Quotes from the Official Record of the Union and Confederate Armies:
Vicksburg, Miss., August 29, 1864.
Lieut. Col. H. C. RODGERS,
Assistant Adjutant-General, District of Vicksburg:
COLONEL: I would respectfully report that on the 26th instant I received a communication, by authority of the major-general command the district, from Captain Dana, aide-de-camp, that the regiment formed by the consolidation of the Marine Brigade would report to me and that I would encamp them comfortably within the limits of my command. On the 27th I received the order designating the organization as the Marine Regiment, and assigned them to the brigade. Lieut. Col. John A. Ellet, commanding the regiment, reported to me in person in the morning. I went with him and designated a camp in the valley next the river, on the left of the new fortifications and defenses, and directed him to move his regiment off the boats to the place designated soon as possible and go in camp in as good order as the nature of the ground would permit. About 3 p.m. I received the inclosed communication, marked Exhibit A:
EXHIBIT A:
HEADQUARTERS, MARINE REGIMENT Vicksburg, August 27, 1864
Captain CARTER,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Brig., First Div., Seventeenth Army Corps:CAPTAIN: I am compelled to inform you that the enlisted men on board their boat (Autocrat) refuse to leave it in obedience to my orders, except they go under guard. I am inclined to believe (without positive evidence) that the rest of the command are equally mutinous, and I therefore request that a sufficient force be immediately sent down here to enforce my orders.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN A. ELLET,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Marine Regiment
I reported the matter to the major-general command the district, who instructed me to call out a regiment of infantry, put down and quell any mutiny, enforce order, and march the regiment to camp. He also instructed Colonel Osband, commanding cavalry forces, to send a regiment of cavalry to report to me for the same purpose. The Seventy-second Illinois Infantry and Fifth Illinois Cavalry reported in due season on the levee near the boats. Captain Dana, aide-de-camp, and myself went on board the steamer Autocrat, found Brigadier-General Ellet, Lieutenant-Colonel Ellet, and other officers, evidently very much excited. I reported the command to General Ellet, stating we were prepared to enforce the orders. He asked me if I would fire on the men if they refused to go on shore? I told him I would if necessary, but thought it would be best to arrest the ringleaders if possible. He replied that they all seemed to be ringleaders. He desired Captain Dana to take some message to the major-general commanding the district in relation to the disturbance, and stated [sic] Major Tallerday, of the Marine Regiment, came on board and stated to General Ellet that he thought he could get the men on shore without much trouble, and if he should talk to them a little when they were in line thought they would go to camp willingly. The general requested him to try, and Lieutenant-Colonel Ellet desired the major to take command of the regiment and give the commands, as he was not posted in regard to them, stating also that doubtless they would go more quietly and willing with the major, as they had for the most part been under his command and never under him, also that they were particularly bitter against him, and seemed to think he was the cause of their being organized into a regiment so he could command them, accusing him of selling them out, &c. Captain Dana returned with the message from the major-general commanding the district, and General Ellet said he would place the whole matter in my charge, and instructed me to order the men off the boats, and if they did not go to force them. The men left the boats and formed line on the levee by companies in a disorderly, disorganized, lawless manner. Major Tallerday stated to each of the companies in succession that the question was not whether they would go to camp, because they were going peacefully or by force, whichever they might elect; that if they were going to camp peacefully to send details to load their baggage on the wagons in waiting, &c. Most of the companies expressed a willingness to go, and cheered. One company wished to know if they went to camp. The major said they did. They then said they would go. One squad of twenty-three men said they would not go unless they went under guard, and all men who would not go without guard were sent to this squad, which grew to number some forty-eight, mostly from one company known in the new organization as Company F, Captain Fisher commanding. One man in particular was very boisterous about it and seemed to be the leader and spokesman. I think if it had not been for him the whole company would have gone with the others without trouble. I would state that the officers of this company did not participate in this mutinous conduct of their men, but endeavored to keep them orderly and have them go to camp willingly with the others. The mutineers were placed under guard and confined in prison. The regiment was marched by Major Tallerday peaceably to camp. On the way some of the men were quite noisy, accusing their officers of all manner of things--of selling them out to the Massachusetts recruiting officers for a consideration, stealing cotton, &c., directing their abuse principally to Brigadier-General Ellet and Lieutenant-Colonel Ellet. They went quietly into camp. Some of the men did not wish to take shelter-tents, thought it was rough, &c., but put them up and are now occupying them. A guard was furnished General Ellet, at his request, over the steamers, to prevent any of the men from going on board again, and a guard is posted around the camp. The officers of the companies to which the mutineers belonged have been instructed to prepare charges without delay against them for mutiny. The regiment is demoralized, insubordinate, undisciplined, and grossly ignorant. The officers obey all orders willingly, and endeavor to maintain, to their best ability, I believe, good order and try to put down all insubordination, but they are dissatisfied, think themselves aggrieved and wronged. The men seem to care but little for their commands. With a few exceptions, they do not seem to be well posted as to their duties as soldiers, nor have they their souls or best energy in the regiment, neither do I think any of them ever will have, further than to obey all orders and instructions willingly. Major Tallerday is doing all that can be done with such a demoralized, disorganized mass, and deserves great credit therefor. The cause of the present trouble is that the officers and men were enlisted for a particular branch of the service. They have received no bounties, and are now consolidated from cavalry, infantry, and what is known by them as the Ram Fleet companies, &c. They represent every State in the Union. I do not think, as a regiment, they will ever be of any benefit or service whatever. If they were mustered out all of the men are good for anything would doubtless re-enlist.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
F. A. STARRING,
Colonel, Seventy-second Illinois Infantry, Comdg. first Brigade.