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May 4th Was a beautiful day and we had quite
a number of visitors from the surrounding regiments, all anxious
to see the new commander and also see the regiment, which had
the reputation of being the best drilled regiment in that army.
And when the parade was formed the various movements and orders
were executed with the precision of veterans.
Gen. Hartsuff and several other Brigade officers and field officers
from the other regiments were present from the formation to the
dismissal of the parade and several times applauded when the more
difficult movements were executed. Gen. Hartsuff complimented
the regiment very highly and expressed his regret that he would
not have the honor to lead them in the active campaign that was
looked for within the next few months.
A large majority of the regiment were willing to enter the service
for three years, only asking a thirty days furlough to go home
and see their families and arrange their business. This would
be necessary in most cases as a majority of the men when they
left home had expected to be absent only three months, but the
call for three months men being filled, their absence had been
protracted to thirteen months, and their business interests were
suffering because of it. However their offer had been rejected,
as it was supposed that the war was about to close and that there
were more than enough men in the field to bring it to a successful
termination.
May 5th Bidding our late comrades "good bye"
and "God speed" the regiment embarked on the cars for
Washington, where we arrived in good time and were marched to
the barracks. Having been paid off so recently most of the men
had plenty of "change" and proceeded forthwith to have
a high old time, in which whiskey was one of the principal ingredients.
We were provided with good meals at the "Soldier's Retreat"
at least such of the men as would partake of them were; many of
them wanted "citizen's grub" for a change, and as there
are plenty of "sharks" around, ready to show them around
and relieve them of their money at the same time, they probably
fared worse than those who were content with "Soldier's Grub"
until they became citizens.
May 6th After dinner the regiment marched out to the Seventh
Street barracks to remain until discharged. Orders were very strict
against permitting the men to run "about the city" as
quite a number had got drunk and quarrelsome and were giving the
officers much trouble. Besides this, a number of them had been
relieved of their pocketbooks and it was thought best to restrain
them and others for their own good. This was rather difficult
as there was no duty to perform and the men having been under
strict discipline for a year, and having made a long march during
which they endured many hardships and privations during the past
two months, were somewhat disposed to look upon the attempt to
restrain them at the present time as uncalled for if not tyrannical.
Most of them upon second thought would listen to reason and use
their influence to convince the others that the orders were right,
telling them it would "only be for a few days anyhow"
and they might just as well "hold in for that length of time";
but there were some who would persist in "doing just as they
pleased to do" and would hear to nothing until they were
in the guard house or police station.
Remaining in camp unoccupied was very irksome to the men, but
as the officers were all busy closing up their accounts with the
government and making out the muster-out rolls, discharges, etc.
it was impossible for them to devote much time to the amusement
of their men. One exhibition drill during the day and dress parade
in the evening were the only duties to be attended to, and as
there were hundreds of spectators present on each occasion these
exercises were considered more as a pleasure than as a duty.
Most of the men, or in fact, all of them, wanted to see the President
before returning home, and to gratify them, as well as President
Lincoln, who stated that he had heard so much concerning the drill
and soldierly appearance of the 12th and 16th Indiana Regiments,
that he was anxious to see them and thank them in person for their
service; arrangements were made to have a review for that purpose.
(It was intended to insert a full report of the proceeding together
with the address of President Lincoln, in this journal, but unfortunately
the minutes of the proceedings were captured by the rebels before
the writer had an opportunity to transcribe them).
Suffice it to say however, that at the appointed time every man
who was able to march took his place in the ranks, and leaving
their camp guarded by those who were unable to march, moved down
Seventh street to Pennsylvania Avenue and thence to the White
House, where in presence of the President and several of his Cabinet
Officers together with a large number of Senators, Congressmen,
regular Army officers, and thousands of citizens they executed
the various battalion and company movements closing with the manual
of arms and dress parade in a manner that elicited the applause
of all.
The President's address was very flattering to both officers and
men. Among other things he remarked that it afforded him much
pleasure to announce that a number of the distinguished gentlemen
surrounding him; men who were educated at West Point, and had
a national reputation as soldiers; and some of the distinguished
representatives of foreign powers, who had been trained in the
best military schools in Europe, had been sitting in judgement
and freely criticizing every movement, and had assured him "that
for efficiency of drill and soldierly bearing you are seldom equaled
even by the veterans of this or other countries."
The men of the 12th could appreciate this compliment all the more
because they knew it was deserved. They had taken pride in drilling
from the first and had determined to be excelled by none. The
system that had been introduced and strictly adhered to enabled
them to measure every step and time every movement so that in
marching their alignment was as near perfect as it could be, while
in the manual of arms every motion throughout the regiment was
made as if one mind guided and one hand executed. (The writer
reenlisted and remained in the service till the war closed and
has seen many of the best armies that were in the field during
that time, but he can truthfully say that he never yet saw a regiment,
either regular or volunteer, that could equal "the old 12th"
in that respect).
The Washington Sunday Morning Chronicle of May 11, 1862 had the
following notice of the two regiments:
Homeward Bound: The Twelfth and Sixteenth regiments of volunteers from the State of Indiana arrived in this city a few days ago, preparatory to being mustered out of service, their term of enlistment having expired on the 9th inst. The Twelfth was commanded by Colonel Lynk, and the Sixteenth by Colonel P. A. Hackleman the latter having recently been appointed brigadier general. These regiments were the only Indiana regiments that enlisted for a period of 12 months; and although they were not permitted to participate in any very extensive engagements, have performed very important services. For efficiency of drill and admirable discipline, we doubt whether their equals can be found in the army, and it is a source of universal regret by those who have witnessed their evolutions, since their arrival in Washington that the recent orders from headquarters prevent their re-enlistment.
These regiments were attached to General Banks' division shortly after the reverse at Bull Run, in July last, in the brigade commanded by General Abercrombie, of the regular army, and have latterly been encamped at Warrenton Junction. General Hackleman has been assigned to command a number of Indiana regiments now connected with Major General Halleck's army in the vicinity of Pittsburg Landing, and will proceed thither in a few days. The Twelfth and Sixteenth have been encamped on Seventh street near Meridian Hill, since their arrival in Washington, and have been visited by a large number of our citizens. Their only regret is, that their services are no longer needed, as at least three-fourths of their number are willing and anxious to still further show their patriotism by re-enlisting to battle for the defense of their country.
The muster-out rolls having been completed and settlements of
officers accounts all made with the Government the men were paid
off and discharged on the 19th day of May 1862, precisely thirteen
months from the actual date of enrollment. Owing to a lack of
experience on the part of the officers, however, when they were
mustered into service the enrollment was dated from their arrival
in Indianapolis. Company E having arrived on the 6th of May 1861
was mustered-in as enrolled on that day. By this means the men
were deprived of their pay for the time between their actual and
nominal enrollment.
After the men had received their pay and discharge the company
was formed for the last time and marching to a beautiful grove
near the camping ground they presented to their beloved commander,
Capt. Reuben Williams a beautiful sword, suitably engraved as
a token of their esteem for him as a soldier, a comrade and commander.
After this interesting ceremony the company was dismissed to return
to their homes or wherever their inclinations prompted them.
This was a glad yet sorrowful termination of thirteen months of
faithful service. Glad, because of the privilege they would have
of greeting and being greeted by the dear ones at home. Sorrowful,
because at the last moment almost we were called upon to bid an
eternal farewell to a comrade who had gained the confidence and
highest esteem of every man in the campany. Sergeant Charles M.
Davis, who had taken a hard cold during the long wearying march
from Winchester to Warrenton Junction, had been sent to the hospital
on our arrival in Washington and breathed his last on the day
and almost at the same hour that the company was discharged. He
was a noble young man; always cheerful and pleasant, always kind
and obliging, always ready for duty, and never indulging in any
of the vices that so often entrap the soldier, but always ready
to join in any innocent amusement or any effort that was calculated
to benefit the men and make them better soldiers and better citizens.
He had written home from Warrenton Junction as soon as the probable
date of our discharge was announced, informing his parents of
the fact and requesting them to prepare a dinner for his men-mates
and some of his most intimate friends, to whom he had extended
a pressing invitation to "have a real jolly good time with
father and mother when we get home". He received an answer
assuring him of a most cordial welcome for himself and any of
his comrades. And now instead of welcoming their happy, light-hearted
and beloved son and the comrades he loved and who loved him, they
would only have the sad privilege of receiving his inanimate clay
and consigning it to its last resting place near the house he
loved so well.
Instead of a house of joy and feasting, theirs was to be a house
of mourning. Little wonder that amid the general satisfaction
that was felt by the men at being freed from the restraints of
military discipline a pall of sadness would drop over their spirits
as a thought of "Charlie" and his parents would creep
into their hearts in the midst of their rejoicing.
But now for home! Light, cheerful "good byes" were spoken
as the men separated; some to go directly home; some to "see
the sights about Washington first, and then home; and some to
visit friends and relatives in the east before their return to
Warsaw. The general parting words were "Good-bye! I'll see
you at home in a short time". But that time never came. The
separation was final in many instances. Before the last stragglers
had returned to Warsaw, most of their comrades had heard their
country's call for "three hundred thousand men", and
had again enrolled themselves in the reorganized 12th for three
years, or cast their lot with the other regiments that were so
hastily organized and sent to the front.
Thus Company E was scattered to all parts of the country and had
worthy representation in every military department and in nearly
every corps. Many of them enriched the Southern soil with their
blood having given their lives for their country; others returned
covered with honor but broken down physically by fatigue, wounds
and disease; while a few returned home at the close of the war,
apparently in as good, if not better health than when they first
enlisted.
As the years go by the number of survivors decreases rapidly and
soon, all too soon, there will be none left to tell of the scenes
and incidents of that eventful period when "All quiet on
the Potomac" was a standing headline in nearly every northern
newspaper; that period when Army officers and statesmen were suffering
for their country at Washington, in grand balls and receptions,
while the 12th Indiana was exposed to the storms of winter and
the balls of a skulking foe for five months without relief guarding
against a movement that but for their watchfulness might not have
proved to be so quiet on the Potomac in the immediate vicinity
of Washington.