It was another warm day and the men from Illinois marched about 15 miles. They waded through the sloughs and streams they encountered to get across them.
Wednesday, April 19, 1865
The 77th Illinois received orders today and marched off toward the northeast. They left the 28th Illinois to guard Whistler Station. They marched about 12 miles and went into camp.
It was a very warm day, as William Fleming recalled:
It was a very warm day, as William Fleming recalled:
the boys divested themselves of all clothing they could spare the ground was strewed with blankets and shirts drawers, &c
Monday, April 17, 1865
The 21st and 26th New York
Batteries each fired one hundred guns today in honor of the great victories achieved
by Grant and Sherman in the east. Rumors were also circulating that the
Trans-Mississippi Army had surrendered. The Union soldiers were quite jubilant over all of the good news.
Saturday, April 15, 1865
President Abraham Lincoln died this morning after being shot at Ford's Theater last night. William Fleming and the other Illinois soldiers would not hear about this for a week.
Thursday, April 13, 1865
The 3rd Division was ordered to march up the Tombigbee River to Whistler Station about 6 miles northeast of the city on the Mobile and Ohio railroad. The Union troops marched through the city and crowds of people of all ages came out to see them.
After leaving the city the soldiers were allowed to forage for food, including cattle, geese, turkeys, and chickens. And so many foraging parties went out along the route and were able to collect a bounty of live animals that would help sustain the soldiers.
They reached Whistler Station about 1 o'clock this afternoon. The advanced units found some Confederates there who had set fire to the buildings and were tearing up the machine shops and burning bridges. They were driven beyond Eight Mile Creek, where they joined a force of about 500 cavalry.
As the rest of the Union Army came up, they dropped their knapsacks and double-timed for the front. A brisk fight ensured, but the cavalry was too quick and made their escape. Casualties on both sides were minimal. This would be the final engagement the 77th Illinois fought in the Civil War.
They Union soldiers camped around Whistler Station for the next several days.
After leaving the city the soldiers were allowed to forage for food, including cattle, geese, turkeys, and chickens. And so many foraging parties went out along the route and were able to collect a bounty of live animals that would help sustain the soldiers.
They reached Whistler Station about 1 o'clock this afternoon. The advanced units found some Confederates there who had set fire to the buildings and were tearing up the machine shops and burning bridges. They were driven beyond Eight Mile Creek, where they joined a force of about 500 cavalry.
As the rest of the Union Army came up, they dropped their knapsacks and double-timed for the front. A brisk fight ensured, but the cavalry was too quick and made their escape. Casualties on both sides were minimal. This would be the final engagement the 77th Illinois fought in the Civil War.
They Union soldiers camped around Whistler Station for the next several days.
Wednesday, April 12, 1865
The next morning all the vessels moved across to Cat Fish Point, five miles below Mobile, and landed at the Magnolia Race Course. The troops disembarked and began to march up the bay to the city. They found abandoned and evacuated forts along the way.
The Union command sent a message to the mayor of Mobile asking for his unconditional surrender. He replied that , since the Confederate Army had left the city, it he was in charge and would agree to their demands.
The Union Army marched into the city and took possession and planted the Stars and Stripes in the city and over all of the ir fortifications.
The Union command sent a message to the mayor of Mobile asking for his unconditional surrender. He replied that , since the Confederate Army had left the city, it he was in charge and would agree to their demands.
The Union Army marched into the city and took possession and planted the Stars and Stripes in the city and over all of the ir fortifications.
Tuesday, April 11, 1865
As all the works guarding the approaches to the city of Mobile were now in the possession of the Union Army. The confederates had little reason to ammunition or additional lives on the defense of the city. In fact, soon after the fall of Fort Blakeley, the Confederate soldiers began to evacuate the city.
About 1 o'clock today the 77th Illinois marched back to Spanish Fort. They had just laid down to rest when the were roused with the command to fall in. As darkness fell, they marched about six miles and came to Stark's Landing.
Transport boats were waiting and the soldiers began to embark immediately. As each vessel was loaded, it pushed off from the pier and anchored in the bay.
About 1 o'clock today the 77th Illinois marched back to Spanish Fort. They had just laid down to rest when the were roused with the command to fall in. As darkness fell, they marched about six miles and came to Stark's Landing.
Transport boats were waiting and the soldiers began to embark immediately. As each vessel was loaded, it pushed off from the pier and anchored in the bay.
Monday, April 10, 1865
The Union Army spent th eday burying the dead. They also took a detail of Confederate soldiers to dig up the torpedoes (land mines) that had been buried around the fort.
Sunday, April 9, 1865
Today was a hot, sultry spring day. The Union troops had little time to enjoy last night's victory, as they began to march the 10 miles to the northeast to reinforce General Steele's attacking force at Fort Blakeley. Fearing the works would be evacuated by night, General Steele prepared for an assault this afternoon.
On their march to Blakeley, the 77th Illinois was misdirected down a wrong road. They were forced to turn around and retrace their steps. They arrived at Fort Blakely about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, too late to take part in the assault. They were held in reserve, along with the entire 3rd Division.
On their march to Blakeley, the 77th Illinois was misdirected down a wrong road. They were forced to turn around and retrace their steps. They arrived at Fort Blakely about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, too late to take part in the assault. They were held in reserve, along with the entire 3rd Division.
At five o'clock the Union batteries began their work. Then the infantry poured in destructive volleys of musketry. Soon after a loud cheer came from the center, another from the left and then another from the right, indicating the points where the works had been successfully stormed. The conflict was short and the victory complete.
The Union casualties were not heavy - 113 deaths and 516 wounded. Many of the casualties were caused by mines that had been planted around the works and for one or two miles along the road leading to the fort.
The Battle of Fort Blakely was the final major infantry battle of the Civil War. The entire Mobile campaign resulted in the capture of the enemy works at Spanish Fort and Blakely, the surrender of Mobile, the capture of more than 5,000 prisoners, nearly 300 pieces of artillery, several thousand pieces of small arms, and large stores of ammunition. However, these would soon prove to be unimportant as the war was almost over.
Earlier today General Lee surrendered at Appomattox. The Union troops in Mobile would not learn about it for several days.
Saturday, April 8, 1865
This morning the whole Union line of artillery opened up on the forts. The kept up the barrage all day.
During the day the Union army planted several more heavy siege guns and motors. At 5 o'clock the new guns opened fire and Union troops reinforced their skirmish lines.
They kept up the intense fire for several hours. About 11 o'clock the Union troops charged the Confederate rifle pits and captured 600 prisoners.
They made their way on to the fort but found it evacuated. The Union troops captured about 40 cannons and plenty of ammunition. Along with other Confederates captured throughout the siege over the past several days, the Union army had captured about 1,000 prisoners in all.
During the day the Union army planted several more heavy siege guns and motors. At 5 o'clock the new guns opened fire and Union troops reinforced their skirmish lines.
They kept up the intense fire for several hours. About 11 o'clock the Union troops charged the Confederate rifle pits and captured 600 prisoners.
They made their way on to the fort but found it evacuated. The Union troops captured about 40 cannons and plenty of ammunition. Along with other Confederates captured throughout the siege over the past several days, the Union army had captured about 1,000 prisoners in all.
Friday, April 7, 1865
Most of the day was fairly quiet. Only one or two of the Union batteries were engaged, and they only shot at intervals. The Confederates responded with the same vigor.
As the day wore on, the firing on the skirmish line gained intensity. About 7 o'clock in the evening the Confederates made a charge on the Union skirmish line, but they were repulsed and suffered several casualties.
The Union was able to advance their rifle pits again, and now were within easy range of the fort. That also means the Union troops were within easy range of the Confederate guns in the fort.
As the day wore on, the firing on the skirmish line gained intensity. About 7 o'clock in the evening the Confederates made a charge on the Union skirmish line, but they were repulsed and suffered several casualties.
The Union was able to advance their rifle pits again, and now were within easy range of the fort. That also means the Union troops were within easy range of the Confederate guns in the fort.
Thursday, April 6, 1865
William Fleming was sent out on the skirmish line today and he remained there until tomorrow afternoon. He saw plenty of Confederate soldiers,
and had the pleasure of exchanging several shots with themOver the past several nights the Union troops had been advancing their rifle pits to the point where they were very close. William Fleming remembered,
being only 75 yds apart our boys would hollow over to them and ask them a great many foolish questions and the Rebs was very free to answer
Wednesday, April 5, 1865
The siege on Spanish Fort continued today, according to William Fleming.
all seems quiet to day except on the skirmish line they keep up a brisk fire and the mortar batteries on our right and left throwing in a shell occasionly
Tuesday, April 4, 1865
For most of the morning and early afternoon everything was quiet except for a Union motor battery on the right and the left that each threw shells into Spanish Fort all day.
At 5 o'clock things changed, as nearly all of the Union artillery was engaged. The bombardment lasted two hours. It was a continuous roar that shook the earth under the feet of the Union soldiers.
After the cannonading ended, there was a large work detail made from every regiment. The detail was sent to work on the artillery fort they had worked on the previous nights.
William Fleming reported the Confederate army was much more aggressive in their efforts to stop the work of the detail.
At 5 o'clock things changed, as nearly all of the Union artillery was engaged. The bombardment lasted two hours. It was a continuous roar that shook the earth under the feet of the Union soldiers.
After the cannonading ended, there was a large work detail made from every regiment. The detail was sent to work on the artillery fort they had worked on the previous nights.
William Fleming reported the Confederate army was much more aggressive in their efforts to stop the work of the detail.
but we had only got to work when the rebels sent a few shells among us in order to drive us away but they failed we would watch the shells and dodge them but there was some unfortunate and came in collion with there shells and one man got killed and two others wounded and we were relieved at one oclock by another detail
Monday, April 3, 1865
There was nothing unusual today. There were large details of Union soldiers working at different places planting their artillery. They had several batteries of the 1st Pennsylvania heavy artillery ready for action.
Sunday, April 2, 1865
There was an unusual quiet all along the lines today. There was no cannonading from either side, and very little firing on the skirmish line.
William Fleming was on a detail that worked all night building a small fort to protect heavy artillery that was brought forward. The fort was likely an earth and fallen log berm. The Union artillery was need to fire on a Confederate battery that had been annoying the northerners.
William Fleming noted the detail was not bothered too much by the Confederates.
William Fleming was on a detail that worked all night building a small fort to protect heavy artillery that was brought forward. The fort was likely an earth and fallen log berm. The Union artillery was need to fire on a Confederate battery that had been annoying the northerners.
William Fleming noted the detail was not bothered too much by the Confederates.
the rebs were very peaceful only threw two shells at us while we were at work
Saturday, April 1, 1865
There was about the same amount of annonading today as yesterday. The Union mortars were throwing shells and exploding them in the Confederate fort, but they could not tell how much damage was done.
There was also plenty of firing on the skirmish line, with soldiers wounded on both sides.
William Fleming reported the Union dug their rifle pits and they have them within 150 yards of the Confederate rifle pits. They are so close...
There was also plenty of firing on the skirmish line, with soldiers wounded on both sides.
William Fleming reported the Union dug their rifle pits and they have them within 150 yards of the Confederate rifle pits. They are so close...
we are situated so that we can hold corispondence with each other and the the rebs and our boys gets off good many jokes on each other by hollowing back and forward
Friday, March 31, 1865
There was "considerable cannonading" during the day. Then in the evening William Fleming reported
a battery or two of heavy artilery was opened on them but they was not slow in replying
Thursday, March 30, 1865
William Fleming reported the Union artillery was more silent than usual today. The Union was also busy bringing more artillery guns to the battle. He noted some deserters from the Confederate side were coming over to the Union lines.
Wednesday, March 29, 1865
This morning the Union artillery opened up on the fort early and continued firing at intervals through the day. The Rebels also kept a steady firing of artillery.
A shell exploded in the Union camp and killed four men and wounded 6 as they were busy dividing some meat.
This evening the Confederates charged a working party that was digging rifle pits but they were driven back, leaving some dead on the ground between the skirmish lines.
A shell exploded in the Union camp and killed four men and wounded 6 as they were busy dividing some meat.
This evening the Confederates charged a working party that was digging rifle pits but they were driven back, leaving some dead on the ground between the skirmish lines.
Tuesday, March 28, 1865
According to William Fleming,
comensed cannonading at sun rise and kept it up during the day also a brisk firing on the skirmish line several of our boys getting killed and woundedThat night, William Fleming's company, along with three other companies from the 77th Illinois were ordered out in front of the skirmish line. Their orders were to advance their rifle pits. William Fleming noted their progress of the night:
we kept up a pretty hot fire of musketry while others was ingaged in digging rifle pits we advanced them within four hundred yds of there forts and within two hundred yds of there rifle pitsWilliam Fleming closed his diary entry for the day with this:
while writing the shells are bursting all around me
Monday, March 27, 1865
The whole Union Army moved forward today, and with little resistance, drove the Confederates back into their fort. The Union forces stopped about a half-mile from the fort and formed a line of battle. The 77th Illinois took a position in a deep hollow.
The line to their right extended all the way to the bay on the north side of the fort. Likewise, the line to their left extended all the way to the bay on the south side of the fort. Union ironclads were in the bay, and so by nightfall, Spanish Fort was completely surrounded.
The Union forces began constructing defensive works and brought their siege guns up into better positions. They began shelling the fort, and also kept a heavy skirmish line in the front. Several troops on both sides were killed or wounded.
At night the Union troops advanced their skirmish lines and dug rifle pits.
As Private William Wiley remembered:
The line to their right extended all the way to the bay on the north side of the fort. Likewise, the line to their left extended all the way to the bay on the south side of the fort. Union ironclads were in the bay, and so by nightfall, Spanish Fort was completely surrounded.
The Union forces began constructing defensive works and brought their siege guns up into better positions. They began shelling the fort, and also kept a heavy skirmish line in the front. Several troops on both sides were killed or wounded.
At night the Union troops advanced their skirmish lines and dug rifle pits.
As Private William Wiley remembered:
The rebels continued to shell us pretty heavy . We had to dig out places in the hillside and build bomb proofs out of logs by splitting logs and putting the halves over head and throwing dirt over them to sleep in and go into when the rebels shelled us too hard.
Sunday, March 26, 1865
The men of the 77th moved our very early this morning. General Smith marched off on a road leading to the right, while General Bertram went to the left. The 1st and 3rd Divisions of the 13th Army Corps (including the 77th Illinois and William Fleming) marched up the center.
As they were drawing closer to Spanish Fort, every precaution was taken to guard against attacks. They marched for about 10 miles and went into camp within 2.5 miles of the Confederate stronghold.
William Fleming described the evening activities:
As they were drawing closer to Spanish Fort, every precaution was taken to guard against attacks. They marched for about 10 miles and went into camp within 2.5 miles of the Confederate stronghold.
William Fleming described the evening activities:
we was imployed the most of the night in fortifying and the rest of the night laid in line of battlePrivate William Wiley of the 77th Illinois also had a narration of the night:
We formed our lines around the rebel's works a mile or two back from the forts and threw up some breastworks by cutting logs and piling them up and throwing dirt over them. We worked until 10 pm and then our band got up on top of our works and serenaded the rebels.
Saturday, March 25, 1865
At about 3 o'clock this morning General A. J. Smith started forward with his troops. About an hour later the 77th Illinois and the rest of the army marched.
The timber was dense and dark, and the marching was slow and tedious. They went into camp about 11 o'clock in the evening.
The timber was dense and dark, and the marching was slow and tedious. They went into camp about 11 o'clock in the evening.
Friday, March 24, 1865
The 77th did not move today and stayed in camp. According to William Fleming it was still an eventful day:
the first Div and all the train came up the Gerrilas watched there chances and charged upon our train at a ungarded point and captured seven or eight of our boys and shot a few mules
Thursday, March 23, 1865
This morning the march resumed. Two companies were in charge of one team, in case they became stuck and needed to be pulled out. However, they soone came to dry rolling country and the roads became much better. They marched about 10 miles and went into camp in mid-afternoon.
General A. J. Smith and his forces came up the bay on transports and now were in the front position of the 16th Army Corps. They had been skirmishing with the Southern soldiers in the front during the day.
General A. J. Smith and his forces came up the bay on transports and now were in the front position of the 16th Army Corps. They had been skirmishing with the Southern soldiers in the front during the day.
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:
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:
Tonight a storm descended upon them and it began to rain heavily.
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:
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.
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.
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