The National tribune., 1890-09-25
Read Better than n Pension on page g.
THE BLOODY 1oeth ILL.



EDITOR NATIoSAL TRIBUNE: As your col.
umns are open for an exchange of thought
among old soldiers, allow me to air my qualif.
cations in that line little. was "A member
OF Co. K, i06th Ill. / came TO this State Cali
formal IN the Spring Of 1856, aud, as Bill Nyo
has already informed the public. Of the two
classes who 1.-Two in California. TO wit Those
who are rich enough 10 afford 1t, and those who
are too poor TO Ket away" l belong to the
latter, which IS the reason am here yet.
Company was organized Immediately
around the great aud good Lincoln's home, in
henafd County, Illinois, in August, 1862, and
was undoubtedly the flower Of tho regiment
IL was composed OF 100 of the noblest models OF
manhood that ever dis mean graccd-a town
or County. They were all young men of the
brightest future prospects, and IL was always
the greatest problem with them in the years Of
carnage that followed how other companies
aud regiments could worry along without
them as officers 10 command them. but, won
derlul TO state, the others seemed 10 succeed
But what surprised our company most was
that there was still another call made for more
troops after we enlisted. This seemed 10 Us a
waste of time and money, as We considered the
rebellion IN very trembling buck-ngue con-
dition after the news reached them that Co X
was coming Then, after forming the l0Gth, wo
supposed that We would never get out Of tho
State, as the rebels would vie with each other
trying 10 SEQ which would surrender first
But 10 our surprise the war continued, and tho
bloody Tooth got to the frOut--of the rear.
guard Of the Conicderacy.
During tho war great deal OF the fighting
on papcr-and all the heroic deeds of yalor
was performed by the officers. Now, ! do not
wish TO throw any disparagement or blame
upon the officers, because / was ono for II short
time myself, and know how il is Priyates are
too apt 10 attach blame 10 the officers
At the c0mpany's FIRST election Of their off.
GERS, my mOdesty, for the FIRST time in my life.
went astray, and / allowed myself, as 1 was in
the hands Of my friends, TO be elected 10 tho
office OF company's chief cook, receiving an
overwhelming majority. But, as tho arduOus
duties Of the Office were beyond my mental
caliber SO 10 speak, complaints gradually began
to creep in, along with other creeping nuisances
IA the Government beef, etc, respected tho
feelings Of my friends aud resigned In favor of
more worthy comrade, and served my country
through the war in more private capacity
Therefore, say at this late day. % years after
tho war, the privates are being heard from
and some Of them are actually claiming the
honers OF putting down the rebellion But we
presume tins Is mostly on account Of the re.
tifinE and modest disposition of the bows dur
ing the days Of their marching and corraling of
the enemy so ~ to let the officers " lam il 10
EN-"
but thc luoLn hhsh put IN hef oar yet. Now
We demand attention. IL was known during
the war as tho Bloody 10Gth." The regiment
gained this sanguinary notoriety without any
effort upon their part 10 have this attachment.
The boys went about their business quietly.
performing their duty without any display or
ostentation. They were perfectly willing to let
honors unsolicited come, however. Wherever
tho lO6th went il left bloody trail From
every hen roost, hog pen, cow w-pasture, and
sheep corral in Arkansas she left crimson
stain. Perhaps because tho boys took this in
direct way of shedding rebel blood in weaken
ing the Confederate commissariat by attacking
those things lying next TO their stomachs, had
something 10 do with the appellatiOn. Anyway,
its line of march could be traced in blood.
Yet, strange 10 say, whenever the l0Gth ar
rived where tho enemy used TO be they were
invariably gone. Their camp was there, but
the rebels had flown. Whether il was the CORY
name of the regiment that formed the principal
element Of their haste, or whether they had
pressing business elsewhere that required their
attention, we never could find out. We were
satisfied, however. from Appearances that they
were gone.
Yo comrades who have been capturing 40
many guns, lay aside your dispute until YOU
hear something drop from the Bloody l06th,-
ANDREW McNAMAR, Co. K, l06th ILL.,, Cotton
wood, Cal