Reminiscences of the Civil War, William and Adelia Lyon

To Mrs. Lyon.

(The following letter was written in the trenches in lead pencil, on the brown paper that was wrapped around his loaf of bread) :

May 31, 1862.—I wrote you yesterday in the trenches, two miles from Corinth and one mile from the rebel fortifications. Today I write you from the same place.

Yesterday there was a brisk artillery fight, lasting nearly all day, between one of our batteries and a rebel fort a mile off, mounting four guns. Their shell and shot passed over our entrenchments, in which we lay quietly and safely. During the night there have been movements going on which convince us that Corinth is evacuated. There has been great activity among our troops this morning, and as I write our men are taking possession, without fighting, of the fort that fired at us so vigorously yesterday and on Wednesday. The stars and stripes wave over it in plain view of us, and the wild cheers of our men give but a faint expression of our delight .

Lieut. Lathrop, of Company I, who is acting as Aide to Colonel Loomis, in temporary command of our brigade, just rode along our lines and informed us that two of our regiments were already in Corinth. And thus, through the masterly generalship of General Halleck, the battle of Corinth has been fought and won with so little loss of life. Where the rebels have gone, or what our future movements will be, is yet a profound mystery to us. And now, after telling you for the fiftieth time that I am perfectly well and that the health of the boys is very good, I will give you a few more details of the fight.

On Wednesday the rebel line of attack was immediately in front of the 8th Wisconsin and the 5th Minnesota, posted on our left. We lay behind the brow of a slight elevation of ground. We heard the rebels coming, heard their officers cheering them on in terms more earnest than polite, but we lay still until they were within ten rods of us, when the old 8th rose and poured a volley into them that threw them into the wildest confusion. Before they reached the woods in their rear we poured ten more volleys into them. As they retreated our artillery got a raking fire on them, killing and wounding large numbers. We found fifteen or twenty dead and wounded immediately in front of our company. The dead we buried, the wounded we cared for.

Our regiment stood firm to a man, and did the most of the fighting done by infantry on that day. Thousands of men saw us in the fight, and everybody speaks in the highest terms of the courage of the 8th. Let Wisconsin be assured that her honor will never be compromised by her sons of the ‘Eagle Regiment.’

Our loss is remarkably light. I have already told you that Ralph M. Coon of my company was killed. He was standing in the front ranks, fighting bravely, and was shot through the body. He said he was wounded, walked calmly to the rear, and was carried off the field. He soon became insensible and died in an hour. We sent his body back to the camp, and yesterday sorrowing friends laid the brave young hero in his last resting place. Let his name be added to the roll of honor!

Charles Noyes, also of Company K, was severely wounded in the leg, just above the knee. He, too, was in the front rank, bravely doing his duty when he was struck. He appears to be doing well and is in good spirits. S. A. Henderson was also slightly wounded in the hand.

I must give you a little circumstance, too good to be lost, showing the temper of some of our boys.

Lucas Lathrop, son of A. H. Lathrop, of Mount Pleasant, is as fine a specimen of a soldier and patriot as you will find. Brave, intelligent and earnest, he has gained the respect of the entire regiment. He is a soldier of the Cromwellian stamp, a devoted Christian, carrying his religion with him, holding prayer meetings in his tent, and striving to set a worthy example to his comrades. Speaking of him in a recent skirmish, one writes the following incident:

‘Lathrop and Finch were standing side by side loading their guns. Not far in advance of them stood a great, powerful looking rebel sharpshooter, also loading his piece. Lathrop saw him, and tapping Finch on the shoulder said, pointing: “There stands a tolerably large man,” and deliberately drawing his gun to his shoulder, fired. Suffice it to say that the traitor never finished loading his gun. Lathrop turned coolly around and remarked: “Mr. Finch, I think I hurt that man, but it can’t be helped now.” ‘

To Mrs. Lyon.

Farmington, Miss., Tuesday a. m., May 20, 1862.— On Saturday, just at night, our whole force advanced about three miles to this place. We are about a mile south of our battle ground of the 9th inst. We bivouacked that night in line of battle and the next morning went to work and entrenched ourselves. This is done by digging ditches sufficiently wide for two ranks, and deep enough so that the men when standing can just see to shoot over the embankment of dirt from the trench which is thrown up on the outside. When the men sit down they are completely out of sight below the surface, and perfectly safe unless a ball or shell happens to fall directly in the trench. The artillery is posted directly behind us and shoots over our heads.

Behind our regiment are ten field pieces, one twelve-pound howitzer for shell, four ten-pound Parrott guns and five six-pound brass pieces. Then immediately on our left is a battery of four thirty-two-pound Parrott siege guns; and this is a specimen of our defenses through the whole line stretching miles away to the north.

We are waiting here now for the rebels to attack us, as our position is very strong. We are on an elevation, with a broad plateau of cleared fields before us which they must cross before they can reach us. There is constant firing of pickets and some cannonading up the line every day at different points. I hear the big guns talking now a few miles north of us. If they do not attack us here we shall soon move up still nearer to them and fortify another line. At the longest I think the struggle will be over here in the course of two weeks, perhaps sooner. We do not doubt our ability to defeat them. I feel calm in view of the approaching contest. My greatest solicitude is for the brave boys that I lead to battle; but they, and all of us, are engaged in a righteous cause and are in the hands of Him ‘Who doeth all things well.’ Now, be brave and hopeful. You will hear of the great battle many days before you know my fate, as I can not telegraph to you. I will write as quickly as I can. I am in perfect health.

To Mrs. Lyon.

May 16, 1862.—We are ordered to march at daylight with two days’ cooked rations. It may be for another reconnaisance, and it may be—and probably is— an advance of the whole army upon Corinth. In that case the rebels must fight or run, and it is about an even chance which they will do. We do not for an instant lose our faith in our ability to whip them. You had better not lay plans to come to me in case of accident, for I would come home if unable to do duty.

To Mrs. Lyon.

Camp Redfield, May 13, 1862.—I was called off to superintend building a road through a swamp. I was sent out with Captain Young’s company (he being sick). We were out nearly all night, being within one-half or three-quarters of a mile from the rebel pickets. I was very weary and did not write yesterday. We are all in good health and spirits. Reinforcements continue to pour in to us and we have an immense army here. If they stand us a fight we shall whip them, but since they have run away from New Orleans, Yorktown and Norfolk, I almost believe they will run away from Corinth. I still feel that I shall come home to you safely. I felt so when the storm of death beat around me on the battle field. I knew that from the lips and hearts I love so dearly in my far-off home earnest prayers went up for my safety, and it nerved me to do my duty fearlessly in the hour of peril and death; and the greater the peril that surrounds me, the more clear are my convictions that I am where I ought to be. Let us both with fervent faith and undoubting trust commit our future destiny to His hands ‘Who doeth all things well.’

Written for The Racine Advocate.

The Battle of Farmington.

Camp of 2d Division, Army of the Mississippi, near Farmington.

May 10, 1862.

The Grand Army of the West is slowly but surely advancing on the enemy. The final act in the great drama can not be much longer delayed.

Last Saturday General Paine’s Division advanced to Farmington, within about three miles of Corinth; and after some heavy skirmishing with a considerable force of the enemy, drove them back and took possession of the place. On Sunday, Stanley’s Division (the 2d of Pope’s Command) moved forward to within about three miles of Farmington and went into camp. Paine’s Division had also fallen back to this position, and encamped directly in front of us, leaving only a small force of cavalry to occupy the ground from which the rebels had been driven. Rain fell in such quantities on Sunday and on Sunday night as to render the roads almost impassable for the next two or three days. On Thursday, the roads being considerably improved, these two divisions, Stanley’s and Paine’s, advancing beyond Farmington and reconnoitered the ground up to within a short distance of Corinth, the enemy retiring before us. There was considerable skirmishing during the day, in which we lost several men, but no serious engagement.[1]

Farmington is a small village of about thirty or forty houses, on the road from Corinth to Hamburg, pleasantly situated among open fields which are bounded on every side by the woods. As the position was considerably in advance of the main body of our army, it was deemed prudent towards night to draw off our forces to their camps, which had not been moved, leaving only one brigade in the rear of Farmington to hold the position, or at least hold the enemy in check should he attempt to advance. The brigade thus left is the 2d of Stanley’s Division, commanded by General Plummer and composed of the 26th Illinois, 8th Wisconsin, 47th Illinois and 11th Missouri regiments. The brigade fell back to an open field surrounded by woods, on the right of the Hamburg road and about a mile this side of Farmington, and here remained during the night. Company A of the 8th and four companies from other regiments, under command of Major Jefferson of the 8th, were stationed as outposts during the night, about a mile and a half or two miles in advance of the brigade.

About daylight the next morning the enemy advanced through the woods beyond Farmington and attacked our outposts. Major Jefferson, seeing that the enemy were in strong force, deployed his force as skirmishers, charging them to keep cool and retire slowly, firing as they went. He also sent an orderly to Colonel Loomis of the 26th Illinois (who in the absence of General Plummer commanded the brigade), notifying him of the approach of the enemy and asking for reinforcements. This Colonel Loomis could not grant, as he had instructions not to advance his force beyond their first position. In the meantime the enemy, driving our skirmishers before them, advanced into the village of Farmington and planted a battery there, from which they opened a galling fire upon the skirmishers.

Great credit is due to Major Jefferson and to Captain Redfield, and the other officers and men employed as skirmishers, for the coolness and courage they displayed under the enemy’s fire. Retiring slowly from one sheltered position to another they kept up a galling fire upon the enemy, which caused them to advance with great caution, so that it was more than three hours from their first appearance until they became engaged with our main force.

About ten o’clock, the enemy still advancing in three lines of battle, covered the open fields in front of Farmington and planted another battery in the edge of the woods to the right of our front, about a mile distant. He also soon opened another at about the same distance on our left. About this time General Palmer came up with four Illinois regiments and Hescock’s battery.

Hescock’s battery was placed about five hundred yards in our advance, and two of the regiments were posted a little to the rear and right of the battery, their right resting on the woods and their left in front of the right of our brigade. The other two regiments of Palmer’s Brigade were posted on an elevated position to the left of the Hamburg road. Captain Hescock, who behaved with great gallantly during the engagement, having got his guns in position, opened a very vigorous and apparently very effective fire on the enemy’s battery in the woods on the left.

Their guns for a time were silenced, and there was a short pause in the battle. The enemy were, however, steadily advancing all the time under cover of the woods on our right and left, endeavoring to flank our position, in which they came very near being successful. Soon the rebel batteries opened with redoubled fury. Their guns were evidently manned by skillful artillerists, for they fired with great rapidity and fearful precision. They sent shot and shell alternately into Palmer’s line and then into ours, and at times clear beyond into the woods in our rear, along the only road by which reinforcements could come or a retreat be effected. About twelve o’clock the sharp crack of musketry in our front, mingling with the sullen roar of cannon, told us that Palmer’s men were engaged with the advancing rebel infantry. This officer, seeing that his position was rapidly being flanked, after a few volleys drew off his men and formed another line in our rear. Hescock’s battery vas also compelled to retire in order to avoid capture. This left our line exposed to all the fury of the battle.

Our brigade was drawn up on the side of a gentle rise in the open field, our right and left resting on the woods. The 26th Illinois occupied the right, the 8th Wisconsin on its left, the 47th Illinois on our left, and the 11th Missouri on the extreme left of the line. Palmer having fallen back, and the only battery we had engaged having retired, the enemy now turned their guns upon us, and soon their shot and shell fell thick and fast in our ranks. One of their first shot passed close to the head of Major Jefferson and took off the leg of Lieut.-Colonel Miles of the 47th Illinois, who shortly after died.[2] Another shell struck close to Company G of our regiment and exploded, mortally wounding Lieutenant Beamish and Corporal John White of that company, and slightly wounding another. The first two died soon after they were brought from the field. The brigade was ordered to lie down, and having done so found great protection in the elevated ground in front of it. Still the enemy, depressing their guns, got such accurate range that their shot and shell tore up the ground in every direction along our line, killing and wounding some in each regiment, except the 11th Missouri, who were so far to the left and so completely under cover of the woods that they escaped without the loss of a single man.

Soon the rebel infantry advanced in heavy force in our front and in the woods to our left, and opened fire upon our line. The firing was now, for a short time, absolutely terrific. Grape shot and bullet flew thick and fast as hail in a wintry storm. Men who were through the Mexican war declare that they were never under such a fearful fire before; and it is a matter of astonishment that our casualties were so few. It can only be accounted for by the fact that our men kept close to the ground and so avoided the deadly missiles which passed over them. Nothing is more trying to the nerves of men than thus to have to remain silent and motionless under a fire which they are not permitted to return. The 8th, however, bore it without flinching; until at length Colonel Loomis gave the word: “Up, 8th Wisconsin, and give it to them!

Our boys now rose up, and advancing to the crest of the elevation in front of them poured volley after volley into the rebel ranks. The fearful yells, and still more fearful fire, of the Badger boys evidently produced a stunning effect upon the enemy, for soon their fire slackened, then their lines wavered, and finally they broke and retired in disorder to the cover of the woods. At this time about four hundred of our cavalry came up, and passing our regiment on the right, charged the battery in our front, driving the rebels from their guns; but not being supported, and being exposed to a heavy fire from the rebel infantry in the woods, they were compelled to retire without capturing the battery.[3]

In the meantime, the enemy were rapidly flanking us in the woods on our right, and the regiment supporting us having fallen back, the 8th was also ordered to retire and form another line in the woods in the rear. This our men did in good order, moving off the field almost as deliberately as in ordinary battalion drill.

The enemy still endeavoring to get on our flank and in our rear, and having evidently abundant force for the accomplishment of their object, our entire force was ordered to move through the woods to the road and fall back thereon to our next lines, which we found formed in an open field about a mile and a half in the rear of our first position. By this time the whole of Pope’s command were advancing and forming in line, all supposing that a general engagement had begun. The enemy, however, made no further advance, but hastily withdrew, leaving our pickets to occupy the battlefield during the same night.

During the entire engagement the conduct of the 8th in every way sustained the reputation which the Wisconsin troops have won on other fields. Lieut.-Colonel Robbins (who in the absence of Colonel Murphy commanded the regiment), Major Jefferson and Adjutant Sprague, proved themselves to be brave men and able officers. Indeed, all the officers and men, as far as known, behaved with a steadiness and gallantry worthy of veterans. General Palmer, riding up to the regiment on the field, inquired what regiment it was. Being told that it was the 8th Wisconsin, he said, in a most emphatic manner: “You have done nobly!

It could not have been the intention of General Pope to bring on a general engagement at this point, otherwise we should have been reinforced and held the position at all hazards. The accounts of deserters and prisoners represent the force of the enemy at from twenty to forty thousand strong, commanded by Generals Bragg and Hardee. The force we had on the field was not over five thousand men. We were nearly three miles in advance of the main body of our troops, and the only road by which we could be reinforced is a narrow road running through woods and swamps, which the enemy were able to shell from the position where they had planted their batteries. Being much better acquainted with the country than we, they no doubt intended and expected to surround and cut us off before reinforcements could reach us. In this they were completely foiled, and the reception they met probably convinced them that it would neither be safe nor pleasant to attempt to advance any further in this direction.

The entire loss of all our troops engaged is about one hundred and fifty in killed and wounded. The enemy probably lost quite as many. Though the loss of our regiment (owing to the manner in which they took advantage of the inequalities of the ground) is comparatively light, it yet includes some of our best men. Their names are as follows:

Captain John E. Perkins, Co. C—mortally wounded by a minie ball in the side. Since dead.

Lieutenant Richard D. Beamish, Co. G—Struck by a shell. Dead.

Corporal John A. White, Co. G—struck by a shell. Dead.

Corporal August Ludkie, Co. D—Shot through the hand.

O. D. Leonard, Co. D—shot through the thigh.

Wm. Buckley, Co. C—fracture of the forearm. Since amputated.

Blake W. Griffith, Co. F—shot by musket ball in side.

Sergeant B. Bush and H. W. Allen, Co. F— slightly. Not disabled.

Zebulon Johnson, Co. I—in leg below the knee. Since amputated.

Iver Oleson, Co. I—shot through the neck. Severely.

Alva Wood, Co. I—wounded in leg and missing.

Jas. Kendall, Oliver Wood, George W. Trude, S. B. Cox, Co. I—all slightly.

Harmon V. Sacia, Co. I—missing.

Jas. Rogers, Co. G—slightly.

Hans Nisson and Thomas Toney, Co. K—slightly. Not disabled.

George W. Quimby, John C. Green and Charles Colher, Co. A—slightly. Not disabled.

Three companies had been detailed as outposts during the previous night and as skirmishers in the morning. Only one platoon succeeded in getting to the field in time to take part in the principal engagement. This platoon, under command of Lieutenant Baker, formed alongside of Captain Green’s company, and there rendered good service. Only fourteen men of Company D were present, the rest of the company having mistaken the orders the preceding night and gone back to camp; but these, under command of Lieut. McDowell, rendered good service. Company B was left behind, as a camp guard, so it met with no casualties.

Besides those mentioned in the above list there are quite a number who were struck and more or less scratched and bruised by the enemy’s missiles; but they are scarcely enough damaged to be classed with wounded men. I find, however, that it is customary to swell the list of wounded by reporting as such all who have been in any way scratched or bruised in a fight.

Captain Perkins, who commanded the company known as the Chippewa Eagles, who made such a sensation when they came into Camp Randall with a living eagle (which they still carry with them), was a man of giant frame, and one who had a large heart—a man of the most generous and patriotic impulses. His loss is felt and deeply regretted by the whole regiment.*

Lieut . Beamish, of Company G, was a young man of superior intelligence, of fine social qualities, and a brave and useful officer. Corporal White was a young man of excellent character, intelligent, upright and correct in his deportment, both as a man and as a soldier. There are no better men left than these in this or any other regiment . They offered their lives to their country in her hour of need, and with their blood have sealed their devotion to her integrity and her honor. Peace to their ashes and honor to their memories!

Wm. P. Lyon.

P. S.—I forgot to say that on our return to camp from the battlefield we found that Colonel Murphy had arrived, but too late to be in the engagement. You may be sure the whole regiment was glad to see him.

[1] The Eighth was in General Paine’s Division.

General Paine was a resident of Illinois and a graduate of a military academy, but had resigned from the regular army before the Civil War began. He was an excellent officer; a very brave man; and. although a little rough at times, a great favorite with the men under his command.

A characteristic anecdote of him is that at one time a Tennessee woman came to his headquarters and complained bitterly that the Union soldiers had stolen all of her chickens. The General treated her kindly, blamed the soldiers for their conduct and sympathized with the poor woman in her trouble; but he closed the conversation by saying to her, “Madam, we are going to put down this rebellion if it takes every ______ chicken in the State of Tennessee.”

[2] Colonel Miles was mounting his horse and had just put his foot in the stirrup when a ball struck the foot that was on the ground and took off the leg. He died that night.

[3] The command that made this gallant charge was the 2d Iowa Cavalry, commanded by Colonel (afterward General) Elliott.

To Mrs. Lyon

Camp eight miles from Corinth, May 5, 1862.— Company K was immediately sent out three miles toward Corinth as grand guard, or outpost picket. It rained terribly all the afternoon and nearly all night, and we were out in the whole of it. The next day coming into camp we had to wade a slough filled with water by the rain. I got in up to my neck, to the infinite amusement of the boys. I did not take cold and feel none the worse for it.

The rebel cavalry were in sight of our picket lines, and there is skirmishing all along the lines every day. The opinion is that the rebels will retreat from Corinth without a fight. When we were out the other night we could hear their bands and drum corps play, and also the whistle of their locomotives, distinctly. There is so much woods here that we can not see far ahead.

Letter from Wm. P. Lyon to Isaac Lyon.

Camp twelve miles southwest of Hamburg, in Miss., May 3, 1862.—Here we are in the State of Mississippi, only ten miles from Corinth. The whole army is advancing slowly and surely upon that place, and in a very few days the rebels there must either fight us or run.

We moved six miles to this place day before yesterday and expect to move on still further in a day or two. The caution with which the advance is made inspires us with confidence in General Halleck. There will be no more surprise here.

We have a better, if not a larger army, than the rebels, and are better off for artillery than they are. I think the heaviest fighting will be with the artillery. I have not seen Sperry but that one time when we first arrived. He must be three or four miles from where we are.

This is a fine country to look at, but where cultivated seems worn out. The timber is light, much like our openings. On our march out here I saw corn large enough to be hoed, and cherries nearly full size. Crops, what little there are, look very poor.

We see no signs of energy, enterprise, or taste among the few people we encounter. The days are usually warm, but the nights are very cool and pleasant.

I received news today of the death at Sikeston of John H. Lowe, of Springfield. We left him there very sick.

To Mrs. Lyon

Camp six miles west of Hamburg, Tenn., April 28, 1862.—We are here encamped in a beautiful wood, almost like our openings. Our lines, which are many miles in extent, are being steadily and continuously advanced toward Corinth. Our advance line must be within five or six miles of those of the rebels. They must meet in a few days.

To Mrs. Lyon

Hamburg, Tenn., April 25, 1862.—We are encamped here with an immense and constantly increasing army, camps, artillery, cavalry, and all the machinery of war, for several miles up and down the river. There is undoubtedly to be a great battle before long. We, Company K, go out a few miles this morning as part of the grand guard. This is a guard along the whole front of the army, about three miles in advance.