A History of the Ninth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry

by Marion Morrison

Company K.—Montezuma, Tenn., Killed, John M. Peterson; Salem, Miss., John Q. Martin, Wounded, Lieut. Ulen and Peter Hall. In all, 2 killed and 2 wounded.

A number of incidents of interest, occurred during the period covered by this chapter.

When on a scout to Tupelo, the boys were feeding near the house of a citizen. A woman came to Col. Phillips to make complaints that one of her horses had been taken, and a negro man or two had left her and was following our forces away. The Col. very politely told her, (for he is always polite to the ladies, unless they cease to act the lady,) that he was sorry for her, but that it was his business to keep the Rebels out of that country, so that they might not molest peaceable citizens like her. In order to do this, he must have horses to mount his men. Hence, from military necessity he must take her horse. That more effectually to accomplish the work of clearing the Rebels out of the country, the Government had resolved to arm the negroes and make soldiers of them. Hence, he must take her negroes also. Finding she could accomplish nothing by her entreaties with the Col., she was returning to the house, when she saw that they were taking her corn to feed their animals. Some of the boys were also chasing her chickens, and they were rapidly decreasing in numbers. She now set up a terrible lamentation, and commenced praying that God would send the Yankees out of the country. In the warmth of her petitions, she used the following forcible language: "O, Lord, if you can't come yourself, just now, do send General Price with his great army, to drive these miserable Yankees out of the country." Until this petition was uttered, some of the boys felt a sympathy for her. But the utterance of it, seemed to drive away both their sympathy and their gravity. The Col. finally sent an orderly, telling her to go into the house and finish her prayers.

Another. When on a scout near Ripley, Miss., the Regiment were in camp, and, as usual, helping themselves to the contents of a corn-crib, that thereby they might strengthen their mules for the heavy duties laid upon them. A woman appeared, with the usual cry, that she was a "poor lone widow, with six orphan children," and requested the Col. to leave her corn enough to make her bread until she could raise more. The Col. assured her that they would leave her some corn. In a short time, one of the girls came out, with the cry, "O, Col., the soldiers are taking every bit of our corn, and we will all starve." The Col. gave orders to the Adjutant to have a guard placed at that woman's corn, and instruct it to see that some of that corn was left. The Adjutant detailed a guard. In the meantime, it had been ascertained that the family had a lot of wheat; and although it might be hard for a Southern family to live without corn bread, still it was supposed that if they had wheat-bread, they would not starve. Hence, as corn to feed upon was scarce, the Adjutant, in instructing the guard to see that some of that corn was left, gave him a knowing wink, which he well understood. Some of the corn was left. But it was simply a little shelled corn in the bottom of the crib. One of the girls having made a reconnoisance to the corn-crib, to see how things were getting along there, and made the discovery that it was all gone, came back running and crying, "Oh, mother, mother; they have taken every bit of our corn, and now we will have nothing to eat but wheat-bread. What will we do."

Still another. It was almost a daily, and often an hourly occurrence for citizens to visit the Col. at his Head Quarters, to endeavor to get back a horse or mule that had been captured. One day two ladies had visited him for that purpose. While they were engaged in reasoning the matter with him, dinner was announced. He invited them to go out and eat dinner with him. The invitation was accepted. The cook, or Doctor, or some one, expecting that they would be there for dinner, set a bottle of liquor on the table. After dinner was over, the Colonel politely invited them to take a drink. After some little hesitation, they each took their glass of liquor. The Colonel, always supplied with cigars, took his cigar-case from his pocket, and reached it to them. They each took a cigar, lit it at the cook's fire, and sat down and deliberately smoked it. In the North, to smoke in the presence of ladies is considered the greatest impoliteness. Not so in the South, however.

One more. When on the return from the raid to Grenada, Miss., the Regiment passed through Holly Springs. There was some apprehension that there might be a disposition on the part of some of the soldiers to fire the town, owing to treatment received from the citizens on a former occasion. Hence, a guard was placed at each house, until the forces should pass through. Surgeon Gulick desiring some water for sick men, started to go into a yard to get it, but the guard would not allow him to pass in. He handed his canteen to a colored man in the yard, requesting him to fill it with water. While he was doing it, a woman came from the house, much excited. Coming towards the Doctor, she inquired, "Is there a Mason here?"

Doctor.—"Why, madame, what do you wish?"

Mad. M.—"I am the widow of a Mason. I wish to know if there is a Mason here. I wish protection."

Doctor.—"Madame, you had better go into the house. You do not need protection. There is a guard around your house."

During this conversation, a chicken, from some cause ran through the fence into the street. A soldier started after it, to catch it. The Doctor's companion seized a long club, and quickly got over the fence and after the soldier. Unobserved, she came upon him, when about to catch the chicken, and struck him a heavy blow over the head. This he did not resist, as it was from a woman. But after the second blow, he supposed that "forbearance ceased to be a virtue," even if a woman was involved. The Doctor says he was scared when he saw her seize the club and climb the fence. He supposed she was coming at him.