Due to the generosity of Charles Stanley < ballot@aol.com > (not a descendant, but an avid 39th historian), we know of the War time experiences of descendant, George Riddle. Charles has kindly added annotations as well. You can follow them within the text, indicated by a linked number. We share this excerpt from:
OF THE
THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT
ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER VETERAN
INFANTRY.
(YATES PHALANX.)
IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
1861-1865.
BY
CHARLES M. CLARK, M.D.
(LATE SURGEON.)
ILLUSTRATED.
"Quid non pro patria."
PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE VETERAN ASSOCIATION
OF THE REGIMENT.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.
1889
*****************************************************************************************************************************************
(pg. 330)
CHAPTER XXI.
_____________
DEVOTED TO NARRATIVE, INCIDENTS, AND
MISCELLANY.
______________
Dedication.
.................
TO THE CHILDREN,
THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS
OF THE
VETERAN SOLDIERS
OF THE
THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT ILLINOIS VETERAN VOLUNTEERS,
WHO SO NOBLY RESPONDED TO THE CALL OF THEIR IMPERILED COUNTY
IN THE TIME OF HER NEED; AND WHO SUFFERED UNTOLD PRIVA-
TIONS, DANGERS, AND THE SHEDDING OF THEIR BLOOD
THAT "GOD'S BEST COUNTRY" MIGHT BE PRE-
SERVED AND HANDED DOWN IN ITS
INTEGRITY TO THE DEAR
ONES, FOR THEIR
INHERITANCE.
George Riddle's Experiences - Narrative of Martin Van Buren Peters - Narrative of William H. Howard - ...
GEORGE RIDDLE, COMPANY I, TELLS SOME OF HIS EXPERIENCES.
Chuck Stanley sends along this photo that
comes from the 1889 regimental history. George is a descendant of John (8) and Catherine (Hornbaker) Bowlby, through their granddaughter, Mary Pheobe Bowlby who married Elijah Guile Riddle. Chuck writes, "George Riddle's
is clearly a postwar photo. The item on his vest that looks like a medal
is his membership badge in the Grand Army of the Republic union veterans
organization. The "YP" above it stands for Yates Phalanx, the nickname
for the 39th Illinois Infantry, which was so designated in honor of Illinois
Governor Richard Yates. There also are pins or buttons on his vest and
lapel. I cannot make out what they are, but the one on the lapel may be
a GAR membership lapel button."
My first night in camp, and my breakfast the next morning, somewhat disappointed me. I was taken to a tent and told that I could sleep there. They didn't even ask me if I preferred to sleep alone or with some one, but just told me that I could sleep there. So I rolled myself up in a wisp of straw and managed to pass the night quite comfortably. In the morning I heard a rattling of drums all around me and the boys all tumbled out "hollering" "Roll call! roll call!!" so I rolled out too. They told me to "get in line there!" and I got into line same as the rest. Then they called "breakfast!" and I saw all the boys run, and I followed, and got around a table made out of some rough boards put on sticks driven in the ground for legs. I found a piece of fat meat on a tin plate, and a tin cup with some (pg. 331) black stuff in it, and a little "hunk" of bread. The boys all "pitched in!" but I thought I'd wait until breakfast was ready. I didn't see no sugar, no cream or butter - no potatoes; in fact, nothing but a little fat meat, and bread, and the little tin of what they called coffee. I still kept waiting, thinking they would soon bring on something like what us boys had been used to. By this time the "boys" had "downed" the meat and bread. They shouted out for me to "grab hold" and make myself at home. And then I did.Annotated notations from Charles StanleyMy first night on guard (it so happened that during our stay in Chicago I did not have to go on guard duty) came at Benton Barracks. *1I got along fine in the day time, but, Oh, Lord! the trouble I had that night! They gave me an old carbine that Santa Anna had in the Mexican war! and put me on a "beat" close to a little lot that had corn in it, and gave me the "countersign," which I never will forget; but I forgot it that night. They told me that I must keep a good "look out!" for they were looking for "Price's" *2whole army to come on us.
My relief was put on at twelve o'clock that night, and I had to look out for Price and the "grand rounds" both, and it kept me so busy that I forgot part of the "countersign," which was "Sangomingo." I could think of "Sango," but for my life I couldn't think of "mingo," so I walked to the other sentinel and asked him what it was. He said, "By golly! I've forgot it too!" but he said it was "mingo" something. "All right!" I said, "I've got it now - 'Sangomingo!' "
It wasn't long then before the "grand rounds" came. I could hear the other sentinels halt them, and my heart began to flutter. I let Price and his army go to thunder and I stuck to the "countersign" and the "grand rounds." When they came up within speaking distance I cried out, "Halt!" and they halted, and for the life of me I couldn't (pg. 332) think of what else to say, and they still halted! I thought I must say something, so I says "Come on with your grand rounds!" and they came up, and I saw it was Lieutenant-Colonel Osborn *3and Dr. Clark *4;and the Colonel says, "Soldier! don't you know the duties of a sentinel?" "Yes, sir," says I. "Well, I don't think you do," says he; "and I'll report you to your company commander." This kind of flustrated me, for I thought I had halted them all right - just as good as a soldier of 1812.
Soon after I heard a noise in the cornfield near by, and think I, Price and his men are coming! I listened closely, and felt sure I could hear them, and cocked the old carbine to be ready; but they never came. But I'll tell you, if they had come, I would have cleaned them out right then and there and gone to camp faster than a bank cashier going to Canada.
The first time I was drawn up in line of battle and ordered to "load at will," I would much rather have taken the time and came home to load, for I was somewhat scared. My heart got between my teeth and I couldn't bite my cartridge, so I finally got it torn off; and the trouble was then to hit the gun-barrel with the cartridge, for the muzzle of the gun wasn't half large enough. If it had been as large as an iron kettle, I don't think I could have got my cartridge in it; but I finally got her loaded, but had a hard time returning the rammer. You may thin I was scared! but I got 'er there all the same, Eli!
The first time we were called upon to charge a battery was at Winchester, Va., *5or at least I thought we were going to charge, and I made my preparations accordingly. As you all remember, we were on the left, and the rebels had their battery off in the woods. They shelled us pretty lively. I'll tell you what I thought then, boys! At that time I had two months' pay due me, and I thought, if the Colonel was willing, I would give my two months' pay and get the other boys to (pg 333) "chip" in and buy the "dumb'd" battery and have no fuss about it. But as good luck would have it, the battery pulled off and left just as they heard the Thirteenth Indiana "holler," and I felt considerably better.
Now I will tell you how I bought "applejack" without money.
While we were at Suffolk, Va., *6 our company was ordered out on the railroad towards Blackwater, and when we got out some distance they wanted a "darkey" to stop at a wood-pile and saw wood for the engine. I was left to guard him. I set him to work, and we did finely for awhile, until I wanted him to go with me out into the country to see if we couldn't get something to eat and drink. But the darkey said he was afraid. Said he, "Ef dey eber git holt of dis chile, dey wud kill 'em, sure!" He was afraid to go and afraid to stay alone, so for awhile I didn't know what to do. There was two big "ricks" of wood, so I told him to lie down and I would pile wood around him, and he would be safe until I came back. So I left the n_____ well covered with wood, and stuck out for the country. I soon found a farm-house and a little "distill" house, run by a "Johnny." I asked the old man if he had any "applejack" to sell! He said he had. So I asked him if I could buy a canteen full, if I would pay for it. He said I could. I asked him what he would take to fill my canteen. He said "One dollar." I asked him what kind of money would rather have - "greenbacks" or Southern Confederacy. He said he couldn't read, and didn't know anything about "greenbacks," and would rather have Confederate money. I had neither kind, and yet felt like doing the fair thing by the "Johnny" - and, you know, I didn't want the "applejack" for myself, either.
As luck would have it, I had a label in my pocketbook that I had taken from a bottle of "Plantation bitters," which looked very much like a five-dollar bill of Confederate (pg. 334) money. I asked him if he could change a five-dollar bill. He said he could. So I gave him the label, and he gave me back four dollars in silver and the canteen full of applejack, and I went back, both feeling entirely satisfied.
As for bravery, I can't say that I have ever done anything to brag on. I always did my duty when called on, and was always with the regiment. I was never on the "sick-list," and never missed guard duty, or a meal if I could get it. If there was any fun in camp I had my share of it.
There is one thing I do feel proud over, and always shall, and that was carrying Captain Sam. Gilmore off the field at Drury's Bluff on the 16th of May, 1864, when he was wounded. *7When we started to leave the works, I was with him alone, but soon came across comrade Asa Wren. *8He helped me a short distance. We put the Captain astride of my gun, and then put the gun on our shoulders, the Captain holding around my neck. We carried him some distance in this way until Wren gave out. I then took the Captain on my shoulder, and had carried him a short distance when I saw the rebel cavalry gaining on me, and also saw a number of our cavalry about the same distance away from me that the rebels were. I told the Captain that I couldn't carry him any further. He said, "Oh, God! George, don't leave me!" I don't him that I would save him, and laid him down and started for our cavalry, and fortunately one of them saw me. I beckoned him to me, and placed the Captain behind him. By this time the rebels were within a short distance of us. The cavalryman asked me, "What, in the name of God, are you going to do?" I told him to take care of the Captain and I would take care of myself, and when he started I grabbed hold of the stirrup of his saddle, and I tell you, I held on for dear life until we reached the railroad, where I saw an old log lying partly up off the ground. *9 I was "play'd out," so I threw myself down under it, panting (pg. 335) like a lizard. Lots of our wounded had been left there. The rebel cavalry had come up by this time. All at once I saw comrades John Berry *10and Jeff Everts *11pop up out of the brush just as the "Johnnies" cam along, and the "rebs" called upon Berry to surrender or they would fire upon him. Berry was an Englishman, and as brave as a brick! He looked up at the "rebs" and told them to to to "ye--ll!" for he had been under a 'ot fire all day, 'eny 'ow; and he struck out for the brush with the rebels after him, while I crawled from behind the log and struck for the brush also. We all three came out all right, and the cavalry man brought in the Captain.
I had some pretty close calls - was knocked senseless by the explosion of a shell in front of "Wagner" *12 ;had my gun smashed in my hand at Drury's Bluff, *13a botton shot off my coat at Hatcher's Run *14,and several other close calls too tedious to mention. I enlisted in Company I September 14, 1861, and was "mustered out" September 14th, 1864, in front of Petersburg, Va., which ended my career as a soldier.
...
Page 511:
Chapter XXXI.
Company I - How Recurited - Roster and Biographies - Summary of Casulaties, Etc.
History of Company I.
THIS company was principally recruited at Le Roy, Illinois, by Hiram M. Phillips, who had seen some service in the Mexican was as a soldier, and found but little difficulty in gathering men to his standard for the "three years' service." It was organized on September 6th, and mustered into the service October 11th, 1861, at Camp Mather, Chicago.
Company I took part in the skirmish with Jackson's forces at Bath, Va., *15some of the time being on the skirmish line or outpost duty; but the chief duty given to it on the 4th of January was supporting Lieutenant Muhlenberg's Artillery in its position on Warm Spring Ridge. It was a magnificent body of men - the majority of them were large in form, robust in muscle, young and spirited, - and at the time of muster into the United States service was nearly full to the maximum limit. It took part in all the battles, skirmishes and movements of the regiment, doing its full duty in the most acceptable manner.
The First and Second Lieutenants were both killed in action - one (Lemon) on the 16th day of August, 1864, at Deep Run, Va.; and the other (Fellows) on the 6th day of September in a skirmish with the enemy near Wier Bottom church, Va.
Forty-one of the original members accepted veteran honors in January, 1864, determined to see the finish of the (pg. 512) war or perish in the attempt. The roster will show how many of these were permitted to return home at the muster-out of the regiment. It is perhaps unnecessary to say that it always maintained a high order of discipline under the old veteran, Captain Phillips, who was wounded and taken to Libby prison the 16th of May, 1864.
The survivors, now numbering some seventy, and who are widely scattered, are fully justified in calling it the banner company of the regiment
Roster of Company I.
... (pg. 521)
Riddle, George. Enlisted from Le Roy September 17th, 1861. Promoted Corporal June 27th, 1862. Mustered out September 17th, 1864, at expiration of service. Is living at Le Roy, Ill.
Comrade Riddle was born in Warren county, New Jersey, in 1840. He came to the State of Ohio when two years old with his parents, who settled in Licking county. His father died when he was but seven years old, leaving his mother with four sons and two daughters, all of whom went to Illinois in 1856, and settled in McLean county, which has been the home of the subject of this sketch ever since, except three years he was in the United States service as member of Company I, Thirty-Ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The occupation of Comrade Riddle before and after the was was that of a farmer. In politics he has been a staunch Republican and active worker. Was a delegate to the State Convention in 1884, and also in 1888. He has been a devoted member of the Grand Army of the Republic since the organization of the same in his locality. He had a brother killed at Fort Donelson, Thomas Riddle, for whom the G.A.R. Post of Le Roy, Ill., is named. His mother is still living, is eighty years old, and is a member of the Ladies' Relief Corps.
SUMMARY OF CASUALTIES, ETC.
Killed in battle 9 Died of Wounds 7 Died of Disease 5 Died in prison 3 Drowned 2 Wounded 48 Taken prisoner 16 Lost limbs 3 Discharged for disability 44 Transferred 7 Deserted 3 Mustered out at expiration of service 23 Number originally enlisted 85 Recruits 54 Number re-enlisted 41 Number returned home at muster-out 41 Number known to be living 70
*1 St. Louis, Missouri - back to text
*2 Sterling Price, former Missouri governor and then commander of Missouri troops loyal to the South - back to text
*3 - Thomas O. Osborn, the Chicago attorney who organized the regiment and initially served as its executive officer. He finished the war as a General - back to text
*4 - Dr. Charles M. Clark, then the regimental assistant surgeon - back to text
*5 - This would be the First Battle of Kernstown on March 23, 1862 - back to text
*6 - Sometime in late 1862 - back to text
*7 - Samuel Gillmore enlisted about the same time as Riddle and they served together as noncommissioned officers. At the time of the Second Battle of Drewry's Bluff Gillmore was a Lieutenant and was wounded through both thighs - back to text
*8 - Wren enlisted from LeRoy, IL, on February 13, 1864. In 1889 he was living in Deland, IL - back to text
*9 - Gillmore recovered and went on to command Company
I. At the battle of Fort Gregg, VA, on April 2, 1865, Gillmore was the
first man from the regiment to reach the parapet of the
fort. In 1889 he was living in Chase, KS - back to
text
*10 - Berry was wounded in the battle - back to text
*11 - This probably was either E.J. or T.J. Everett - E.J. was wounded during the battle - back to text
*12 - Most certainly during the summer of 1863 outside of Battery Wagner on Morris Island, SC, which protected Charleston, SC - back to text
*13 - Must not have been smashed too badly if he used it to carry Samuel Gillmore off the battlefield- back to text
*14 - Probably at what is know as the Engagement at Burgess Mill, VA, October 27, 1864 - back to text
*15 - Now Berkeley Springs, WV - back to text