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;
