CHAPTER X.

"Davidson's sweet-potato raid"--Southern Alabama--Destruction of railroads--Oyster fishing--Red-pepper--Mobile Expedition-- Barancas--News of Lee's surrender--Assassination of Lincoln --Fort Blakely--Mobile--Explosion of Magazine--Return to New Orleans--Experience of Daniel Shaw in a Texas prison--Shreveport --"Salt-Horse" vs. Sumptuousness--Cantankerous cans--March into Texas--San Antonia--Mustered out--Jubilation--War's aftermath 155

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Colonel Silas Noble 179

Lieutenant Colonel Harvey Hogg 181

Colonel John J. Mudd 189

Colonel Benjamin F. Marsh 199

Major John R. Hotaling 203

Roster 213

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Major John R. Hotaling Frontispiece

Captain William B. Cummins Facing preface

Lieutenant Frank B. Bennett Facing Chapter I, page 1

Lieutenant Albert J. Jackson Facing Chapter II, page 5

Lieutenant James S. McHenry Facing Chap. III, page 25

Cut Site of Fort Henry Facing Chapter III, page 25

Calvin Steel Facing Chapter IV, page 45

View of Pittsburg Landing Facing Chapter IV, page 45

Samuel H. Fletcher Facing Chapter V, page 59

Shiloh Monument (Cut) Special Commands Facing Chapter V, page 59

Joseph Sheaff Facing Chapter VI, page 77

Peter Sheaff Facing Chapter VI, page 77

Osborn Shannon Facing Chapter VII, page 99

James Bowers Facing Chapter VIII, page 113

James L. Padgett Facing Chapter IX, page 135

E. C. Chatterton Facing Chapter X, page 155

Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey Hogg Facing page 181

Colonel John J. Mudd Facing page 189

Colonel Benjamin F. Marsh Facing page 199

Major John R. Hotaling Facing page 203

Hotaling Group Facing page 207

Illinois State Monument at Shiloh Facing page 213

PREFACE

The purpose of this sketch is to keep green the memory of that little band of men known as Company A, of the Second Illinois Cavalry, who fought in the Civil War. It is to be regretted that no record has been preserved and no attempt made to write a history of the company while the incidents involved were fresh in the minds of its members. As a result, the essential features of the story are based directly upon the memory of one of them and that without any memoranda made at the time. It is not strange therefore, if errors should occur after the lapse of fifty years.

This little book does not pretend to be an accurate history but rather a fragmentary and imperfect sketch in which the aim has been to recount some of the worthy deeds and to recall some of the hardships endured by those who risked all and suffered much in an effort to do their part towards the preservation of freedom and right and justice among men.

No apology is offered for its meagerness or fragmentary character. Should it meet the approval of the few comrades now living or receive a sympathetic response from others, the time and care expended upon it will have been rewarded.

The writers desire to acknowledge their indebtedness to the Association of the Survivors of the Second Regiment, Illinois Veteran Cavalry Volunteers, from whose report of "Reunion Proceedings," published in 1907, the biographical sketches of Colonels Noble, Hogg, Mudd and Marsh have been prepared. They also desire to show their appreciation of the interest and sympathy manifested by Mr. James O. McConaughy, of Rochelle, Illinois, who was one of the first, if not the first, to suggest the writing of the book, and whose generous aid, rendered in every way, has made its publication possible.

D. H. F. Chicago, Nov. 28, 1912.

THE HISTORY OF COMPANY A SECOND ILLINOIS CAVALRY