The National tribune., 1901-07-18

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very few later than the following morn
ing. In this way many details have been
preserved that would otherwise have
passed into oblivion. Unimportant as
many occurrences appeared at the time,
their recital now adds interest to the great
events of the war, as seasoning ADDS
flavor to our food. The personality of the
writer is of little interest to the reader,
so his individual experience is only given
when it serves to illustrate that of his
comrades As for opinions and criticisms,
only such are recorded as give expression
to the sentiments prevailing in the ranks.
CATCHING THE WAR FEVER.
When the first gun of the civil war was
fred at Fort Sumter, and President LIN
coin called for 10000 volunteers to serve
three months, we did not respond.
We-a thousand in number, mostly
boys. living on farms and in country
towns in Northern HlinOis-believed that
$4,000 men could suppress the rebellion IN
so days; but we were destined to form
regiment and march from Louisville to the
sea, and from the sea to Richmond, water
ing the soil of seven Southern States with
our blood, before the end of the rebellion.
Nor did we respond to the second call for
volunteers, in May, 1861, but continued
our peaceful duties, while grand army
was organizing at Washington to capture
Richmond.
In the midst of our harvest duties,
while many of us were gathering the gold
en- grain, came the shock which was to
change the course of our lives. The first
blast of war had dissipated our magnifi-
cent army at Bull Run and converted it
into a demoralized crowd of fugitives.
Fancy pictured to our alarmed imagina-
tions Washington at the mercy OF the
enemy and our own State open to inya-
sion by our Southern neighbors, KENTUCKY
and Missouri.
To organize Home Guards for the de-
fense of our State was our first deter
mination, and soon the fife and drum could
be heard, far and near, giving cadence
to the step of the wOuld-be soldiers, ar
rayed in all the glory of red, white and
blue cotton uniforms.
There was another call by the President
for volunteers to serve three years or dur
ing the war, and the real work of recruit
ing now began. Volunteers under this call
soon presented themselves to replace the
three-months men who were returning
home.
The Confederates made no advance and
confidence was soon restored at Washing
ton by the arrival of fresh troops and
thorough reorganization of the shattered
army by Gen. Mcclellan. The rout at
Bull Run was now seen to have been
caused by silly panic, and the entire
North smarted with the desire to retrieve
the disgrace of that day.
The newspapers published appeals for
volunteers. Orators spoke words of pa
triotic eloquence. Churches resOunded
with martial music and ministers pleaded
from pulpits that were draped in the Ma
tional colors Picnics were held in rapid
tbroTtyiofIf ia nd
panies of Home Guards were the hOnored
guests. We were kept in a whirl of ex
citement, attending these picnics and meet
ings in neighboring towns and country
places. Farm life became monotonous
drudgery. A desire began to grow on US
to go out into the broad land, surroundca
with ali the inspiring and dazzling accom-
paniments of holiday soldiers, where every
step would be heralded in the newspapers
and recorded in history.
The alacrity of the North in responding
to the call for volunteers led US to believe
that our forces would certainly prove TO
be irresistible in point of numbers, while,
Joined to this attractive view in our minds
was the prompting of patriotism in our
hearts, sufficient to overcome the fear of
danger.
We began to discuss enlistment for the
war. Our Captain strongly urged it.
What will you do with yourselves when
all the brave men go to war? Do you
want to stay at home and be clodhoppers,
while others are getting free rides over
the country, free rations, free clothing,
good wages, lots of fun, and just enough
danger to make your life Interestingly"
JOINING THE ARMY.
At length we decided to disband our
company of Home Guards and enlist for
the war. This is how it came about: A
picnic was held in the woods near our
homes, to secure recruits for a company
being formed for service in the field. Our
company marched upon the grounds with
fife and drum, and with admiring rIlaidens
sitting beside us we listened to the most
eloquent speakers of the county. A Meth
Odist preacher was the most earnest in his
appeal, touching our hearts in the true
revival spirit. Young men," he ex-
claimed, ''go to the front, defend the old
flag, preserve our noble Union, conquer
peace, and return home to enjoy the fruits
OF your valor, or fall with your face to tile
foe and seal your devotion TO your country
with your blood" An appeal was then
made to come forward and enroll our
names upon sheet Of paper spread upon
the head of a drum. One after another
walked up and recorded his name.
The allotted number of 100 was soon
afterwards secured, and our preparations
w
enrolled and organized, our company was
assigned to a regiment known to us
as the Rock River Rife Regiment, which
we supposed was to be an independent
command, subject only to the orders of
its Colonel, and free to dart here and
there over the country in q way to aston
ish the natives. This was one of the first
pleasing romances of our military career
to be dissipated by stern experience, for,
in short time, We found that our regi-
ment would be known by It's number as
part Of a vast machine, controlled by a
master mind, in which the private soldier
would be a unit of SO little magnitude
that the killing of a dozen or two would
scarcely be called a skirmish while the
loss Of 1000 would hardly constitute a
battle.
LEAVING HOME.
Orders having been received for our
company to join the regiment in Camp
Butler, near Springfield, ILL.,, we assembled
at the railroad station early on the morn
ing of Sept. 8, 1861.
All the town people and our friends
from the country were present to bid us
'1God-speed." The train ran many miles
before our eyes We're clear from the ef-
fects of recent parting TO observe the pass
Ing scenery; but at length our spirits rose,
under the inspiration Of rapidly-changing
scenes, and the novelty OF our mission,
which promised a world of interesting ad-
ventures. Our enthusiasm was not al
lowed to cool, for at every station men,
women and children saluted us with
md e L.,