The Muster and Descriptive Roll of Company "A" 89th
Illinois Volunteer Infantry (The Railroad Regiment) shows Alfred
D. French was born in Massachusetts. Enlisting on August 14,
1862 in Chicago, French was 21, single, and gave his occupation
as farmer. He measured 5' 8" with brown hair and hazel eyes.
The Illinois Adjutant General's Report states Private French
was discharged May 24, 1865 due to wounds.
At the request of his 13 year-old granddaughter, A. D. French
wrote the following account of his service in the Union Army.
He was 90 years of age when he penned the account in 1933. The
material was for the child's school report on the Civil War.
Glenwood, Iowa
Oct. 23 1933
Dear Kathie,
You asked me to give you a little sketch of my army life in the
Civil war. Now, that was seventy years ago, and whether or not
I can make it interesting to you is a question. But I can tell
you where I was at that time.
I was living at Amboy Ill. And August 14 1862 went to Chicago
and enlisted for three years in Co. "A." 89th Ill. Vol.
Infy. There were four of us who went from Amboy. Viz. Scott,
Mellen, Walker, and myself, and with Cahill, a cousin of Walker's
we formed "Mess No. 3" = We remained in camp in Chicago
about three weeks, then were taken by train to Louisville, Ky.
= Here we got a taste of army life; we had to go on picket, dig
trenches, work on the fortifications, &c. Then about the
first of October we started on the march, my first experience;
went to Shelbyville, then on to Frankfort, Marched about 20 miles
a day, which was not bad. THEN, they called us up one morning
at one o'clock and started us on the march, and not on slow time
either. On we went until we reached the "Battle Field of
Perryville" at 9. PM. Distance 35 miles The longest days
march I ever made = We missed that battle by about four hours.
After a few days rest, we started on again, going to Danville
and Crab Orchard, the "about faced" and went West to
Bowling Green and went into camp at "Lost River", a
some what noted place. I remember reading about it in my reader
when I was a six year old school boy. It is in a deep ravine;
a full fledged river, say 30 feet wide bursts out from under the
ledge of rock, runs swiftly about 30 rods, then sinks away and
is lost forever = A short rest here, then "on, on, on the
boys went marching" until we crossed into Tennessee, and
went into camp at Tyree Springs = a very pretty place. With only
one house = The Confederates in their retreat from Ky. had torn
up the rail road from Bowling Green to Nashville, Tenn. So that
all of the supplies for the army had to be taken through by mule
teams.
Stations were located on the line about 25 miles a part, and
there the teams would stop for the night. It was a pleasant camping
ground but rather heavy duty. We had to go on picket every other
night, half of the regiment on duty one night and the other half,
the next night = No rations were issued to us while here. We
had to forage for our living. Two weeks later we marched on to
Nashville, Tenn.
We arrived in Nashville Nov 20 1862 and our duty while
there was picketing, scouting, and foraging for feed, for the
horses & mules. I remember one of those trips very well indeed
We learned of a large farm some seven or eight miles out,
where the corn had not been gathered; the owner was a Colonel
in the Confederate Army. As he could not well attend to the harvesting,
our regiment was sent out to do the work, and we did it = Was
not that a kindly act on our part? We cleaned the field of corn,
but I think they must have forgotten to tell us where the cribs
were.
Anyway we kept all, and took it back to camp with us. We staid
in Nashville until the morning of Dec 26 Then we = we started
on the march and we = did get into it for sure = Before noon we
met with heavy opposition. Our reg was ordered to support a battery
of light artillery (six cannon) which was planted on a high ridge
= Then they opened on the enemy with grape and cannister, and
as they fell back, we followed them up, through fields and woods
until night, and how it did rain = not a pleasant experience battle
"at five o'clock, and for four days we were marching, scouting
& skirmishing; evening of Dec 30 we were four miles from Murfreesboro
ready to march in the next morning.
Dec 31 1862
This morning we were not in "line of battle" at five
o'clock, as usual. Why not? That question has never been
answered = A little past six I was cooking my breakfast (bacon
& coffee), the orderly sergeant sitting beside me We
heard a terrific yell right close. He said to me, "That
sounds like a charge." We jumped up and here came the enemy,
on the "Double Quick" = We were surprised. = I had
my equipment on, and my gun by my side. So I got in a couple
of quick shots, but all was confusion, and there was nothing to
do but to get back as fast as possible WHICH I DID = After
a while I saw a regiment that was in good order, and I asked one
of their captains, if I might fall in with them; so I kept with
them the rest of the day. About 5 o'clock I saw a member of my
company, and went with him back to the regiment. There were about
200 of them, out of the 500 of the day before. Mellen of our
mess was wounded, lived only ten days = Our Brigadier General
and our Lt. Colonel were captured together with, I don't know
how many men = They also got our tents, baggage, and food supplies,
leaving us with just what we had on our backs = Now was not that
pretty tough for our first days fighting?
But the Battle was not over-
= January 1 1863 =
We were up early this morning. No cooking to do, but as we had
been driven back about two miles the day before, we wanted if
possible to recover that during the day = No time was wasted on
cooking as we had nothing to cook. I found some nuts under a
black walnut tree, which I cracked and ate as I go a chance; also
in some way out commissary got hold of a load of corn and each
man was given one ear = The fighting was not heavy today, but
continued skirmishing, as we moved our lines forward until we
were practically back where we were the evening of Dec 30.
= Jan 2 1863 =
The forenoon was spent in getting the men in the best position
for the final struggle. Our brigade was placed in front, and
Col. Gibson, in command said to us, "Boys, I expect we will
be called on the make a charge, and if so, I want every man to
feel that the result of this battle depends upon himself alone,
and fight accordingly." Scarcely were the words spoken when
General McCook, bareheaded and swinging his sword shouted, "Colonel,
take your Brigade and meet them on the charge." (The confederates,
10 deep were charging on us)
Then there was something doing. I cannot describe it = But we
broke the Confederate ranks, and won = The Battle of Stone River
=
The next two days we gathered and buried the dead, then marched
into Murfreesboro = It was a pleasant place. And we camped there
until the first of June, spending most of our time in building
forts and fortifying the city = On the evening of June 23
1863 the order came: "Be ready to march at 7 o'clock tomorrow
morning, with three days rations in your haversacks, and 40 rounds
of cartridges in your cartidge boxes." = So the next mornig
we again started on the march.
A little before noon we came to a farm where eight or then men
were engaged in harvesting a field of grain = We captured them
and found them to be confederate soldiers who had been detailed
to help the farmers harvest their grain. So we invited them to
eat dinner with us before they were sent back as prisoners.
About two o'clock in the afternoon we came upon the enemy in
force; then the trouble began.
The Confederates were on the crest of a high ridge which was
covered with trees, while the sloping sides were cultivated =
Our brigade was ordered to take possession of that hill = Now,
you will understand that was no enviable undertaking, but we must
obey orders, and we did = In about three hours we not only occupied
the hill, but had their tents and much of the camp equipage which
we found very convenient that night.
The next morning we learned the enemy was not satisfied with
the result of the work of the previous day, but made no great
effort to regain possession of the hill; but the third day they
came back in earnest = Three desperate, but unsuccessful charges
they made upon us, then gave it up, and
= The Battle of Liberty Gap = was won
That night we gathered fuel and built large camp fires, then
about 9 o'clock we quietly started south and marched until one
o'clock, when we camped for a few hours rest. Then we went on
to Hoovers Gap. We hoped for a day of rest here but no. We must
go on picket; and when we came back the next morning, the order
was "We march at 7" (Should you wish a fuller account
of this battle see my book of letters pages 63 & 64)
Now it is one thing to order a body of troops to start on a march
at a certain hour, some times, quite another to get them started
at that time. Any way it was nearly noon, when we really started
on what turned out to be The Hardest Days March I Ever Made =
We marched very leisurely for two hours, then they began to hurry
us, and it was Hot. Hot. Hot. I was ready to stop at five o'clock,
but no, it was forward. Hurry up. "Six-seven-eight. No sign
of stopping. Nine. And, "halt," and then the order was
given "One hour for coffee, then four miles to camp."
At ten we started again, and at the same time it began to rain.
I kept agoing until one o'clock, then I said to Walker, "I
cannot go another step." That's just my fix," said
he = We stepped a few feet the side of the road, and I spread
my blanket on the ground. We laid down and he spread his blanket
over us, and we lay there until eight in the morning I think
there were only 16 in the regiment who on until they reached the
place we were expected to camp, which proved to be ten miles from
where we "Made our Coffee." = Instead of four = It
was a very comfortable place, and we lay there two days doing
absolutely nothing.
On the morning of the third day, we were told to clear the ground
for a permanent camp. It was an ideal place, in the timber, level,
plenty of water. So by noon we had it in good shape to commence
putting up tents. While eating our dinner, the order cam. "We
march at One o'clock," and we obeyed, and at eleven o'clock
that night (July - 1 1863) we camped at Tullahoma Tenn =
where we remained until Aug 16 1863 = That last week in
June was truly a hard one, and the weather! It rained everyday,
and every night = Here is an incident that may interest you.
When we left Murfreesboro on our march, we left our knapsack
to be brought on by wagons, when we should get definitely located
= But the roads were very bad, and one day coming to a bad mud
hole they pile the contents of tow (I think) of the wagons into
it, to make the rpad passable for the waqgaon train. Some time
later, the 75th Ill. Marching by, on of the men saw a Bible sticking
in the mud. He got it out, found my name, company & regiment
in it, and brought it to me as they marched through Tullahoma
and I have it yet =
Out stay at Tullahoma was very ----- weather was fine, little
to do, and after the first week we had plenty to eat.
We left Tullahoma at 5 P.M. Aug 16 (Nice time to start on a march
) and six days later we reached Bell Fonte Alabama = It was not
a long march, in miles, but it was in mountainous region. We
had much heavy work in moving our wagon train, and artillery.
From Belle Fonte we moved slowly eastward, meeting on opposition,
until Sept 17 when we camped on the east side of the Mountain
Ridge Sept 19 we resumed our march eastward at 7 A.M.
and before noon we could hear the roar of the artillery below
us --- we did not stop for dinner but moved rapidly forward until
a little past 2 P.M we stood upon =The Battlefield of Chicamaugua,
Georgia = At once we were ordered to take the place of a Brigade
whose amunition was exhausted, and charge and take a battery that
was cutting down our men. Instead of moving the men away, (whose
place we were to take), they were made to lie flat on the ground,
and we charged right over them and on we went = But I went but
a very little ways = A musket ball struck my left arm.
I told my captain, who was not far from me, that I was hit, and
he asked, "Can you get back alone" and I said, I thought
I could, and he in reply, "All right if you can." So
I turned back, and he went on with the company = I got nearly
back to the men we had charged over, hen I began to get faint,
and I heard some one say "theres a boy that aint going to
get back much farther; couple of you jump up and help him , and
two men came and helped me back to where I would not be under
fire, laid me on the ground and left me (That was about 3 P.M.
and I lay there until 10 AM next day) My captain was wounded
about two hours after I was, and was brought back and laid near
me He only lived two hours = Our Lt. Colonel was killed
that same afternoon.
This ended my service with my regiment and, for a time, ended
"Mess No 3", I was the only representative of our mess
in this great battle = Cahill broke down under the hard marching
in Kentucky and was discharged; Mellen killed at Stone River
Scott was sick a Nashville Hospital, and Walker had been sent
North on recruiting service, but these two, later both Walker
and Scott returned to the company and were mustered out with the
regiment at the close of the war.
(Now going back to page 11=) A little before Sept 2- mo. I ,
with hundred of others, were gathered from the battle field, and
taken in an ambulance train to Chattanooga, some 7 or 8 miles,
and laid on the floor of the old Confederate barrack; two day
later we were taken in army wagons across the river, and unloaded
in the woods, and that night about 9 P.M. for the first time I
had a surgeon dress my wounds, received five days before = Two
days later we were given a tent with bunks made of fence trails,
and covered with straw; there was room in a tent for 16 men =
Rations were scant, a cup of coffee and a cracker filled the bill,
(but not my stomach) I remained here about a month. Then 7
or 8 miles by ambulance to the Boat lane --- miles by steamer
to Bridgeport Alabama. We lay here two days = then a cattle car
was clean some straw thrown in and twenty of us took possession
= We were given a box of Army Crackers a half barrel of water
and a tin cup = and the car was locked = thirty six hours later
it us unlocked and we were taken to Hospital No 19, Nashville.
Here we got good care and plenty to eat.
Many thanks to Bob Grenier who donated this information and a great big thanks to Phil Reyburn who transcribed it from the original handwritten version.