Thursday, November 27, 1862

William Fleming was detailed today to the E G Department.  The exact entry in his diary says:

Fleming William detailed in the E G Dept Nov 27th 62

He doesn't return to his company until February 18, 1864.  The  monthly muster records that I reviewed for those 15 months list him as "detailed" each month.  But they don't say what he was doing, or provide any further information as to what he was detailed to. 

In my research so far, I've been unable to find an explanation of the E G Department.  The best educated guess I can make at this point, is that E G stands for "engineering."  That would make sense, given William Fleming's occupation as a carpenter.

During the Civil War, the Union Army's Corps of Engineers performed duties like planning and erecting defenses, construction and destroying roads and bridges, placing and removing obstruction, etc.  

My assumption is that, while William Fleming was no longer with his company, he was still close by performing his duties in the E G Department.  

Tuesday, November 25, 1862

One day the regiment paraded in an open area near a public highway.  Some military exercises had just been completed and the men were standing at parade-rest.  A a carriage passed within a few feet of them on the road.  The sight was something new to men from the north, but one they would see many times in the next three years.

Charles Johnson described the sight like this:  

An old dilapidated family carriage that looked as though it might have seen service since the Revolutionary period, drawn by a large, dark-colored, raw-boned horse, only a skeleton in fact, and a little, old, mouse colored donkey; upon these were shreds of old harness, attached to which were some shabby old relics of silver mounting. Mounted on the box, with rope lines in his hands, was an old gray-haired Negro, who sat upright and dignified, an old and very high plug hat on his head, and his person attired in the antiquated remains of a coachman's livery. Within the carriage was a man and woman. The whole outfit was so ridiculous to Northern eyes that a hearty laugh went along the line, followed by a shout that was participated in by a thousand voices.

Saturday, November 22, 1862

Nearly every day the regiment went out on dress parade.  To participate in this, each man had to have his uniform in good order, his accouterments in neat trim, and his gun and metallic appendages bright.  Then the regiment marched to a nearby, level, open space.  There they went through the manual of arms, and, according to Charles Johnson,  displayed itself to the very best advantage.

Friday, November 21, 1862

When the regiment left the barracks at Camp Butler each company broke up into messes of eight to fifteen men.  These messes drew their rations as a group and did their cooking together.

Wednesday, November 19, 1862

At night a line of guards surrounded the camp to provide security, but also to break the men in and enforce discipline.  One of the men on guard duty accidentally shot himself in the foot.  This was the first gunshot wound in the regiment.

Tuesday, November 18, 1862

After their arrival in Memphis, the 130th Illinois Infantry Volunteers were attached to the Reserve Brigade, District of Memphis, 13th Army Corps., Department of the Tennessee.  In December the Regiment was attached to the District of Memphis, 16th Army Corps.

The regiment went ashore and marched over streets that were very muddy in places from recent rain.

Charles Johnson described their first day in Memphis like this:  

Now and then a house was passed, from which welcome was extended by a waving handkerchief in the hands of a woman. Most of the female sex, however, seemed ready to extend anything but a welcome to the "hordes from the North." Camp was formed on the outskirts of the city in a beautiful beech grove that was in every way pleasantly located. Here tents were put up, huts built by some, and about two weeks of beautiful November weather spent most pleasantly.

Monday, November 17, 1862

The lights of Memphis came into view this evening and the old boat began to blow her whistle.  The regiment made a spectacular entrance to the city, as there was a malfunction in the whistle "shut off" and the noise could not be stopped.  

After the boat landed and was tied off, the whistle continued to blow until the supply of steam in the boiler finally ran out.  

Charles Johnson summed up their arrival:  For a good while the night was made hideous, and the ears of all tortured by the screeching whistle of the old boat, but this was a fit ending to the tedious and dangerous trip on the crazy old craft. 

Sunday, November 16, 1862

Their first night in enemy territory turned out to be uneventful.  The regiment boarded the boat around noon and their journey continued down the river.

Along the river, the boys from Illinois observed chimneys standing alone and cheerless, the houses having been burned to the ground.  It became an all-too-familiar sight.

Earlier in the summer, the national fleet had maneuvered down the river under the command of Commodore Charles Henry Davis.  Early on the morning of June 6th , the fleet attacked the Confederate fleet lying in, front of Memphis.  During the battle the river bluff was lined with spectators.  The Union victory was convincing, as Davis either sunk or captured seven of the eight Confederate ships, while suffering damage to only one of his own.  

By 11:00 a.m. the city surrendered, and two infantry regiments accompanying the national fleet went ashore and took possession.  Nearly six months later the 130th Illinois Infantry was on its way to Memphis to  perform provost duties in the city.  

Saturday, November 15, 1862

This evening the boat was tied up on the Arkansas shore.  There was a concern that this particular stretch of the Mississippi River was infested with bands of armed rebels.  Therefore, night navigation was considered too risky.

After tying off, the regiment was marched ashore.  Nothing was found but a simple log structure that was used as a store before the war.  The area was heavily timbered with a dense under growth.  Despite it being mid-November, there was still a significant amount of leaves on the trees and brush.  

Since they were in enemy territory, a strong picket guard was detailed.  Company F (William Fleming's company) and another company were given the assignment.  Charles Johnson described the rest of the night this way:

The men were marched out the distance of a mile from the regiment, broken up in squads of four, and with freshly loaded guns, awaited any cause for alarm. There was no disturbance, but being in the enemy's country was an entirely new experience, and though there may not have been an armed Confederate within fifty miles, it is safe to say that in the whole regiment but few eyes closed that night in sleep. Six months later, so inured had most of us become to war's alarms, that sweet and refreshing sleep was often taken directly under fire.

Friday, November 14, 1862

Not long after leaving St. Louis, a man belonging to the 130th Illinois Infantry Regiment died.  The carpenter of the boat made a pine coffin in which the body was placed and taken to Memphis.  The death caused quite a commotion among the men of the 130th.  Unfortunately, in the not too distant future, death would become all too familiar.

Wednesday, November 12, 1862

At St. Louis the regiment boarded the steamboat General Robert Allen for the trip downriver to Memphis.  According to Charles Johnson, the trip turned out to be exceedingly tedious, as water in the river was at a low stage.  The old boat frequently ran aground, but with the help of spars put upon either side the bow, and hoisting apparatus, always managed to again get underway.

Tuesday, November 11, 1862

After about seven weeks at Camp Butler, the 130th Illinois Infantry Regiment received orders to report to Memphis, Tennessee.  It was a cold, rainy evening when the regiment boarded the cars of the Wabash Railway at the front gate of Camp Butler.  According to Charles Johnson, it was a cheerless ride.

Monday, November 10, 1862

In anticipation of their orders, the regiment received their arms:  Austrian rifled-muskets.  They were also issued cartridge boxes containing ammunition, canteens, haversacks (pouches made of heavy cotton for rations), knapsacks and blankets.  Each man was also issued his regulation blue uniform.