Wednesday, March 22, 1865

Today the men of the 77th could hear heavy cannonading ahead of them, far up the bay.  They finally succeeded in getting the train up and moving at 3 o'clock, and moved on to the north.  They only marched about a mile-and-a-half, and then went into camp at about 10 o'clock on the East Branch of the Fish River.

Tuesday, March 21, 1865

The soldiers started early this morning in a hard driving rain. It had rained all night and the ground was now very soft.  They moved through puddles that were two inches deep, and then 2 feet deep.

The mules became bogged down and were unable to pull the wagons which were sinking to the axle.  The column moved only about a mile-and-a-half and they went into camp around noon.

In the afternoon they pulled the wagons out with ropes, wading in water that was knee deep.  Covered with mud and full of fun, the boys pulled the wagons through the swamps, doing the work of a team of mules. William Fleming described it like this:

...it was rather a bitter pill to pull them a mile by uncle sams hirelings yet the boys would have there sport over it there be a bout fifty get holt of a wagon and they would give a yell and away they would go... 

Monday, March 20, 1865

William Fleming's diary entry explained today's activity:

we did not move camp we was ingaged in getting the suply train up and each man had to draw and carry 4 days rations in order to lighten the train

Tonight a storm descended upon them and it began to rain heavily.

Sunday. March 19, 1865

William Fleming described today's activity this way:

 We started again this morning moved up about 2 miles.  We stopped and stacked arms and carried rails ¾ of a mile.  We tore down 3 log houses to biuld bridges while others were using axes.  By this means we made some two miles of solid bridge and got our teams and artilery over the worst slough.  We started again and went about six miles and went into camp.

In many places "corduroy" roads were made.  A "corduroy" road was made by putting down many logs side by side and as close together as possible.

They made magnificent camp fires with the pine knots that abounded everywhere, and as a result of burning that kind of fuel their faces were covered with soot, smoke and grime.

As we passed through the continuous pine forests they came upon "turpentine orchards."  Cup-shaped notches had been chopped in the trunks of the larger trees and these had filled with resin. One night someone set fire to one resin-filled tree cup and the flames extended to others trees, and soon the fire spread to the entire forest.  They left these in their rear as they marched to a camp further on, far away from the forest fire.

Saturday, March 18, 1865

They started marching very early this morning, but encountered very bad roads and winding sloughs.  Because of that, progress was slow.  Despite the construction of corduroy roads of felled trees, soldiers were occasionally required to become "mules" to transport the supply wagons and artillery pieces.

They made 12 miles again today and then went into camp.  A detail of men worked through a good portion of the night making bridges.

Friday, March 17, 1865

The 77th Illinois received their orders.  They were now part of the 1st Brigade of the 3rd Division of the 13th Army Corps.  Today they would start their march in the early morning and cover about 12 miles before going into camp.  They left all unnecessary baggage behind and the officers were ordered to take "dog-tents," instead of the larger tents they had been used to on the beach at Fort Morgan.

Their objective was to move north along the southern and eastern shores of Mobile Bay and capture Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley.   ''

The roads were sandy and swampy. The country was covered with a dense growth of pines and underbrush. Corduroy roads were built so the wagons and artillery could move over the swampy areas.

Marching in the deep sand was difficult, especially when marching with a knapsack, gun, accouterments and more.  As Samuel Kirkman of the 77th said,

At last the day's march ended and we went into camp, and I experienced inexpressible relief when I had stacked my gun and taken off my knapsack and accouterments. I ate heartily of the toasted bacon, "sow-belly," the boys called it, and "hardtack," a name they had bestowed on our army hard crackers ; and, in addition, drank freely of strong coffee, and felt much refreshed. My feet were sore and tender, and filling my canteen with cold water I poured this on my feet freely, rubbed and bathed them the best I could and then rolled up in my blanket and slept.

Wednesday, March 15, 1865

The war was quickly turning in the Union's favor.  The Union command put together their plan for the capture of Mobile, Alabama and had put all of the troops in place.  Orders were issued and the assault would soon begin.

Friday, February 24, 1865

This morning the men went into camp in the sand. The region was sterile and uninteresting to the men.  Fort Morgan had gained much notoriety from its engagement with Commodore Farragut's fleet the previous August. The fort showed marks of the bombardment, including crumbling walls and broken brick work.

Near the camp was a sand hill, twenty or thirty feet high.  From there the men could see the vessels anchored in the gulf and Dauphin Island to the west across the mouth of Mobile Bay.

Over the next couple weeks the men remained in camp here on the beach at Fort Morgan.  They often saw a school of porpoises playing in the waters of the bay.  This was a first for most of the soldiers from Illinois.

Looking west from Ft. Morgan in the fall of 2014.  You can see Dauphin Island in the distance.

Thursday, February 23, 1865

After nearly 36 hours, the storm eased enough and the St. Mary weighed anchor this morning and proceeded on toward Fort Morgan.  The sea was still rough, but they landed at Fort Morgan in the afternoon.  It was raining, and as soon as they stacked arms, they sought shelter under a pontoon train, where they spent the night.

William Fleming's account of the day:

we landed at Ft Morgan on the 23d and disembarked and moved out on mobile point in rear of the Ft, and went into camp we remained here untill the morning of the 17 of Mar

 The interior of Ft. Morgan in the fall of 2014.

Tuesday, February 21, 1865

This morning the men of the regiment found themselves on the blue salt water of the Gulf.  But the sea was rough with heavy winds.  The winds increased to a gale and blew from the west.  The storm continued to intensify. The ship rolled violently from side to side and plunged forward over the tops of the rolling waves.

The soldiers began to think they were on their last excursion. Their faces were pale and they were very anxious.  The old seasickness they remember from a year ago returned.  Soon the soldiers "heaved Jonah" and gave back to the sea those herring that they had eaten so heartily the night before.
Charles Johnson wrote of the episode:

And how long afterwards did the taste and flavor of those little stomach-disturbers remain with us! And who of us that ate herring on that day, more than a half century in the past, has ever had the hardihood to so much as taste one since!

The horses and mules, as well as the men, were bruised and battered by the storm. In order to escape the storm the St. Mary finally sought the shelter of Chandler's Island, about fifty miles from Fort Morgan. They anchored here for the night.

Monday, February 20, 1865

Today the regiment received orders to march to Bull Head Landing, Louisiana.  They left camp a little before noon and marched to Bull's Head Landing, where they remained in the dock-yard all the afternoon.  In the early evening they went aboard the steamer St. Mary - the same St. Mary that brought them from the sandy shores of Texas to Louisiana almost exactly one year ago.

William Fleming remembered the trip well:

we rec orders to move and went abord of the steamship St. Marry, and Launched out, we were soon overtaking with severe wind which made it very unfavorable to us, and causing our vessel to become almost unmanageable and our boys all were seasick and vomited without the least aid of medisene but finaly the winds abated  and the sea became calm, and we landed at Ft Morgan on the 23d

The men were all very tired and had not yet eaten their dinner.  Their meat rations, for the convenience of their march, were dried herring.  They ate heartily.  

As night approached the St. Mary moved away from the wharf and headed down the river.  Meanwhile, the men unrolled their blankets and stretched out on the deck sleeping soundly.

Friday, February 10, 1865

Today the newly reconstituted 77th Illinois Infantry Regiment was marched in review of Brigadier General Thomas West Sherman (commanding the defenses of New Orleans), Major General Stephen Augustus Hurlbut (commanding the Department of the Gulf), and Major General Edward R.S. Canby (commanding the Department of the Western Mississippi).  

By now the soldiers knew a major review meant orders were on the way.

Monday, January 30, 1865

William Fleming's detail at headquarters came to an end today.

I was ordered to report to my Regiment at woods Tress on Canal St it being consolidated with the 77 Ill...we remained on duty in the City untill the 20th day of Feb

Wednesday, January 25, 1865

Corporal Benjamin T. Turner, died today at Camp Ford,  Texas where he was held as a prisoner of war.  He was from Fuller's Point and part of Company G of the 77th/130th Illinois Regiment.

Saturday, January 14, 1865

Several of the regiments in the U.S. force had become reduced below the standard allowed by the War Department.  This was due to the large number of deaths, injuries and illnesses incurred over the months.

Among these depleted units were the 77th and 130th Illinois.  Orders were issued today to consolidate the two regiments, with the 130th Illinois losing it's identity.  The "new" 77th Illinois was swelled by the addition of 473 men.  The consolidation didn't make the men in either unit happy, as they each preferred to retain their own separate existence until they finally mustered out of the service.

William Fleming expressed his dissatisfaction:

our regiment was distributed and went to fill up the diferent companies of the 77 and the surplus Commissioned officers was mustered out of servis, we were much dissatisfied with the consolidation but had a verry poor way to help our selves, consequently we done the best we could together

Saturday, December 31, 1864

The regiment remained at Lake Port until the 25th day of January.  Their main assignment was to guard vessels traveling from Lake Port to different ports along the coast.  William Fleming continued on his detail at headquarters at Lake Pontchartrain.

Sunday, December 25, 1864

The weather had turned colder and dry over the past few days.  There was nothing special for dinner, just the same old army rations.

Tuesday, December 20, 1864

The regiment received news today about the consolidation with the 77th Illinois.  The men assumed the consolidation would be happening soon.  It didn't take place until January 26, 1865.

Saturday, December 17, 1864

The weather continued to be very pleasant and the mosquitoes were very numerous.

William Fleming noted that today he

was detailed and reported to the Headquarters of the U S forces of Lake Ponchartrain for duty, I remained here receiving all the blessings that a soldier is entitled to untill the 30th day of Jan,

Friday, December 16, 1864

The beautiful weather continued today - warm and pleasant.  The rumor in camp today is the 130th will soon be consolidated with the 77th Illinois.

Thursday, December 15, 1864

The weather began warming up a few days ago and today was a beautiful day.  William Fleming returned from his detail today.

Monday, December 12 1864

It was very cold again today.  The lake by their camp was frozen for 40 yards out from the shore.

Friday, December 9, 1864

The weather turned very cold and disagreeable.  The men left in the camp couldn't do any work.  However, the rumors in their camp were that they would soon be ordered to Brazas Santiago, Texas.

Thursday, December 8, 1864

The regiment received their quarter assignment today.  The officers moved into a big building.

Tuesday, December 6, 1864

Today William Fleming was detailed to guard a ship.  They left today and didn't return until the 15th of December, after stops at Ship Island, Fort Gaines and Fort Morgan.

Pictured below is the interior of the remains of Fort Morgan.

Monday, December 5, 1864

Various details of the regiment were going out on steamships as guards.  The regiment doesn't yet have any permanent quarters assigned to them.

Sunday, December 4, 1864

The regiment stayed in or near their quarters all day today.  They received orders assigning the regiment to special duty here at Lake Port, guarding U.S. ships running to and from Fort Morgan and Pensacola Bay.

Saturday, December 3, 1864

It began raining this morning at daylight.  The regiment sent an officer to New Orleans for orders.  He returned about noon with orders to board the steamship Alabama.  The regiment boarded at 1 o'clock and set sail for Lake Port located six miles north of New Orleans.  They arrived there at 4 o'clock and unloaded off the steamship and went into camp for the night.

Friday, December 2, 1864

Today the regiment received orders at 2 o'clock.  At about 4 o'clock they marched to Lake Enid, arriving about 7 o'clock.  They camped there for the night, while waiting for a gulf steamer to take them to Lake Park.

Thursday, December 1, 1864

Captain Wilkins, William Fleming and the rest of the detail returned to the regiment today.  According to William Fleming,

we had good luck and made an excellent trip and arrived at Orleans on the first day of Dec and rejoined our reg at camp paripet New Orleans