The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-10-20

transpired that an object he had In organ
izing his brigade" composed, Ms Is well
mbered, of the SD Infantry, Cogs'
wells six gun Battery and Ford's Cavalry
was in expectation of an independent com
mand. But Capts. Cogswell and Ford go'
each his special service while the infantry
was merged. And, inferentially, Col. Cush
man was disappointed and chsgrined,--the
more so that inferior men who had done
much less for the service had received
early and distinguished promotion was
Informed that when ordered from the re-
cutting camp at Ottawa to Camp Douglass
at Chicago, he expected appointment 70
command II. But Col Mulligan had al
ready "seen service" and earned that slight
distinction.
Never what could be called companion
able, there were times when he would
have an air of sociability. But / would
Afterwards recollect that he had not thus
relaxed except when In strictly "undress
uniform" Fair to remark, that from the
first WAS almost always overwhelmed with
duties az TO have little time for anything
else, even for sufficient sleep.
The regiment made Its first encampment
In the field, at Savannah, Tenn, twelve
miles below Pittsburg Landing. on the
Tennessee river, March go, 1862. Remain
ed there until April 9Th, following. From
dawn of that morning the noise OF the bat
tie filled the air necessarily; the sound Of
small arms so blended as 20 be like heavy
rainfall on the roof, with constant, almost
rhythmical, accompaniment of thunder
toned artillery.
The strictest discipline was maintained
in the camp of the SD. After routine
duties had been duly performed, the regi'
ment was ordered out by the Colonel for
the performance Of the similitude Of a
brigade review, himself acting as General.
In the midst of II appeared In hot haste an
aid de camp with dispatches, Immediate
at once TO report the regiment at Pitts
burg Landing. The order was obeyed as
speedily as possible. Being on the other
side of river from Savannah Landing, there
was no other possible way of reaching there
but by boat. As all were under advance
orders, the regiment did not reach there
until the evening of April eth, and In time,
as a first service, to participate in the burial
of the dead.
The frightful condition OF the field from
the previous heavy rains and the movements
and operations OF the armies, the scattered
debris of various descriptions encumbering
the ground, the putrefying corpses of still
unburied dead, as we'll as the bodies of
animals, all had greatly demoralized those
of the living, wholly unfamiliar, even In
Imagination, with such terrible scenes, who
had life enough left TO manifest any ami
nation, and discipline was somewhat re-
Taxed. Thus, near evening one day, when
the burying was mostly over, group Of
men was lounging about the camp of the
sd, just as the irascible, volcanic General
Nelson happened to be passing, with some
members OF his staff at which critical
moment, not aware. of his identity, they
CHANGED 10 break out into laugh. In
stantly refining in his horse, Gen. Nelson
angrily demanded:
"Who commands this mob"
Col Cushman, Immediately stepping for.
ward replied
~ have the honor to command this regi
ment, the sd Illinois, at your service,
General"
well, G. d you; they have insult
ed mel"
as that SO, General? l very much re-
greet"
SIS that so; G. d you. Do You
doubt my word, sir? Consider yourself
under arrest, sir! Send your sword to my
headquarters, and contine yourself to your
camp until further orders"
Next morning Col Cushman wrote
note, requesting the return of his sabre, as
II was OF great value to him from certain
associations. As it bad fulfilled its purpose
as property in the formality of arrest, it
was Indifferent to the service where II was
held. The General returned the sabre, TO-
gether with an official order dissolving the
arrest; thus ending the farce. This scene
he recited 70 me Invested of all military
insignia He was even bareheaded
In the service all of the ColOnel's maus
ners indicated an impression that while he
bore the emblems Of his order and rank,
his individuality was for the time abolish~
ed, He was constantly watChful of the de-
tails of my office, rigidly requiring, beyond
the regular regimental reports to the Adju.
tant, others due only at superior headquars
tiers. Indeed, his exactions of much really
not In his purview, often made my duties
almost beyond compass; and, In requiring
which, he greatly exceeded his office But
complied with all, from sense of moral
obligation for the preference he had made
In my appointment as his surgeon.