Eighth Indiana Correspondence

Eighth Indiana Correspondence

Dear Journal: Some days since I sent you a hasty pencil sketch of our wanderings in search of Sterling Price and a fight; but, as it was very much imperfect, and so much condensed as to be scarcely intelligible as to details, I will, by your leave, present your readers with a more extensive account of this Expedition [sic].

On the 24th of January we left our encampment on the Lamine, of course ignorant of our destination, which was a matter of various speculation, until, on the day following, we struck a southern direction from Tipton, when the conclusion that we were going to Springfield to attack Price, became almost universal.

Our Division [sic], Gen. Davis commanding, consisted of the 1st Brigade, Lieut. Col. Washburne commanding, comprising the 8th, 18th, and 22nd Indiana regiments, with Klaus’s battery, and the 2nd Brigade, Col. White, composed of the 39th Illinois and 9th Missouri regiments, and Davidson’s battery, and four companies of the 1st Missouri cavalry. Nothing of special note occurred on our march, until the night of the 27th. We were encamped on the south side of the Gravoix, in a low bottom, when about 7 P. M. a most fearful rain storm commenced which continued all night, pouring down a perfect deluge. Many of the tents had been pitched in little hallows which soon filled, and many a poor fellow had to make his bed on rails, logs and coarse brush, or lie half submerged in water. To add to our tribulation, several of the company teams could not get up, and, consequently, they had neither tents nor cooking utensils, and but little provisions.

However, other companies strained their accommodations to the utmost, and the 18th generously tendered all their spare room so that all eventually found shelter.

Next day the camp presented a most desolate appearance. The rain still falling at intervals, the mud nearly deep enough to mire an ox, and the boys trying to kindle their cook fires in the midst of it, ever and anon casting rueful looks to the lowering clouds above, and the continent of mud and water around them, furnished a scene worthy the pencil of Hogarth. Col. Benton arrived today, and being the senior field officer the command of the Brigade was transferred to him. It began to freeze during the night, some snow falling on the 29th, during which all our company and provision wagons got up.

On the 30th we marched at 8 A. M., but, after making some two miles, were detained until 4 P. M., waiting for the train of the 2nd Brigade to get up the Gravoix hills; the wagons being drawn up, one by one, with long ropes attached, by the men. We then sent forward and marched until about 10 P. M., making some twelve miles. Not a single wagon got up—and a bitterly cold night; we all lay upon the ground by such fires as we could make with rails, without supper, and sheltered only by the starry canopy above us, and the stars themselves pretty much played out� by obscuring clouds.

Late on the afternoon of the 31st our train got up, when we merely moved across the Gravoix again and encamped. Reached the Osage on February 2nd, and encamped on its north bank, opposite the town of Linn Creek, Camden county [sic], the residence of the noted Federal partisan, McClurg, whose business house was plundered last summer by the rebels.

Here we lay until the 5th, during the night of which the last of the command got over, the ferriage being as much in advance of that at Ball’s Bluff as a little dilapidated steamer in addition to our two scows could make it.—Here, encamped on a muddy bottom, feed scarce, with a heavy rain and wind storm which capsized several of our tents, we had another rich experience of the beauties of a winter campaign in Missouri.

Feb. 7.—We reached the vicinity of Lebanon, forming a junction with the forces from Rolla, consisting of Asboth’s, Sigel’s and Carr’s divisions, numbering from 10,000 to 12,000 men, with a large complement of artillery.

Feb. 10.—The whole force moved in the direction of Springfield, reaching a point some seven miles north of it, on the 12th, with no noteworthy incidents except a heavy skirmish between our advance and a party of rebels, on the evening of the 10th, in which it was reported 300 of our men completely routed 500 of the enemy.

As we were going into camp on the 12th sharp firing was heard in the direction of the road taken by Asboth and Sigel, which proved to be a demonstration made by our cavalry with small arms and howitzers upon a supposed rebel force posted in the brush, and which, it was said, resulted in some damage to them in killed and wounded, without loss to our force. Two companies from each regiment in our brigade were detailed under Major Parrish as pickets, and also to make reconnaissance in direction of the firing, who were at midnight relieved by another like detail, but no further disturbances occurred during the night.

It was exceedingly interesting to witness the effect of the firing upon our men. After hard marching, much loss of sleep and many scarce able to drag one foot after another, some seized their arms and mounted horses and mules and made for the fight on their “own hook,� while others grumbled bitterly because they were prohibited from going, and every company was eager to be detailed as pickets.

Feb. 13.—At 4 a. m. we moved on towards Springfield, taking through fields to avoid a masked battery, which, the evening previous, doubtless commanded the road, and halting in front of a bushy thicket where the enemy had been, and where we still believed them to be in force with heavy batteries. Here the Indiana brigade, which had been assigned the honorable but dangerous duty of storming the batteries, was promptly formed in line of battle by Col. Benton, the regimental staff and line officers of the command coolly and efficiently co-operating, and, indeed, every man seemed to feel as if a large share of the responsibility rested upon himself, and all came to time promptly.

I rode along the line while forming and carefully noted the manner of both officers and men. There were no faces bleaching with fear—no muscle quivering, save with eager anxiety for the fray. There may have been a little more stern energy in the tone and manner of the officers in giving and repeating the commands, and of nervous promptitude in obeying them on the part of the men, then on a dress parade, but nothing more. Col. White’s brigade formed on our left, and, our batteries properly planted, we were waiting with eager impatience for the onset, and many an eye was bent on the thicket in front to catch a glance of the first curling wreath of smoke, or stream of “sulphurous flame,� which should be the signal for the commencement of the deadly fray.

Oh, it was a gallant sight to behold that stern, immovable line of men, with bristling bayonets and glittering fire-locks—officers all in their places save the General and his staff, and the irrepressible Benton remaining until the last practicable moment in front, and all momentarily expecting the signal to move irresistibly down upon the rebellious foe. But alas!

“The best laid schemes o’ mice and men gang aft agley.�

After a few minutes’ suspense it was announced that the enemy had fallen back, evacuating Springfield, and in full retreat toward Arkansas. Our expectations of glory and renown were dashed to the earth again, and curses upon the cowardice (or prudence, “as the case may be,�) of Price, both loud and deep, were heard all along the line.

How we marched into Springfield and ran up the stars and stripes—how we chased Price and his minions out of the State in hot haste, hoping to fight him at Wilson’s Creek, Cassville, Cross Timbers, Sugar Creek and Cross Hollows—how we charged upon and shelled his rear-guard, with some loss to ourselves and much more to him—together with all and singular, the principal hardships and sufferings of our brave boys in this expedition, including our then present locus in quo-behold! they shall all be written in such subsequent epistles as “time and chance, which happeneth to all,� may enable me to forward to thee.

We went into camp here, near Cross Hollows, six miles south-east of Bentonville, Ark., on the 22d, and shall probably remain here some days yet. We are waiting the arrival of supplies, and perhaps orders from General Halleck. It is not known whether we will fall back and take position in Missouri, or push on after Price. I think the former most probable.
A. W. Sanford,
Chaplain, 8th Indiana.
February 27, 1862.