th, the brigade moved out to Murfreesboro, Colonel Daniel McCook having been assigned to the command of the important point. Major Robert G. Rider, of the Eighty-fifth, was assigned to duty as provost marshal, and the brigade at once took up the routine of garrison life. The town was, or rather had been, a wealthy place, and was surrounded by a rich agricultural country, in which the planters were as wealthy as they were disloyal. Their former slaves were enlisting in the Union army in large numbers, and colored regiments were being rapidly organized. Ready imitators, these freedmen were quick to learn military drill, and in a very short time excelled in the manual of arms.
     Friday, July 19th, the brigade was relieved from duty at Murfreesboro and returned to Nashville. The army at the front was accumulating supplies at Winchester, and soon after this the railroad was repaired and trains ran to Stevenson, Alabama. To escape the tedious routine of camp duty, enough men usually volunteered to supply train guards – the men considering that a visit to the front, where all would like to be, more than repaid the toil and risk entailed. At this period General Morgan established brigade and division drills, and the afternoon of each day was devoted to maneuvers of the entire command. The intense heat of mid-summer was at times rather trying, but these drills added much to the efficiency of the command in the part it was soon called upon the act.*
     The quartermaster, Holaway W. Lightcap, resigned on July 30th, but his successor was not appointed until some six months later.
     There were but two deaths in the months of June and July, and both occurred in the hospital at Nashville. George Hodge, of Company F, died on June 17th, and Gibson Bass, of Company A, on July 3rd.

[* The following spirited description of one of our division drills is copied, with a few verbal changes, form the Rev. Nixon B. Stewart’s History of the Fifty-second Ohio: “The polished steel glitters and the flags dance in the sunlight, as the various regiments form a dark blue line. Aids gallop out from the group around the general, down the line and back to position again. The bugles blow and the stately line is a column. It was a line of battle, it is an order of march. The bugles blow on, and the field is checkered with squads, like a chess-board for a mighty game. They are as true as a die, as exact as a problem in Euclid. They wheel again, enclosing a square with steel-crowned walls. In equal spaces, within the walls stands Barnett’s battery. How it got there no one can tell. In an instant there is a glitter and a flash. The cavalry is upon them. The battery disappears, the lines of the square wheel into column, the column into lines, and the battalions march away. In all there is no shout, no oath, no loud command. General Morgan is an artist in handling the troops, and as he sits away yonder on his horse, he molds and fashions the thousands of his command at will.”]

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