Tuesday, October 28, 1862

The newly organized 130th Illinois Infantry was put under a Dutch drillmaster.  According to Charles Johnson  he was a short, little fellow, with a red face, sandy mustache and goatee.  He wore a cap, a blue blouse and a sword that dragged the lower end of its scabbard on the ground. 

He gave his commands in quick, nervous, broken English: "Tenyan, Titalyan! Fa'rd March! By Goompanies, Right 'Veel!" (Attention Battalion! Forward March! By Companies, Right Wheel!)  When the evolutions of the green regiment were faulty, it was amusing to hear the scolding in broken English from the drillmaster.