Lieutenant James S. McHenry Facing Chap. III, page 25 Cut Site of Fort Henry Facing Chapter III, page 25 Calvin Steel Facing Chapter IV, page 45 View of Pittsburg Landing Facing Chapter IV, page 45 Samuel H. Fletcher Facing Chapter V, page 59 Shiloh Monument (Cut) Special Commands Facing Chapter V, page 59 Joseph Sheaff Facing Chapter VI, page 77 Peter Sheaff Facing Chapter VI, page 77 Osborn Shannon Facing Chapter VII, page 99 James Bowers Facing Chapter VIII, page 113 James L. Padgett Facing Chapter IX, page 135 E. C. Chatterton Facing Chapter X, page 155 Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey Hogg Facing page 181 Colonel John J. Mudd Facing page 189 Colonel Benjamin F. Marsh Facing page 199 Major John R. Hotaling Facing page 203 Hotaling Group Facing page 207 Illinois State Monument at Shiloh Facing page 213 [Illustration: CAPT. WILLIAM B. CUMMINS] PREFACE The purpose of this sketch is to keep green the memory of that little band of men known as Company A, of the Second Illinois Cavalry, who fought in the Civil War. It is to be regretted that no record has been preserved and no attempt made to write a history of the company while the incidents involved were fresh in the minds of its members. As a result, the essential features of the story are based directly upon the memory of one of them and that without any memoranda made at the time. It is not strange therefore, if errors should occur after the lapse of fifty years. This little book does not pretend to be an accurate history but rather a fragmentary and imperfect sketch in which the aim has been to recount some of the worthy deeds and to recall some of the hardships endured by those who risked all and suffered much in an effort to do their part towards the preservation of freedom and right and justice among men. No apology is offered for its meagerness or fragmentary character. Should it meet the approval of the few comrades now living or receive a sympathetic response from others, the time and care expended upon it will have been rewarded.