TRANSFERRED.
Sergeant-Major Benjamin F. Blair.
| AGGREGATE. | |
| Total number mustered out | 641 |
| Total number discharged | 163 |
| Total number transferred | 48 |
| Total number killed in action | 45 |
| Total number died of wounds or disease | 131 |
| Total number of deserters | 44 |
| Total | 1072 |
The foregoing shows the exact condition of the regiment, as exhibited by the muster-out at Columbus, Ohio. June 12th and 13th, 1865.
CHAPTER XII.
MISCELLANEOUS.
On the night of December 9th, 1864, when the regiment was being transported by rail from Opequan Bridge, in the Valley, to Washington, on our way to join the Army of the Potomac, in front of Richmond, Private Silas Simpson, of Company C, being on a flat-car crowded with men, laid down near the bumper, and having, it is presumed, dropped asleep and fallen between the cars, met with an instant death, no less than three trains passing over his body before it was discovered that he was missing.
During the early part of our term of service, the orders were very strict in reference to individual foraging, and whenever complaints were made at headquarters by some Secesh citizen, that some of the boys had been slaughtering a beef of his, or perhaps a poor innocent porker had gone the way of all the world, or, perchance, a box of honey, or a loaf of bread, or a nice ham, was not to be found, then forthwith a guard must be stationed around his house and the mens’ quarters searched for the missing articles. The men generally received due and timely notice, and the articles were buried in some tent and a poor sick boy, that could not be moved, would be lying over it. The officers engaged in the search, would perhaps look in the tent and says, “Boys, is any of that meat or honey here?” They were never known to receive an affirmative answer. Occasionally they would be caught in the act, as the following incident will testify: The regiment had just gone into camp on the bank of the Shenandoah, near Halltown, one hot day in August, 1864. The men were nearly all bathing in the river, when they spied a field of corn on the opposite bank and immediately went for it. Two boys of Company A, each unadorned with any particular amount of clothing, and, having their arms filled with roasting ears, were caught by a cavalry guard set there to watch the corn; and without their clothing, which was on the other side, were marched to division headquarters; from which place they were sent, through the regular channels, to regimental headquarters, with an order to have them “tied up by the thumbs.” From there Col. Wilson sent them to company headquarters, with instructions to carry out the order after night—the particular night not being specified. Why Capt. C. had plenty of corn for dinner is plain.
After any of these depredations, should any of the officers discover next morning in their quarters, a nice steak, plate of honey or roll of butter, it was not deemed necessary to institute a search to see where it came from.
When we passed near Sewell Mountain, returning from the Lynchburg Raid, June 29th, 1864, one of the men caught a young fawn and made a present of it to the Colonel. A “hard tack” box was rigged up, the fawn put into it and conveyed on the back of a mule to Camp Piatt; from there it was taken with the regiment to Martinsburg, where it became a great favorite with the men, and was finally sent from there to Ohio.
At Winchester there were several Union families, one of whom will always be remembered with hearts full of gratitude for their kindness to many of our regiment. The members of that family who resided there during the war, consisted of an old Quaker gentleman, Mr. Sidwell, his wife, one son—a young man—and his two daughters, Anna and Martha. When we were captured there, on the 15th of June, 1863, and confined in the Court House, we were without anything to eat for thirty-six hours. Sending a note through one of our surgeons to Mr. Sidwell, he, in company with his wife, soon made his appearances with a large basket of provisions, which was certainly a rich treat to us. The next morning the two daughters came with more supplies, and towels and soap, which afterwards proved of great use to us in Libby. During the whole war, from its commencement to the close, Winchester was hardly free from the conflict of battle for any length of time, changing hands no less than seventy-three times, three times in one day. This family remained there the whole time, unable to get away, the two daughters making it a constant practice every day to visit the hospitals, and endeavor to ameliorate the condition of our sick and wounded. There are several in the 123d who will not soon forget them and their acts of kindness.