16th Illinois Infantry Officers Letters & Three Generals Signed Letters

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Letter and document group pertaining to Lt. Colonel James B. Cahill of the 16th Illinois Infantry, who served from 1861-1864, contains ten letters by Lt. Colonel Cahill as well as three signed by Union Generals Granger, Reynolds, and Morgan. Cahill’s letters are mostly multipaged, quarto, signed “JB Cahill” and read in part: “...[Steamer N.W. Thomas near Fort Pillow, April 12, 1862] we landed at the Arkansas shore...the move was merely getting the fleet into position to commence operations. Instead of attacking the Fort by land as I expected and wished we are probably to have another No. 10 seige. We first shell from our mortars was fired about noon yesterday and has been kept up at intervals since the enemy did not reply until this afternoon. Some of their shot apparently strinking the water near our gunboats, which are stationed about 1-1/2 miles below us but in plain view. The Fort and enemy’s boats are behind a point of timber and can not be seen from where we are....two deserters has arrived at Genl. Pope’s Head Qrs. but their information is not made public....I took a long walk on the shore...to a large plantation belonging to a widow lady who left for Mississippi the day before we arrived taking her negroes with her except one that gave me much information concerning the country...Everything about the farm part of the establishment looked ‘Nigger’ all over...[Steamer N.W. Thomas Rendezvous, Near Fort Pillow April 13, 1862] Our fleet consisting of nine gun boats, four mortars, two steam ‘Tugs’ and eighteen steamers arrived at this point yesterday...The rebel gun boats appeared in sight yesterday mrongin but retreated out of range until under the guns of Fort Pillow which is about eight miles below us. Our gun boats have gone forward to make a reconnaisance...The stars and stripes will wave in Pillow, Randolph and Memphis during this week if not the next 36 hours...Our boat is an excellent one and I have secured a good room in the ladies cabin...[Steamaer N.W. Thomas at Cairo, April 19, 1862 4 o’clock A.M.] Here we are again, evidently bound for the Tennessee River to reinforce Genl Grant’s Army at Corinth....[Steamer N.W. Thomas April 19, 1862] I am happy to inform yu that the late difficulty in the 16th has entirely subsided the evening of Col. Smith having signally failed in their designs, I was only affected by it so far as interested in the welfare of my firends. I have always been on the best of terms with all the Officers of our Regt. with the exception of McAllister of course a professional jealousy existed but did not interfere with our social relations. As for McAllister I have always avoided him since I became acquainted with his character...The late affair of my arrest was a perfect force and although I believe that certain officers were interested in attempting to tie my hands while Col. S was being operated against...[In the Field Near Pittsburg Landing April 25, 1862]Our Division is located in advance on the extreme left of our Army. About six miles south of the late battlefield....There has been no fighting since we arrived except between pickets...the general impression appears to be that they will again attack us or else evacuate Corinth...[Stevenson, Ala., September 28, 1863]I am ordered to stop all trains & stores at this place it may be merely cautionary but I am a little afraid that the Genl. is too far from his Reserves and has not had time to concentrate his front, but we can’t be whipped...Our horses are at the door a gallop of 2 hours will take me to the Regt....A dispatch to Genl. Morgan ‘hold the bridges at all hazards’ is put rec’d something must have happened...I can’t believe that our Army is whipped. I will go to my Regt. immediately...” More. ...plus; Manuscript Letter Signed by GENERAL JAMES D. MORGAN, 1p. quarto, Head Quarters United States Forces, Anderson Cross Roads, Tenn, October 29, 1863, addressed to Lt. Col. Cahill, reads “Your report of the 28th received. You deserve thanks for your promptness and vigilance, I very cheerfully award it to you...” Fine...plus; Manuscript Letter Signed by GENERAL JAMES JONES REYNOLDS, 1p. quarto, Head Quarters, Department of the Cumberland, Chattanooga, Tenn., November 12, 1863, addressed to Lt. Col. Cahill, reads “The General Commanding Dept. is highly gratified with the zeal and energy which you have displayed in establishing the Depot at Kelly’s Ferry, and returns his thanks to you and your regiment...” Fine...plus; Manuscript Letter Signed by GENERAL ROBERT S. GRANGER, 1p. octavo, Head quarters U.S. Forces, Nashville, Tenn. May 7, 1864, introducing Mrs. Cahill to the Military Conductor of the Nashville and Chatanooga Rail Road. Fine...plus; Three letters by a soldier named Fred Cahill who is Captain at this time and seems to be the same man as J.B. Cahill as he writes to his wife ‘Nellie” the corrspondent of Lt Col. Cahill’s, so ‘Fred’ may be a nickname, these letters read in part: “...[Rifle Pit near New Madrid, March 13,]am tired of watching the flight of shot & shell through the air so I will occupy mind to relieve suspense with this copy of my marching orders & a shovel on teh edge of my pit for a desk here goes for a letter from a battlefield. If you will excuse dirt & broken sentences as I have to ‘down’ every few seconds. As you will notice by the order we left ccamp after dakr...drove in teh Rebel pickets & planted a battery of 4 heavy guns within 1/2 mile of the enemy’s fort and are now trying to shell ‘em out. Our force here is 10th Ills. 6 companies, 16th 2 Cos Regulars with a reserve in rear. My company is deplyed in ‘pits’ forward of battery and will ahve hot place if an attempt as we expect is made to capture our artillery. Only one man Capt. [?] 10 Ills of our force has yet been killed...A shell struck one of our guns since I commenced but I cant see from here what damage is done. I think some men are wounded. We opened fire at daylight and are replied to from teh Fort & 3 gunboats, about 30 guns their shots mostly pass over us...We will proably take the fort by storm or be reinforced by more artillery as it is the odds are greatly against us but if they will come out we will soon settle the thing...[In the Field Miss. Apr 28th, 1862]There was quite a spirited skirmish in front of our camp this evening between pickets, resulting in three killed and six captured of the enemies and one severely wounded on our side. I happened to be taking a walk at the time and witnessed most of the affair. One of the prisoners attempted to escape after being taken but was soon overhauled and dismounted by a cavalry sabere, they are a villianous looking set of cut throat dogs and undoubtedly belong to a gang that have benn shooting our pickets every opportunity which is considered very dishonorable in warfare, but i have yet to see an instance of honorable conduct in a secessionist since they dishonored our flag...” More. Most letters are VG to Fine. A nice group.

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