There was also the case of the 128th Illinois which I believe is the source of this "throwing down their rifles" myth. Original post from when I researched this the last time it came up. Now bookmarked, yeah!
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/th...giment-illinois-infantry.137310/#post-1611673
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@Saphroneth your reply stirred me to search for more info about this mysterious Illinois regiment. Please do not take this as a reproof towards you, I genuinely became curious.
It seems that in fact this was the 128th Illinois, raised for the most part from the southern county of Williamson, county seat of which is Marion. From its understandably brief Regimental history:
Regimental History
One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Infantry. — Col., Robert M. Hundley; Lieut. -Col., James D. Pulley; Maj., James D. McCown. This regiment was organized in the fall of 1862 and was mustered into the U. S. service at Camp Butler in November. It was sent to Cairo, where it was stationed during the greater part of the following winter. A great deal of dissatisfaction and lack of regimental discipline was manifested there and many desertions occurred. By April 1, 1863, although the regiment had been in the service for a period of less than five months, its number had been reduced from an aggregate of 860 to 161 — principally by desertions — and there having been an utter want of discipline in the regiment, the officers were discharged and the few remaining men were transferred to other Illinois regiments.
Now as we know the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation was issued in late Sept. 1862. But, the 128th apparently traveled approx. 200 miles from Marion to Camp Butler, north of Springfield, to be mustered into service in early November of 1862. My question is, if these men were so adamantly opposed to the EP why bother to enlist at all? Surely they had already been informed of the EP. There must have been something more to the story. I believe I have found a source that points more closely to the truth of the matter.
“After the regiment was raised, they went into quarters for a few days at the Fair Grounds; from here they went to Springfield, where they organized, with
R. M. Hundley as Colonel, and James D. Pully as Lieutenant Colonel. They remained there about
a month before they drew clothing, and it was very cold, and they half naked.
The Republican press abused them without mercy, and the officers were looked upon with suspicion and contempt, and given no chance to exhibit their loyalty. They were called the “Whang Doodle Regiment.” The men became dissatisfied, and soon began to desert; but after they drew clothes, half of them were furloughed home.
The remainder escorted General McClelland to Cairo. Those who had been furloughed home never reported back. A few of the remaining privates were transferred to other regiments, and the others discharged.
So, it appears that this regiment from a southern and overwhelmingly Democratic party oriented county, was not trusted and abused from the date of their mustering in and began to desert soon after. This ongoing desertion appears to have been an problem over the active life of the regiment for 5 months with the bulk of the men (half the regiment) not returning from furlough. BTW, their home county of Williamson was less than 60 miles from their posting at Cairo, Ill. If you called me a
Whang Doodle I wouldn't come back either.
This appears to be an instance of using this one regiment and its large number of documented desertions as an example of widespread dissatisfaction with the EP when there was no actual evidence to connect it as such.
But, what
a great myth to concoct with an associated mental picture of 700 men throwing down their rifles in unison and in disgust at the very idea of fighting to free Black men. It has the added benefit that if one even bothers to look in the official records, and no further, there it is by Gawd 700 of em deserted outta 860!!! Musta been the EP, what else could it have been? Only problem is the dates and apparent facts do not line up.
Note: Now that I have been reminded of the definition of Whang Doodle I intend to put it to more use.