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INTRODUCTION.
INTRODUCTION.
In presenting to you this record of our military life and of the time we passed in the service of the Government, we have done it with the hope that our efforts will be appreciated by you. Our desire has been to make this a record, which we can leave behind us after we are gone, to those who may come after us. We have done our best to make it reliable and correct. There may be mistakes in it—undoubtedly there are; but the general statements are correct, we know, while the incidents recounted are
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CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER I.
The One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, was mustered into the service of the United States, on the third day of September, Eighteen Hundred and Sixty Two, to serve for three years or during the war. The Regiment was made up in the counties of Champaign and Vermilion. Champaign furnishing three companies and Vermilion seven. These companies averaged ninety men each; making a total of nine hundred men, rank and file. The Regiment came into the field under the call f
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CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER II.
It was on a Sabbath morning, when our train finally stopped, and we were ordered to disembark, and fall into line. The weather was intensely warm. Now, I want to say right here, that if ever I have to order a Regiment of men into the field, in the summer time, and that Regiment is bound for a southern climate, I will not think it necessary to provide them with overcoats, like we were, for we had them issued to us before we left Danville, and thought we had to take them. So there we stood in line
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CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER III.
But in looking back over the time we staid there on those "everlasting hills," memory recalls to us one stormy night, when neither moon nor star gave forth its light, when the heavens were draped in the blackest of darkness, when the wind blew with the force of a hurricane, and our corn stalk shelters were scattered far and wide; when the elements seemed to have combined to extemporize, for us, an entertainment of the grandest description, but which was to be enjoyed vastly more by the in-dwelle
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CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER IV.
The geography of our country tells us, that the Ohio is a broad river; that, we are willing to admit, and rather than be thought narrow minded, we are willing to say that it is a beautiful river, but when the writer, with his heart filled with patriotism, entrusted himself on its bosom, it was blessed with a remarkable shallowness, at any rate our boats kept getting fast on sand bars, shoals, mud or something else, so often, that it would have been no trouble for us all to have crawled off and f
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CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER V.
Our lessons in the life of a soldier were just commencing. Our new camp was, as we have stated, an old cattle pen or corral, and had at one time been surrounded with a good substantial plank fence, now, however, the only enclosure it had was a camp guard. In this place we found three other Regiments, all new recruits like ourselves. The 85th and 86th Ills., and the 52nd Ohio. With these Regiments we were Brigaded, and remained so until the close of the war, the command being given to Col. Dan'l
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CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VI.
The sun arose on the morning of the Thirtieth of September, 1862, bright and clear, and as he climbed into the heavens the heat became intense. At an early hour the Regiment was astir, for we had received marching orders, the army was going to advance, and so, long before noon the bugle sounded the Assembly. The line was quickly formed and away we went our band playing its best music. But we had not gone far until the "Halt!" was sounded, and it was not until late in the day that we got clear of
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CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VII.
Sheridan's name is one which will be forever linked with the history of our country. He was a brave officer, a dashing leader, but we used to think the possessor of the most abominable temper that ever man was blessed or cursed with, and whenever he would ride past with his staff, the weary legs of the men would straighten up, and for a while a new life would seem to inspire us. Whether it was that unknown power that causes some men to be more fitted for the duties of leading men, than others, o
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CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER VIII.
The days passed by, and we, with the blissful ignorance of new soldiers, could not see the omens which filled the air, indicating that the battle was not far off; omens which the old soldier can so easily interpret, and which, as we became used to army life, were also easily interpreted by us. But the time was near when we should meet the foe, and as we plodded along one afternoon, tired and almost smothered with the dust, two staff officers came riding back from the direction of the front, and
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CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER IX.
The battle of Perrysville was always a mystery to us, and never, although we have searched for its solution in many histories of the war, have we been able to find an answer to our question, why it was that Buell allowed Bragg to get away when he had in his hands the power to crush him there and then. But with this we have nothing to do at this time, we are trying to write the record of one, only, of the regiments that helped to form the army there engaged that day. Suffice it to say the battle
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CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER X.
That was the last we saw of Bragg's army for many a day. He had left Kentucky with what was left of his 60,000 followers who were with him when he entered the state, in disgust perhaps at the non-military manner in which our army was manœuvred, or perhaps in order to more easily obtain supplies; at any rate he was "gone from our gaze like a beautiful dream," and we went into camp at Crab Orchard. At this place the character of the country suddenly changes. It becomes rough and barren, affording
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CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER XI.
Well, Bragg had left us, and we were all alone. So one fine morning the bugle sounded the call to fall in to ranks, and we marched out of camp, back on the road we had come. But not with the same feelings, we were getting tired of this interminable marching, as it seemed to us for no purpose, for the private soldier is generally in blissful ignorance of the movements to be made on the board. Then again many of our comrades were not with us, and we missed their faces and their forms. Sickness had
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CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XII.
At last, on the eight of November, 1862, we reached Edgefield, on the Cumberland River directly opposite Nashville, a distance of one hundred and eighty three miles from Louisville, and went into camp. On the afternoon of our arrival, after camp had been established, the writer went over to a house near by, where there was, what had been the summer before, a vegetable garden. There were several of us in there, digging around with sticks to get a few onions that had been left in the ground. We we
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CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XIII.
The Saturday after our arrival at Edgefield the regiment received orders to prepare for inspection the next day, Sunday. So at it we went, cleaning up our guns and making their barrels shine like silver. This was done by laying the gun barrel in a strap in a bed of ashes and pulling the strap up and down, rolling the barrel with the foot. After a short application of this kind, the barrel would be thoroughly cleaned, the friction with the ashes having removed every particle of rust and dirt. Our
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CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XIV.
Our regiment was finally placed in camp on top of some high hills in the western part of the city, behind fortifications of cotton bales. It brought to our mind what we had read about Jackson at New Orleans. On the top of these hills, commanding an extensive view of the surrounding country, we pitched our tents. We had issued to us the style of tent called the "Sibley;" patterned after the wigwams of the Indians, conical shape, with a large hole in the top to permit the escape of smoke. The tent
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CHAPTER XV.
CHAPTER XV.
We were now fairly at work doing garrison duty, furnishing daily details for provost guard, train guard, picket guard, and all manner of guard duty that can be thought of. Our picket line extended in the shape of a horseshoe around the city, both flanks of the line resting on the river. General James D. Morgan commanded our division, and General Mitchell the post, at Nashville. Strict discipline was maintained, and we often thought that if the citizens of Nashville would have expressed their hon
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CHAPTER XVI.
CHAPTER XVI.
While at Nashville many incidents happened in camp and we will relate one of them here. Our sutler, Charley Pratt, had found a very neat sutler's store, built of plank, and fitted up in a very substantial manner, probably by the sutler of the 16th Ill., and he was not slow to appropriate the building to his own use. In this he opened out his goods for our inspection and benefit, and we were pretty good customers. Charley had bought some fresh fish of which he sold a good many to the officers. Th
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CHAPTER XVII.
CHAPTER XVII.
While at Nashville the pay master came, and gave us six months pay. This was very welcome, for the regiment was about cleaned out of money. We were, all of us, more or less in debt to one another, and some of the debts were contracted for very singular purposes. Card playing was a great pastime with many; poker being the game most in vogue. But poker playing without money, was considered rather dry fun. So some ingenious chap hit upon the plan of each fellow giving his note for his losses, payab
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CHAPTER XVIII.
CHAPTER XVIII.
We firmly believe that the mule and dog tent, were two great levers in aiding to put down the rebellion, for it would have been impossible to have transported, in wagons, tentage enough for that great army. But Oh! how mad we got when they were first issued to us. We swore "we wouldn't have anything to do with 'em, they were pretty looking things to give a man to sleep under," and our anger at the Government was great. But time makes all things even, and we found that the genius that had invente
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CHAPTER XIX.
CHAPTER XIX.
On the evening of the 18th of September rapid cannonading was heard off to our left in the direction of Chickamauga Creek. Dispatches were soon received that Col. Minty, with his cavalry, had encountered the enemy at Reed's bridge across the Chickamauga, and was being heavily pushed. Orders were immediately issued for our brigade to move out to his support. It was almost sun down when we started, and when night overtook us the firing had ceased. It was getting dark when the head of our column ra
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CHAPTER XX.
CHAPTER XX.
On the 19th of October, 1863, General Rosecrans, in General Orders, No. 242, turned over the command of the Army of the Cumberland, to Major General George H. Thomas, by order of the President. He had commanded us for nearly one year. The last words in his farewell address to the army, were: "Companions in arms, officers and soldiers, farewell, and may God bless you." We all liked "Old Rosy," as we used to call him, and very sorry to part with him, but we also knew the grand qualities of General
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CHAPTER XXI.
CHAPTER XXI.
Matters and things moved on smoothly, the old routine of guard duty, dress parade and all the regular business of camp life, including half rations, being faithfully kept. We now come to a matter which happened while we were at the Ford, which for a short time made things very lively and animated in the camp of the 125th. The Tennessee is a wide stream, and anything going on on the opposite side, can not be seen very distinctly with the naked eye. But to many of us, on the afternoon of the day t
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CHAPTER XXII.
CHAPTER XXII.
We will not undertake to follow every movement of the army made to capture the heights of Missionary ridge, as it would be, perhaps, uninteresting to the reader, and out of place here, but will pass on to the morning of the 25th. So far every thing had gone well with the union army. Every movement had been successful. Suddenly from a point overlooking the field of battle, known as Orchard Knob, and on which army headquarters had been established, rang out the signal ordering an advance of our en
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CHAPTER XXIII.
CHAPTER XXIII.
On the 24th day of June, General Sherman ordered that an assault should be made at two points south of Kenesaw Mountain, on the 27th, giving three days notice for preparation and reconnaissance. Our division constituted the assaulting party on the centre. On the night of the 26th, a council of war was held at corps headquarters, and the final orders for the assault on the following day were given. The orders to regimental commanders were: for the regiments to "load and cap," but not to discharge
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CHAPTER XXIV.
CHAPTER XXIV.
The assault on Kenesaw, as far as capturing the enemy's works were concerned, was a failure; but this did not prove, by any means, that we were whipped. So on the next day it was determined to advance the line held by our brigade, which was formed in close column by regiments, the 125th being in the front line. The movement was made in order to mine the works of the enemy. As the distance was not more than two hundred feet, it was an extremely hazardous undertaking, but as yankee ingenuity canno
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CHAPTER XXV.
CHAPTER XXV.
Acknowledging the failure of the assault, but acting under the conviction that it would be fatal to rest long under the influence of a defeat, General Sherman determined to again try a flanking movement, and in consequence every effort was put forth to make it a success. Accordingly on the 1st of July, General McPherson was relieved by Garrard's cavalry in front of Kenesaw, and the relieved command was hastily moved to the right. General McPherson commenced his movement on the night of July 2nd,
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CHAPTER XXVI.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Our victorious march from Chattanooga to Atlanta, was a military operation, whose successful close would have turned the heads of the French. It was made through a country presenting great natural obstacles, sufficient to deter a general of average qualities, and these natural defences the enemy had strengthened by a series of remarkable works, before each of which some generals would have paused to lay siege. But our leader, with the soldiers under his command, proved equal to every emergency,
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CHAPTER XXVII.
CHAPTER XXVII.
An armistice of ten days was agreed upon by Gens. Sherman and Hood for the purpose of carrying out this order. All who desired to go south were furnished transportation to Rough and Ready Station by Gen. Sherman, where they were received by the rebel forces. All those preferring to go north were also furnished by him with transportation. This being completed, Gen. Sherman began the reorganization of the army, with a view to future movements. We were re-clothed and equipped, and the stains and ma
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
We remained at Savannah nearly a month, refitting and repairing for the next campaign. Christmas day was passed here, but there was no Christmas trees, nor did any Santa Claus appear to reward us for our good behavior. We had been paid off before leaving Atlanta, and consequently there was a good deal of money in camp, and the "chuck-a-luck" gamesters were in the height of their season. Gambling was positively against orders, but all the same it was carried on, and wherever a squad of men could
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CHAPTER XXIX.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Here at Savannah we fared sumptuously on oysters and fresh fish. Every evening the negroes would come up to the city from the mouth of the river, with their boat loads of oysters. These we purchased at the rate of one dollar per bushel, and taking them to camp would throw them on the fire, and let them roast, the opening of the shell indicating when the bivalve was thoroughly cooked. Many a feast of this sort did we have while there. But our feasting and merry making was rudely ended by the bugl
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CHAPTER XXX.
CHAPTER XXX.
It was now the 21st of February, and our wing of the army had reached Winnsboro, where we went to work destroying the rail road up to Blackstake's depot, and then turned to Rocky Mount, on the Catawba river. From the 23rd to the 26th, heavy rains fell swelling the rivers, and making the roads almost impassable. On the 26th we reached Hanging Rock, and made preparations to cross the river, but the heavy rains had so swollen the stream, that our pontoon bridge broke, and we had hard work to restor
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CHAPTER XXXI.
CHAPTER XXXI.
On Monday the 10th of April all preparations were completed for our further advance. On the 11th we moved out of camp and marched about seven miles, and on the next day the 12th, the march began in earnest. Foraging was continued as heretofore, but orders were given to use more prudence, and not go in advance of the advance guard, but to look more to the right rear for our supplies of corn meal, bacon, etc. Our wing, the left, was to aim straight for the railroad bridge near Smithfield, thence u
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CHAPTER XXXII.
CHAPTER XXXII.
On the 17th of April, the same day on which General Sherman was negotiating with Johnston for the surrender of the rebel army then under his command, we received the appalling news of the assassination of our beloved president, Abraham Lincoln. It cast a gloom over us all, and to say that our hearts were saddened by the news, would express the sentiment that was felt in too meagre terms. We felt, individually, as if we had lost a near and dear friend. Our army was encamped, as we have before sta
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CHAPTER XXXIII.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
This memoranda was satisfactory to all present at the conference, as a proposition to be forwarded by special messenger to the President, who called a special meeting of the Cabinet to take it into consideration. The cabinet at once rejected it. This disapproval was communicated to General Sherman by General Grant, who was ordered by the President to proceed immediately to the headquarters of General Sherman, and direct operations against the enemy. The dispatch was received by General Sherman o
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CHAPTER XXXIV.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
The bearer of General Sherman's message was an unwelcome visitor at the headquarters of Gen. Johnston. Johnston was powerless. He could neither fight nor retreat, his army was deserting him hourly. Already more than ten thousand of his followers had left him, with their guns, horses, mules and wagons. He must either disperse his army or surrender it on the terms proposed by Gen. Sherman on the 25th. He invited Sherman to another conference, with a view to surrender. Gen. Grant being the ranking
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CHAPTER XXXV.
CHAPTER XXXV.
The Saturday after we arrived there, we marched down to Union hall about 11 o'clock in the morning, and took up position in front of the orchestra. After the band of the Veteran Reserve Corps had discoursed some of their sweetest music, we were addressed by T. B. Bryan, Esq., president of the Soldier's Home, and of the executive committee of the great sanitary fair. Mr. Bryan said it was his privilege in the name of the city and the sanitary fair, to welcome us most cordially and sincerely. As h
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ROME.
ROME.
Leaving the main army at Resaca our brigade moved off in the direction of Rome, Ga., which lays on the south bank of the Coosa river. The work on which we were ostensibly to be engaged, was the repairing of certain railroad bridges. But whether this work was absolutely to be done, or whether our march was but a "blind," we do not know, at any rate we took up our line of march for that purpose, but had not begun work on the bridges, before orders came to move with all possible speed. We reached t
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A CONFEDERATE CHRISTMAS.
A CONFEDERATE CHRISTMAS.
The following is an account of a Christmas dinner held under the rule of the confederate government in 1861. The individual who helped to celebrate the day, herewith gives the testimony which enables us to set before you, what Christmas meant in those days, and what it cost: "The dinner of 1861," he says, "did not differ materially from its predecessors in the 'piping times of peace,' and though in 1862 the feast was home-made, it was enjoyable. Turkeys were only eleven dollars a piece, and salt
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BAD MEAT.
BAD MEAT.
While in camp at Nashville, at one time, the meat issued to us was not up to the standard, but was, on the contrary, far below it. One day there was issued to us bacon, which was actually alive with maggots. All of a sudden in the quarters of company I, there arose a terrible hub-bub, men shouting and yelling, cries of "Hi, hi!" "Get out of here!" "Go on, go on," etc., etc. We all ran down there, the colonel and all, to see what in the world was the matter, when we found Capt. Vinson, with his c
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PUBLIC EXECUTION AT NASHVILLE.
PUBLIC EXECUTION AT NASHVILLE.
While we were staying at Nashville, desertions became frequent, the boys would go off in squads. It was not the intention on the part of most of them to remain away for good, but they longed to see home once more, and after being absent from the command a week or two, would return. This was contrary to all military discipline and must be stopped. Orders were issued threatening the extreme penalty of army law, if such behavior was continued, which was death. But still desertions were frequent; an
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DRAWING RATIONS.
DRAWING RATIONS.
One evening after we had arrived in camp, while we were in Kentucky, orders were given us to go for rations. Each company had its commissary sergeant, whose duty it was to attend to this branch of the business. He would call on boys enough for his purpose, and proceed to the brigade commissary with their pots and pans, anything in fact that would hold the supplies, and receive from him the amount of food coming to the company, when on carrying it to the company quarters, each man would receive t
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BLUE RIDGE.
BLUE RIDGE.
The event which we are about to relate, happened when for the first time we were placed on picket guard, at Covington, Ky., we were stationed three on a post, with strict orders for one at least to remain awake at all times. The countersign that night, was "Blue Ridge," and about nightfall we received it. One of our boys, very anxious to do his duty properly, was on post when the "grand rounds," as it is termed, was made; at midnight, hearing the approaching footsteps, and, perhaps, feeling the
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RAIDS ON THE SUTLER.
RAIDS ON THE SUTLER.
It often happened that we ran out of money, for we would not be paid off, perhaps, for six months at a time, and at such times we would get in terrible straights for tobacco, and such things, and the sutler's goods would be a terrible temptation to us. There they were, arranged in good style back of his counter, caddies of tobacco, piles of canned goods, candy, cheese, crackers and lots of good things. But we could not get them, unless a particular friend of the sutler, without paying cash. The
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JOHN KIRSCH AND TOM MAKEMSON'S RICE TRIP.
JOHN KIRSCH AND TOM MAKEMSON'S RICE TRIP.
While we were lying in front of Savannah, Ga., two members of company I, John G. Kirsch and Tom Makemson, came to the conclusion one day, as food was scarce in camp, to go out into the country and see what success they could have in obtaining something to eat. They procured a mule apiece and away they went. They had not travelled far until they came to a rice plantation, and riding up to where they saw a squad of darkies, they opened up negotiations with them for the purchase of some rice at ten
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MRS. DR. MARY WALKER.
MRS. DR. MARY WALKER.
While we were in camp at Lee and Gordon's mills, our camp was surprised one day by the appearance of a person, whom, if dress was to be the index of the sex, it would have been hard to determine whether, whoever it might be, was male or female. But it proved to be the notorious Mrs. Dr. Mary Walker. She had appeared at Gen. Thomas' headquarters, at Chattanooga, desiring to be placed on duty in the front, as surgeon or assistant surgeon. She had come from the hospitals at Washington, where she ha
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THE "MONKLY FOX."
THE "MONKLY FOX."
When in camp, or on the march, there was always some one who could extract a laugh for the boys out of the veriest nothing, and such a fellow was very often a regular blessing. Such a chap was Ike C——., a quiet, unassuming fellow, broad shouldered and big fisted, and an excellent soldier. But he had the gift of making more fun than commonly falls to the lot of mortals. One time there had been a detail made from the regiment, while at Nashville, to escort to Louisville a lot of rebel prisoners. E
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ROAST GOOSE.
ROAST GOOSE.
One morning when in camp in Kentucky, as we were walking up the color line, on which the guns were stacked, we saw under a stack of guns in front of company G's quarters, a dead gander. As we passed along we reached down and grabbing the gander round the neck, kept on. We got to our company with our prize in safety, and hunted up the captain's darkey, and promised him a dime and a piece of the gander, if he would cook it for us. He accepted the proposition and took charge of the bird. In a short
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THE RESCUED NEGROES.
THE RESCUED NEGROES.
On our march through Georgia and South Carolina, the negroes swarmed to our lines. Here they came in all styles and conditions, some of them presenting a pitiful sight, while the appearance of others was comical in the extreme. Here would be a mother, bare headed, and bare footed, her clothing in rags and tatters, carrying a babe in her arms, while two others were clinging to her dress, doing all they could to keep up with her. Here would be two, a man and a woman, probably his wife, in "ole mas
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PERSONAL MENTION.
PERSONAL MENTION.
In giving the reader some instances of special acts of heroism, the writer has not the slightest wish or disposition, far from it, to unjustly discriminate against the same meritorious qualities displayed by others. On the contrary, he would be only too glad to make particular mention of all such, even at the risk of swelling this book beyond its intended proportions, but unfortunately for him, the writer is not informed of all such acts, nor the peculiar circumstances under which they were made
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LIEUTENANT GEORGE SCROGGS.
LIEUTENANT GEORGE SCROGGS.
Lieutenant George Scroggs was a young officer of more than ordinary intelligence; quick to apprehend duty, and bold in the execution of commands. We first remember him as our sergeant major, and how he used to rattle the boys out of their blankets, long before daylight, during the cold season when we occupied the suburbs of Nashville. Afterwards he was commissioned as lieutenant of company E, then detailed on the division staff, first as ordnance officer, and then commissary of musters. Time, ex
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SERGEANT S. C. ABBOTT.
SERGEANT S. C. ABBOTT.
Numbers of our readers will remember Sergeant S. C. Abbott, of company H. Always in earnest about everything he undertook, impatient of delay, anxious to end the job and go home about his business, which greatly needed his attention. He was perhaps older than the average of the regiment, a very intelligent man, and had preached to some extent before entering the service. Some time in the fall of 1863, he applied for a furlough, urging business considerations, but after a good deal of delay, his
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LIEUTENANT JOHN J. WHITE.
LIEUTENANT JOHN J. WHITE.
We want to give a slight tribute to the memory of a very brave young officer of company F, Lieut. John J. White. This young man had enlisted in his company as a private. He was young, intelligent, a stranger to the company at its organization, but his soldierly bearing, intelligent comprehension of duty, and its prompt performance, soon attracted attention to him as comprising the material suited for a leader, and he was promoted to a lieutenancy. At the crossing of the Sand Town road in front o
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OUR COLOR BEARERS.
OUR COLOR BEARERS.
Who but brave men would solicit the honor of carrying the colors, or who of any other quality would not murmur if ordered to that post of great responsibility and danger? Yet who ever heard a word of complaint from James H. Simpson or James M. White? Whether in the bright sunshine or under the storm cloud, in camp or on the weary march, on the defence, or in the deadly assault, on through to victory or defeat, they never swerved or faltered, but always stood true to their great trust, until the
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ASBURY D. FINLEY.
ASBURY D. FINLEY.
It would not do to forget in this connection the name of Asbury D. Finley, private of company A. No truer heroism was ever displayed than by this young man on the Peach Tree creek battle-field. The 85th Illinois, commanded by Major Rider, was sent forward across a narrow corn-field and into position, as ordered by Col. Dilworth, then commanding the brigade. Our regiment was ordered to advance to near the edge of the corn-field and support the 85th, and although only a short distance apart, we co
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HARVEY S. TRYON.
HARVEY S. TRYON.
Another instance of true courage and manhood was exemplified in the military life and character of Harvey S. Tryon, for a long time a private of company H, but when mustered out, a sergeant. We do not remember this man as specially brilliant in feats of arms, or in the performance of some peculiarly delicate or dangerous military duty, but still a hero in the highest sense, and his memory will be respected as such by all christian men and women who knew him, or shall read this estimate of his ch
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SERGEANT WM. L. THRALLS.
SERGEANT WM. L. THRALLS.
Another brave boy was Sergeant William L. Thralls, of company B. We say boy, for he was only that in years, yet he was endowed with all the qualities of a grand manhood. In camp, and at all times, a gentleman in his deportment; in action, brave, cool, and intelligent. He had attracted the attention of his superior officers, and was to have been recommended for a lieutenancy. In the first onset at the battle of Jonesboro, he was wounded in the leg, and in endeavoring to leave the field, was offer
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THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.
THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.
As we have before stated, we were garrisoning the city of Nashville when we received the Emancipation Proclamation, and during the one hundred days that ensued between its publication and enforcement, there was considerable stir in army circles as to the propriety and legality of such a measure. In our own regiment the officers held a meeting for the purpose, as it were, of ratifying the Proclamation, at which the following resolutions, by Colonel Langley, were spread before the meeting for its
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RESOLUTION PASSED BY SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
RESOLUTION PASSED BY SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
The general in chief announces for the information of this army the following resolutions received: Whereas , The official announcement of the fall of Charleston, the "cradle of secession," has been received, therefore, be it Resolved by the senate and house of representatives of the state of Louisiana in general assembly convened, that we tender our most hearty thanks to the gallant officers and men of the army of the illustrious Sherman, who under God have been the instruments of the accomplis
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ORDER RETURNING THE THANKS OF THE PRESIDENT TO GEN. SHERMAN AND THE ARMY.
ORDER RETURNING THE THANKS OF THE PRESIDENT TO GEN. SHERMAN AND THE ARMY.
Orders. —The general commanding directs that the following order be published to all the troops composing the army of the Cumberland. I. The general in chief communicates with a feeling of just pride and satisfaction the following orders of the president of the United States, and telegram of Lieut. Gen. U. S. Grant, on the hearing of the capture of Atlanta. The national thanks are rendered by the president to Major General W. T. Sherman and the gallant officers and soldiers of his command before
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ORDER ANNOUNCING SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES.
ORDER ANNOUNCING SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES.
The General commanding announces a further suspension of hostilities, and a final agreement with General Johnston which terminates the war as to the armies under his command, and the country east of the Chattahoochie. Copies of the terms of the convention will be furnished Maj. Gens. Schofield, Gilmore and Wilson, who are especially charged with the execution of its details in the Department of N. C., Department of the South, and at Macon and Western Georgia. Captain Jasper Mayres, Ordnance Depa
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ORDER FOR THE GRAND REVIEW AT RICHMOND, VA.
ORDER FOR THE GRAND REVIEW AT RICHMOND, VA.
Division commanders will, if possible, obtain all necessary supplies, and move their supply trains through Richmond to-morrow, and park them in the vicinity of Hanover Court House, to-morrow night. On the following day, May 10th, the Army of Georgia will march through the streets of Richmond in review before Maj. Gen. H. W. Halleck, commanding the military division of the James, the 14th army corps in advance. The column entirely unincumbered with wagons, will be formed as follows: 3rd division,
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GENERAL SHERMAN'S FAREWELL ORDER TO HIS ARMY.
GENERAL SHERMAN'S FAREWELL ORDER TO HIS ARMY.
The general commanding announces to the armies of the Tennessee and Georgia, that the time has come for us to part. Our work is done and armed enemies no longer defy us. Some of you will be retained in service until further orders. And now that we are about to separate to mingle with the civil world, it becomes a pleasing duty to recall to mind the situation of national affairs, when but little more than a year ago we were gathered about the towering cliffs of Lookout mountain, and all the futur
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REGIMENTAL REPORT OF ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.
REGIMENTAL REPORT OF ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.
Sir : In compliance with orders I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by this command in the recent campaign, from its commencement in May, until its arrival at Atlanta on the 4th instant. In order for me to make this report nearly accurate, I must depend mainly upon the notes of Col. O. F. Harmon and Lieut. Col. James W. Langley, respectively, commanders of the regiment from the commencement of the campaign until the first day of the present month, when the command f
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REPORT OF SAVANNAH CAMPAIGN.
REPORT OF SAVANNAH CAMPAIGN.
Sir : In pursuance of orders, I have the honor to respectfully submit the following report of the operations of my command from the fall of Atlanta to the fall of Savannah: Reached Atlanta on the 4th day of September last, at which point it remained in a state of inactivity, resting from the fatigues incurred on the previous campaign, until the 29th of same month when, in connection with the brigade, it started for Florence, Alabama, by rail, via Chattanooga, Huntsville and Athens, to check the
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CAMPAIGN REPORT FROM SAVANNAH TO BENTONVILLE.
CAMPAIGN REPORT FROM SAVANNAH TO BENTONVILLE.
Captain : I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the operations of my command from the day on which it left Savannah, Georgia, until I assumed command of the brigade on 19th day of the present month: January 20th, 1865. My command left camp at 7 o'clock a. m. and marched 8 miles on the Louisville road, and went into camp where we remained four days. On the 24th of January regiment was ordered on fatigue duty, cut poles and built 350 yards corduroy road. January 25. Left camp at 7 a. m.
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BENTONVILLE TO GOLDSBORO.
BENTONVILLE TO GOLDSBORO.
Captain : I have the honor to submit to you a report of the operations of this command from the 19th inst. up to the time of its reaching this place. Owing to the casualties in the 3rd brigade, 2nd division on the 19th, I was ordered to take command of this regiment at about 3 o'clock p. m., just as the regiment had been withdrawn from a position parallel with the Goldsboro road. Col. James W. Langley had reformed the regiment in the open field on the left of the 22nd Indiana; here I took comman
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INTRODUCTORY.
INTRODUCTORY.
Believing it would prove interesting and profitable to all the old members of the 125th, we have concluded to append the official reports of the brigade since the beginning of the Atlanta campaign; and the fact that they were made by the only surviving field officer of the regiment, who, as lieutenant colonel, commanded the brigade through more than ten months of its greatest perils, will not, we feel very sure, detract from their interest. By the opening of the campaign, the regiment and brigad
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BRIGADE REPORT FROM LEE AND GORDON'S MILLS TO ATLANTA, GA.
BRIGADE REPORT FROM LEE AND GORDON'S MILLS TO ATLANTA, GA.
Captain: Pursuant to directions from division headquarters, of date the 6th instant, I have the honor to report, so far as my information extends substantially, the operations of this brigade from the 3rd day of May, 1864, when it struck tents and broke camp at Lee and Gordon's mills, until its arrival at Atlanta on the 4th day of the present month. Being the fourth brigade commander since the campaign began, and having served on the corps staff for some time before, and up to, the 27th day of J
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BRIGADE REPORT FROM ATLANTA, FLORENCE, TO SAVANNAH, GA.
BRIGADE REPORT FROM ATLANTA, FLORENCE, TO SAVANNAH, GA.
Captain : Pursuant to orders, of date Dec. 28th, 1864, I have the honor to report substantially the operations of my command, from the fall of Atlanta, up to, and including the, fall of Savannah. On the fourth day of September last, my command, comprising the 85th, 86th and 125th Ills., the 52nd Ohio, the 22nd Ind., and three companies of the 110th Ills. Vols., moved from Jonesboro in charge of the 14th army corps hospital trains, and about seventeen hundred prisoners of war, to Atlanta, reachin
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BRIGADE REPORT FROM BENTONVILLE TO GOLDSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA.
BRIGADE REPORT FROM BENTONVILLE TO GOLDSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA.
Captain : I have the honor to report herewith the operations of this brigade from the hour I assumed command of the same up to its arrival at this place. A few minutes before 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the 19th, I was informed by Capt. Swift, A. A. A. G. of the brigade, that Gen. Fearing was wounded and disabled for further command, when I immediately assumed command of the brigade. This was just as my own regiment came out of the fight and began its formation on the Goldsboro road, as descri
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