The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings ta ever one in western Illinois and all readers of "The Quill."
Here we are in the month of March already. In a week, March 12, Daylight Saving Time begins. Spring your clock forward. In a little over two weeks we will have the first day of spring. This Wednesday, March 1st is Ash Wednesday. Time marches on.
Live Statue of Liberty
A relative live'n in Florida (Jim) was nice enough ta send this photo taken back in 1918 of 18,000 men prepare'n fer war in the train'n camp at Camp Dodge, just outside Johnston/Des Moines, Iowa. I reckon all these men are gone now, some ta the ravages of war, the rest ta the ravages of "Old Age."
Facts on the picture:
Base to Shoulder: 150 feet; Right Arm: 340 feet
Widest part of arm holding torch: 12 1/2 feet
Right thumb: 35 feet; Thickest part of body: 29 feet
Left hand length: 30 feet; Face: 60 feet; Nose: 21 feet
Longest spike of head piece: 70 feet; Torch and flame: 980 feet
Number of men in flame of torch: 12,000
Number of men in torch: 2,800; Number of men in right arm: 1,200
Number of men in body, head, and balance of figure only: 2,000
Total men: 18,000
This incredible picture was taken almost 100 years ago as a priceless gift from our grandfathers.
War
Thank goodness fer our soldiers. They made tremendous sacrifices. This picture caused me to reflect on my great great grandfather who fought with Sherman for the Union Army in the Civil War in the 129th Infantry Illinois Regiment.
He was mustered out of service on June 8, 1865 after it was organized September 8, 1862. Two (2) officers died of disease or accident, no officers were killed. Fifty (50) enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded and (128) one hundred twenty eight enlisted men died of disease or accident. There were 927 officers and men make'n up 10 companies.
From the middle of December, 1862 till the first of June 1863, they guarded the railroad from Bowling Green, KY ta Gallatin, Tennessee, dure'n which time they had frequent collisions with the Confederates in repelling their attacks on the railroad. Dure'n the Atlanta Campaign they participated in the principal battles, marched ta the sea with Sherman and marched up through the Carolinas, fighting at Averasboro and Bentonville, and then marched to Washington and participated in the Grand Review. They then proceeded ta Chicago and on June 10, 1865, received their final payment and discharge. They had fought in 20 major battles:
Battles: Fought on 15 May 1864 at Resaca, GA. Fought on 25 May 1864 at Dallas, GA. Fought on 27 May 1864 at Dallas, GA. Fought on 4 June 1864 at Dallas, GA. Fought on 15 June 1864 at Marietta, GA. Fought on 15 June 1864 at Allatoona, GA. Fought on 22 June 1864 at Kenesaw Mountain, GA. Fought on 3 July 1864 at Marietta, GA. Fought on 10 July 1864. Fought on 11 July 1864. Fought on 20 July 1864 at Peach Tree Creek, GA. Fought on 23 July 1864 at Atlanta, GA. Fought on 1 August 1864 at Atlanta, GA. Fought on 13 August 1864 at Atlanta, GA. Fought on 15 August 1864. Fought on 19 November 1864. Fought on 20 November 1864. Fought on 25 February 1865. Fought on 16 March 1865 at Taylor's Hole Creek, NC. Fought on 16 March 1865 at Averysboro, NC.
After be'n mustered out in Chicago my great great grandfather came back ta the farm an hardly wanted to leave it (seen too many awful things). All dure'n the war he had a wife and children at home on the farm. His brother died in service in Georgia, where he is buried.
In 1915 as he was fad'n away, he called all his children and grandchildren ta his bedroom in his old two story farm house and stated his wishes fer their lives after he passed. The next morn'n he was gone.
My grandmother was one of those called ta his side and passed this on ta me, first hand. His picture hangs in my house, along with his wife, five (5) sons and three (3) daughters. With their picture is each successive generation of pictures, down ta me and my family. And this history has been passed along ta my children and grandchildren ta pass along ta theirs.
If'n ya can keep tract of your history it gives a better hold on matters of here and now. Keep our troops who are on duty, in ya prayers.
Hope'n ta see youn's in church this week.
Remember: Wherever ya are, whatever ya be a do'n, "BE A GOOD ONE!"
Keep on Smile'n
Catch ya later
Barnyard Bruke