On the 5th day of October 1861 I enlisted into Captain Asa Wordon's Company "B" of the 14th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, for a period of three years or during the war. My own enlistment and that of brother Frank into the company three days later, completed its number to the required one hundred men. I had a slight acquaintance with three members of the company at the time of my enlistment, otherwise all were entire strangers to me. Captain Worden had held the office of Sheriff of Waupaca County for a term or two, but I had never met him. My late entrance into the company I supposed, would preclude my chances for promotion, as I took it for granted that the desirable positions had been promised to those who preceded me. Yet Captain Worden remarked as I was sworn in, that I might receive a noncommissioned office.

The commissioned officers beside Captain Worden were J.D. Post 1st Lieutenant and F.G. Wilmot 2nd Lieutenant. The company was stationed at Weyauwega and boarded at the two hotels in town. Captain Godfrey a Mexican War veteran had charge as drill-master, and under his able management the company progressed rapidly in a knowledge of company drill. The company was recruited in Waupaca County, and was composed of hardy young men who had been accustomed to hard work, either as lumbermen, log-drivers or farmers. At the time of enlistment I was 20 years and 8 months of age, was 5 feet 11 1/2 inches in height and weighed 175 pounds. Of course I was above the average in stature, yet each possessed a fine physique which gave promise of endurance. Upon two occasions after enlistment, was each man required to undergo a most rigid physical examination before they could be mustered into the U.S. service. I suppose that all soldiers at that time were thus scrutinized. How unjust then that applicants for pension should be required to prove their soundness at the time of enlistment.

While claiming for the members of this company, a high degree of physical excellence. I do not wish to represent that morally they were preeminent above all others. They were not angles. Certainly not. If they had been they would not have enlisted at all. In this respect I suppose they averaged fairly well with other bodies of one hundred men - especially soldiers - thrown together with lots of spare time on hand. Some were quiet and peaceful. Some were restless and noisy, though generally harmless. While others were as wild as bucks, would get drunk occasionally and then would fight at the drop of the hat. Such ones would sometimes get on a rampage, and they would make things lively. Captain Worden belonged to the latter class himself. It happened that in the vicinity of Weyauwega there lived a number of Copperheads. Naturally they were held in utter contempt by every soldier. Upon one occasion a quarrel was started between these parties which threatened for a time, to become serious. Captain Worden was himself involved in the affair, and the boys were ready to follow him to any extreme. There was plenty of fighting, and a considerable property was destroyed, two saloons were demolished and a majority of the boys became gloriously drunk. Luckily no one was killed, but the copperheads were driven from town effectively as snakes of the like name were driven from Ireland by St. Patrick. Through the prompt action of Lieut. Post whose residence was in town, assisted by the sober ones in the company, the riot was suppressed and the boys got to bed to sleep off their booze. They were afterward ready to admit that the whole affair was extremely disgraceful. I have always felt a degree of pride, not only that I was sober upon that occasion, but that I never drank liquor as a beverage. Most of the people of Weyauwega were loyal and true, and left nothing undone that would add to the pleasure or comfort of the boys in blue. In regard to copperheads, I will say that in those days they were the worst enemies of our government, and Union Soldiers justly looked upon them with contempt.

The 14th Regiment having been ordered to rendezvous at Camp Wood Fond Du Lac, our company bid adieu to Weyauwega on the morning of November 29th. A march of two miles brought us to Gills Landing where we took passage on boat down the Wolf River to Oshkosh, then by railroad. to Fond Du Lac. Many of the relatives and friends of the boys gathered at Weyauwega to see us march away and to cheer us by their presence. I was accompanied on the march by Father who, though over fifty years of age, walked with as proud Soldierly tread as any boy in the company. He was intensely loyal, and most gladly would he have gone with us to "Dixie" but he was over-age and far from a well man and could not be received into the service. I have heretofore neglected to say that Father, in the days of his young manhood, served for a time, as a Volunteer in the U.S. Service. I remember he received a warrant for a quarter section of government land in recognition of services rendered.

Camp Wood was situated nearly one mile west from the city of Fond Du Lac, near a large open field, upon which we were regularly exercised in company or battalion drill. The ten companies that composed the 14th Regt. were from Fond Du Lac, Waupaca, Omro, La Cross, Black River Falls and Mozomania placed under the command of Col. D.E. Wood. At the time of going into camp, the regiment numbered, in officers and men 1070 and it is not claiming too much to say that a more soldierly, fine looking body of men was not organized in the state during the war. Upon going into camp we were furnished with tents and we proceeded to make ourselves perfectly at home. The officers were furnished with Wall tents, while the enlisted men were provided with the Sibley pattern. To each tent was assigned ten or twelve enlisted men under the charge of a noncommissioned officer who was held responsible for the good conduct of his squad. Each tent was provided with a small sheet-iron stove and with a liberal supply of wood and straw. In addition to our army blankets we were furnished by the generous, loyal ladies of Fond Du Lac, with quilts and blankets sufficient to fully protect us from cold. On extreme cold nights details of men were made to keep up the fires. The winter of 1861 and 2 was a cold one, in that latitude, but I do not remember of suffering, in our camp, from cold. A few deaths occurred in camp from measles, otherwise the general health was good.

Two days after our arrival in camp the noncommissioned officers were selected. I was very agreeably surprised to receive the appointment as Fifth Sergeant of my company. While I had no reason to expect this preferment, yet I had put forth my best efforts to merit an appointment. I was yet four points from a commissioned officer, but I was now in line of promotion. If I lived, and the war lasted long enough, I possibly might get there. Of course I was proud to secure the position. Shortly after the non-commissioned officers were appointed the Colonel issued an order requiring that the tallest, most Soldierly looking Sergeant of each company be sent to Headquarters. It so happened that I was selected form company "B". Upon reporting the ten sergeants were placed in a line an given a very close physical examination. The age, height, weight and chest measurement was made known. In fact we was scrutinized about as a horse buyer would look for fine points, or defects, in a horse offered at a high price. We were then ordered to our respective quarters. In a few moments I was notified to report to Headquarters as Color-Sergeant of the regiment. This was a permanent detail. It would be my duty to carry the flag, and to have charge of it constantly. This would exempt me from the performance of more arduous duties such as guard, picket or fatigue duties, and it was very properly regarded as a post of honor. Yet the order was distasteful to me. I preferred very much to remain with my own company. However it is a soldiers duty to obey orders, and I prepared to do this with as good grace as possible. But now my good friend Captain Worden, came to my rescue, saying that unless I desired to accept the position, he would get me relieved if possible. I was very thankful to him for his kind offer, and more so, of possible, a few moments later when he informed me I could remain with the company.

We had now settled down to the task of fitting ourselves for soldiers. Our Colonel, a strict disciplinarian himself, labored incessantly to bring the regiment to a high state of efficiency. Our regular routine of duty consisted in company and battalion drill, guard and police duty with dress-parade near the close of each day. Naturally these duties became somewhat monotonous as the months wore on, but our task was not burdensome and I think that every one realized the necessity of thorough training. If not at the time, we all learned to appreciate it afterwards. A camp guard was maintained around our camp which required the services of thirty or forty men daily. The object of this was to keep the boys from visiting the city without permission. Yet many did go in spite of guards or orders to the contrary. A few would absolutely refuse a pass when offered to them, preferring to slip past the guards at night, and to take their chances of getting back in again just before day. Sometimes they made this plan work, but often, they failed and would be compelled to spend a few hours in the guard-house. This however depended largely upon the vigilance of the guard.

On Sunday those of each company who desired to do so could attend church in the city, but they were required to go in a body under the command of a Sergeant, who were held responsible for the safe return of every man. I was frequently in charge of a squad numbering fifty or more. Most of the boys were glad to get out of camp when not on duty. When formed in line and ready to march a vote would be taken to decide, by majority, to what church we would go. I think we visited them all during the winter, but more often our party would vote to attend the Universalist Church. We imagined that the people there extended to us a more hearty welcome. When we reached the church its doors would be thrown open, and we marched up the aisle to the music of fife and drum, to which the minister in the pulpit beat time, while ushers and others made way for us to the most desirable seats. I enjoyed the sermons I heard here very much. I had given but little serious thought to religion but the theme of God's love for man, so ably presented here, appealed strongly to reason and made impressions that have remained with me since.

On pleasant days our camp was thronged with visitors from the city and surrounding country. Many came to visit relatives or friends, others to witness our regimental drill and dress-parade. I was visited by Mr. and Mrs. Micklejohn for whom I had worked by the month two years before. He was intensely loyal and took quite an interest in our regiment. A few changes occurred in the regiment during our stay at Fond Du Lac. A few deaths occurred. Some were discharged for disability. Others were sent home because they failed to meet the physical requirements of the U.S. Mustering Officer. The Forth Sergeant of company "B" was discharged and I was advanced to that position. The regiment was mustered into the U.S. Service January 30th 1862. At the same time we were paid about four months pay, together with $25. bounty paid to each enlisted man. My own first payment from Uncle Sam, including bounty, was $70.00 of which I sent father one half. I have not mentioned the name of brother Frank, but he was constantly present with the company, was one of the jolliest of the jolly, a great favorite, a splendid soldier.

At length the time arrived when we were needed in "Dixie". Every man in the regiment hailed the order to march with gladness. If we had entertained the thought that the war might close without our assistance - and some of us had - such thoughts were now dispelled. Those who followed the flag of the 14th Wis. regiment to the end, saw much of war and its horrors! We left Fond Du Lac on the 8th of March over the C & N.W. R.R. A large crowd of people was present to see us off. Some to bid father, Son, brother or lover farewell. We arrived at Chicago in due time and were entertained with War-talk and a lunch. From here we went via the C & A. R.R. to Alton thence by steamboat to St. Louis where we arrived in the morning of the 10th and at once took up our quarters at Beuton Barracks. We left Fond Du Lac in the gloom of winter. The weather was cold, the streams were frozen, and snow lay upon the ground to the depth of ten or twelve inches. At St. Louis we found no snow or ice, the weather was mild, trees were ready to seed forth their leaves, and birds were as chipper as in May. Here upon every hand we saw indications of war. Soldiers in uniform everywhere. Some. like ourselves, just from home, some coming into the city by every boat or train that arrived. Some who had seen months of hard service in Missouri or elsewhere, and some who were being pushed to the front as rapidly as possible. Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery were being equipped with arms, accoutrements, horses, mules and wagons. Large details of men were made to select mules from the government corral, and break them to work to army wagons. There was much hurry and some confusion. During the time that we remained in St. Louis we performed but little drill service.. Dress parade at the close of the day was not neglected, and the event was usually witnessed by a large number of citizens, who were permitted to enter camp unquestioned. They manifested great interest in the preparations being made here for the prosecution of the war. It seemed to me that this indiscriminate admission of citizens to camps was wrong. Some of them were undoubtedly loyal to the government, probably all claimed to be so. But it was a well known fact that a majority of the people of St. Louis were intensely disloyal, and quite likely many of this kind were in camp for the purpose of securing information to be used against us in the field. In those early days of the war our authorities were tolerant, and had a very high regard for personal liberty, which was proper enough so long as no injury was done to the public service. In after years greater precaution was observed in matters of this kind.

Chapter Six --->