Battery E, 1st Illinois Light Artillery Regiment

The enemy appearing in large masses, and opening a battery to the front and right of the two guns, advanced across Owl Creek. I instructed Captain Waterhouse to retire the two guns to the position occupied by the rest of his battery, about which time the enemy appeared in large force in the open field directly in front of the position of this battery, bearing aloft, as I supposed, the American flag, and their men and officers wearing uniforms so similar to ours, that I hesitated to open fire on them until they passed into the woods and were followed by other troops who wore a uniform not to be mistaken. I afterward learned that the uniform jackets worn by these troops were black. As soon as I was certain as to the character of the troops I ordered the firing to commence, which was done in fine style and with excellent precision. After instructing the battery to be cool and watch all the movements of the enemy, who was throwing large forces into the timber on the left of its position, I went to the position occupied by Taylor's battery and ordered Captain Barrett to open fire with shell, which was done promptly, causing the enemy to take shelter in the timber, under cover of which he advanced to within 150 yards of the guns, when they opened a tremendous fire of musketry, accompanied by terrific yells, showing their evident intent to intimidate our men; but the only effect it had on the men of this battery was to cause them promptly to move their guns by hand to the front and pouring into them a shower of canister, causing both the yelling and the firing of the enemy to cease for a time. In the mean time the enemy was pushing our force on the left of both of these batteries-Waterhouse's and Taylor's.^[18]

Seeing Waterhouse's battery limbering to the rear, and fearing the result of a too hasty retreat, I hastened to the position, and finding him retiring, I at once ordered him to unlimber and contest every foot of ground, while I sent a messenger to find another battery to come to their assistance. My order was promptly obeyed, and they were soon throwing canister among the enemy; but their bravery alone could not drive back the masses who were swarming around their left and pushing back the infantry and opening a flank fire of musketry and a battery, which they had succeeded in planting in the timber in front, they were compelled to retire under a galling fire, leaving three guns and their entire camp and garrison equipage on the field. I take great pleasure them to my entire approbation, and I consider too much praise cannot be bestowed upon them for their gallant conduct on their first battle-field. I respectfully refer you to the official report of Lieutenant J. A. Fitch, commanding, Captain Waterhouse and Lieutenant Abbott both being severely wounded.^[26]

The battery consisted of four 3 1/2-inch and two 4 1/2-inch James rifled cannon. We had received our horses ten days previous to the action and had been in camp one week, in which time we had opportunity for drill only three days. Under these disadvantages we went into action. By your order the battery took position at 7 a.m., two sections on a hill to the left and front of General Sherman's headquarters, and one section across Owl Creek, about 150 yards to the front. The section in advance was compelled to retire, and took position to the left of the other sections. At this time the enemy had a strong force in the woods on the left, and another force, supported by a battery, on the right; a column also advanced across an open field in front. The battery held this position one hour and three-quarters, silencing the enemy's battery, when the infantry supporting us on the left gave way and exposed us to a severe flanking fire. At this time Captain Waterhouse was wounded and was obliged to leave the field, first giving the order to retire. The rear part of one caisson, having been caught among the trees by reason of the rawness of our horses, was necessarily left here. The battery was retiring slowly, under command of Lieutenant A. R. Abbott, when you ordered it to open fire a second time at a point about 100 yards in the rear of our first position. This position was held but a few minutes. The infantry on our left continued to retreat, and the enemy again outflanked us, this time advancing rapidly up the hill upon our left. Lieutenant Abbott being now wounded, I gave the order to retreat, which was effected under a close fire of musketry, when the enemy had approached to about 50 yards from our position. Many of our men and horses had been wounded, and I was obliged to leave on the field two 4 1/2-inch and one 3 1/2-inch guns. After retiring from action it was found upon examination that the remaining guns were disabled from faulty construction of the iron part of the axle-tree. By your order the battery retired to the river. One gun was so far disabled that it broke down and was left on the way to the river. That night, by your advice, I detailed one lieutenant and 24 men, with 3 horses, temporarily to assist Company B, Captain Barrett commanding. The camp and garrison equipage of the company was almost entirely destroyed.^[35]

At three or four AM, the bugle awoke us. We tumble out or rather up; presently the assembly blows. We answer to roll call, then some bring water, some cook, drivers feed and clean their horses so that in a few moments the drowsy camp is one great thoroughfare. Breakfast is called. We take a piece of meat a cracker in our fingers, and a cup of coffee to wash it down. Put our rations for the day in our horse-sacks, roll up our blankets, strap them upon our harness. The bugle sounds water and harness guns horses, and away we go to execute the command again. The bugle blows hitch up; that's done, drivers mount limber to the front and from a seemingly disorganized camp we present a solid front of bristling guns, prancing horses and stalwart men. Perhaps we sit right there for 2 or 3 hours as regiment after regiment passes us. We awaiting for our proper place finally the long-wished-for moment arrives. The order is given perhaps to break from the right to march to the left, forward then all again is life and animation... All day the vast mass tires on. Those in the front get into camp early; those in the rear don't till 12 or 1 at night. We'll say we are in the rear, for we are about half the time. All day we tail on. We nibble at our grub. Night comes. We heed it not. We have not got to get so far and there is no use at grumbling. At last our camp is assigned us at 10, 11, perhaps 12 o'clock. The roll is called before we dismount. The picket rope is put up. The horses are watered and some goes after feed. The order comes don't take off your harness the cook has boiled a pot of coffee. We gather up some leaves or whatever comes in our way, and spread our blankets, roll up and go to sleep over the same next day.

The regiment followed to the brow of the hill that looked down on the creek winding in muddy swirls ... Far to the right we could hear our own battery, the Second Iowa, its bronze Napoleons throbbing like a heart of fire. And at our left, the Waterhouse Battery of Chicago [Battery E], was baying like a wolf-hound at the grey-clad battalions.[58]

Damnation how these Rebels love to shoot. Cuss their eyes, but we'll make them pay for it when we get in Vicksburg to see how cooly [sic?] we take it... Some go and sharpshoot on their own hook; your Bote [here Rice is speaking of himself] has had a couple of bouts with them and tomorrow I'm going to have another... Get me an Enfield Rifle and shoot toward a Secesh... We have moved up to within 50 rods [825 feet] of the guns, and since I've been writing the boys have been giving them thunder. They only reply with small arms. At the storming of the fort the other day...I made up my mind to go and bullied ahead for this attack. Volunteers were called for from the whole division. 160 volunteered; 100 got back alive.^[70]

... My piece was brought into action in the road. The 3rd was planted in the corn to the right between two fields of corn. It was hot as a furnace. The sun was directly over our heads. The infantry had mounted the fences to get air and watch our shots, not believing the Rebs had a gun. We fired two shots, then saw the smoke curling up from two places. The word ran from mouth to mouth: 'good God, a masked battery!' and such a getting down off of fences you never saw... The calm steady tones of our captain saying: 'Steady, my men, be cool; watch their shots and drop.' When the [enemy] shells reached us (1 1/4 miles distant) [we] found them all in line and laying close to the ground... We fought them for two hours, flanked them on both sides, just then a heavy thundershower came up and they withdrew, leaving their supper cooking, three dead horses and two dead men behind them... They had four guns pitted against our two. Just as it began to rain, the infantry charged them. Our loss was some 10 or 12 killed, and 20 wounded. Our gun was their mark... They shot to the left, right, over and all around us.^[74]

We had nothing worthy of note [along their line of march] till we arrived at Ripley. Then we had a slight skirmish driving the enemy before us, then encamping for the night. The next morning we struck camp and marched within fourteen miles of Guntown ... it having rained every day from this place. The morning of the tenth dawned bright and clear, and proved to be one of the hottest days of the season. Some fifty wagons with the sick, under a small guard, were sent back to Memphis, and we were ordered to again prepare for fighting. We broke camp at half past seven. Grierson had already gone on with his cavalry to commence the fight. The troop marched off in fine spirits, confident of success ... The road runs straight across the little creeks and swamps which formed the headwaters of the Talahatchie. Then within eight miles of the battlefield the road crosses a swamp so bad that we could hardly get our artillery over it in daylight. The rest of the distant is hills and swamp. We pressed on till within six miles of Guntown. We heard firing in the front, and soon orders came for the Second Brigade to double-quick. It was then nearly noon and hot as blazes. Off went the Second Brigade while we went on our regular gait. When within two miles the fighting became heavier, and soon Co. B's guns began to bark loud and strong showing the Second Brigade had already gone in. At this point we were ordered to double-quick and started out, the train still following. When within one mile of the line of battle, we began to find squads of men from the Second Brigade lying under almost every tree, sun-struck. I think that amount must have been 200 from that brigade alone. To sum it all up, we rushed ahead by train and all right into the thickest of the fight. So close that we did not get but one of our guns in action. No force was kept in reserve. When the tired infantry was put in, the exhausted cavalry was drawn off. Our brigade charged twice and took two stands of colors and some prisoners. Then the enemy charged twice and were repulsed. They rallied with overwhelming numbers, and came on the third time. After a desperate resistance our infantry gave way, falling back upon the artillery (by that time, we were flanked on both sides), [and] we [were] dragging off our guns to find the way blocked up with the train, ambulances, wounded men and horses, with our cavalry on every side. It was out of the question for horse or carriage to get out any other way than on the road. Here commenced as sad a scene as has happened during the war ... When a whole force gives way before overpowering numbers, pursued by an unrelenting, bloodthirsty enemy, then brave, gallant and well-drilled men become like women, or in the same ratio that woman is to man. When our men gave way, they swept back onto the train like a great wave. Most of them out of ammunition. Sternly and doggedly we fell back, dragging our guns behind the almost panic-stricken infantry. The foe charging in solid lines. The enemy rushing up and capturing that portion of the train containing the ammunition, in the first capture that they made. From here eight miles back to the first great swamp was one battleground strewn with the dead, dying and wounded. That night closed the scene. At intervals the infantry and cavalry would form and check the foe, while the heavy artillery passed through. The ground [was] so soft and the enemy pressed so close, that with the exception of two places artillery was no use as a weapon. The foe had a flank movement on our right, and right well he used it at the distance of 3/4 of a mile. He kept pinching shell, shrapnel and spherical case into our torn and ragged ranks. Surrender we would not. Sturgis wished to, but lion-hearted Grearson swore that we would all die, first. At dark we reached the swamp, and fighting ceased from exhaustion on both sides and want of daylight ... 1 AM brought the orders to destroy our carriages, and spike our guns.

My idea is that Mr. Hood is trying to play some long-headed game on us, rather than to come up and fight us. Whether Thomas will be equal to him after, results will show. At any rate we have the utmost confidence in his ability to head off Hood in any of his strategic movements. It's impossible for any army to move with the present state of the weather ... Should Hood fall back? It is probable they would go after him, and it is believed by everyone that it's almost impossible for either to avoid a great battle much longer ... But this much I believe, as I have said before, that Hood can neither hood-wink us or whip us. Still I admit that he is one of their very best generals, and fights his men rasher and more daring than any other, but he comes against veterans when he meets this army. For my own part I cannot yet divine what will be the upshot of this raid, for we can turn peg-leg Hood's advent into this state ... My opinion is that Thomas will wait until he's good [and] ready, and then take the offensive instead of the defensive.

The morning of the fifteenth [of December] we had revile, and shortly afterwards the cavalry began to file out at the sally port by our battery until a whole division had massed in a solid square just outside of our picket line and were dismounted at parade rest. At four [AM] our guns on the [word missing] began to roar, interspersed with the rattle of musketry. Shortly afterwards our old divisions began to file out so that by daylight there was a strong line of battle on our right, confronting the Rebel pickets ... We were fortunate for once to be in the reserve, and consequently were spectators. The heavy firing on the left was only a feint to have the enemy's attention drawn from our real purpose. How readily he took the bait, the sequel will show. The enemy's left was five miles from his center, and strongest position among the hills. Old A.J. [Smith] was given the task of turning his left and doubling it back along his center. Our left and center behind their works kept up a most terrific cannonade, while Smith at 8 AM began to press them slowly. The enemy opened with two batt[eries] upon him, and for over an hour Smith's men hardly replied ... At half past nine Smith [ran] one of his own batt[eries] up and began to play his part in the game under cover of this. The solid squares he had laying in hollows and behind fences were thrown into line with the almost rapidity of thought as if he had just touched a spring of automatons ... The infantry went in with fixed bayonets, and the cavalry firing their five-shooters. Then there was mounting in hot haste in the Rebel lines, and a general skedaddle was the result ... Ole A.J. followed them up all the afternoon and by night he had done his task, doubling their left back five miles onto its center ... To give you an idea of our lines, imagine a saucer broke into four exact pieces. We occupied the broken edges, and they the higher and outer edge.

The morning of the 16th dawned and at half past eight the cannons in front of the enemy began to roar and kept it up all day until 3 [PM], when a grand charge was made sweeping everything before. It [captured] a whole division entire, two generals and most all of their artillery. The whole Rebel force stampeding in confusion and throwing arms and all the trappings of a soldier away, worse than we did at Guntown. The whole host of Hood's who had (as they supposed) held us so valiantly on our side of the works were entirely routed ... We captured 51 pieces of artillery, 8000 prisoners, and 12,000 stand of arms.

If they had women in the hospital [Pvt. Rice is saying this to his wife; he was on temporary duty as a hospital orderly at this time], I would have you come down and we would both go in; but a woman here is thought of no more than one of ill fame, and finely one can't honest stir out unless she is insulted. There is so many of the other class. They will come in from the city [St. Louis] dressed up in style, and pretend to be looking for their husbands until they get a good bid; then off they go out of sight... And there's always women enough to cooperate with anything that comes up.^[124]

We had for breakfast hardtack with coffee, and for dinner a small piece of cornbread and also a slice of very good boiled ham smoked for supper... Now one word about rations and half rations... a soldier's feeling is different, his taste is different, his appetite is different, his whole being in regards to enduring fatigue is different; still I never can or could live on corn cake. Let me take a day or two's eating to illustrate for instance. We awoke at three in the morning, we have ten minutes to roll out and prepare for roll call... By the time breakfast is ready, the most of us can eat raw beef if one is well, and as the boys say to eat then why all he has to do is put it in his haversack throughout the day. He nibbles on it. Perhaps we don't stop till 10 or 11 o'clock at night, he has his duty to do come what will. There is no excuse for being tired. We are all tired, would be his answer if he made that as a plea to get free from duty. He's very tired and hungry and if he tries to preserve his health he won't eat much at night but will find a place to lay down. Perhaps at 12 the bugles blows him out again by 4 and by the time breakfast comes I'll bet he'll eat; if not he can trot on another day. Then if he's got a good bottom, a good constitution and good grit, he'll come out all right and in a few weeks, you'd think he could go all the time.^[126]

To try to disguise or hide the facts that there is a great changing of ideas in the Army (and I think by what I read at home) would be useless. Almost every hour in the day on the march, in the camp, off duty or on duty, in tent or by campfire, one can hear the following expressions: I be d-d if I enlisted to free niggers... if ole Abe doesn't retract his proclamation I hope the Northerners will get together and take the reins of government out of his hands, and thousands of other such expressions... For my part I am down on all such sentiments, I have pledged my arm to the government of my fathers, and thus it shall be raised come well, come woe.^[128]

They can say what they please about Grant, but he's the only successful general the North has. They said he was drunk at Shiloh and that he was nothing but an old ditcher this spring, but while he left a few men digging the ditch he was slyly massing his forces, ready when he said the word to pommel on the enemy which he has done; and now he has them corralled in Vicksburg...^[130] Johnston is said to be coming by the way of Black River on our rear and Bragg is said to be at Yazoo City, but we can fight them front and rear, right and left till they get sick of it... Little U.S.G. is equal to the task, and we are all confident in ourselves.^[131]

Pet, this company is undoubtedly the hardest company in this department, and the men who were detailed from the infantry were in a great measure the worst men in the regiment. Yes, Pet, here in our brave company will be found men who will stoop to the most depraved actions. There is gangs organized all throughout the company who will let no chance go by where they can steal anything no matter what it is, so they can sell it and get greenbacks. They are out prowling around every night, and hardly a night passes but they bring in some booty. On our last scout to Jackson, four of my squad made some $500 from stuff they plundered from citizens.^[133] Two of these cusses went into a house of a man who belongs to the 6th Tennessee (Union). He was at Corinth sick. His wife had gone to see him, leaving the children and servants in charge of the place. These damnable contemptible devils in soldier's uniforms belonging to our gallant battery went ahead of the column and robbed the house of $30 in silver halves and quarters, several nice heavy blankets and all the silver spoons in the house ... They will steal anything from a lady's underclothes to knocking a man down and stealing his money ... There is not a payday but what several of the company is robbed. For any one or half a dozen men to inform against them (except for theft within the company) would be like putting his head under the axe of the guillotine. These men will plunder and when they get in town they spend it all in houses of ill fame. Four caught the clap in Corinth and are hardly fit for duty.^[134]

In almost every company, at least in every regiment, there is an organized gang who band themselves together for the purpose of plunder, thievery and robbery. All the gangs are constantly on the alert to find out who has money. That done, the unsuspicious victim is tracked, be he soldier or civilian, wherever he goes. Some of them will form an acquaintance with him, learn his habits, and arrange the time and place for their comrades to mug him ... Sometimes they are dressed as citizens, sometimes as soldiers or gun-boat men. Sometimes in Confederate uniform just to suit their purpose. Frequently the muggers are citizens, renegades from both armies who keep in the wake of a large force for the opportunity of plundering ... Citizens, soldiers and officers are all alike to them. They would mug General Grant or Abe Lincoln.^[135]

The war at present is almost at a standstill. All eyes are turned upon the two great men who are now handling the mighty armies of the Union. Yes, the eyes of friend and foe are anxiously watching the two great chieftains, Sherman and Grant. Will they succeed is for a few more months to decide. All the resources of the mighty North are at their command, and the hearts of every loyal being beat with the fervent hope that they will. Should they fail and their armies [be] crushed, it is a pretty clear fact that the hated Southern Confederacy will be established. Then will come a dissolution of this once-powerful republic in almost every form. The enemies of the Union know it, feel it, say it. The foe is making herculean efforts. He is leaving nothing undone that will aid him in the coming campaign. He is concentrating his hosts for a mighty and final struggle with the (so far) always victorious heroes. That blood will run like a Waterloo, there's no doubt ... then if the war-stained chieftains are routed it seems as if all nature would weep at the spectacle. Then might will have triumphed over right, and for the next century there will be nothing but an anarchy and a desolation on this fair American continent. Sometimes I think it would be a just chastisement if the All-Wise should doom our arms to a total reverse, for I honestly believe that a more corrupt set of men in general never wielded the powers of a government more than we have at present. The government of the once-mighty Roman Republic that brought theirs to degradation was nothing compared to the corruptness of ours today ... Men in power professing Christianity and all the attributes of true dignity are secretly robbing the government and selling their souls (if they have any) to mammon while hearth stones are made desolate, our cause growing weaker every day. The heart of the nation palpitating like a frightened doe at its adversity ... The summer campaign will tell the tale. With success to our armies, we will then have time and opportunity to renovate our morals as a nation and get back on the beaten track of the immortal Washington and Jefferson. With reverse, the government, the precepts based upon right and virtue which these men established will be over turned and absolute sovereignty despotism and anarchy will have triumphed over right through our own evils and corruptions ... We can no more than die, and die I'd rather than to see the day of the Rebels' triumph.