One more. Major Falconet, of the Rebel army, and who was stationed at Decatur for some time, it is said, had come to the conclusion to take to himself a wife. He had gone to Florence to get married. While on the floor, having the marriage ceremony performed, Lieut. Col. Phillips, with the 9th Ill., made a dash into Florence. Some one came into the room and cried out, "The Yanks are coming!" The brave Major left his fair companion, broke from the house, and over the garden fence, tearing down about twenty feet of it, dashed to his boat and was off. I suppose he did not fancy being captured just then. How his partly constituted bride felt, at his rapid exit, and whether he has ever returned for the completion of the ceremony, "deponent saith not."
Still another, showing something of the horrors of Slavery. During the recent scout to Courtland and Moulton, when in camp near the former place, the orders of Lieut. Col. Phillips were to be ready to move by daylight. The guard were instructed to wake them two hours before day. The orderlies were waked at the proper time. When Adjutant Klock had gotten up, he was informed by an orderly that there was a lady wishing to see the Colonel. The Colonel was called. In a half-sleeping condition, he told the Adjutant to see what she wished. The Adjutant went around to see her. He saw there a very decently, but plainly dressed lady. He asked her what she wished. He was perfectly amazed at her reply. She said her master was going to sell her, and she wished to know if she could not go with them. The Adjutant replied, that he would speak to the Colonel about it, and that he thought they could make arrangements for her to go with us. The Colonel having dropped asleep in the meantime, the matter was referred to Major Kuhn. He told her at once that she could go along. She accordingly came into Decatur with our Regiment. To Northern men, unaccustomed to the evils of the system of Slavery, such scenes are revolting. Here was a woman, so nearly white, that she was mistaken for a white woman. She was, in all probability, her master's daughter or sister.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS.
[BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.]
I propose to add to this history of the Regiment, a Biographical Sketch of the present Field and Staff Officers.
COL. AUGUST MERSY.
Was born in Germany. He entered the military service, in 1838, as Cadet, in Karlsruhe, Grand Duchy of Baden. He graduated in 1840, as Lieutenant. He was promoted to the position of 1st Lieutenant, in 1842. In 1844, he was assigned the position of Adjutant and staff officer. In 1847, he was appointed Regimental Adjutant. A European Regiment consists of from 2,400 to 3,000 men. In this position he acted until 1849. At the outbreak of the Revolution, he consequently acted against that Revolution. In 1849, however, he joined the Revolutionary party, and was promoted to the position of Colonel. After joining the Revolutionary party, he acted for some time as Provisional Secretary of War. He soon, however, joined the army, and assumed command of the Second Brigade. Whether he had the rank of General, or only acted as such in commanding a Brigade, the writer is unable to say. He went with his Brigade, through all the battles and skirmishes of the year 1849. He was under the necessity of crossing the Rhine for Switzerland, and concluded to emigrate to America. He arrived in the United States, in November, 1849. Went West, and settled in Bellville, St. Clair County, Illinois. He was for some time Clerk, and afterwards Cashier, of the "Bank of Bellville." He also acted as Notary Public.
On the uprising of the rebellion, his war spirit was aroused. I think he had for some time previous had command of a volunteer military company. He enlisted, with his company, in the "Three months'" service. He enlisted as Captain of Company A, 9th Regiment Illinois Infantry, on the 19th of April, 1861. He was elected Lieutenant Colonel, April 26th, 1861. This position he held during the "Three months'" service. He was mustered out of the service, at the end of the three months, on the 25th of July, 1861, and again immediately mustered in, for three years, as Lieutenant Colonel of the 9th Illinois Infantry.