ILLINOIS STATE DAIR1 MEN'S ASSOCIATION. 65 



their arms about their necks, and we moved down, not four front, but 

 twenty or thirty front, and our rifles pointed seventeen different ways 

 for Sunday, so I made up my mind remembering I had been a boy once to 

 let them have as good a time as they could. Amidst tears and cheers and 

 music and love and laughter the '"Dandy First of Illinois" marched away 

 to the unknown chances of a great campaign. 



We spent a few weeks at Springfield and from there were ordered, to 

 Chickamauga. Our stay in Chickamauga was delightful. We had a 

 beautiful camp and I believe that the effect of that famous battlefield on 

 us all lifted up our feelings of patriotism and impressed on us the great- 

 ness of the cause in which we were engaged. It was a delight to mount 

 our horses and ride about all the portions of this great field' which had 

 been preserved so beautifully, where we could see which regiment fought 

 here and there, and the number of killed and wounded. That field you 

 remember was the scene of the wounding and death of pretty near 22,000 

 men in battle. 



From Chickamauga we went to Tampa, and- at Tampa we joined the 

 Fifth Army Corps, which was practically the regular army corps, and 

 supposed we were to go immediately to Cuba with the first expedition. 



Here I first met that famous man, William Shafter, commander 

 of the expedition for Cuba. I will say it had been my misfortune to incur 

 the displeasure of some of the regular army officers, Shafter among them, 

 by having advocated a bill for the purpose of giving the National Guard 

 the chance to go out in this war as they were organized. 



I was ordered to report to Gen. Shafter on arrival, so I left my men 

 in the trains at Tampa City and went to the headquarters of his adjutant 

 general. I said: "I am Col. Turner of the First Illinois. We are here 

 for duty, so many strong." 



"Hm! You better see the General." 



I walked into the General's room. He was seated at his table and 

 there were present with him two other officers. I waited a moment until 

 he was through speaking with one of them and looked up: "General 

 Shafter, I am Col. Turner of the First Illinois and ordered to report to 

 you for duty." 



