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From "The History of the 84th Regiment Illinois Volunteers" by L. A. Simmons, Chapter I. Originally published August 12, 1865.
"About the 25th of July the camp of rendezvous for this regiment was changed to Quincy Ills., for during this month the army of the Potomac had met with terrible reverses; the army in Southern Tennessee was being forced back into Kentucky; the President in this emergency had called for three hundred thousand volunteers; and the quota of Illinois, now being about forty regiments instead of four, it became necessary to establish camps of rendezvous in the several congressional districts of the State. Now it was, that the peril of our government became apparent to every one; farmers left their crops standing in the field, mechanics threw aside their tools, merchants hastened to turn the measuring of calicoes and ribbons into other hands, and all rushed into camp, earnest, anxious, zealous, to do their part in sustaining the best government the world ever saw in upholding the Constitution and the laws. During the month of July and the early part of August, ten companies were filled up and organized for the 84th Regt. Ills Vols, and before 15th of August, all were in camp near Quincy Ills. Our abstract of the records of the regiment shows the original organization to have been as follows: Company C was organized at Macomb about July 1; William Ervin, Capt., Epaphroditus C. Coulson 1st Lieut., William P. Pearson, 2d Lieut. . . . The organization of the regiment was completed about the 15th of August. Thomas Hamer having been appointed Lt. Col., Charles H. Morton, Maj., James B. Kyle, Surgeon, David McDill and Elijah C. Marshall Assistant Surgeons Charles E. Waters, Adjutant, Samuel L. Roe, Quartermaster and Rev. Ralph Harris, Chaplain. The following men were selected for the noncommissioned staff, - John W. Frierson of Co F, for Sergeant Major, Andrew S. McDowell of Co. I, Quartermaster Sergeant, Monroe P. Edwards, Commissary Sergeant, and Thomas B. Maury, Hospital Steward. The position of the several companies in the regiment was determined by drawing lots for letters – when Capt. Higgins drew A which placed his company on the right, Capt. Grewell B, which placed his company on the left, Capt. Ervin C. which made his the right center or Color company of the regiment. For the benefit of those who have not been in the service, we will here state, that the companies of a regiment are arranged by letter, and commencing on the right, stand in the following order, A, F, D, I, C, H, E, K, G, B. As soon as the several companies went into camp, Col Waters had them well supplied with clothing and camp equipage, and made drill the order of the day from 8 a. m. to 4 p. m. Saturdays excepted.
After the organization of the Regiment was completed, the drill was vigorously continued and too much credit can scarcely be given Col. Waters for his indefatigable efforts at this time, to render his Regiment fit for immediate duty in the field. His recent experience in the 28th Il., Vols, rendered him thoroughly competent as a drill-master and tactician. In Capt. Garternicht he found an able and thorough assistant, for Capt. G, had not only drilled with Col. Waters in the 28th Ill. Vols., but had seen several years actual service in the German army. The month of August was devoted to drill and the study of the Regulations and Tactics.
The sudden change from citizen to camp life, could not of course be made without inducing considerable disease, and as most were for the first time compelled to cook for themselves most of the food during the first month was badly prepared. To become a thorough soldier, a man has many things to learn, and during this month we must contend that the Regiment as a whole, made good progress. Before the end of the month we were said to be ready for muster into the U. S. service, and awaited somewhat anxiously the arrival of the mustering officer, to make us a part of the grand army of the Union. The rolls were prepared about the 20th and on the last day of the month Capt. Ewing arrived. But of muster and the incidents of the ensuing three months in another Chapter."
"About the 25th of July the camp of rendezvous for this regiment was changed to Quincy Ills., for during this month the army of the Potomac had met with terrible reverses; the army in Southern Tennessee was being forced back into Kentucky; the President in this emergency had called for three hundred thousand volunteers; and the quota of Illinois, now being about forty regiments instead of four, it became necessary to establish camps of rendezvous in the several congressional districts of the State. Now it was, that the peril of our government became apparent to every one; farmers left their crops standing in the field, mechanics threw aside their tools, merchants hastened to turn the measuring of calicoes and ribbons into other hands, and all rushed into camp, earnest, anxious, zealous, to do their part in sustaining the best government the world ever saw in upholding the Constitution and the laws. During the month of July and the early part of August, ten companies were filled up and organized for the 84th Regt. Ills Vols, and before 15th of August, all were in camp near Quincy Ills. Our abstract of the records of the regiment shows the original organization to have been as follows: Company C was organized at Macomb about July 1; William Ervin, Capt., Epaphroditus C. Coulson 1st Lieut., William P. Pearson, 2d Lieut. . . . The organization of the regiment was completed about the 15th of August. Thomas Hamer having been appointed Lt. Col., Charles H. Morton, Maj., James B. Kyle, Surgeon, David McDill and Elijah C. Marshall Assistant Surgeons Charles E. Waters, Adjutant, Samuel L. Roe, Quartermaster and Rev. Ralph Harris, Chaplain. The following men were selected for the noncommissioned staff, - John W. Frierson of Co F, for Sergeant Major, Andrew S. McDowell of Co. I, Quartermaster Sergeant, Monroe P. Edwards, Commissary Sergeant, and Thomas B. Maury, Hospital Steward. The position of the several companies in the regiment was determined by drawing lots for letters – when Capt. Higgins drew A which placed his company on the right, Capt. Grewell B, which placed his company on the left, Capt. Ervin C. which made his the right center or Color company of the regiment. For the benefit of those who have not been in the service, we will here state, that the companies of a regiment are arranged by letter, and commencing on the right, stand in the following order, A, F, D, I, C, H, E, K, G, B. As soon as the several companies went into camp, Col Waters had them well supplied with clothing and camp equipage, and made drill the order of the day from 8 a. m. to 4 p. m. Saturdays excepted.
After the organization of the Regiment was completed, the drill was vigorously continued and too much credit can scarcely be given Col. Waters for his indefatigable efforts at this time, to render his Regiment fit for immediate duty in the field. His recent experience in the 28th Il., Vols, rendered him thoroughly competent as a drill-master and tactician. In Capt. Garternicht he found an able and thorough assistant, for Capt. G, had not only drilled with Col. Waters in the 28th Ill. Vols., but had seen several years actual service in the German army. The month of August was devoted to drill and the study of the Regulations and Tactics.
The sudden change from citizen to camp life, could not of course be made without inducing considerable disease, and as most were for the first time compelled to cook for themselves most of the food during the first month was badly prepared. To become a thorough soldier, a man has many things to learn, and during this month we must contend that the Regiment as a whole, made good progress. Before the end of the month we were said to be ready for muster into the U. S. service, and awaited somewhat anxiously the arrival of the mustering officer, to make us a part of the grand army of the Union. The rolls were prepared about the 20th and on the last day of the month Capt. Ewing arrived. But of muster and the incidents of the ensuing three months in another Chapter."