PREFACE.

DURING the past summer, while the 16th Army Corps lay in camp at Montgomery, Alabama, the author commenced writing a historical report of the Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry, from its organization, with the view merely of having the same entered upon the regimental books, and become a part of the regimental records, for future reference and information.

The commissioned officers and enlisted men having urgently requested its publication, that each member of the command and others interested might be supplied with a copy, it has been deemed advisable to issue the history in the form of the present volume.

In submitting the work to the public, the author is aware that it contains nothing of particular interest to any, except the survivors of the regiment, the friends of its deceased members, and the people of the coun

ties in which it was raised; and it is more especially for their benefit that the present publication appears.

It is believed, however, that works of this nature will prove of great assistance to the general historian, in writing up his record of the Rebellion. If each regiment present its history from the beginning, prepared accurately by one of its own members, the general writer may then be able to cull therefrom much of the material necessary to a complete and reliable history of the late war against the Union.

The author is indebted to Lieut. Amos J. Boyington, of Company "A," Corporal Robert Horan and Private Samuel Pepper, of Company "G," for the use of their diaries kept on the Red River, Guntown and Arkansas expeditions, and also to other officers and enlisted men of the regiment, for valuable information from time to time imparted.

CHICAGO, ILL., Nov. 15, 1865.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Organization of Regiment at Camp Fuller - Drills and Parades-

Discipline Military abatement of a Whisky Shop - Orders to

proceed to Louisville, Ky., countermanded-Incidents on return

of Regiment to Camp Fuller-Regiment afterward ordered to

Columbus, Ky......

..13-25

CHAPTER II.

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Journey of the Regiment to Cairo, Ill., and Columbus, Ky.- Re-

port to General Davis, at Columbus - The Iron Cable - The trip

to Jackson, Tenn. - Camp Life at Jackson- How a Ninety-fifth

Man supposed himself captured by a Rebel Cavalryman, and how

he was mistaken Ordered to Grand Junction, Tenn. Report

to Brig. General Hamilton-Assigned to General McArthur's

Division, 13th Army Corps - Incidents of Camp Life at Grand

Junction - Preparations for a forward movement........26-38

CHAPTER III.

The Movement from Grand Junction

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A tedious Day's March-

Fatigue of the Men - Iron Accessions to Knapsacks - Crossing

the Tallahatchie-Halt at Abbeville Advance to Yockena

News of Van Dorn's Raid into Holly Springs - Return of the

Army Expedition to Salem, Miss.

March of the Regiment to Memphis...

Anecdote of a Jug-

39-52

CHAPTER IV.

Expedition from Memphis down the River against Vicksburg—

Arrival at Milliken's Bend - The Canal near Young's Point —

Colonel Deitzler's Brigade ordered to Lake Providence - Impor-

tant order affecting the Ninety-fifth· The Canal at Lake Provi-

dence-Sickness and Death in the Regiment - Raising of Col-

ored Regiments - Policy of the Government concerning Slavery

during the Rebellion, reviewed - Resignation of Colonel Church

- March of the Army from Milliken's Bend to "Hard Times"

Landing Ninety-fifth transferred to General Ransom's Brigade

- Crossing to Grand Gulf-March to rear of Vicksburg —

Charges of 19th and 22nd of May — The Siege-Surrender of the

City-General Ransom's Brigade sent to Natchez - Its operations

while there-Its return to Vicksburg.
.53-91

CHAPTER V.

Expeditions from Vicksburg in Spring of 1864 Sherman's March

to Meridian - Colonel Coates' defense of Yazoo City-The Red

River Expedition - Taking of Fort DeRussey-Ninety-fifth de-

tailed to destroy the works Arrival at Alexandria

Grand Ecore -

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- March to

Ascending the River on Transports - Battle of

Pleasant Hill · Retreat ordered by General Banks - Return of

the Fleet - Running Batteries at Vandares - Ninety-fifth as Rear

Guard of Banks' Army - Two Days' Fight at Clouterville - Re-

treat to Alexandria - Battle of Yellow Bayou - Evacuation of

the Red River Country Return of the Ninety-fifth to Vicks-

burg.
.92-108

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CHAPTER VI.

Arrival of the Regiment at Memphis - Assigned to General Sturgis'

Expedition March from Memphis - Battle of Guntown, Miss.

Colonel Humphrey killed - Captain Stewart takes command,

and is severely wounded - Death of Captain Bush- - Command

taken by Captain Schellenger The Regiment fight with despe-

ration - Ammunition giving out - Absence of Commanding Offi-

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