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Edward G. Steven’s Civil War Letters

72nd

Illinois Infantry

Source: Ray Drake

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October 23, 1864 Vicksburg Miss. Oct 23, 1864

Dear Mother, You must be wondering why I do not write. I thought I would not write until we received pay, which we should have had nearly two months ago (we now have six months pay due) and have had the promise of being paid the next week or two but the next week has not arrived yet. The money is here and do not see why they do not settle with us. I know you must stand very much in want of it. If we had been paid at the proper time I should have been home before this, as I had a very good chance then. I may now if they pay us within a week or so, come home and spend part of the winter but cannot tell certain, but shall if thare is any possible chance. I should like to be thare in time to vote for McClellan for our next President. Its true I do not like the Chicago platform (but what does the platform amount to if the man is only right) and some of his supporters such as Vallandigham and his crew, but they do not compose the whole party, nor are they the rulers of it. I think if Mc was elected the war would soon find its grave, and the Union once more be restored to its former place. I think it a shame the way some of our northern papers scrandalize McClellan, one who has been fighting for us ever since the war began, and for them to now call him a traitor yes, and worse even than that if anything can be. Our Generals here have stopped the sale of all papers that uphold him, just as though a soldier was not as much of a man as he ever was and as capable of judging for himself now as he was before he became one. If' a man is to be influenced by the mearly reading of a paper that is opposite to his views I would not give much for him. He would be a disgrace to either party. It makes me so mad when I think how things are conducted I almost wish I never had any thing to do with the Army. Thare is some talk of our Regiment leaving here, and going to Georgia. I would like to go very well but would rather stay the winter out here as we have a very comfortable place. But I am afraid we will have to go as our Corps is thare, and General Ransom is trying hard to get us thare if we go we will have to go to the front which is not a very desirable place just now, although it is considered an honor to be thare. We are having quite cool nights here now but the days are quite warm. Last night we had a heavy frost but from the weather today you would not think of frost. I have been in my short sleeves ever since morning. Give my love to all. Kiss the little ones for me. I may be home before I write again but do not say for a certainty. Your Affectionate Son Edward

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October 30, 1864 Vicksburg, Miss. October 30th, 1864

Dear Mother, Our Regiment starts this morning. Our destination we suppose will be Atlanta, Ga. We go North as far as Cairo, Ill. from thare. I expect we will go up the Ohio River as far as Louisville Ky. from thare we will go by R.R. as far as we can, and then march the remainder of our journey. From Cairo, I will send you my Carpet Bag per express filled with such articles as I will not need. Perhaps you can find use for some of them. Those little pieces of wood I hope you will save. They are from the tree under which Genl. Pemberton surrendered Vicksburg to Genl. Grant. We have not rec our pay yet. I have one dollar which I send you to pay express chgs. I wrote you a few days since which I suppose you have rec. We have rather a bad morning to start. It is quite muddy and raining. I will try and write from Cairo.

Your Affectionate Son Edward

Direct to "K" Co. 72nd Regt Ill Inft. To follow Regt. will get it sooner

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November 13, 1864 Camp in Field

Nashville, Tenn. Nov 13, 1864

Dear Mother, We arrived at this point this afternoon. We have had a pleasant trip of it from Cairo. The Cumberland is a beautiful river, much prettier than I expected. We passed Fort Donelson in the night so I could not tell what sort of place it was, but from what I could see by moonlight I should say it was rather a lonesome place. I was in hopes we would pass it by daylight. We march from this place tomorrow for the front. We all expect a hard campaign before us, much harder than we have yet experienced, but then I think we are all able for it. I hope you have received the money and carpet bag I sent from Cairo. Give my love to all. You must not expect long letters now as we have to do things in a hurry now but I will write often and let you know whare we are if nothing more.

Your Affectionate Son Edward

P.S. I write this on my knapsack. Direct your letters to Via Cairo, Ill.

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November 23, 1864

Edward Stevens began this letter on November 23, 1864 and completed it on December 2. It details his participation in the Battle of Franklin on November 30, 1864 - and the skirmishes in the days prior to Franklin at Columbia, Tennesee. Although the Battle of Franklin resulted in a significant victory for the Union, Edward's 72nd Illinois was in the midst of intense fighting at the battle's start, and took heavy casualties. A unit history for the 72nd Illinois describes this period as follows: "October 30, 1864, they were ordered to report to Major General Howard, command Army and Department of the Tennessee, then with Sherman's Army; and, in pursuance of this order, arrived at Nashville, Tenn, on November 18. They there found themselves too late to join Sherman in his great "march to the sea," and were ordered to Columbia. Tenn., to join Major General Schofield's command, which they did, on November 21, when Hood crossed the Tennessee River, and seemed coming down, "like a wolf on the fold." Schofield's Army found it convenient to retire towards Nashville. On November 29, they evacuated Columbia, and the Seventy-second was in a severe skirmish with the enemy at Spring Hill, on the road between Columbia and Franklin. On the succeeding day they arrived at Franklin, and hastily threw up some light earthworks. About 4 o'clock that afternoon Hood attacked them, and the battle raged from that hour until midnight, with terrific fury. In that fight the Seventy-second lost 9 officers out of 16 engaged, and 152 men, who were either killed or severely wounded. That night they left their works and retreated towards Nashville, which they reached on December 1; and here the Seventy-second was thrown on the extreme right of the Federal lines enclosing Nashville." Edward's report that his regiment lost its battle flag is also corroborated in this book, which provides greater detail on the 72nd's role in the battle.

Camp the Field Columbia, Tenn. Nov. 23, 1864

Dear Mother, We are now stationed at this point. We have been here some five or six days doing provost or picket duty. We are now expecting an attack from Hood or Forrest, we are not certain which, or may be both combined. They are but a short distance from here. Our cavalry has been fighting with them, but they cannot stand their ground, and are falling back to this point. The advance of their army will probably reach us this evening or tomorrow morning. And if we are not reinforced by that time, we will stand a good chance to see the inside of some southern prison, as thare is only three Regiments here, and small ones at that, so it will not take a very large force to take the place and us with it, but we hope such will not be the case. We are having quite cold weather just now. A few days ago we had quite a little snow storm. It lasted most all day, but we have plenty of wood and so we manage to keep comfortable at least part of the time. I think I like this country "if it is colder" much better than the one we just left. It looks more like civilization, the country is settled much more, and much better houses than thare is in Miss. It puts me in mind of N.Y. state than any other I have been through. As it is growing dark I must say good night. 24th We received heavy reinforcements lastnight and this morning. What troops they are I have not learnt. The day opens with heavy skirmishing about a mile from us a little to our left. I expect it is with the advance guard of the enemys forces. I do not think the full force has arrived yet. Our regiment is getting ready to fall into line of battle so I must stop for the present. Noon: We have been in line of battle all the morning. Have done nothing yet. Skirmishing has entirely ceased so we are allowed a few moments for dinner. Cannot tell what the afternoon may bring forth. Night. All quiet. We are in Camp but have to sleep on our arms with one eye open as the saying is.

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25th afternoon: Thare has been some very brisk cannonading this afternoon. Our Regiment has not been called on yet. We are building fortifications as fast as possible. What damage has been done this afternoon I cannot tell. The firing has almost ceased. I expect we will have a general engagement tomorrow. Morning 26th We have retreated back some five miles, forces are too much for us. Dec. 2nd We have fell back as far as Nashville with the enemy close upon us. We had a desperate fight at Franklin, eighteen miles from here. Our Regt. loss is heavy. The most I regret is we lost our Battle Flag, but honorably, as we was the only Regt that stood our ground. We are expecting attack every moment so I must stop. I'm all safe as yet. Will give you a more minute description of the battle when I write again. Love to all.

Your Affect. Son Edward

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December 10, 1864 Edward lists his regiment's loss from the Battle of Franklin as 158 killed and wounded - which is quite close to the number given by this unit history, which states the unit lost 152 enlisted men and 9 officers.

Nashville, Tenn. Dec. 10th 1864

Dear Mother, I have not received a letter from you since I left Vicksburg, Miss. I have written several to you since leaving thare. I would like to know if you received that traveling bag and the fifty dollars I sent you per express from Cairo, Ill. We have seen very hard times of it for the past six weeks. The weather here is very cold. It is as much as we can do to keep ourselves from freezing. We have nothing to cover us but little shelter tents and they are open at both ends, but then thare is no use of grumbling. We will have to take it as it comes this winter. Our Regiment is in the Advance so we have not the chance to make ourselves as comfortable as though we was in the rear. The enemy's works are only about a mile from ours. We can see them quite plain from our picket posts. They appear in considerable force in our front. What they intend doing is hard to determine. One day they act as though they intended making an attack and the next they do not show themselves. I think it is the intention as soon as it grows warmer for us to attack them, but I hope not. The Battle of Franklin was almost enough to suit me. Our Regiments loss is one hundred and fifty-eight killed and wounded. I would like to give you the particulars of the fight, but it is too cold. It is as much as I can do to hold my pencil my fingers are so cold. Thare is some cannonading on our left this morning. Well I must stop. Love to all

Your Affectionate Son Edward

P.S. Do write soon as you receive this. E

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December 20, 1864 This letter gives an account of the Battle of Nashville.

Camp Near Columbia, Tenn. Dec. 20th 1864

Dear Mother, Your letter of the 8th has been received. The others have not been received yet. We attacked Hood's army on the 15th and have driven him something like forty miles. We have had some very hard fighting. The loss is heavy on both sides. We have captured forty eight artillery and about six thousand prisoners. I expect Hood will give us battle again today at Columbia which is four miles from here. If he does it will be a hard one as we have to cross Duck River before we can get at him. The weather since we left Nashville has been dreadful. It has rained all the time and the mud almost knee deep. This morning is the first time I've been dry since the 16th. It looks very much as though we are going to have fine weather now but cannot tell as it is so changeable. Our Army nevertheless is in good spirits and we think in a short time Hoods followers will be numbered with the thing that was. I wish you would send me a Chicago Tribune with an Account of the Battle of Franklin in it. I think it was in the issue of the 10th, and I wish when you write you would send me a small fine tooth comb. Send a small but strong one. I expect we will start soon so I must stop and pack up. Love to all.

Your Affectionate Son Edward

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December 23, 1864 Columbia Tenn. Dec. 23rd 1864

Dear Mother, We are still on the advance. I wrote you a few lines from our last camp whare we remained one day and two nights. The last night we were thare, about 7 o'clock we were ordered to break camp and start, which we did. It was raining very hard (it did not look much like rain in the morning. I believe I said I hoped or thought we were going to have fine weather, but we were disappointed.) We had not gone more than three miles when we were ordered to about face and return to our old camping ground which made us feel rather out of sorts. We were out just long enough to get wet through and covered in mud and then we had to put our tents on muddy ground, which if we had remained there, the ground would have been dry. Our fires had gone out and by the time we had pitched our tents and rekindled our fires we were more like drowned men than anything else and worse than all we had to sleep in our wet clothes, so you can judge how comfortable we passed the night. Towards morning it began snowing and freezing quite hard. When I got up in the morning my overcoat was one mass of ice. The day turned out to be fine but cold and towards noon we all got dry and appeared to have forgotten all about the hardships of the night previous, and started off in the afternoon and reached this place about supper time. We had a very severe cold night, but we kept up good camp fires and managed to keep something like warm. We remain here tonight but how much longer I cannot say, but probably only till morning. Hood is still on the skiddadle. I should like to know how much farther we will follow him. I hope they will give us winter quarters soon. We are now in Genl Smiths command, which used to be the sixteenth corp, but it is now composed of detachments from different ones. Ours is the first Brigade, Third Division detachment of the 17th A. Corps, but it generally all called the sixteenth corps. There is one thing l like about this command. They are all old troops. I never want to get into a fight with new troops again as thare is more danger from them than from the enemy. We had a fair trial of that at Franklin. We were then with the 23rd corp in which is a number of conscripts and raw recruits. Well as it is time to get supper and I'm cook tonight I must close. Give my love to all. Emmas or your letters have not been received yet.

Your Affectionate Son Edward

Direct to Nashvílle, Tenn.

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72nd Illinois Infantry

Regiment History

Adjutant General's Report

The Seventy-second Regiment Illinois Volunteers was organized at Chicago, as the first

Regiment of the Chicago Board of Trade. Its first bills were put out for one Company, calling

itself the "Hancock Guards," on July 23, 1862, and, exactly one month afterwards (August 23,

1862), the entire Regiment was complete and mustered into the service of the United States, for

three years, or during the war. The very day of their muster they were started off for Cairo,

where they arrived on the 24th. Thei strength at that time was thirty-seven (37) officers and 930

men.

On the 6th day of September they were ordered out to Paducah, Ky., where they went on post

duty, until the 17th, when they were sent down to Columbus, Ky., at which point they did guard

and picket duty, mainly, until November 21. They were not, however, idle in this time; but in

addition to the thorough and constant drilling, which has since made them one of the finest

organizations in the army, found time for two expeditions, one to Clarkson, Missouri, on October

6th, when they dispersed a rebel camp and captured a number of prisoners, horses, etc., and the

other, on October 21, to New Madrid, which was not so eventful. On November 21 they were

ordered to join General Quimby's command, Seventh Division, Seventeenth Army Corps, at

Moscow, Tenn, and, with that command, they arrived, on December 1, 1862, at Lumpkin's Mills,

Miss., whence they accompanied Grant's Army as far as the Yaconapatafa River. Owing to the

supplies being cut off at Holly Springs, the army was forced to return, after penetrating as far as

the point mentioned; and the Seventy-second was sent, as guard to the wagon train, to Memphis,

Tenn. There, at a distance of about eight miles from the city, on the line of the Memphis and

Charleston Railroad, they went into camp, and remained until January 19, 1863, when they were

sent into the city, and quartered at the Navy Yard, to do provost guard duty. While making

Memphis their headquarters, the Regiment went out on an expedition to Horn Lake Creek, where

they dispersed a gang of Blythe's rebel guerrillas, capturing quite a number of them.

On March 1, the Division, of which the Seventy-second Regiment formed a part, started down

the Yazoo Pass; but finding Fort Pemberton in their way, and not being able to take it just then,

went back. April 23, they landed at Milliken's Bend, La., and, from there, marched up with

Grant's Army to Vicksburg. On May 16, they arrived at Champion Hill, Just in time to turn the

enemy's left, and, by that movement, decided the fate of the day. That was their first battle, and,

fortunately for them, their share in it, although a most important one, was not very severe. On

May 17, they found themselves at Big Black, in the rear of Vicksburg, and on the 19th, this

Regiment was the first to open the attack on the rebel stronghold. In the desperate charge of the

22d, they participated with the highest honor to themselves, losing some 130 of their number

killed, wounded and missing, but fighting as bravely as men could fight, until the last. From that

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time until July 4, when the rebels capitulated, the Seventy-second did its duty among the

foremost in the siege, and, on the capituliition were among the first to enter the city,

On July 12, the Seventy-second embarked for Natchez, Miss., where they landed the succeeding

day, taking possession of the town, capturing a large number of prisoners, pieces of artillery,

confederate government stores, and 5,000 head of Texas cattle. Here they remained until October

17, doing provost duty, with the exception of a couple of skirmishes at St. Catherine's Creek,

Miss., September 1, and at Cross Bayou, La., on September 28.

October 18, 1863, they went on provost guard duty at Vicksburg, Miss., where they remained

until October 30, 1864. During this year of comparative inaction, they only went on two

expeditions. The first of these was to Benton, Miss., on May 7, 1864, where they had a short, but

pretty severe fight with a body of rebels; and the second was to Grand Gulf, Miss., on July 18.

October 30, 1864, they were ordered to report to Major General Howard, command Army and

Department of the Tennessee, then with Sherman's Army; and, in pursuance of this order, arrived

at Nashville, Tenn, on November 18. They there found themselves too late to join Sherman in his

great "march to the sea," and were ordered to Columbia. Tenn., to join Major General Schofield's

command, which they did, on November 21, when Hood crossed the Tennessee River, and

seemed coming down, "like a wolf on the fold." Schofield's Army found it convenient to retire

towards Nashville. On November 29, they evacuated Columbia, and the Seventy-second was in a

severe skirmish with the enemy at Spring Hill, on the road between Columbia and Franklin. On

the succeeding day they arrived at Franklin, and hastily threw up some light earthworks. About 4

o'clock that afternoon Hood attacked them, and the battle raged from that hour until midnight,

with terrific fury. In that fight the Seventy-second lost 9 officers out of 16 engaged, and 152

men, who were either killed or severely wounded. That night they left their works and retreated

towards Nashville, which they reached on December 1; and here the Seventy-second was thrown

on the extreme right of the Federal lines enclosing Nashville. under command of General A. J.

Smith. On December 15, the whole Union Army was moved outside its works to give battle to

Hood, and on that and the succeeding day the great battle of Nashville took place, resulting in the

complete whipping of the "Rebs." From that time until January 3, 1865, they were engaged in the

pursuit of Hood's Army, following it up closely as far as Clifton: but Hood managed to escape

across the Tennessee River. From Clifton, the Regi ment went, by boat, up the Tennessee River,

to Eastport, Miss., arriving there January 13, 1865, and there remaining in quarters until

February 9, making, in that time, but one expedition, and that a fruitless one, to Iuka and Corinth,

Miss.

February 9, they started for New Orleans, where they arrived February 21. Until March 21 they

remained in camp eight miles below the city, and then they were embarked and taken across the

Gulf to Dauphine Island, Ala., where they arrived on March 17. The next day the Brigade, which

included the Seventy-second, crossed over to the main land, on the western shore of the Mobile

Bay. Here they remained a few days. skirmishing with the enemy, when, having accomplished

the object of the expedition, which was merely a feint on Mobile from that direction, they re-

joined the army at Fish River, near Smith's Mills, Ala.

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On March 26, the Corps to which they were attached moved, and on the morning of the 27th,

appeared in front of Spanish Fort. From that time until the night of April 8, the Regiment was

actively engaged in the siege. At 5 o'clock, on the evening of the 8th, the Union troops were

ordered up into the first line of their works. The attack began, and at near midnight the First

Brigade (including the Seventy-second) and the Third Brigade, Sixteenth Army Corps, charged

on the enemy's works, and carried them, capturing the fort. The next morning they moved out on

the road to Blakely, when their Division was held in support of the other Divisions charging the

enemy's works at that place. The place having been taken, the command went into camp here

until the 14th, on which date they moved forward on the road to Montgomery, Ala., marching

over the 200 miles to that place in exactly eleven days. At Montgomery they remained in camp

until May 23, when they were ordered to Union Springs, Ala., 45 miles from Montgomery. There

they remained, doing post duty, until July 19, when they started on their homeward journey.

On August 6, they were mustered out of the service, at Vicksburg, and thence marched directly

home to Chicago.

During their term of service they received some 450 recruits, and when ordered home they

transferred 270 of these to the Thirty-third Regiment Illinois Veteran Volunteers, at Meridian,

Miss. They brought home 22 offIcers and 310 men.

In an attack upon some of the Regiment by a gang of drunken rebels, at Yerger's Landing, on

their way home, private Levi Derby, of Company E, was killed, and Sergeant Major Blake was

so seriously injured by a pistol shot that his life was endangered.

The following little table of statistics is furnished by the Adjutant of the Regiment, and gives some idea

of what their service has been:

Number of officers belinging to Regiment at date of muster-in

Number of emlisted men belonging to Regiment at date of muster-in

Total..............................................................................................

Number of officers returning with Regiment

Number of enlisted men returning with Regiment

Total..............................................................................................

Number of officers killed in service

Number of men killed in service

Number of officers died of disease

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930

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967

22

310

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332

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78

3

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Number of men died of disease

Number of officers wounded

Number of men wounded

Number of officers taken prisoner

Number of men taken prisoner

Total..............................................................................................

Number of battles fought

Number of skirmishes

Total..............................................................................................

Number of miles traceled since entering service

Number of days under the enemy's fire

130

10

120

3

76

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427

7

11

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18

9280

145

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