The National tribune., 1900-05-03
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What the Veterans Have to Say
About Their Campaigns.
A STORY OF SHILOH.
61st Ill. Man Tells How His Regiment
Fought all Day that Fateful Sunday.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The
61st Ill. was organized ut CaroiIon, ILL.,,
in the Fall and Winter of 1861, o., under
Col. Jacob Fry, an old Indian and Mexican
war veteran and father Of Gen. James b.
Fry of the Regular Army. After our
organization and muster, i'll Feb. 5, 1852,
we were sent to Benton Barracks, Mo-, at
which point we remained for drill and in
structions until March, when we were sent
to Pittsburg Landing, arriving there about
April 2, 1862.
We were assigned to the First Brigade
Of the Second Division of the Sixteenth
Corps, under Gen. b. NJ. Prentiss. This
division was on the extreme front and left
of the army, our regiment being the eX-
treme left of the line III front, except the
10th Wis, on our left.
On the morning of the 9Th. while eating
breakfast, VIC heard firing on the extreme
right of the division to oar right (Smith's),
and in q few minutes our pickets sent in
word that fhc jrliE0icS were in force and
to prepare for attack.
1 doubt ii either men or officers realized
the extent Of the force against us, and, as
for myself. | was confident that we would
have nothicg more than y skirmish. In
tie meantime Tie firing kept coming gradu-
ally nearer along the line from right to left,
and our regiment was ordered to fall in and
get 40 rounds or more. The Colonel moved
us TO TIE front some 200 or 250 yards
across an oren field Immediately i'll front
of our camp, we taking position or the
extreme left Of TIE division and in front
This position was in the edge of the
woods, with considerable undcrbrrISh.
In a few minutes the .Johnuies could be seen
marching III column of forIrs to Our left.
As,soon as they came opposite each COM
pany of our regiment our men commenced
firing, the rebels being within easy range.
They made no reply until far enough to the
left to outfiank us, when they came TO a
front and the fun began.
/ did not realize Il Sersc of danger until
a man named Robinctt. in Co. G. few
feet to my right, fell dead with bullet
through his brain, for had for some time
been looking for bees. not knowing, being
a green soldier, that the buZZing and
"Zips" were made by bullets.
Our men began TO fall all along theline,
and soon both my Captain and my First
Lieutenant were wounded, and j, being
the only officer, took command. Before
long We were ordered to fall back and re-
form in front of our quarters, which we did
IN good order, with all our men except
the dead and wounded on our first line.
This position we held for one hour and 30
minutes, when the right WAS doubled up
for second time, and the rebels charging
Ell massc ard our line from losses being
reduced to q skeleton, the brigade was
ordered 10 fall back, and reform. But
this was Ic. done until the entire line of
rebels was 4 many cases with in 80 yards
Of or line and it would have been folly
TO stand our ground. We retired in as good
order rs possible for troops who had re-
ceivcd their guns hut few days before.
Our third position was abouta half-mile
TO the rear. there being the second line of
camps and battle. Our remnant of {,
regiment was ordered to support the 1st
Mo- battery, about quarter or half-mile to
the right. This position we held until
about 1:30 or o'clock, when we went back
to our old position to relieve aregimentin
Hurlbuts Division. We held our position
| until all our ammunition was exhausted.
Many of the officers by this time were tax
ing up dead mems muSkets and stepping
into the line. This noticed particularly
i'll regard to Capt. j. B. Mutton, Co. G., and
| Capt. j. H. Reddish, Co. d, the latter
officer striking his sword in the ground
in front of him and leaving it there until
the battle was over, when he found it where
he had stuck it on the line of battle.
In all these stands made by our regiment
| do not call to mind any sign of fear by
men or officers; in fact. two of my men,
William Rodgers and Buck" Campbell.
went out in plain view of the Johnnies at
least 25 yards in advance of our line ard
fired 40 rounds or SO without getting hit
themselves.
On our being relieved by another regi-
ment we were ordered back to support the
Missouri battery again. This was, as
near as ] can recollect. about 3:30 o'clock.
We held the position in support of the bat
terry until about 4:3O, when our command
tirely surrounded. He ordered retreat.
and We had 10 pass through two rebel
| lines, neither one of which was more than
$50 yards away. In the meantime, Prem
| tiSS had been separated from any support
and being completely surrounded. was
| app nalInl To oh
with some 1000 men and officers.
| Our regiment had been under fire all
| day from about a. M, and at about 6
p. m. last desperate charge was made
In this our men and officers took part
what few were left-and at this late day
| lean still see Capt Mutton taking deliberate
aim ut the rebels when it was SO dark from
smoke and mist one could scarcely see the
cnemy's line.
History says Premises Division was
surprised. and that many men We're cap
tured and bayoneted in bed The sick
might have been, but none who could
handle a musket, and | will make the
| assertion that there was not man in
Premises Division touched By q rebel
| bayonet and that if ii hal not been fer the
| stubborn resistance OF PrcntiSS's and W.
| II. l.. Wallacc's Divisions history would
| have recorded one of the greatest defeats
of the war for the Union side. Take anv
OF the men or officers Of the 61st H., 18th
Mich. Add ILL.,, 11th Iowa, 25th Mo-, 10th
and 18th Wis, and they will all testify
that no one was surprised.
My regiment went into the battle 400
strong; out of this force we lost so killed
and wounded, or % per cent. We had no
men or officers captured except a few
wounded.
What have written will be corroborated
by Hon. l.. Stiliwell. Co. ID, Erie, Kan;
Col. j. b. Mutton, Carrollton, ILL.,: Capt.
A. ID. Nash, whitehall, ILL.,, and many
others of our division, rank and files
Il. CARRICO, Captain, Co. B, 61st H.,