Forenoon of the 21st we were sworn into the service of U.S. by Captain Webb, U.S.A. Being now considered as regular enlisted soldiers, we got our first foretaste of what it meant when the first annexed General Order was issued:
So ended the 3rd dayHdqtrs Camp Webb Fremont Rifles Chicago August 22 1861 By order of acting Col. the following orders are issued Reveille at 5:00 a.m. Drill " 5:30 " Breakfast " 7:00 " Sick " 7:30 " 1st Sargt call " 8:00 " Guard Mount " 9:00 " Comp. and squad drill " 10:00 " Dinner " 12:00 Drill " 2:00 p.m. Dress parade " 5:00 " Supper and retreat " 6:00 " Tattoo " 9:00 " Taps " 9:30 "
September 6th we changed from our quarters in N.W. corner to S.E. corner being more shady, and also from wedgetents to the larger Sibley where generally 16 to 18 constituted a mess. September 16th found us donning regular uniforms and same day in progressive order found us also in possession of equippage. On the 17th our Colonel was presented with a horse and accouterments. On the 18th we were mustered into service as a Regiment by Captain Brackett, 2nd U.S. Drag. and said to be under orders from Washington -- so every passing day bro't us closer to the stern realities of soldier life -- till on the 19th, in columns of platoons, after a march to and thru the city, we drilled in front of The Board of Trade Building -- formed in open square and after several spirited and patriotic speeches by Judge Joe Knox and others,the Regiment was presented with its colors and flag from members of above named Board of Trade.
From there we started for the Illinois Central R.R. depot -- and took cars for St. Louis. All along the line of Alton and St. Louis R.R. we saw manifestations of patriotism by supplying us with all they had.
Evening of Sept. 20 arrived in Illinois Town, now East St. Louis and went right aboard steamer, "Belle of Memphis," where we remained over night. The 21st marched in and through St. Louis and halted in front of General J.C. Fremont's Hdqtrs., where we were highly complimented on our soldiery appearance and to make words more sure Mrs. Jessie Fremont tied red, white and blue ribbons to our flag and colors, as our colors had imprinted in its folds a picture of J.C. Fremont scaling the rocky mountains. From there we marched to Benton Barracks where we made ourselves at home in good commodious quarters and were made more perfect in drill until the 22nd of September.
Our Company was assigned as Company A on right of Regiment, one half of the boys were armed with Colt's Revolving rifles. On the 26th, with muskets on our shoulders and heavy loaded knapsacks, the Regiment embarked on three boats and after a rather tedious trip thru' the winding channel of the Missouri, we landed the 2nd of October at Booneville, Missouri where we found the 5th Iowa and 9th Missouri under acting Brigade.
On October 13th we received marching orders, and leaving Companies C and H under the command of Colonel Barnes at Booneville, rest of the Regiment started on its first heavy march to Otterville, where we arrived the 16th and camped beyond -- but oh that first march long to be remembered! While laying there in camp we were brigaded and put into the Center Division of Pope's army -- on October 22nd the two flanking Companies A and K were now fully armed with Colt's revolving rifles and on the 29th the march commenced again. November 1st we passed thru' Warsaw on the Osage River, then on and through Humansville where we first heard of the enemy attacking our advance forces -- unaligning our knapsacks, we started in light marching order and after about 36 hours march reached Springfield, Missouri, about 50 miles distant. On the 5th, on less than one quarter rations, only about one day behind the division which had started almost a week before us, we passed then and in so doing, we gained the nickname of "Illinois Greyhounds."
On the 6th, trains came up too, but we fared no better as to rations, as they did not bring very much, so we had to subsist best as we could, by stealing corn from mule and horses and parching it. Finally on the 9th of November we left Springfield again and reached our Camp near Otterville on the 16th, but on account of poor water, after 2 days, changed, and went in Camp near Syracuse November 20 till the 28th -- move camp again to near Lamine River bottom, where all the forces seem to concentrate and here December 10th we received our first pay from Uncle Sam -- part in greenbacks and part in gold and silver. December 15th at midnight received marching orders and sunrise found us 7 miles from camp, in advance of Brigades consisting of 8th, 18th and 22nd Indiana Volunteers. By 2 p.m. we were 2 miles north of Sedalia and here we were ordered to await further orders. On the 19th the rebel brigade, captured by General Pope and forces, made camp near us till they ere shipped to St. Louis to graduate in old St. Louis Medical College, under instructions from Halleck, and next day, the 20th, we were ordered to march again, but snowing very heavily -- orders were countermanded. We marched the 22nd and by evening were back to camp near Lamine River but had to clear snow from our former tenting places.
About December 24th, Captain J.A. Jordan resigned on account of ill health. H. Curtis was promoted to Captain, Lieutenant Hawes to First Lieutenant and orderly L. B. Morey to Second Lieutenant. It being the dead of winter active operations ceased somewhat for awhile -- but not so, camp drill guard, and fatigue duties, and between these and, supplying wood to keep us comfortable, all our time was well occupied till January 22nd when we received another two months pay. January 25th saw our whole encampment go up in smoke and flames, and us in line of march to renew active operations again.
Various were the rumors of our destination, till evening when we found we ere headed southwest, and then we knew it wasn't St. Louis or any place east of it. That night we camped near Versailles and had a good drenching rain during the night. Next day marched Big Gravois bottom through mud and water -- had some more rain during night which turned to slush and snow by morning. Here we built bridge to cross on -- river being too swollen to ford -- orders to push ahead and surplus baggage burned up, we started out in a snow storm, and, after crossing creek ascended Ozark Mountain range.