Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-03-23

The panic over yellow fever said
the Doctor, reminds me of a panic
we had IN our brigade on account of
yellow fever at New Orleans. The
brigade composed of the Forty-second
Illinois, the TWenty-frst Kentucky,
ana TWO others regiments, was at
Nashville in June, 1860, expecting dis
charge. On the 10Th. the Forty-sec-
ond went by rail from Nashville to
Johnsonville, on the Tennessee River,
Where it was joined by the other regi-
ments Of the brigade. All were placed
on large steamer and started down
me tennessee under orders to report
TO Sheridan in New Orleans for duty
i'll Texas.
w hen the order was promulgated
there was CONSERVATION in the ranks
The boys regarded the wa as over.
Most of the Illinois 1nd Kentucky
regiments had been mustered out and
had gone home. 1t was reported that
the yellow fever was raging in New
Orleans and that the climate of Texas
was hard on Northerners. Therefore
the men of the four veteran regiments
were very sore over being retained in
the service after the close Of the war
and indignant over the thought that
they We're to be sent to Il pestilence
ridden city to do garrison duty there
and in Texas
"Ihey held Indignation meetings on
the boat and declared they would not
submit to such an outrage They
knew that the boat must pass Mound
City, ILL.,, and they made Il formal de-
mand on General Conrad that he stop
the boat at that place While they
waited for an answer. they interview
ed the captain of the boat and intim-
idated the pilot by assuring him that
if he didn't land them at Mound City
orders or no orders. they would shoot
him as he stood at the wheel and take
charge of the boat.
The captain and pilot both believed
the angry soldiers would carry out
their threat and they besought the
General in command to make at least
Il pretenSe of landing at Mound City.
General Conrad called council OF
war and asked for opinions Most Of
the officers favored running by Mound
City as the best means of quieting the
threatened mutiny. The General,
however was in favor of compromise.
He admitted that mutiny was mutiny,
but cOntended that circumstances al
Of bN vi
the steamer We're veterans some of
them having served four years and all
having served creditably.
Now they We're unduIy excited over
the reports of yellow fever i'll New
Orleans and over the report that they
definitely. He believed that a bloody
riot would be precipitated by hasty
action and he proposed to avoid an is
sue by stopping the boat at Mound
City, STIMULATING. however, that every
man who went ashore without leave
should be reported deserter. In
little address to the men he said the
boat could only remain short time
and While there would be no objec-
ton to the men going ashore for bread
or water or ice. there must be obedi-
ence to orders and no attempt to take
French leave of the boat would be
cOuntenanced.
The boat stopped at Mound City.
The expected happened. The Illinois
men made a rush for the shore and the
whole brigade seemed ready for a
STAMPEDE when the voice of the Ken
lucky Colonel rang out like bugle
call. He ordered his men into line
with their rifles. When the regiment
had been formed he ordered the men
to stack arms and sit down. Every
order was executed with precision. and
as the men sat down they barred the
v,av to the landing for all on that side
of the steamer. The other regiments
were ordered into line for roll call
and the ma jority Of those on shore hur
ricd en- board and the mutiny was at
an end
There were over fifty abSentees at
roll call in the Illinois regiment. and
These were marked deserters. Many
OF them never returned. and they stand
recorded as deserters on the company
rolls. 4 dozen of these were veterans
and over thirty substitute and drafted
recruits The steamer went on its
Journey down the Mississippi. and in
due time arrived at New Orleans.
where there was no yellow fever. and
where we found General Sheridan,
with whom we had served at Chcka-
mauea and Missionary Ridge.
Among the men who left the
steamer at Mound City was young
fellow in whom | had taken great in
terest As he was preparing to jump
ashore | urged him not to go. He
was excited. however. and said he was
going for ice and bread | asked him