Reminiscences of the Civil War, William and Adelia Lyon

Colonel Lyons.

Fort Donelson, July 20, 1863.—A few days ago Hinson and three others, one of whom was a soldier sentenced to be shot, escaped from the guard-house. I did not want them to escape, of course, but it relieves me from hanging one of them and shooting the other. It is quite a relief, too, I can assure you.

The health of the troops is improving. We get large quantities of blackberries, and the effect of their free use is most excellent on the health of the men.

The officers elected a chaplain the other day, Rev. Mr. Foote, of Rock county. Two of Flood’s Battery were captured by guerillas on Saturday. They were outside the lines, drunk. It is reported that they have been murdered, but I can not believe it. They were worthless fellows.

Colonel Lyons.

Fort Donelson, July 13, 1863.—John Morgan is making a raid in Indiana and I am glad of it. I should like to know how he will get out. We thought before he went in there that perhaps he would give us a call, and got ready for him.

Things look well now—Vicksburg captured; Lee whipped and driven back, and probably ruined (Gettysburg) ; Bragg retreating before Rosecrans; and Price whipped in Missouri. This rebellion is to be crushed out, and then we will pay our respects to those who have been hostile to us and have sought to cripple us in the hour of our deep adversity. ‘For every insult you offer us, for every hostile act you commit against us, you will atone in blood and tears.’

The 71st Ohio has gone to Gallatin, about 22 miles northeast of Nashville. Major Bigney is appointed Division Inspector, and will be absent the most of the time this summer. I did not make the order turning the women out of camp.

Colonel Lyons.

Fort Donelson, July 2, 1863.—We are mounting our infantry under command of Major Bigney. He takes great interest in it. There are to be five companies of forty men each. Fort Heiman is reoccupied by some of General Grant’s command.

Colonel Lyons.

Fort Donelson, June 30,1863.—Yesterday noon we had a terrific thunder storm. The building occupied by Lieut. Becker, of the artillery, in which was a large quantity of powder and loaded shell, was struck with lightning, the fluid tearing a gun to pieces within six inches of several barrels of powder. Had the powder ignited, the loss of life would have been fearful, as it is right in the midst of our camp. The escape was almost miraculous. Several men belonging to Flood’s Battery were knocked over, and one is seriously injured. He will probably lose his eyesight. Our magazine is now nearly done and we shall very soon have all our ammunition in it.

The troops at Fort Heiman have had a reverse. Lieut.Colonel Henry, the commander, took about 300 of his cavalry—nearly all he had—about a week ago, and went out on a scout. He got beyond Lexington, 70 or 80 miles from Fort Heiman, when he was attacked by a large force of rebels and his command was nearly all killed or captured. The Lieut.-Colonel of the 4th Missouri Cavalry was killed, and Lieut-Colonel Henry probably captured. Of course, when the remnant of the force at Fort Heiman heard of it they had a big scare and thought the rebels would be right on them. I sent Colonel McConnell over there Tuesday night with six bundred men and four pieces of artillery; but the scouts found no enemy near them, and the Colonel is marching back now, I suppose. How natural all this comes to the 13th, march, march, march—and no fight! Aren’t you sorry?

The guerillas don’t trouble us any, although we hear of them twenty, thirty and forty miles off. As they are living on their friends I don’t chase them. The rebel citizens are getting very sick of these fellows and beg us to send out forces after them. I tell them that they are only reaping the bitter fruits of their own folly, for they all encouraged the organization of these gangs.

Colonel Lyons.

Fort Donelson, June 21, 1863.—I fear I wrote the last time in rather a depressing vein, but the news is much better now, so I feel much better.

Captain Kingman is detailed to take home money for our regiment. He is now out on an expedition. His brother, Lieut. Kingman, of the 22d, is here; also Lieut. Booth, of the same regiment, a relative of Mrs. Woodman. The regiment is at Nashville, under orders to go back to Franklin. They speak in the highest terms of Captains May and Mead, and well they can, for no braver or better boys than they live.

I spend the whole day at headquarters, and find plenty of occupation. Time passes more rapidly than it would were I unoccupied. I have been ordered to remove obstructions from the river at Line Island, twenty miles below here, and at Ingraham Shoals near Eddyville. I sent Captain Ruger and Lieut. Balis and Lieut. Lamoreau to Line Island yesterday to make an examination, and I think I will go myself to Eddyville on the same business in a few days. These obstructions are barges sunk in the river by Floyd when the rebels had possession in 1861.

Colonel Lyons.

Fort Donelson, June 19, 1863.—I received official communications yesterday from the rebel General Forrest, threatening to retaliate on prisoners in his hands if we did not treat Hinson and some other prisoners we have as prisoners of war. What a glorious chance to write him a spread-eagle, highfalutin letter in reply, and get into the newspaper! I finally closed my eyes to all this sensational newspaper glory and sent the communication to headquarters without replying to General Forrest at all.

Things look blue. The position of affairs at Vicksburg is full of peril. There is no hope at present in Virginia that I can see that any substantial progress will be made there. The rebels march with perfect impunity into the heart of Pennsylvania, and there is none to molest or make them afraid, and all this because Congress fooled away four months of precious time before they passed the Conscription Act, and nearly four months more have passed and no men are called out under it. Much of the time has been consumed in allowing politicians to quarrel over the appointments of officers under the law. Half a million more men could now have been in the field had Congress and the Administration done their duty, and we would today be safe at every point; but nothing has been done and disaster and defeat everywhere stare us in the face. With bloody graves yawning at our feet, we can only bow our heads and exclaim in bitterness of spirit: ‘How long, O Lord, how long!’

You will think I have the blues. Not so. I think I see disaster ahead that will lengthen the war. I have no doubt of our ultimate triumph.

Colonel Lyons.

Fort Donelson, June 16, 1863.—I wonder what Canadian Secesh think now of our ability to whip the South. We had news last night that Port Hudson with 12,000 had surrendered to Banks. If this is true the rebels have lost at least 75,000 men within two weeks— besides those strongholds, Vicksburg and Port Hudson.

Just now we are watching Morgan’s course in Indiana with a good deal of interest, and some satisfaction. He has gone right into the worst Copperhead hole in the North and is teaching them, just as Lee taught the same class in Pennsylvania, that they have a personal interest in this war. Of course, he can not get out of there without being badly damaged.

You know how common it is for me to get word that a big force is just ready to pounce upon me, and yet it don’t worry me much, not half as badly as it once did. Less than a week ago Colonel Bruce telegraphed me that Forrest was near Fort Heiman, advancing on Fort Donelson. I thought I knew better and was not at all disquieted.

Minerva was quite sick again, but is better. Jerry says, ‘She is a right smart pearter this morning’. Jerry came in this morning before I was up, in high spirits. The Paymaster left in the night. Says Jerry, ‘Colonel, that Major called me up before he left and gave me two dollars. He is a right smart man. He is a sensible man. Oh, he’s got a power of sense, that Major has!’ So much for Jerry.

I have a beauty of a horse, a roan, gentle, quiet, easy under the saddle and afraid of nothing. He belongs to the Government, but I shall have him appraised and buy him.

Asboth has taken the troops away from Heiman and sent them to Paducah. He says Paducah is threatened. It is no doubt a Columbus scare.

Colonel Lyons.

Fort Donelson, June 15, 1863.—I have been very busy all the morning getting off a fleet of boats up the river. Companies A and K go as guards. The Major (Bigney) started for Nashville for horse equipments for mounted infantry. Colonel McConnell’s expedition found nothing of the enemy.

I have taken an inventory of the women and children in camp, as you requested me to do. The 83d Illinois has 73, the 13th Wisconsin has 21, the 71st Ohio but one, the Batteries 15—total 110. Major Haines is paying the 13th today, and when the command is paid a large number of these women and children will leave.

I send you a letter that I secured from a prisoner here who supposes that he is under sentence of death. He is a soldier in Flood’s Battery and was tried by the last Court-Martial for murdering a negro and for forcing a safeguard. I thought it would interest you.

The letter is as follows:

In Prison, June 13, 1863.

Colonel Lyon.

Dear Sir: I understand that my sentence for the violation of the law is death. I am sorry that I ever acted in the manner that I did. I was drunk when I committed the horrible deed for which I am condemned to die, and I hope that you will intercede in my behalf—not for my sake alone, but for the sake of my wife and little child and my aged old mother, who taught me to lead a different life from this. I hope you will do something for me. You perhaps know my situation. I will do better in the future, lead a different life and try and live a better man. I will attend to all my duties punctually and faithfully.

I have already been in prison once five months and suffered severe punishment.

To appeal to our fellow man for aid is natural in times of need, it is inherent in us to do so—we do it for help—for aid and assistance. Colonel, I know that you are a man of good feeling—you must understand the nature of man. We are all frail beings—all liable at times more or less to err and be led astray. We can’t see danger and ruin until it is upon us— and for the sake of humanity do something for me before it is too late.

I hope all this will not be in vain, but that my life will be spared.

Colonel, when you read this, think of my poor, helpless wife and child that will be loft alone in the world with no one to look after them and provide for their wants. It is true that drunkenness is no excuse, but I would of (have) never committed the deed if I had been sober. I was not conscious of the deed when I committed it; if I had been I would not have done it. I know there is an eternity—a final reckoning for us all—and I hope I will be released this time—and will never be guilty again.

Your obdt. servt.,

James Little.

Colonel Lyons.

Fort Donelson, June 14, 1863.—We have had a very quiet day. It really seemed like Sunday at home.

I heard of Hinson this afternoon with his gang four miles from here, near the Fort Henry road. I sent Colonel McConnell with nine companies to drive him out. The troops take different routes. I have but little hope of overhauling him with infantry.

The river is falling rapidly. There are several boats here, which I propose to send up in the morning, and they are probably the last that will go up this season.

Companies E, C and H are out with Colonel McConnell. Captain Knilans is in very poor health and has today applied for a leave of absence.

We are pushing the works here as fast as possible, and I think I shall get everything in good shape by the first of August ; and I have strong hopes that I shall then be able to obtain a leave of absence.