Hamburg a small town, eight miles up the river, having become the depot of supplies for our army at Corinth, the 14th was moved to that place on July 23rd and continued to engage in the same line of duty. Here, as at the Landing, the men were called upon to perform a large amount of hard work. Heavy details were required each day to unload boats that came up the river with army supplies. To guard these and to perform the other necessary guard and picket duties, was no small task. Yet it was noticeable that after we left the Landing the health of the regiment improved rapidly. It is possible that to the situation of our camp upon the battlefield was attributable much of the sickness in the regiment while there. During the summer brother Frank served as a scout. He was furnished with a good horse and rode over a large scope of country, constantly exposed to dangers, but fortunately he escaped injury. He was brave, almost to recklessness.

On the 8th of July Governor Solomon of Wisconsin issued a circular to the Regimental Commanders at the front, requesting that the Captains of each company recommend, in concurrence with his Lieutenants, one noncommissioned officer or private, who had exhibited qualities to especially fit them for commissions in order that he might promote them to positions in new regiments. The Regimental Commanders were requested to approve these recommendations, in the supposed order of merit, not to exceed ten from each regiment. A list of ten names was sent from the 14th Regiment from which three received 2nd Lieutenants commissions into the 21st Wis. Infantry, with orders to report at Madison Wis. at once. Those selected were Sergt. E. Delaney of Company "A" Sergt. J M. Randall of Company "B" and Sergt. Joseph La Count of Company "G". I knew nothing of these recommendations having been until the 8th day of August, when I received notice of my appointment. I appreciated the honor none the less because it came to me unsolicited.

At noon on the 10th of August Delaney, La Count and I bid farewell to the officers and men of the 14th Regiment, went aboard of a steam boat bound down the river, on our way to Wisconsin. While we each felt just pride in our promotion, and was glad of the opportunity to make a brief visit to Wisconsin, yet it was with a degree of reluctance that we severed our connection with the old regiment. I especially disliked to leave brother Frank. He was a brave soldier, but he was inclined to be reckless and wild. When with him I had some restraining influence over him. I was older and I felt in a measure, responsible for him. I am sure he disliked to see me go. Shortly before this our regiment had received payment from government, and a number of our comrades availed themselves of the opportunity to send packages of money to their friends at home. Some of these packages were to be delivered personally, and some forwarded by mail or express from Chicago. I suppose we carried about $1000. - each.

Our boat after leaving Hamburg made very good headway down the river until dark when it was tied to the bank for the night. The Captain deemed it unsafe to run at night on account of snags and sand-bars. It was also considered hazardous on account of scattering bands of confederates who were known to infest that section of country. On our way we had stopped at Pittsburg Landing and taken on board a lady who had visited the battle field and secured the body of her husband who had lost his life at the battle. She was now taking his remains to her Indiana home for burial. We had gone but a short distance the next morning when we met a boat steaming up the river, the Captain of which informed us that he had just been fired into by confederates. He said they were strongly intrenched in the bend of the river below, and were prepared to give us a warm reception. But our Captain had encountered like dangers before, and had no thought of backing out. He would put all down below, except the pilot, and attempt to run by. Delaney, La Count and I the only passengers, -except the lady referred to. - held a council and decided that as there was no arms or means of defence on the boat, it would not be wise for us to take the chances of being captured unnecessarily, so we changed boats and returned to Hamburg. The lady passenger chose to remain with her charge, feeling sure that if captured she had nothing to fear. The boys were a good deal surprised when we walked into camp, at Hamburg, but those who had given us money to be forwarded to friends seemed to think that we had acted very wisely.

The next morning (the 12th) we started again for Wisconsin, this time by the way of Corinth Miss. where we took passage over the M & O. R.R. to Columbus Ky.. Here we took a boat to Cairo Ill. which place we reached without trouble. We found the steam boat that we had abandoned on the Tennessee river. She had encountered a raking fire, and was scarred from stem to stern, but no one on board had been injured. We took passage over the I.C.R.R. to Chicago. Here we stopped long enough to mail or express our packages, and left on the C. & N.W. R.R. for Madison Wis. where we arrived on the 17th of August. Upon reporting to the Adjutant General of the State we were directed to report to Col. B.J. Sweet at Oshkosh Wis. on the 1st of September following. Meanwhile we were at liberty to visit our respective homes. I went to Waupaca County and spent the time among friends and acquaintances. On the 1st of September I was at Oshkosh and saw the ten companies that was to compose the 21st Regt. march into camp. Of the ten companies, two was recruited at Oshkosh, two at Fond Du Lac, and one each at Menasha, Appleton, Waupaca, Chilton, Oakfield and Manitowoc. The organization of the regiment was completed under the supervision of Col. Sweet.

I was assigned to Captain M H Sessions Waupaca Company, designated as Co "G". Lieut Delaney to Co "C" and Lieut. La Count to Co "K". With the exception of a slight acquaintance with Captain Sessions all of Co "G" were entire strangers to me. I liked the appearance of the men, and as the chief command of the company devolved upon me from the first, I soon began to feel as though I had known them always. A mutual feeling of good will sprang up between them and myself that lasted until the close of the war. Captain Sessions was a lawyer by profession, about fifty years of age, and physically frail. I do not think that the boys expected much service from him, and certainly they got but little. First Lieut. J.C. Crawford had been a methodist preacher. I was told that he had never attained a very great measure of success at that. As a soldier he was certainly a miserable failure. I shall speak of him again.

The 21st Regiment was mustered into the U.S. service in the 5th of September and left Wisconsin on the 11th with orders to report to Gen. Wright at Cincinnati Ohio. As can be seen the regiment had been in camp but ten days when they were called into active service. A short time indeed in which to convert farmers, woodman, rivermen, clerks and school boys into disciplined soldiers. Before being mustered into the U.S. service all had to undergo a thorough physical examination, clothing, camp and garrison equipage - except tents - was issued to the regiment at Oshkosh. Arms were not furnished to us until we arrived at Cincinnati. No time was given us for battalion drill, and but little for company or squad drill. All was excitement and hurry. The condition of military affairs at that time was such as to require a prompt response from all new regiments. The 14th regiment had spent about three and a half months in camp before leaving the state, and had become proficient in drill and discipline. The 21st was called out before they had learned even rudiments of a military education. I mention this fact because, the two regiments were recruited in about the same section of the state, composed of equally good material, and that not-with-standing the difference in opportunities, each made a splendid record in the war.

A large crowd was gathered in camp on the 11th when we moved out to take the cars for the seat of war. Many had come to bid farewell to those especially dear to them, and all manifested a kindly interest in the regiment. Nothing of importance occurred on our route. In passing through Chicago, and in fact everywhere along the way, we saw only evidence of loyalty. Upon arriving at Cincinnati we were at once marched across the Ohio river to Covington where we were furnished with arms and assigned to duty in the trenches. Bragg's Confederate army was at this time threatening an attack upon Cincinnati and every effort was being made to meet it. The wildest excitement was noticeable. The Ohio Reserve Militia was coming into the city from remote part of the state. Some of them were armed with shotguns or squirrel rifles, some of them were not armed at all. They were not in uniform, or in any other form for that matter. Some wore plug hats, others were provided with coon-skin caps. But all seemed eager to fight, and I doubt not but that if the confederates had made the attempt to cross the river, some of them would have received an earmark from some of those guns. Bragg may have heard of these fellows. Certain it is he sis not attack Cincinnati. The 21st remained at Covington six days, during which time we suffered severely for the want of tents. From here we went to Louisville and was temporarily placed under the command of Gen. P.H. Sheridan. Here we received our tents and was fully equipped for the field. We engaged in guard and fatigue duty in and about, the city. Officers were urged to improve every spare moment in teaching men the manual arms. Upon two or three occasions the regiment was exercised in battalion drill, but not sufficient to be of much benefit. It was during the ten days that we remained at Louisville that Gen. Jeff. C. Davis shot and killed Gen. Nelson at the Gault House. It always appeared to me as though the killing was justifiable from the circumstances, and the Authorities must have so regarded it, as nothing was done to Gen. Davis.

About the 25th of September our regiment was assigned to the 28th Brigade, composed of the 1st and 21st Wis. 24th Ill. and the 79th Penn. under the command of Col. J.C. Starkweather of the 1st Wis. The division of which we became a part was commanded by Gen. L.H. Rouseau. Gen. Bragg had now abandoned all thoughts of an attack upon Cincinnati or Louisville and was intent upon getting his valuable wagon-train out of Kentucky. Gen. Buell with the army of Ohio, reinforced to nearly one hundred thousand men left Louisville and slowly followed Bragg, who retreated in a South-eastern direction to Perryville where a desperate battle was fought. Bragg was beaten, though by leaving his dead and wounded upon the field, he succeeded in making his escape with his wagon-train.

Gen. Rouseau to whose Division the 21st was assigned was a Kentuckian. Had been a Member of Congress, was a Political General. He was a fine looking and brave in battle. He probably was truly loyal to the Government. He certainly was loyal to Kentucky. He was an extremist on the question of protecting private property - including Slaves - and would use the army to this end without regard to the loyalty or disloyalty of the owner. He was irritable and domineering. Would curse and threaten his men, and make himself perfectly ridiculous at times.. Our regiment had the misfortune to incur his displeasure, and of course we saw him with his feathers ruffled. But of this later.

Chapter Eight --->