Final Post

One evening just after nightfall the lights of Cairo came into sight.  It produced a strange thrill in the hearts of the boys from Illinois, and produced a strange thrill in the hearts.  It was nearly 3 years ago they had passed by this city on the way to Memphis.

William Johnson recalled,

Every man was thrilled with delight as he stepped from the boat at Cairo and once more trod upon the soil of his own beloved State 

The next evening the men boarded a stock train headed for Camp Butler.  Their journey had been so long, with untold miles of marching, that transportation of any kind, even a foul smelling stock car, seemed to be nearly a luxury.

The next morning they found themselves approaching central Illinois.  From almost every farmhouse and dwelling the residents waved a a napkin, towel, pillow case or any handy article of clothing to welcome their boys home.

They reached Camp Butler in the afternoon.  As they passed through the gates, many of the men recalled marching out of these gates three years earlier as an full regiment of 1,000 men.  Yet today they were a small band of just 200.  Where were the missing 800?  Some of them were recently released from prisoner of war camps and have not yet found their way home.  As noted earlier, may other can be found in graves in the South, or were sent home earlier with injuries caused by battles or disease.

Several days were spent at Camp Butler.  Finally, on an afternoon in the middle of September, the battalion was drawn up in line for the last time.  Just in front of the line was a house with an open window.  When his name was called, each man stepped up to the window and was handed his discharge papers and a roll of money representing the amount of money due form the Government.

An hour or two later the men walked back through the camp gates as citizens and began to make their way home.  Many spent the night in Springfield, before taking a train towards St. Louis, and then an eastbound train back towards Bond County and home.

Wednesday, August 16, 1865

Transportation up the Mississippi River was on a riverboat.  The trip was delightful, and the men passed many places they had visited over the past three years, including Baton Rouge, Morganza Bend, Grand Gulf, Vicksburg, Milliken's Bend, and Memphis.  Not all of these locations produced fond memories.  At times the mood on the riverboat was jubilant.  At other times the mood was very somber, as fallen comrades were remembered.

Tuesday, August 15, 1865

With all of the paperwork completed, the 130th was mustered out of service today.  William Fleming's discharge papers read:

          Know ye, That William Fleming, a Corporal of Captain J.W. Wilken, Company C, 130th Regiment of Illinois Infantry VOLUNTEERS who was enrolled on the Seventh day of August one thousand eight hundred and Sixty Two to serve three years or during the war, is hereby DISCHARGED from the service of the United States this Fifteenth day of August, 1865, at New Orleans Louisiana by reason of Service no longer required (No objection to his being re-enlisted is known to exist.) Said William Fleming was born in Loraine Co in the State of Ohio, is thirty three years of age, Five feet Ten inches high, Dark complexion, Dark eyes, Dark hair, and by occupation, when enrolled, a Carpenter. Given at New Orleans, La this Fifteenth day of August 1865.  (Signatures unreadable)

During their service the 130th Illinois Infantry lost 2 Officers and 18 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 Officers and 153 Enlisted men by disease. That’s a total of 177.

Thursday, August 10, 1865

Today the began to make out the muster rolls and finalize other paperwork.

Wednesday, August 9, 1865

The 130th arrived in New Orleans today.

Sunday, August 6, 1865

William Fleming left the hospital and joined the men of the 130th as they left Mobile on a boat today, bound for New Orleans.  Leaving this afternoon, the trip was made by way of the Mississippi Sound, Grant's Pass and Lake Ponchartrain.

Friday, August 4, 1865

The 130th Battalion received orders today to proceed to New Orleans and muster out.

Friday, July 21, 1865

William Fleming was sent to the Marine Hospital in Mobile today.  He would still there until early August.

Tuesday, July 11, 1865

The remnants of the 130th were reorganized at Mobile, Alabama into a battalion of six companies under the command of Lt. Col. John B. Reid.  They were now assigned to the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 13th Army Corps (New), Military Division West Mississippi.

After seeing the men of the 77th Illinois and others begin to muster out, William Fleming wrote:

it seem rather discouraging to the boys of the 130th as they had been in servis longer from elistment than either of the other two and yet had to remain.   I was taken sick about that time but remined with the Reg until the 21st day of July.  

Monday, July 10, 1865

The 77th Illinois Volunteer Infantry mustered out at Mobile today.  They went to work making out their muster rolls and the transfer rolls.  They started for home on July 12th, but they did not arrive in Peoria until July 29th. 

The 91st Illinois Volunteer Infantry also started for home at the same time.

Friday, July 7, 1865

Today special orders were received from the headquarters of the 3rd Division of the 13th Army Corps near Mobile Alabama.   This orders carried out the orders previously received - that the old 130th Illinois Infantry would be revived, and that members of the old 130th (plus newer recruits of the 77th) would be transferred into the revived organization.

Friday, June 23, 1865

Today a special order from the 13th Army Corps headquarters in Galveston, Texas was received.

The organization formerly known as the 130th Illinois Volunteer Infantry (discontinued on January 25th 1865) is now, subject to the approval of the War Department, revived.  All men of the 77th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, whose term of service will not expire on or before September 1, 1865, and all officers and men now with the 77th who were transferred from the 130th Illinois Volunteer Infantry will be formed into a battalion composed of companies of maximum strength.  They didn't have enough men to form a full regiment, hence the "battalion of companies."

The organization known as the 77th Illinois Volunteer Infantry and all men whose term of service expires on or before September 1st will be mustered out as soon as the transfer noted above is completed.

Tuesday, June 13, 1865

Things got worse today for the men from the 130th, as the rumor was that they would not be mustered out with the 77th, and instead would go to Texas for more fighting.

Thursday, June 8, 1865

Today the rumor circulated through camp that the 77th could not be mustered out as a regiment and leave the boys from the 130th still in active service.  So, the joy was turned to grief.  The rumors continued, with the assumption that the 130th would be reinstated and the 77th  mustered out.

Tuesday, June 6, 1865

Today the troops in Mobile received an order that all troops whose service expired on or before October 1st would be immediately mustered out.  William Fleming noted:

...there was great rejoicing, but after investigation the commander decided that the 130th boys would not go out under this order and it created much excitement but the 77 boys seem to be jubilant 

Saturday, June 3, 1865

All of the troops in Mobile and the vicinity were reviewed today by General Granger;.  This was partly in preparation for future operations, and partly in honor of Salmon P. Chase, the Chief Justice of the United States, who was visiting Mobile.  The veteran soldiers, aware that such reviews were often a prelude to more fighting, asked one another, "What next?"

The following extracts are from the New Orleans Times:

The soldiers formed on Government Street, and marched up Royal Street, past the Battle House, when General Granger and staff, and Chief Justice Chase, mounted on horseback, reviewed the gallant men as they marched on with the steady tramp of veterans. 

On Saturday, as we marched through the place to the position assigned us on Government Street, the streets were alive with people. Men, women and children, clad in the gayest attire, were out to behold one of the grandest military pageants ever witnessed by the people of Alabama. Royal Street, in the region of the Battle House and the Custom House, was a perfect jam. I saw quite a number of Confederate officers beholding the march of our boys, and all seemed in the best of humor.  

The troops remaining were of the Third Division, and were marched into the city under the command of Brevet Brig. Gen. Grier, Colonel of the 77th Illinois Volunteers. The General is a fine officer; has done his duty in this war. His Regiment under his command have made for themselves a glorious record. On many a well fought field have they carried their colors through 'shot and shell,' until a triumphant victory has crowned their efforts. Peoria may well feel proud of Brevet Brig. Gen. Grier and his gallant 77th. They have done honor to the City and State. Their time of enlistment will soon expire, and it will not be long before they are on their way to their homes. May they receive the hero's welcome they have so nobly earned.

Tuesday, May 30, 1865

Today the 13th Army Corps was ordered to embark on transports for Texas.  Some of the division went aboard, but there arose a dispute among some of the commanders.  Some of the regiments who were close to being mustered out believed the orders did not apply to them.

General Canby was contacted and he telegraphed back from New Orleans to not move until he arrived.  He came in a day or two and resolved the disputes.

Saturday, May 27, 1865

This morning the troops in Mobile received an official dispatch announcing the surrender of the Army of the Trans-Mississippi.  This caused great joy throughout the camp, as it was the last known organized Confederate force.  The war was at an end and peace would soon be restored to the land.

Thursday, May 25, 1865

Today the 77th Illinois was camped about two miles from Mobile.  A large warehouse in the northeast part of the city filled with ammunition and gunpowder somehow ignited, causing an explosion so great that it destroyed nine blocks of the city and killed several hundred people.

Private William Wiley described it this way:

We were something over two miles [away] and the concussion nearly took the tops of our heads off... One of our company Wm Avery  was down in the city at the time with one of the commissary teams and him and his team had a very narrow escape.

William Fleming also remembered the day:

about 2 oclock on the 25 we was startled by a severe shock occasioned by an explosion of a ordanance warehouse where it was said to contain 52 tons of amunition such as kegs of powder and catterages an fired amunition with a large amount of shot and shell, the shock was great an the explosion terrific doing damage to the city and resulted in the loss of a great many noble lives and in the distruction of  great amount of valuable property...the shells did not sease exploding till late next day an it was dangerous to be near the scene 

Tuesday, May 16, 1865

The regiment was inspected today by Lt. Colonel Potter from General Benton's staff.  They concluded this was a very good indication they would soon be marching.  William  Fleming noted that after the inspection,

the boys was not idle in gathern all the information they could relative to the matter, and circulated all they heard and the camp was filled with all maner of reports and rhumors 

In the evening there was long, loud and boisterous cheering. The soldiers in Mobile learned that Jefferson Davis was now a prisoner, and there was good reason for cheering.

William Fleming recalled,

on the night of the 16th we got an official dispatch of the capture of Jeff Davis an staff which caused great excitement...and in a few minets the hole camp was filled with loud cheers and the band struck up hang Jeff Davis on a sour apple tree &c 

Monday, May 15, 1865

The 77th, along with other regiments, received orders to be ready to move at an hour's notice.  All of their surplus baggage was to be stored at Mobile.  They were to draw rations for five days and fifty rounds of ammunition.

William Fleming recalled:

we held ourselves ready for any emergency that might present itself

but we was not without camp rhumors and fals reports.  we would here that the order was countermanded and that we was not to go and then we would here that we was a going, so we in this way kept in suspense.

Tuesday, May 9, 1865

This morning all of the boats were loaded with the Union troops and supplies.  About noon the signal gun was fired and the Cherokee, with General Benton's headquarters aboard, moved out.  The men of the 77th Illinois followed, aboard either the St. Nicholas or the St. Charles.  All of the other boats fell in line behind them.

They sailed down the Tombigbee River and landed at the wharf at Mobile about 7 o'clock this evening.  They disembarked and by 10 o'clock they had moved out to the grove about 3 miles beyond the city in the direction of Whistler, went into camp.

Private Wiley described the appearance of the dispirited Confederate soldiers he saw: 

The rebel soldiers were coming in from all directions. . . The most of them looked pretty sad. They looked pretty badly used up. Their old butternut clothes were all in rags. They felt very different from what we did. They had staked their all and lost it and were beating there way back as a vanquished army to desolate homes and were expecting soon to return as a conquering host to pleasant homes.

William Fleming noted that, despite the good news, there were still concerns:

there is all kinds of rhumors in camp concerning an expedition which is likely to be sent to Texas if Kirby Smith does not surrender

Monday, May 8, 1865

The first of the Confederate fleet bgean to arrive today.  The names of the boats, according to William Fleming, were the Jeff Davis, Black Diamond, Magnolia, Southern Republic, Cherokee, Robert Watson, Mary Stone, Admiral C W Dorence, Reindeer, Black Diamond, Duke, St. Charles, St. Nickolas, Marengo, Sumter, White Lilly, and the gunboats Morgan, Nashville, and Baltick.

Saturday, May 6, 1865

In William Wiley's journal entry for today he noted,

A national salute was fired on account of the surrender of the department of the Gulf by the rebels to Gen. E.R.S. Canby. All hostilities were ordered to cease and we felt our work was done.

Friday, May 5, 1865

According to William Fleming they were paid for six months today and they also received the news of General Dick Taylor's surrender.  The Union troops stopped their work at Fort Granger and turned their attention to chopping wood.  They would need to supply the transports that were coming down the river.

It was a joyous day:

the news was received with cheers by the men working on the fort and soon spred from one end of the camp to the other

Tuesday, May 2, 1865

The 2nd Brigade was sent out on a foraging expedition today. When they were about four miles from camp they met a flag of truce.

A letter was handed from the Confederates to Colonel Day of the Union Army.  It was an offical document from Confederate General Dick Taylor to his forces at Citronville, stating that an armistice had been agreed upon between himself and Union General Canby. The Brigade immediately returned to camp, and an officer was sent to Mobile on the gunboat Octorora with the news.

As a result of this armistice all the personal effects of the "Confederacy," including gunboats and transports, became the property of the United States. The rebel fleet at that time was at Demopolis, about 140 miles north of Mobile.  They would soon make their way to McIntosh Bluff, and then the work of loading the troops and stores would begin.

Saturday, April 29, 1865

The entire brigade went out on a scout today.  They found a few confederate soldiers who gladly surrendered.  They also found some cattle and sheep, and then returned to their camp on the evening of the 30th.

Wednesday, April 26, 1865

This morning the 77th Illinois, along with the rest of the 1st Brigade packed their knapsacks and marched ten miles up the Tombigbee River.  They followed the 2nd and 3rd Brigades who made the same trek yesterday.  They went into camp at McIntosh Bluffs and fixed up their quarters in grand style.

The stars and stripes were raised on an 80 foot pole.  Many of the local residents realized the end of the war was near.  They approached the Union armies to take an oath of allegiance and ask for protection.

The war was substantially over, and there were no hard campaigns in the future.  There was nothing left for the soldiers to do but wait for the government to muster them out.  For now the soldiers were having fun.

Sunday, April 23, 1865

While camped here they learned of President Lincoln's assassination.  It was terrible news to the soldiers, and the first impulse of every man seemed to be a desire to in some way to avenge the President's death.  The news was especially hard on the soldiers from Illinois, who shared a special bond with the President from central Illinois.    

Charles Johnson summed up the feelings of the boys from Illinois: 

Had the enemy been in our immediate front in battle array there is no question but at this period the Union soldiers would have fought with unusual determination;

Friday, April 21, 1865

The brigade that included the 77th Illinois marched in front today.  It began raining early this morning and continued most of the day.  They passed through Mt. Vernon, Alabama where the U.S. Arsenal is located.  William Fleming noted,

it is a beautiful location and is surrounded by a brick wall 8 or 10 ft high and has a number of fine goverment bildings in it   

They marched 10 miles and went into camp on the Tombigbee River near the residence of Confederate General Van Dorn.  He had been killed earlier in the war and was buried on a beautiful mound on the west side of the home.