The Boy of Battle Ford and the Man
Publication Year: 2012
Published by: Southern Illinois University Press
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Publisher's Note
Introduction
Download PDF (72.5 KB)
pp. 7-9
The Boy of Battle Ford and the Man tells a true story as ancient as armies: a young person goes off to war, and an older one, changed by experience, returns. The best of these stories are usually told by enlisted personnel—the privates, corporals, and sergeants who bear the greatest hardships...
Chapter I
Download PDF (187.8 KB)
pp. 11-17
I was born on the eighth day of February, 1840, in a log dwelling on a little farm seven miles south of Harrisburg, Illinois, and one mile south of the village of Independence. In November, 1842, my family moved from the home of my birth to the Battle Ford farm on the Saline river...
CHAPTER II
Download PDF (183.9 KB)
pp. 17-23
During the flrst seven years of my, life, the date of the events of which. I am writing, I saw only one wagon except the clumsy truck wagon whose wheels were sawed from black gum logs. Sleds were used generaly in moving wbat could not be carried easily on the men's shoulders. The roads of that date were...
CHAPTER IIIa
Download PDF (168.1 KB)
pp. 23-28
Our family library consisted of an old Bible. printed in italic letters, with only one letter for the f's and s s. They were f's. It was so difficult for our family to read that it was not used much. The other piece of book in the library was a part of John A. Murrell's life. It was called "The Murder Book." Everybody wanted to read...
CHAPTER IIIb
Download PDF (189.3 KB)
pp. 28-34
My mother had three sisters living near Brushy Fork creek, eight miles south of Galatia, ten miles north of our home. They and their husbands asked us to sell our claim and buy one near them. My oldest sister had died before my father, and another sister, who was born two months after my father's...
CHAPTER IV
Download PDF (133.5 KB)
pp. 34-38
On August 1, 1850, our uncle, who had helped to raise us, was married to Miss Julia Boatright, an excellent woman, and began housekeeping in his new house, one-fourth of a mile south of our home. We then hired our house rebuilt one-fourth of a mile east of its former location, while we resided with our uncle...
CHAPTER V
Download PDF (205.1 KB)
pp. 38-45
But alas! on the 17th day of June, 1852, we saw our dear mother and William A. Harris stand on the floor and be joined in the bond of matrimony by Elder Edmon Vinson, in the presence of the relatives and friends. We could not say a word that would effect anything...
CHAPTER VI
Download PDF (355.9 KB)
pp. 45-57
On the 13th of the next March I went to live with my brother. Of all the years I have lived, those six years and nine months just mentioned were the most unhappy ones. I believe it to be a criminal mistake to unite two families into one, unless the parents are as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves. God...
CHAPTER VII
Download PDF (273.4 KB)
pp. 57-62
On the Monday following, Captain Roark's company and Captain Horning's company encamped at Shawneetown, on the Ohio river. I was the orderly sergeant of the latter company. If muster-in-day had come soon I was likely to be rejected, as I had not yet recovered...
CHAPTER VIII
Download PDF (189.9 KB)
pp. 62-68
We started to Vicksburg on the ninth of May on some boat, and landed near that place on the thirteenth of same month. The enemy, knowing where the boat would come close to the bank of the river on either side of it, ambushed us several times, but succeeded in killing...
CHAPTER IXa
Download PDF (282.9 KB)
pp. 68-78
On July 29 we left the sickly place and landed at evening at the water's edge in Memphis, Tennessee, August 1, landed. 1863, and camped where we landed. The next day we were put off the cars, in Corinth, Miss. I suppose we were the sickest and dirtiest regiment that ever came north to recuperate. Two regiments...
CHAPTER IXb
Download PDF (100.4 KB)
pp. 78-81
I was sent with another squad of our company to the north of the city at midnight, as an attack on the lines was expected any hour. But before noon the next day, June 1, we were relieved, and in the afternoon took the cars for Colliersville, fifty miles away, as a start in the...
CHAPTER X
Download PDF (257.0 KB)
pp. 81-90
To relate the operations of those days as I saw them and felt them and knew of them I regarded as pertinent to the mission of the book, as my own turning from death and regeneration by the spirit of God to be his son was effected in time which includes everyone of the...
CHAPTER XI
Download PDF (225.9 KB)
pp. 90-97
Comrade Vinson passed me, with a book in his hand, which I borrowed. That was on the day of our arrival there. I read on the back, "Nelson on Infidelity." Opening the book on the title plege, I read, "The Cause and Cure of Infidelity;" I was a great lover of books and especially of those...
CHAPTER XII
Download PDF (103.4 KB)
pp. 97-100
Soon after our return to camp a one armed man came to our regiment and inquired for John Parks. I went in search of Parks, in company with the man. We soon met him. The man asked Parks if he remembered him. Parks said, "I have seen you somewhere, but I cannot...
CHAPTER XIV
Download PDF (137.1 KB)
pp. 100-104
The twenty-third day of December, 1864, came, with its northwest clouds and its Arctic winds, more piercing than was common for that clime, and with them came the welcome news that Dick Davis was to be hanged in Fort Pickering that very afternoon. The reason the...
CHAPTER XV
Download PDF (168.1 KB)
pp. 104-109
Expeditions were made to different places and for different purposes all through the winter, but our camp was not changed. Provost and picket service was the ordinary duty, unless detailed for tramps into the country or rushed to some place to aid some army or to cut off some...
CHAPTER XVI
Download PDF (288.0 KB)
pp. 109-119
The preacher asked those who were willing to do so, to come to the altar. With much effort I rose and gradually advanced through the mass of people, till I reached the altar. The preacher extended his hand and exclaimed (involuntarily, as it seemed to me) "Bless God!" Doubtless he was...
CHAPTER XVII
Download PDF (138.0 KB)
pp. 119-123
Early in April, with deep sorrow, our men heard of the loss of two hundred members of the Fifty-sixth regiment, Illinois infantry. The tragedy did not occur in a battle. This narrator does not intend to note battles, except as they affected The Boy of Battle Ford directly or...
CHAPTER XVIII
Download PDF (206.8 KB)
pp. 123-130
It was early in May that I came to understand that I was already a true Christian. Four more months elapsed before my regiment was discharged and sent home. The great war was practically over. There was enough to do to keep all of us busy, in the service of the...
CHAPTER XIX
Download PDF (394.6 KB)
pp. 131-145
About November 1, 1866, I attended a series of meetings at the South America Baptist church of evenings, but taught school each day. I was very anxious to see sinners converted and often felt like I wanted to instruct inquirers, but could not afford to try lest I be in...
CHAPTER XX
Download PDF (250.8 KB)
pp. 145-153
The task I had long expected to perform is done. I should here lay my pen down and rely on God to make this true and uncouth story a blessing to many whose souls weigh heavily on the author's heart but for the fact that the readers will generally wish to know if...
Sources for the Introduction
Download PDF (42.0 KB)
pp. 157-
Index
Download PDF (386.8 KB)
pp. 159-162
E-ISBN-13: 9780809331291
Print-ISBN-13: 9780809331284
Publication Year: 2012
