The National tribune., 1899-03-09
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What the Veterans Have to Say
About Their Campaigns.
HIS FIRST SERVICE.
Interesting Txperiencesi az ah Illinois Man
When re Went yOnt in '61.

Interesting Txp-rienc-s fos sh Illinois Mar
When re Went Ont in 81.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: On April
90. 1861. enlisted at Lacun, Marshall Co.
H., in Can't Fred W. Snaw's company for
three months. He hail 14S enlisted men, and
received word from the authorities mt Spring
field that he could take only IA privates. fonr
Sergeauts, four Corporals,: three comIns-
stoned officers. and two musicians So, oat
lof the l4S men or boys, as many Of us were
only II or Is years OF age, the company was
urganized, rs follows: Capt, Fred w. Shaw
First Lieut., G L. Fort; Second Lieut., John
Nc tClanahaD; First kergt.. Thos Ellis. The
company rs afterwards organized was com-
posed of 81 privates, five Sergeants. eight
Corporals, two musicians, and three COM
missioned officers; the difference would be in
two or three privates detailed a musicians,
so that the company that marched away from
Sprignfield was 1al men all told
We crossed the Illinois River took the train
at Sparland, and arrived at Springfield April
26 and marched out to the Fair Grounds,
called Camp Ya,es.
We were without arms or equipments Of
any kind, in citizen's clothes, and as we
marched through the gates l shall never
| forget the impressions of that moment 1t
was night and very dark. At the gate on
either side were sentries armed with muskct
and bayonet There were probably 10 0O0 men
| in the camp, and standing around the camp
fires with red blankets over their shoulders
the darkness, tic rcd glare Of the fires these
red blankets passing TO and fro, the cattle
Jens, high board fences. buildings, with the
glimmer of an occasional bayonet, all made
up scene never TO he f0rgetton, especially
by boys Just rom home, where nothing war
| like was to be seen.
| We were allotted our share Of cattle pens
| for quarters, and issued red blanket each.
| Wrapped in these we lay down on straw for
our first nights sleep in camp. We were
provided with an iron pan, callesi mess-pan-
| a true name Judging from some of the mes es
cooked in them; camp-kettie and frying
pan, also tin-plates nnd cups
We were furnished bakers bread, fresh
beef, beans and coffee. The steak was fred
until it cupped up like an old saddle-skirt.
The coffee was boiled until stTong enough TO
bear up an iron wedge, and black as nat.
This fare made many Of us sick, and manv
| never fully recovered from eating of this
| awful cooking; bat we learned to cook fass.
and afterwards could set a table with rations
that Were palatable and wholesome.
Our Captain got orders that he could only
retain Ga Irvates so IL of us were cut OIL.
Two had already returned hone With the
only friend | had in the company we went
%, er and Joined another company. called the
Union Tigers Our quarters we're in an Old
stable loft We were soon tirei OF the Tiger,
and Joined another company, While in this
company we were detailed Tor guard duty,
gwen IN old Harper's Ferry musket and
bayonet and stationed outs de the grounds,
with orders to let no one in or Out. After the
Corporal had left us we stood our muskets up
| against the fence and enjo, Ell Ourselves
| jumping, etc, watching Tor the Corporal.
When he came he found rs all OH duty. We
STOOD two hours, returned to quarters, and
after dinner word came that Capt. Shaw
could take 81 privaies. We stole ont our
red blankets and went back to Shaw's COM
pany. When The guard was called, / watched
them form, and tretnbliugiy peeped through
the cracks. between the bosrds. but answered
not when nay name was e,i; was air,,.d
OF being arrested but someone took my
! PLACE aud 10 notice was taken of my delin-
quency.
Oai the Sd OF May we were sworn into the
| IT, S. service for three months. One day
while In camp carriage drove IN through
| the gates and seated alone was Stephen a
| Douglas bareheaded and bowiug right and
| left. He was driven around the camp and
out at the gates for the boys took after the
carriage OH The run. and shouted yelled and
hurraled for Douglas III "a perfect stampede.
Knowing he would he overu helmed by the
enthusiasm of the boys he was driven around
and out Without stopping. l never saw him
afterwards.
On Tie 4th we received our muskets bayo-
nets and | believe a cartridge-box each.
These, with our red blankets, constituted our
entire Government pnents. We were
organized as Co. b, 1lth ,ll, Col. w Ii. l..
Wallace commanding; LOCO strong 10
companies OF lOl men each). How proud l
was as we marched down through the streets
OF Springfield at p. m., May 5, 1861, to
| take the train, with the drums and flies play
Ing "the girl left behind me-"
We kept the step fairly we'll for green
soldiers, formed in column of platOons,
with bright muskets, fryins-pans, camp
kettles red blankets tied over our shoulders,
our hearts swelled with soldierly pride and
patriotism as We looked at the Flag we SO
proudly bore, afterwards shattered, riddled
by bullets at Fort Donel,on, land now in
possesson of Mrs. Wallace. AT Ottawa, H.
Aboard the train aud down the Central we
went. We were cheered all along the road
by men, women and children. We reached
Camp Hardin Villa Ridge) and went into
camp Of instruction. The first night | wa,
on guard at the ears. Extract from my
journal: May Went up to camp this
morning after being relieved, to find scarcely
anything to eat; found some lat pork, and a
cracker placed on a chip, Of which | made
my breakfast. Boys consoied ME by saying
that they ate all they had for breakfast.
Some thoughtful comrade saved portion
for me-eyen small. l growled some, a sol
dier's privilege" In concl. sion, of the l0l
men OF Co. B who marched with me through
the streets Of Springfield Oh that lovely May
day in ~ l was tie sole survivor that re-
turned and marched back into Camp Butler,
July 30 1o65-GEORGE ID. CARRINGIoN,
Lieutenant, Go. h, l1th Ill, Auburn, Neb.