Page images
PDF
EPUB

encampment at Camp Fuller, Colonel Church's health was very feeble. The sick bed seemed a much more appropriate place for him than the camp, yet his ardent patriotism, and an overruling desire to be with his men all the time, determined him to remain with them, though already prostrated with sickness. The duties of commanding and disciplining the regiment therefore devolved much of the time upon Lieut. Col. Humphrey, who exerted himself energetically and constantly to promote the welfare and efficiency of the command, and give it as thorough preparation as possible for the field. Under his rigid but beneficial discipline, and assisted by instructions from Lieut. Sellers, of the 36th Illinois Infantry, who was employed as drill-master, the regiment made rapid progress, and in a few weeks could perform dress-parade, guard-mounting, and the various maneuvres and evolutions prescribed in the Tactics, with much credit and a good degree of proficiency, as was judged by those who had seen active military service.

The regiment at this encampment was within a few hours ride of home, and day after day, during their stay there, the friends and acquaintances of the soldiers came flocking in from all parts of Boone and McHenry counties, attracted thither by the great interest taken in the welfare of the regiment, and bringing with them

[ocr errors]

large and benevolent supplies of eatables and luxuries palatable to the taste, and conducive to the comfort and contentment of the "boys in blue." To such an extent was the generosity of the good and loyal people of those counties carried in this respect, that provisions of all kinds not known in the commissary department of the army-appeared in great abundance and superfluity upon the mess tables of commissioned officers and private soldiers alike. Amid such liberal niceties of the season the ordinary rations of "hard tack,”— coffee, sugar, meat, and-so-forth,— provided for the soldier by the Government, were somewhat at discount, and his appetite did not crave while these profuse gifts were continually pouring, in from the hands of a generous and warm-hearted public. It might be thought, as a sanitary consideration, that the light and sweetened food thus freely furnished to the inmates of the camp would not fit them properly for the hard knocks of military life, and since sooner or later they were to come to it, that hardcracker without butter, coffee without milk, potatoes desiccated, and pork and beans, were the substantials on which soldiers should be prepared for the field. The boys of the Ninety-fifth, however, did not thus consider the matter, and during their sojourn at Camp Fuller, the varieties of eatables sent in to overflowing

failed not to find in them thankful and happy recipients and greedy consumers.

Notwithstanding the excitement consequent upon the arrival in camp, daily, of such multitudes of visitors, the drills, parades and disciplining of the regiment progressed in a favorable and highly satisfactory

manner.

The orders, while here, were quite strict, not allowing officers or enlisted men to visit their homes, except in few instances, and then only on proper authority. Some of the men, not then fully comprehending the necessity of that severe discipline which thus early in the service bound them down to strict regulations, and desirous of enjoying home associations, as much as possible before taking final leave for the war, carried into effect their mischievous inclinations, and, unbeknown to the Colonel commanding, took the benefit of what is termed in the army "French furlough." Such did not stand upon the order of their going, but went without orders. Only a few cases of this kind occurred, however, and the general conduct of the command while at Rockford was good and soldierly throughout.

While in camp at this point, a certain Irishman located and opened an establishment, in close proximity to the regimental camp, for the purpose of retailing

intoxicating beverages to soldiers. This matter was brought to the notice of the Lt. Colonel commanding rather strikingly one day, as certain parties were observed to be returning from that locality, not walking in the strictest line possible, nor seemingly over ground of the most level character. Other indications were manifested in their bearing going plainly to show that these few men of the Ninety-fifth had imbibed somewhat in excess of moderation at the Irishman's shop, and that they were not living strictly up to the temperance pledge, if indeed they ever took it. Colonel Humphrey therefore notified the proprietor of the alcoholic establishment that his trade in spirituous liquors so near to the camp was having a deleterious effect upon the command, producing conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline, and warned him to move his whisky concern from that vicinity immediately.

The proprietor thereof, however, supposing the United States of America to be a free country, where every one could do as he pleased, and not being accustomed to the practical promulgation and enforcement of military orders, could not see the matter in the same light in which the Lt. Colonel viewed it, and concluded to keep open his doors and continue the practice of dealing out strong drinks to whoever

thirsted in that locality, without reference to the military commander and in disregard of his opinions or orders on the subject. Colonel Humphrey now determined that the nuisance should be at once abated by military force, and that the evil which could not be suppressed by persuasion should be eradicated and banished by means of coercion. He accordingly ordered a detachment of his command, in charge of a commissioned officer, to proceed to the liquor shop, arrest the proprietor, seize the whisky, load the same into a wagon provided for the purpose, and report to regimental head-quarters without delay. The party detailed, promptly obeyed and literally carried into effect the order for arrest and confiscation. The whisky dealer was brought in, surrounded with bristling bayonets, and the vinous contents of the alcoholic institution. were soon safely deposited at regimental head-quarters, and stowed away for safe keeping, to await further action and orders. The result of the whole matter was, that the keeper of the shop, being released, went to the city of Rockford and made complaint to the civil authorities of his grievances. A certain judge afterward came to regimental head-quarters and arranged with the commanding officer as follows: that the owner of the property confiscated be allowed to resume possession thereof, but that he remove both himself and his

« PreviousContinue »