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+<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
+<html>
+<head>
+<title>The Memoirs of General Philip H. Sheridan,
+Vol. I., Part 2</title>
+<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
+
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+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of General Philip H. Sheridan,
+Vol. I., Part 2, by P. H. Sheridan
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Memoirs of General Philip H. Sheridan, Vol. I., Part 2
+
+Author: P. H. Sheridan
+
+Release Date: June 3, 2004 [EBook #5855]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF GENERAL SHERMAN ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+
+<h2>MEMOIRS OF GENERAL SHERIDAN, Vol. I., Part 2.</h2>
+
+<br><hr>
+<br><br><br><br><br><br>
+
+<center><h1>PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF
+
+<br>P. H. SHERIDAN</h1></center>
+<br><br>
+
+ <center><h2>Volume I.</h2></center>
+<br>
+<center><h2>Part 2</h2></center>
+<br><br>
+
+<center><img alt="Cover.jpg (168K)" src="images/Cover.jpg" height="963" width="650">
+</center>
+<br><br><br><br>
+
+<center><img alt="Spines.jpg (76K)" src="images/Spines.jpg" height="1425" width="597">
+</center>
+<br><br><br><br>
+
+<center><img alt="Titlepage.jpg (28K)" src="images/Titlepage.jpg" height="1039" width="650">
+</center>
+<br><br>
+
+<a name="Frontpiece"></a>
+<br><br>
+
+<center><img alt="Frontpiece.jpg (70K)" src="images/Frontpiece.jpg" height="1007" width="541">
+</center>
+<br><br><br><br>
+
+
+
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+
+<center>
+<table summary="">
+<tr><td>
+
+
+
+<br>
+<a href="#ch9">CHAPTER IX.</a><br>
+Expedition to Booneville&mdash;Destroying Supplies<br>
+&mdash;Confederate Stragglers&mdash;Success of the Expedition<br>
+&mdash;A Reconnoissance&mdash;The Importance of Bodily <br>
+Sustenance&mdash;The Battle of Booneville&mdash;Recommended <br>
+for Appointment as a Brigadier-General<br>
+<br>
+<a href="#ch10">CHAPTER X.</a><br>
+In Camp near Rienzi&mdash;General Granger&mdash;A Valuable <br>
+Capture at Ripley&mdash;Raiding a Corn&mdash;Field&mdash;Repulsing <br>
+an Attack&mdash;Presented with the Black Horse "Rienzi" <br>
+&mdash;Meeting General Grant&mdash;Appointed a Brigadier-General<br>
+<br>
+<a href="#ch11">CHAPTER XI.</a><br>
+Good Advice from General Nelson&mdash;His Tragic Death <br>
+&mdash;Putting Louisville in a State of Defense&mdash; <br>
+Assigned to the Command of the Eleventh Division <br>
+&mdash;Capture of Chaplin Heights&mdash;Battle of Perryville<br>
+&mdash;Reported Among the Killed&mdash;A Thrilling Incident<br>
+&mdash;General Buell Relieved by General Rosecrans<br>
+<br>
+<a href="#ch12">CHAPTER XII.</a><br>
+Moving to Bowling Green&mdash;James Card, the Scout and <br>
+Guide&mdash;General Sill&mdash;Colonel Schaefer&mdash;Colonel <br>
+G. W. Roberts&mdash;Movement on Murfreesboro'<br>
+&mdash;Opening of the Battle of Stone River<br>
+<br>
+<a href="#ch13">CHAPTER XIII.</a><br>
+Assault on our Right Flank&mdash;Occupying a New Position <br>
+&mdash;The Enemy Checked &mdash; Terrible Loss of Officers<br>
+&mdash;Ammunition Gives Out&mdash;Reconstructing the Line<br>
+&mdash;Collecting the Wounded and Burying the Dead<br>
+&mdash;Dealing with Cowards&mdash;Results of the Victory<br>
+<br>
+<a href="#ch14">CHAPTER XIV.</a><br>
+Appointed a Major-General&mdash;The Secret Expedition <br>
+under Card the Scout&mdash;His Capture by Guerrillas<br>
+&mdash;Escape&mdash;A Revenge Party&mdash;Women Soldiers<br>
+&mdash;A Fight with Sabres&mdash;Tullahoma Campaign<br>
+&mdash;A Foolish Adventure<br>
+<br>
+<a href="#ch15">CHAPTER XV.</a><br>
+Ordered to Occupy Bridgeport&mdash;A Spy&mdash;The Battle of <br>
+Chickamauga&mdash;General Thomas&mdash;Treated to Coffee <br>
+&mdash;Results of the Battle<br>
+
+
+</td></tr>
+</table>
+</center>
+
+
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+
+
+<center>
+<table summary="">
+<tr><td>
+
+
+
+<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS </h2>
+ <br>
+<a href="#Frontpiece">Steel Portrait&mdash;General P. H. Sheridan</a> <br>
+<a href="#rienzi">General Sheridan's War Horse "Rienzi"</a> <br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2>MAPS</h2>
+<br>
+<a href="#p146">Northeastern Mississippi</a> <br>
+<a href="#p157">Battle of Booneville</a> <br>
+<a href="#p200">Map Showing the Field of Operations of the Army of the Cumberland<br>
+in 1862 and 1863</a> <br>
+<a href="#p238">Battle&mdash;field of Stone River</a> <br>
+<a href="#p285">Positions of General Sheridan's Division <br>
+in the Battle of Chickamauga</a> <br>
+
+
+</td></tr>
+</table>
+</center>
+
+
+<br>
+<br>
+<br><br><br><br><br>
+
+<h2>VOLUME I.</h2>
+<h2>Part 2.</h2>
+
+
+<br><br>
+<center><h3>By Philip Henry Sheridan</h3></center>
+<br><br>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<br><br><br><br>
+<center><h2><a name="ch9"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2></center>
+<br>
+
+<p>EXPEDITION TO BOONEVILLE&mdash;DESTROYING SUPPLIES&mdash;CONFEDERATE
+STRAGGLERS&mdash;SUCCESS OF THE EXPEDITION&mdash;A RECONNOISSANCE&mdash;THE
+IMPORTANCE OF BODILY SUSTENANCE&mdash;THE BATTLE OF
+BOONEVILLE&mdash;RECOMMENDED FOR APPOINTMENT AS A BRIGADIER-GENERAL.</p>
+
+<br><br><br><br>
+<center><a name="p146"></a><img alt="p146.jpg (56K)" src="images/p146.jpg" height="514" width="650">
+</center>
+<br><br><br><br>
+
+<p>The expedition referred to by General Halleck in his parting
+conversation was composed of the Second Michigan and Second Iowa
+regiments of cavalry, formed into a brigade under command of Colonel
+Washington L. Elliott, of the Second Iowa. It was to start on the
+night of the 27th of May at 12 o'clock, and proceed by a circuitous
+route through Iuka, Miss., to Booneville, a station on the Mobile and
+Ohio Railroad, about twenty-two miles below Corinth, and accomplish
+all it could in the way of destroying the enemy's supplies and
+cutting his railroad communications.</p>
+
+<p>The weather in that climate was already warm, guides unobtainable,
+and both men and horses suffered much discomfort from the heat, and
+fatigue from the many delays growing out of the fact that we were in
+almost total ignorance of the roads leading to the point that we
+desired to reach. In order that we might go light we carried only
+sugar, coffee, and salt, depending on the country for meat and bread.
+Both these articles were scarce, but I think we got all there was,
+for our advent was so unexpected by the people of the region through
+which we passed that, supposing us to be Confederate cavalry, they
+often gave us all they had, the women and servants contributing most
+freely from their, reserve stores.</p>
+
+<p>Before reaching Booneville I had the advance, but just as we arrived
+on the outskirts of the town the brigade was formed with the Second
+Iowa on my right, and the whole force moved forward, right in front,
+preceded by skirmishers. Here we encountered the enemy, but forced
+him back with little resistance. When we had gained possession of
+the station, Colonel Elliott directed me to take the left wing of my
+regiment, pass to the south, and destroy a bridge or culvert supposed
+to be at a little distance below the town on the Mobile and Ohio
+Railroad. The right wing, or other half of the regiment, was to be
+held in reserve for my support if necessary. I moved rapidly in the
+designated direction till I reached the railroad, and then rode down
+it for a mile and a half, but found neither bridge nor culvert. I
+then learned that there was no bridge of any importance except the
+one at Baldwin, nine miles farther down, but as I was aware, from
+information recently received, that it was defended by three
+regiments and a battery, I concluded that I could best accomplish the
+purpose for which I had been detached&mdash;crippling the road&mdash;by tearing
+up the track, bending the rails, and burning the cross-ties. This
+was begun with alacrity at four different points, officers and men
+vieing with one another in the laborious work of destruction. We had
+but few tools, and as the difficulties to overcome were serious, our
+progress was slow, until some genius conceived the idea that the
+track, rails and ties, might be lifted from its bed bodily, turned
+over, and subjected to a high heat; a convenient supply of dry
+fence-rails would furnish ample fuel to render the rails useless. In this
+way a good deal of the track was effectively broken up, and
+communication by rail from Corinth to the south entirely cut off.
+While we were still busy in wrecking the road, a dash was made at my
+right and rear by a squadron of Confederate cavalry. This was
+handsomely met by the reserve under Captain Archibald P. Campbell, of
+the Second Michigan, who, dismounting a portion of his command,
+received the enemy with such a volley from his Colt's repeating
+rifles that the squadron broke and fled in all directions. We were
+not molested further, and resumed our work, intending to extend the
+break toward Baldwin, but receiving orders from Elliott to return to
+Booneville immediately, the men were recalled, and we started to
+rejoin the main command.</p>
+
+<p>In returning to Booneville, I found the railroad track above where I
+had struck it blocked by trains that we had thus cut off, and the
+woods and fields around the town covered with several thousand
+Confederate soldiers. These were mostly convalescents and
+disheartened stragglers belonging to General Beauregard's army, and
+from them we learned that Corinth was being evacuated. I spent some
+little time in an endeavor to get these demoralized men into an open
+field, with a view to some future disposition of them; but in the
+midst of the undertaking I received another order from Colonel
+Elliott to join him at once. The news of the evacuation had also
+reached Elliott, and had disclosed a phase of the situation so
+different from that under which he had viewed it when we arrived at
+Booneville, that he had grown anxious to withdraw, lest we should be
+suddenly pounced upon by an overwhelming force from some one of the
+columns in retreat. Under such circumstances my prisoners would
+prove a decided embarrassment, so I abandoned further attempts to get
+them together&mdash;not even paroling them, which I thought might have
+been done with but little risk.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime the captured cars had been fired, and as their
+complete destruction was assured by explosions from those containing
+ammunition, they needed no further attention, so I withdrew my men
+and hastened to join Elliott, taking along some Confederate officers
+whom I had retained from among four or five hundred prisoners
+captured when making the original dash below the town.</p>
+
+<p>The losses in my regiment, and, in fact, those of the entire command,
+were insignificant. The results of the expedition were important;
+the railroad being broken so thoroughly as to cut off all rolling
+stock north of Booneville, and to place at the service of General
+Halleck's army the cars and locomotives of which the retreating
+Confederates were now so much in need. In addition, we burned
+twenty-six cars containing ten thousand stand of small arms, three
+pieces of artillery, a great quantity of clothing, a heavy supply of
+ammunition, and the personal baggage of General Leonidas Polk. A
+large number of prisoners, mostly sick and convalescent, also fell
+into our hands; but as we could not carry them with us&mdash;such a hurried
+departure was an immediate necessity, by reason of our critical
+situation&mdash;the process of paroling them was not completed, and they
+doubtless passed back to active service in the Confederacy, properly
+enough unrecognized as prisoners of war by their superiors.</p>
+
+<p>In returning, the column marched back by another indirect route to
+its old camp near Farmington, where we learned that the whole army
+had moved into and beyond Corinth, in pursuit of Beauregard, on the
+13th of May, the very day we had captured Booneville. Although we
+had marched about one hundred and eighty miles in four days, we were
+required to take part, of course, in the pursuit of the Confederate
+army. So, resting but one night in our old camp, we were early in
+the saddle again on the morning of the 2d of June. Marching south
+through Corinth, we passed on the 4th of June the scene of our late
+raid, viewing with much satisfaction, as we took the road toward
+Blackland, the still smoldering embers of the burned trains.</p>
+
+<p>On the 4th of June I was ordered to proceed with my regiment along
+the Blackland road to determine the strength of the enemy in that
+direction, as it was thought possible we might capture, by a
+concerted movement which General John Pope had suggested to General
+Halleck, a portion of Beauregard's rear guard. Pushing the
+Confederate scouts rapidly in with a running fire for a mile or more,
+while we were approaching a little stream, I hoped to gobble the main
+body of the enemy's pickets. I therefore directed the sabre
+battalion of the regiment, followed by that portion of it armed with
+revolving rifles, to dash forward in column, cut off these videttes
+before they could cross the stream, and then gather them in. The
+pickets fled hastily, however, and a pell-mell pursuit carried us
+over the stream at their heels by a little bridge, with no thought of
+halting till we gained a hill on the other side, and suddenly found
+ourselves almost in the camp of a strong body of artillery and
+infantry. Captain Campbell being in advance, hurriedly dismounted
+his battalion for a further forward movement on foot, but it was
+readily seen that the enemy was present in such heavy force as almost
+to ensure our destruction, and I gave orders for a hasty withdrawal.
+We withdrew without loss under cover of thick woods, aided much,
+however, by the consternation of the Confederates, who had hardly
+recovered from their surprise at our sudden appearance in their camp
+before we had again placed the stream between them and us by
+recrossing the bridge. The reconnoissance was a success in one
+way&mdash;that is, in finding out that the enemy was at the point supposed by,
+General Pope; but it also had a tendency to accelerate Beauregard's
+retreat, for in a day or two his whole line fell back as far south as
+Guntown, thus rendering abortive the plans for bagging a large
+portion of his army.</p>
+
+<p>General Beauregard's evacuation of Corinth and retreat southward were
+accomplished in the face of a largely superior force of Union troops,
+and he reached the point where he intended to halt for reorganization
+without other loss than that sustained in the destruction of the cars
+and supplies at Booneville, and the capture of some stragglers and
+deserters that fell into our hands while we were pressing his rear
+from General Pope's flank. The number of these was quite large, and
+indicated that the enemy was considerably demoralized. Under such
+circumstances, an energetic and skillfully directed pursuit might not
+have made certain the enemy's destruction, but it would largely have
+aided in disintegrating his forces, and I never could quite
+understand why it was not ordered. The desultory affairs between
+rear and advance guards seemed as a general, thing to have no
+particular purpose in view beyond finding out where the enemy was,
+and when he was found, since no supporting colums were at hand and no
+one in supreme control was present to give directions, our
+skirmishing was of little avail and brought but small reward.</p>
+
+<p>A short time subsequent to these occurrences, Colonel Elliott was
+made a brigadier-general, and as General Pope appointed him his
+Chief-of-Staff, I, on the 11th of June, 1862, fell in command of the
+brigade by seniority. For the rest of the month but little of moment
+occurred, and we settled down into camp at Booneville on the 26th of
+June, in a position which my brigade had been ordered to take up some
+twenty miles, in advance of the main army for the purpose of covering
+its front. Although but a few days had elapsed from the date of my
+appointment as colonel of the Second Michigan to that of my
+succeeding to the command of the brigade, I believe I can say with
+propriety that I had firmly established myself in the confidence of
+the officers and men of the regiment, and won their regard by
+thoughtful care. I had striven unceasingly to have them well fed and
+well clothed, had personally looked after the selection of their
+camps, and had maintained such a discipline as to allay former
+irritation.</p>
+
+<p>Men who march, scout, and fight, and suffer all the hardships that
+fall to the lot of soldiers in the field, in order to do vigorous
+work must have the best bodily sustenance, and every comfort that can
+be provided. I knew from practical experience on the frontier that
+my efforts in this direction would not only be appreciated, but
+requited by personal affection and gratitude; and, further, that such
+exertions would bring the best results to me. Whenever my authority
+would permit I saved my command from needless sacrifices and
+unnecessary toil; therefore, when hard or daring work was to be done
+I expected the heartiest response, and always got it. Soldiers are
+averse to seeing their comrades killed without compensating results,
+and none realize more quickly than they the blundering that often
+takes place on the field of battle. They want some tangible
+indemnity for the loss of life, and as victory is an offset the value
+of which is manifest, it not only makes them content to shed their
+blood, but also furnishes evidence of capacity in those who command
+them. My regiment had lost very few men since coming under my
+command, but it seemed, in the eyes of all who belonged to it, that
+casualties to the enemy and some slight successes for us had repaid
+every sacrifice, and in consequence I had gained not only their
+confidence as soldiers, but also their esteem and love as men, and to
+a degree far beyond what I then realized.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as the camp of my brigade was pitched at Booneville, I began
+to scout in every direction, to obtain a knowledge of the enemy's
+whereabouts and learn the ground about me. My standing in drawing at
+the Military Academy had never been so high as to warrant the belief
+that I could ever prove myself an expert, but a few practical lessons
+in that line were impressed on me there, and I had retained enough to
+enable me to make rough maps that could be readily understood, and
+which would be suitable to replace the erroneous skeleton outlines of
+northern Mississippi, with which at this time we were scantily
+furnished; so as soon as possible I compiled for the use of myself
+and my regimental commanders an information map of the surrounding
+country. This map exhibited such details as country roads, streams,
+farmhouses, fields, woods, and swamps, and such other topographical
+features as would be useful. I must confess that my crude sketch did
+not evidence much artistic merit, but it was an improvement on what
+we already possessed in the way of details to guide the command, and
+this was what I most needed; for it was of the first importance that
+in our exposed condition we should be equipped with a thorough
+knowledge of the section in which we were operating, so as to be
+prepared to encounter an enemy already indicating recovery from the
+disorganizing effects of his recent retreat.</p>
+
+<p>In the immediate vicinity of Booneville the country was covered with
+heavy forests, with here and there clearings or intervening fields
+that had been devoted to the cultivation of cotton and corn. The
+ground was of a low character, typical of northeastern Mississippi,
+and abounded in small creeks that went almost totally dry even in
+short periods of drought, but became flooded with muddy water under
+the outpouring of rain peculiar to a semi-tropical climate. In such
+a region there were many chances of our being surprised, especially
+by an enemy who knew the country well, and whose ranks were filled
+with local guides; and great precautions as well as the fullest
+information were necessary to prevent disaster. I therefore
+endeavored to familiarize all with our surroundings, but scarcely had
+matters begun to shape themselves as I desired when our annihilation
+was attempted by a large force of Confederate cavalry.</p>
+
+<br><br><br><br>
+<center><a name="p157"></a><img alt="p157.jpg (23K)" src="images/p157.jpg" height="345" width="535">
+</center>
+<br><br><br><br>
+
+<p>On the morning of July 1, 1862, a cavalry command of between five and
+six thousand-men, under the Confederate General James R. Chalmers,
+advanced on two roads converging near Booneville. The head of the
+enemy's column on the Blackland and Booneville road came in contact
+with my pickets three miles and a half west of Booneville. These
+pickets, under Lieutenant Leonidas S. Scranton, of the Second
+Michigan Cavalry, fell back slowly, taking advantage of every tree or
+other cover to fire from till they arrived at the point where the
+converging roads joined. At this junction there was a strong
+position in the protecting timber, and here Scranton made a firm
+stand, being reinforced presently by the few men he had out as
+pickets on the road to his left, a second company I had sent him from
+camp, and subsequently by three companies more, all now commanded by
+Captain Campbell. This force was dismounted and formed in line, and
+soon developed that the enemy was present in large numbers. Up to
+this time Chalmers had shown only the heads of his columns, and we
+had doubts as to his purpose, but now that our resistance forced him
+to deploy two regiments on the right and left of the road, it became
+apparent that he meant business, and that there was no time to lose
+in preparing to repel his attack.</p>
+
+<p>Full information of the situation was immediately sent me, and I
+directed Campbell to hold fast, if possible, till I could support
+him, but if compelled to retire he was authorized to do so slowly,
+taking advantage of every means that fell in his way to prolong the
+fighting. Before this I had stationed one battalion of the Second
+Iowa in Booneville, but Colonel Edward Hatch, commanding that
+regiment, was now directed to leave one company for the protection of
+our camp a little to the north of the station, and take the balance
+of the Second Iowa, with the battalion in Booneville except two sabre
+companies, and form the whole in rear of Captain Campbell, to protect
+his flanks and support him by a charge should the enemy break his
+dismounted line.</p>
+
+<p>While these preparations were being made, the Confederates attempted
+to drive Campbell from his position by a direct attack through an
+open field. In this they failed, however, for our men, reserving
+their fire until the enemy came within about thirty yards, then
+opened on him with such a shower of bullets from our Colt's rifles
+that it soon became too hot for him, and he was repulsed with
+considerable loss. Foiled in this move, Chalmers hesitated to attack
+again in front, but began overlapping both flanks of Campbell's line
+by force of numbers, compelling Campbell to retire toward a strong
+position I had selected in his rear for a line on which to make our
+main resistance. As soon as the enemy saw this withdrawing he again
+charged in front, but was again as gallantly repelled as in the first
+assault, although the encounter was for a short time so desperate as
+to have the character of a hand-to-hand conflict, several groups of
+friend and foe using on each other the butts of their guns. At this
+juncture the timely arrival of Colonel Hatch with the Second Iowa
+gave a breathing-spell to Campbell, and made the Confederates so
+chary of further direct attacks that he was enabled to retire; and at
+the same time I found opportunity to make disposition of the
+reinforcement to the best advantage possible, placing the Second Iowa
+on the left of the new line and strengthening Campbell on its right
+with all the men available.</p>
+
+<p>In view of his numbers, the enemy soon regained confidence in his
+ability to overcome us, and in a little while again began his
+flanking movements, his right passing around my left flank some
+distance, and approaching our camp and transportation, which I had
+forbidden to be moved out to the rear. Fearing that he would envelop
+us and capture the camp and transportation, I determined to take the
+offensive. Remembering a circuitous wood road that I had become
+familiar with while making the map heretofore mentioned, I concluded
+that the most effective plan would be to pass a small column around
+the enemy's left, by way of this road, and strike his rear by a
+mounted charge simultaneously with an advance of our main line on his
+front. I knew that the attack in rear would be a most hazardous
+undertaking, but in the face of such odds as the enemy had the
+condition of affairs was most critical, and could be relieved, only
+by a bold and radical change in our tactics; so I at once selected
+four sabre companies, two from the Second Michigan and two from the
+Second Iowa, and placing Captain Alger, of the former regiment, in
+command of them, I informed him that I expected of them the quick and
+desperate work that is usually imposed on a forlorn hope.</p>
+
+<p>To carry out the purpose now in view, I instructed Captain Alger to
+follow the wood road as it led around the left of the enemy's
+advancing forces, to a point where 'it joined the Blackland road,
+about three miles from Booneville, and directed him, upon reaching
+the Blackland road, to turn up it immediately, and charge the rear of
+the enemy's line. Under no circumstances was he to deploy the
+battalion, but charge in column right through whatever he came upon,
+and report to me in front of Booneville, if at all possible for him
+to get there. If he failed to break through the enemy's line, he was
+to go ahead as far as he could, and then if any of his men were left,
+and he was able to retreat, he was to do so by the same route he had
+taken on his way out. To conduct him on this perilous service I sent
+along a thin, sallow, tawny-haired Mississippian named Beene, whom I
+had employed as a guide and scout a few days before, on account of
+his intimate knowledge of the roads, from the public thoroughfares
+down to the insignificant by-paths of the neighboring swamps. With
+such guidance I felt sure that the column would get to the desired
+point without delay, for there was no danger of its being lost or
+misled by taking any of the many by-roads which traversed the dense
+forests through which it would be obliged to pass. I also informed
+Alger that I should take the reserve and join the main line in front
+of Booneville for the purpose of making an advance of my whole force,
+and that as a signal he must have his men cheer loudly when he struck
+the enemy's rear, in order that my attack might be simultaneous with
+his.</p>
+
+<p>I gave him one hour to go around and come back through the enemy, and
+when he started I moved to the front with the balance of the reserve,
+to put everything I had into the fight. This meant an inestimable
+advantage to the enemy in case of our defeat, but our own safety
+demanded the hazard. All along our attenuated line the fighting was
+now sharp, and the enemy's firing indicated such numerical strength
+that fear of disaster to Alger increased my anxiety terribly as the
+time set for his cheering arrived and no sound of it was heard.</p>
+
+<p>Relying, however, on the fact that Beene's knowledge of the roads
+would prevent his being led astray, and confident of Alger's
+determination to accomplish the purpose for which he set out, as soon
+as the hour was up I ordered my whole line forward. Fortunately,
+just as this moment a locomotive and two cars loaded with grain for
+my horses ran into Booneville from Corinth. I say fortunately,
+because it was well known throughout the command that in the morning,
+when I first discovered the large numbers of the enemy, I had called
+for assistance; and my troops, now thinking that reinforcements had
+arrived by rail from Rienzi, where a division of infantry was
+encamped, and inspirated by this belief, advanced with renewed
+confidence and wild cheering. Meantime I had the engineer of the
+locomotive blow his whistle loudly, so that the enemy might also
+learn that a train had come; and from the fact that in a few moments
+he began to give way before our small force, I thought that this
+strategem had some effect. Soon his men broke, and ran in the utmost
+disorder over the country in every direction. I found later,
+however, that his precipitous retreat was due to the pressure on his
+left from the Second Iowa, in concert with the front attack of the
+Second Michigan, and the demoralization wrought in his rear by Alger,
+who had almost entirely accomplished the purpose of his expedition,
+though he had failed to come through, or so near that I could hear
+the signal agreed upon before leaving Booneville.</p>
+
+<p>After Alger had reached and turned up the Blackland road, the first
+thing he came across was the Confederate headquarters; the officers
+and orderlies about which he captured and sent back some distance to
+a farm-house. Continuing on a gallop, he soon struck the rear of the
+enemy's line, but was unable to get through; nor did he get near
+enough for me to hear his cheering; but as he had made the distance
+he was to travel in the time allotted, his attack and mine were
+almost coincident, and the enemy, stampeded by the charges in front
+and rear, fled toward Blackland, with little or no attempt to capture
+Alger's command, which might readily have been done. Alger's
+troopers soon rejoined me at Booneville, minus many hats, having
+returned by their original route. They had sustained little loss
+except a few men wounded and a few temporarily missing. Among these
+was Alger himself, who was dragged from his saddle by the limb of a
+tree that, in the excitement of the charge, he was unable to flank.
+The missing had been dismounted in one way or another, and run over
+by the enemy in his flight; but they all turned up later, none the
+worse except for a few scratches and bruises.</p>
+
+<p>My effective strength in this fight was 827 all told, and Alger's
+command comprised ninety officers and men. Chalmers's force was
+composed of six regiments and two battalions, and though I have been
+unable to find any returns from which to verify his actual numbers,
+yet, from the statements of prisoners and from information obtained
+from citizens along his line of march, it is safe to say that he had
+in the action not less than five-thousand men. Our casualties were
+not many&mdash;forty-one in all. His loss in killed and wounded was
+considerable, his most severely wounded&mdash;forty men&mdash;falling into our
+hands, having been left at farm-houses in the vicinity of the
+battlefield.</p>
+
+<p>The victory in the face of such odds was most gratifying, and as it
+justified my disinclination&mdash;in fact, refusal&mdash;to retire from
+Booneville without fighting (for the purpose of saving my
+transportation, as directed by superior authority when I applied in
+the morning for reinforcements), it was to me particularly grateful.
+It was also very valuable in, view of the fact that it increased the
+confidence between the officers and men of my brigade and me, and
+gave us for the balance of the month not only comparative rest, but
+entire immunity from the dangers of a renewed effort to gobble my
+isolated outpost. In addition to all this, commendation from my
+immediate superiors was promptly tendered through oral and written
+congratulations; and their satisfaction at the result of the battle
+took definite form a few days later, in the following application for
+my promotion, when, by an expedition to Ripley, Miss., most valuable
+information as to the enemy's location and plans was captured:</p>
+
+
+<blockquote>
+<br>"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
+<br>"JULY 30, 1862.&mdash;3.05 P. M.
+<br>
+<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK,
+<br>"Washington, D. C.
+<br>
+<br>"Brigadiers scarce; good ones scarce. Asboth goes on the month's
+leave you gave him ten months since; Granger has temporary command.
+The undersigned respectfully beg that you will obtain the promotion
+of Sheridan. He is worth his weight in gold. His Ripley expedition
+has brought us captured letters of immense value, as well as
+prisoners, showing the rebel plans and dispositions, as you will
+learn from District Commander.
+<br>
+<br>"W. S. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General.
+<br>"C. C. SULLIVAN, " "
+<br>"G. GRANGER, " "
+<br>"W. L. ELLIOTT, " "
+<br>"A. ASBOTH, " " "
+</blockquote>
+
+<br><br><br><br>
+<center><h2><a name="ch10"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2></center>
+<br>
+
+<p>IN CAMP NEAR RIENZI&mdash;GENERAL GRANGER&mdash;A VALUABLE CAPTURE AT
+RIPLEY&mdash;RAIDING A CORNFIELD&mdash;REPULSING AN ATTACK&mdash;PRESENTED WITH THE BLACK
+HORSE "RIENZI"&mdash;MEETING GENERAL GRANT&mdash;APPOINTED A BRIGADIER-GENERAL.</p>
+
+<p>After the battle of Booneville, it was decided by General Rosecrans,
+on the advice of General Granger, that my position at Booneville was
+too much exposed, despite the fact that late on the evening of the
+fight my force had been increased by the addition of, a battery of
+four guns and two companies of infantry, and by the Third Michigan
+Cavalry, commanded by Colonel John K. Mizner; so I was directed to
+withdraw from my post and go into camp near Rienzi, Mississippi,
+where I could equally well cover the roads in front of the army, and
+also be near General Asboth's division of infantry, which occupied a
+line in rear of the town. This section of country, being higher and
+more rolling than that in the neighborhood of Booneville, had many
+advantages in the way of better camping-grounds, better grazing and
+the like, but I moved with reluctance, because I feared that my
+proximity to Asboth would diminish to a certain extent my
+independence of command.</p>
+
+<p>General Asboth was a tall, spare, handsome man, with gray mustache
+and a fierce look. He was an educated soldier, of unquestioned
+courage, but the responsibilities of outpost duty bore rather heavily
+on him, and he kept all hands in a state of constant worry in
+anticipation of imaginary attacks. His ideas of discipline were not
+very rigid either, and as by this time there had been introduced into
+my brigade some better methods than those obtaining when it first
+fell to my command, I feared the effect should he, have any control
+over it, or meddle with its internal affairs. However, there was
+nothing to do but to move to the place designated, but General
+Granger, who still commanded the cavalry division to which the
+brigade belonged, so arranged matters with General Rosecrans, who had
+succeeded to the command of the Army of the Mississippi, that my
+independence was to be undisturbed, except in case of a general
+attack by the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>We went into camp near Rienzi, July 22, sending back to the general
+field-hospital at Tuscumbia Springs all our sick&mdash;a considerable
+number&mdash;stricken down by the malarial influences around Booneville.
+In a few days the fine grazing and abundance of grain for our
+exhausted horses brought about their recuperation; and the many large
+open fields in the vicinity gave opportunity for drills and parades,
+which were much needed. I turned my attention to those disciplinary
+measures which, on account of active work in the field, had been
+necessarily neglected since the brigade had arrived at Pittsburg
+Landing, in April; and besides, we had been busy in collecting
+information by scouting parties and otherwise, in prosecution of the
+purpose for which we were covering the main army.</p>
+
+<p>I kept up an almost daily correspondence with General Granger,
+concerning the, information obtained by scouts and reconnoitring
+parties, and he came often to Rienzi to see me in relation to this
+and other matters. Previously I had not had much personal
+association with Granger. While I was at Halleck's headquarters we
+met on one or two occasions, and the day I joined the Second Michigan
+at Farmington I saw him for a few moments, but, with such slight
+exception, our intercourse had been almost exclusively official. He
+had suggested my name, I was told, to Governor Blair, when the
+Governor was in search of an officer of the regular army to appoint
+to the colonelcy of the Second Michigan Cavalry, but his
+recommendation must have been mainly based on the favorable opinions
+he had heard expressed by General Halleck and by some of the officers
+of his staff, rather than from any personal knowledge of my capacity.
+Of course I was very grateful for this, but some of his
+characteristics did not impress me favorably, and I sometimes wished
+the distance between our camps greater. His most serious failing was
+an uncontrollable propensity to interfere with and direct the minor
+matters relating to the command, the details for which those under
+him were alone responsible. Ill-judged meddling in this respect
+often led to differences between us, only temporary it is true, but
+most harassing to the subordinate, since I was compelled by the
+circumstances of the situation not only invariably to yield my own
+judgment, but many a time had to play peacemaker&mdash;smoothing down
+ruffled feelings, that I knew had been excited by Granger's freaky
+and spasmodic efforts to correct personally some trifling fault that
+ought to have been left to a regimental or company commander to
+remedy. Yet with all these small blemishes Granger had many good
+qualities, and his big heart was so full of generous impulses and
+good motives as to far outbalance his short-comings; and
+not-withstanding the friction and occasional acerbity of our official
+intercourse, we maintained friendly relations till his death.</p>
+
+<p>In pursuance of the fatal mistake made by dispersing Halleck's forces
+after the fall of Corinth, General Don Carlos Buell's Army of the
+Ohio had been started some time before on its march eastward toward
+Chattanooga; and as this movement would be followed of course by a
+manoeuvre on the part of the enemy, now at Tupelo under General
+Braxton Bragg, either to meet Buell or frustrate his designs by some
+counter-operation, I was expected to furnish, by scouting and all
+other means available, information as to what was going on within the
+Confederate lines. To do the work required, necessitated an increase
+of my command, and the Seventh Kansas Cavalry was therefore added to
+it, and my picket-line extended so as to cover from Jacinto
+southwesterly to a point midway between Rienzi and Booneville, and
+then northwesterly to the Hatchie River. Skirmishes between outposts
+on this line were of frequent occurrence, with small results to
+either side, but they were somewhat annoying, particularly in the
+direction of Ripley, where the enemy maintained a considerable
+outpost. Deciding to cripple if not capture this outpost, on the
+evening of July 27, I sent out an expedition under Colonel Hatch,
+which drove the enemy from the town of Ripley and took a few
+prisoners, but the most valuable prize was in the shape of a package
+of thirty-two private letters, the partial reading of which disclosed
+to me the positive transfer from Mississippi of most of Bragg's army,
+for the purpose of counteracting Buell's operations in northern
+Alabama and East Tennessee. This decisive evidence was of the utmost
+importance, and without taking time to read all the letters, I
+forwarded them to General Granger July 28, in a despatch which
+stated: "I deem it necessary to send them at once; the enemy is
+moving in large force on Chattanooga." Other than this the results
+of the expedition were few; and the enemy, having fled from Ripley
+with but slight resistance, accompanied by almost all the
+inhabitants, re-occupied the place next day after our people had
+quitted it, and resumed in due time his annoying attacks on our
+outposts, both sides trying to achieve something whenever occasion
+offered.</p>
+
+<p>The prevalence of a severe drought had resulted in drying up many of
+the streams within the enemy's lines, and, in consequence, he was
+obliged to shift his camps often, and send his beef-cattle and mules
+near his outposts for water. My scouts kept me well posted in regard
+to the movements of both camps and herds; and a favorable opportunity
+presenting itself, I sent an expedition on August 14 to gather in
+some animals located on Twenty-Mile Creek, a stream always supplied
+with water from a source of never-failing, springs. Our side met
+with complete success in this instance, and when the expedition
+returned, we were all made happy by an abundance of fresh beef, and
+by some two hundred captured mules, that we thus added to our trains
+at a time when draft animals were much needed.</p>
+
+<p>Rations for the men were now supplied in fair quantities, and the
+only thing required to make us wholly contented was plenty of grain
+for our animals. Because of the large number of troops then in West
+Tennessee and about Corinth, the indifferent railroad leading down
+from Columbus, Ky., was taxed to its utmost capacity to transport
+supplies. The quantity of grain received at Corinth from the north
+was therefore limited, and before reaching the different outposts, by
+passing through intermediate depots of supply, it had dwindled to
+insignificance. I had hopes, however, that this condition of things
+might be ameliorated before long by gathering a good supply of corn
+that was ripening in the neighborhood, and would soon, I thought, be
+sufficiently hard to feed to my animals. Not far from my
+headquarters there was a particularly fine field, which, with this
+end in view, I had carefully protected through the milky stage, to
+the evident disappointment of both Asboth's men and mine. They bore
+the prohibition well while it affected only themselves, but the trial
+was too great when it came to denying their horses; and men whose
+discipline kept faith with my guards during the roasting-ear period
+now fell from grace. Their horses were growing thin, and few could
+withstand the mute appeals of their suffering pets; so at night the
+corn, because of individual foraging, kept stealthily and steadily
+vanishing, until the field was soon fringed with only earless stalks.
+The disappearance was noticed, and the guard increased, but still the
+quantity of corn continued to grow less, the more honest troopers
+bemoaning the loss, and questioning the honor of those to whose
+safekeeping it had been entrusted. Finally, doubtless under the
+apprehension that through their irregularities the corn would all
+disappear and find its way to the horses in accordance with the
+stealthy enterprise of their owners, a general raid was made on the
+field in broad daylight, and though the guard drove off the
+marauders, I must admit that its efforts to keep them back were so
+unsuccessful that my hopes for an equal distribution of the crop were
+quickly blasted. One look at the field told that it had been swept
+clean of its grain. Of course a great row occurred as to who was to
+blame, and many arrests and trials took place, but there had been
+such an interchanging of cap numbers and other insignia that it was
+next to impossible to identify the guilty, and so much crimination
+and acrimony grew out of the affair that it was deemed best to drop
+the whole matter.</p>
+
+<p>On August 27 about half of the command was absent reconnoitring, I
+having sent it south toward Tupelo, in the hope of obtaining some
+definite information regarding a movement to Holly Springs of the
+remainder of the Confederate army, under General Price, when about
+mid-day I was suddenly aroused by excited cries and sounds of firing,
+and I saw in a moment that the enemy was in my camp. He had come in
+on my right flank from the direction of the Hatchie River, pell-mell
+with our picket-post stationed about three miles out on the Ripley
+road. The whole force of the enemy comprised about eight hundred,
+but only his advance entered with my pickets, whom he had charged and
+badly stampeded, without, on their part, the pretense of a fight in
+behalf of those whom it was their duty to protect until proper
+dispositions for defense could be made. The day was excessively hot,
+one of those sultry debilitating days that had caused the suspending
+of all military exercises; and as most of the men were lounging or
+sleeping in their tents, we were literally caught napping. The alarm
+spread instantly through the camp, and in a moment the command turned
+out for action, somewhat in deshabille it is true, but none the less
+effective, for every man had grabbed his rifle and cartridge-box at
+the first alarm. Aided by a few shots from Captain Henry Hescock's
+battery, we soon drove the intruders from our camp in about the same
+disorder in which they had broken in on us. By this time Colonel
+Hatch and Colonel Albert L. Lee had mounted two battalions each, and
+I moved them out at a lively pace in pursuit, followed by a section
+of the battery. No halt was called till we came upon the enemy's
+main body, under Colonel Faulkner, drawn up in line of battle near
+Newland's store. Opening on him with the two pieces of artillery, I
+hurriedly formed line confronting him, and quickly and with but
+little resistance drove him in confusion from the field. The sudden
+turning of the tables dismayed Faulkner's men, and panic seizing
+them, they threw away every loose article of arms or clothing of
+which they could dismember themselves, and ran in the wildest
+disorder in a mad effort to escape. As the chase went on the panic
+increased, the clouds of dust from the road causing an intermingling
+of friend and foe. In a little while the affair grew most ludicrous,
+Faulkner's hatless and coatless men taking to the woods in such
+dispersed order and so demoralized that a good many prisoners were
+secured, and those of the enemy who escaped were hunted until dark.
+When the recall was sounded, our men came in loaded down with plunder
+in the shape of hats, haversacks, blankets, pistols, and shotguns, in
+a quantity which amply repaid for the surprise of the morning, but
+did not excuse the delinquent commander of our picket-guard, who a
+few days later was brought to a realizing sense of his duty by a
+court-martial.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly after this affair Captain Archibald P. Campbell, of the
+Second Michigan Cavalry, presented me with the black horse called
+Rienzi, since made historical from having been ridden by me in many
+battles, conspicuously in the ride from Winchester to Cedar Creek,
+which has been celebrated in the poem by T. Buchanan Read. This
+horse was of Morgan stock, and then about three years old. He was
+jet black, excepting three white feet, sixteen hands high, and
+strongly built, with great powers of endurance. He was so active
+that he could cover with ease five miles an hour at his natural
+walking gait. The gelding had been ridden very seldom; in fact,
+Campbell had been unaccustomed to riding till the war broke out, and,
+I think, felt some disinclination to mount the fiery colt. Campbell
+had an affection for him, however, that never waned, and would often
+come to my headquarters to see his favorite, the colt being cared for
+there by the regimental farrier, an old man named John Ashley, who
+had taken him in charge when leaving Michigan, and had been his groom
+ever since. Seeing that I liked the horse&mdash;I had ridden him on
+several occasions&mdash;Campbell presented him to me on one of these
+visits, and from that time till the close of the war I rode him
+almost continuously, in every campaign and battle in which I took
+part, without once finding him overcome by fatigue, though on many
+occasions his strength was severely tested by long marches and short
+rations. I never observed in him any vicious habit; a nervousness
+and restlessness and switch of the tail, when everything about him
+was in repose, being the only indication that he might be
+untrustworthy. No one but a novice could be deceived by this,
+however, for the intelligence evinced in every feature, and his
+thoroughbred appearance, were so striking that any person accustomed
+to horses could not misunderstand such a noble animal. But Campbell
+thought otherwise, at least when the horse was to a certain degree
+yet untrained, and could not be pursuaded to ride him; indeed, for
+more than a year after he was given to me, Campbell still retained
+suspicions of his viciousness, though, along with this mistrust, an
+undiminished affection. Although he was several times wounded, this
+horse escaped death in action; and living to a ripe old age, died in
+1878, attended to the last with all the care and surrounded with
+every comfort due the faithful service he had rendered.</p>
+
+<br><br><br><br>
+<center><a name="rienzi"></a><img alt="p179-Rienzi.jpg (110K)" src="images/p179-Rienzi.jpg" height="435" width="650">
+</center>
+<br><br><br><br>
+
+<p>In moving from Corinth east toward Chattanooga, General Buell's army
+was much delayed by the requirement that he should repair the Memphis
+and Charleston railroad as he progressed. The work of repair obliged
+him to march very slowly, and was of but little use when done, for
+guerrillas and other bands of Confederates destroyed the road again
+as soon as he had passed on. But worst of all, the time thus
+consumed gave General Bragg the opportunity to reorganize and
+increase his army to such an extent that he was able to contest the
+possession of Middle Tennessee and Kentucky. Consequently, the
+movement of this army through Tennessee and Kentucky toward the Ohio
+River&mdash;its objective points being Louisville and Cincinnati&mdash;was now
+well defined, and had already rendered abortive General Buell's
+designs on Chattanooga and East Tennessee. Therefore extraordinary
+efforts on the part of the Government became necessary, and the
+concentration of National troops at Louisville and Cincinnati to meet
+the contingency of Bragg's reaching those points was an obvious
+requirement. These troops were drawn from all sections in the West
+where it was thought they could be spared, and among others I was
+ordered to conduct thither&mdash;to Louisville or Cincinnati, as
+subsequent developments might demand&mdash;my regiment, Hescock's battery,
+the Second and Fifteenth Missouri, and the Thirty-sixth and
+Forty-fourth Illinois regiments of infantry, known as the "Pea Ridge
+Brigade." With this column I marched back to Corinth on the 6th of
+September, 1862, for the purpose of getting railroad transportation
+to Columbus, Kentucky.</p>
+
+<p>At Corinth I met General Grant, who by this time had been
+reestablished in favor and command somewhat, General Halleck having
+departed for Washington to assume command of the army as
+General-in-Chief. Before and during the activity which followed his
+reinstatement, General Grant had become familiar with my services
+through the transmission to Washington of information I had furnished
+concerning the enemy's movements, and by reading reports of my fights
+and skirmishes in front, and he was loth to let me go. Indeed, he
+expressed surprise at seeing me in Corinth, and said he had not
+expected me to go; he also plainly showed that he was much hurt at
+the inconsiderate way in which his command was being depleted. Since
+I was of the opinion that the chief field of usefulness and
+opportunity was opening up in Kentucky, I did not wish him to retain
+me, which he might have done, and I impressed him with my conviction,
+somewhat emphatically, I fear. Our conversation ended with my wish
+gratified. I afterward learned that General Granger, whom General
+Grant did not fancy, had suggested that I should take to Cincinnati
+the main portion of Granger's command&mdash;the Pea Ridge Brigade&mdash;as well
+as the Second Michigan Cavalry, of which I was still colonel.
+We started that night, going by rail over the Mobile and Ohio road to
+Columbus, Ky., where we embarked on steamboats awaiting us. These
+boats were five in number, and making one of them my flag-ship,
+expecting that we might come upon certain batteries reported to be
+located upon the Kentucky shore of the Ohio, I directed the rest to
+follow my lead. Just before reaching Caseyville, the captain of a
+tin-clad gunboat that was patrolling the river brought me the
+information that the enemy was in strong force at Caseyville, and
+expressed a fear that my fleet could not pass his batteries.
+Accepting the information as correct, I concluded to capture the
+place before trying to pass up the river. Pushing in to the bank as
+we neared the town, I got the troops ashore and moved on Caseyville,
+in the expectation of a bloody fight, but was agreeably surprised
+upon reaching the outskirts of the village by an outpouring of its
+inhabitants&mdash;men, women, and children&mdash;carrying the Stars and
+Stripes, and making the most loyal professions. Similar
+demonstrations of loyalty had been made to the panic-stricken captain
+of the gunboat when he passed down the river, but he did not stay to
+ascertain their character, neither by landing nor by inquiry, for he
+assumed that on the Kentucky bank of the river there could be no
+loyalty. The result mortified the captain intensely; and deeming his
+convoy of little further use, he steamed toward Cairo in quest of
+other imaginary batteries, while I re-embarked at Caseyville, and
+continued up the Ohio undisturbed. About three miles below
+Cincinnati I received instructions to halt, and next day I was
+ordered by Major-General H. G. Wright to take my troops back to
+Louisville, and there assume command of the Pea Ridge Brigade,
+composed of the Second and Fifteenth Missouri, Thirty-sixth and
+Forty-fourth Illinois infantry, and of such other regiments as might
+be sent me in advance of the arrival of General Buell's army.
+When I reached Louisville I reported to Major-General William Nelson,
+who was sick, and who received me as he lay in bed. He asked me why
+I did not wear the shoulder-straps of my rank. I answered that I was
+the colonel of the Second Michigan cavalry, and had on my appropriate
+shoulder-straps. He replied that I was a brigadier-general for the
+Booneville fight, July 1, and that I should wear the shoulder-straps
+of that grade. I returned to my command and put it in camp; and as I
+had no reluctance to wearing the shoulder-straps of a
+brigadier-general, I was not long in procuring a pair, particularly as I was
+fortified next day by receiving from Washington official information
+of my appointment as a brigadier-general, to date from July 1, 1862,
+the day of the battle of Booneville</p>
+
+<br><br><br><br>
+<center><h2><a name="ch11"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2></center>
+<br>
+
+<p>GOOD ADVICE FROM GENERAL NELSON&mdash;HIS TRAGIC DEATH&mdash;PUTTING LOUISVILLE
+IN A STATE OF DEFENSE&mdash;ASSIGNED TO THE COMMAND OF THE ELEVENTH
+DIVISION&mdash;CAPTURE OF CHAPLIN HEIGHTS&mdash;BATTLE OF PERRYVILLE&mdash;REPORTED
+AMONG THE KILLED&mdash;A THRILLING INCIDENT&mdash;GENERAL BUELL RELIEVED BY
+GENERAL ROSECRANS.</p>
+
+<p>I reported to Major-General Nelson at the Galt House in Louisville,
+September 14, 1862, who greeted me in the bluff and hearty fashion of
+a sailor&mdash;for he had been in the navy till the breaking out of the
+war. The new responsibilities that were now to fall upon me by
+virtue of increased rank caused in my mind an uneasiness which, I
+think, Nelson observed at the interview, and he allayed it by giving
+me much good advice, and most valuable information in regard to
+affairs in Kentucky, telling me also that he intended I should retain
+in my command the Pea Ridge Brigade and Hescock's battery. This
+latter assurance relieved me greatly, for I feared the loss of these
+troops in the general redistribution which I knew must soon take
+place; and being familiar with their valuable service in Missouri,
+and having brought them up from Mississippi, I hoped they would
+continue with me. He directed me to take position just below the
+city with the Pea Ridge Brigade, Hescock's battery, and the Second
+Michigan Cavalry, informing me, at the same time, that some of the
+new regiments, then arriving under a recent call of the President for
+volunteers, would also be assigned to my command. Shortly after the
+interview eight new regiments and an additional battery joined me,
+thus making good his promise of more troops.</p>
+
+<p>A few days later came Nelson's tragic end, shocking the whole
+country. Those of us in camp outside of the city were startled on
+the morning of September 29 by the news that General Jefferson C.
+Davis, of the Union Army, had shot General Nelson at the Galt House,
+and the wildest rumors in regard to the occurrence came thick and
+fast; one to the effect that Nelson was dead, another having it that
+he was living and had killed Davis, and still others reflecting on
+the loyalty of both, it being supposed by the general public at first
+that the difficulty between the two men had grown out of some
+political rather than official or personal differences. When the
+news came, I rode into the city to the Galt House to learn the
+particulars, reaching there about 10 o'clock in the forenoon. Here I
+learned that Nelson had been shot by Davis about two hours before, at
+the foot of the main stairway leading from the corridor just beyond
+the office to the second floor, and that Nelson was already dead. It
+was almost as difficult to get reliable particulars of the matter at
+the hotel as it had been in my camp, but I gathered that the two men
+had met first at an early hour near the counter of the hotel office,
+and that an altercation which had begun several days before in
+relation to something official was renewed by Davis, who, attempting
+to speak to Nelson in regard to the subject-matter of their previous
+dispute, was met by an insulting refusal to listen. It now appears
+that when Nelson made this offensive remark, Davis threw a small
+paper ball that he was nervously rolling between his fingers into
+Nelson's face, and that this insult was returned by Nelson slapping
+Davis (Killed by a Brother Soldier.&mdash;Gen. J. B. Fry.) in the face.
+But at the time, exactly what had taken place just before the
+shooting was shrouded in mystery by a hundred conflicting stories,
+the principal and most credited of which was that Davis had demanded
+from Nelson an apology for language used in the original altercation,
+and that Nelson's refusal was accompanied by a slap in the face, at
+the same moment denouncing Davis as a coward. However this may be,
+Nelson, after slapping Davis, moved toward the corridor, from which a
+stairway led to the second floor, and just as he was about to ascend,
+Davis fired with a pistol that he had obtained from some one near by
+after the blow had been struck. The ball entered Nelson's breast
+just above the heart, but his great strength enabled him to ascend
+the stairway notwithstanding the mortal character of the wound, and
+he did not fall till he reached the corridor on the second floor. He
+died about half an hour later. The tragedy cast a deep gloom over
+all who knew the men, for they both had many warm personal friends;
+and affairs at Louisville had hardly recovered as yet from the
+confused and discouraging condition which preceded the arrival of
+General Buell's army. General Buell reported the killing of Nelson
+to the authorities at Washington, and recommended the trial of Davis
+by court-martial, but no proceedings were ever instituted against him
+in either a civil or military court, so to this day it has not been
+determined judicially who was the aggressor. Some months later Davis
+was assigned to the command of a division in Buell's army after that
+officer had been relieved from its command.</p>
+
+<p>Two Confederate armies, under General Kirby Smith and General Braxton
+Bragg, had penetrated into Kentucky, the one under Smith by the way
+of Cumberland Gap, the other and main army under Bragg by way of the
+Sequatche Valley, Glasgow, and Mumfordsville. Glasgow was captured
+by the enemy on the 17th of September, and as the expectation was
+that Buell would reach the place in time to save the town, its loss
+created considerable alarm in the North, for fears were now
+entertained that Bragg would strike Louisville and capture the city
+before Buell could arrive on the ground. It became necessary
+therefore to put Louisville in a state of defense, and after the
+cordon of principal works had been indicated, my troops threw up in
+one night a heavy line of rifle-pits south of the city, from the
+Bardstown pike to the river. The apprehended attack by Bragg never
+came, however, for in the race that was then going on between him and
+Buell on parallel roads, the Army of the Ohio outmarched the
+Confederates, its advance arriving at Louisville September 25.</p>
+
+<p>General Buell immediately set about reorganizing the whole force, and
+on September 29 issued an order designating the troops under my
+command as the Eleventh Division, Army of the Ohio, and assigning
+Brigadier-General J. T. Boyle to command the division, and me to
+command one of its brigades. To this I could not object, of course,
+for I was a brigadier-general of very recent date, and could hardly
+expect more than a brigade. I had learned, however, that at least
+one officer to whom a high command had been given&mdash;a corps&mdash;had not
+yet been appointed a general officer by the President, and I
+considered it somewhat unfair that I should be relegated to a
+brigade, while men who held no commissions at all were being made
+chiefs of corps and divisions; so I sought an interview with General
+Buell's chief-of-staff, Colonel Fry, and, while not questioning
+Buell's good intentions nor his pure motives, insisted that my rights
+in the matter should be recognized. That same evening I was assigned
+to the command of the Eleventh Division, and began preparing it at
+once for a forward movement, which I knew must soon take place in the
+resumption of offensive operations by the Army of the Ohio.</p>
+
+<p>During the interval from September 25 till October 1 there was among
+the officers much criticism of General Buell's management of the
+recent campaign, which had resulted in his retirement to Louisville;
+and he was particularly censured by many for not offering battle to
+General Bragg while the two armies were marching parallel to each
+other, and so near that an engagement could have been brought on at
+any one of several points&mdash;notably so at Glasgow, Kentucky, if there
+had been a desire to join issue. It was asserted, and by many
+conceded, that General Buell had a sufficient force to risk a fight.
+He was much blamed for the loss of Mumfordsville also. The capture
+of this point, with its garrison, gave Bragg an advantage in the race
+toward the Ohio River, which odds would most likely have ensured the
+fall of Louisville had they been used with the same energy and skill
+that the Confederate commander displayed from Chattanooga to Glasgow;
+but something always diverted General Bragg at the supreme moment,
+and he failed to utilize the chances falling to him at this time,
+for, deflecting his march to the north toward Bardstown, he left open
+to Buell the direct road to Louisville by way of Elizabethtown.</p>
+
+<p>At Bardstown Bragg's army was halted while he endeavored to establish
+a Confederate government in Kentucky by arranging for the
+installation of a provisional governor at Lexington. Bragg had been
+assured that the presence of a Confederate army in Kentucky would so
+encourage the secession element that the whole State could be forced
+into the rebellion and his army thereby largely increased; but he had
+been considerably misled, for he now found that though much latent
+sympathy existed for his cause, yet as far as giving active aid was
+concerned, the enthusiasm exhibited by the secessionists of Kentucky
+in the first year of the war was now replaced by apathy, or at best
+by lukewarmness. So the time thus spent in political machinations
+was wholly lost to Bragg; and so little reinforcement was added to
+his army that it may be said that the recruits gained were not enough
+to supply the deficiencies resulting from the recent toilsome marches
+of the campaign.</p>
+
+<p>In the meanwhile Buell had arrived at Louisville, system had been
+substituted for the chaos which had previously obtained there, and
+orders were issued for an advance upon the enemy with the purpose of
+attacking and the hope of destroying him within the limits of the
+"blue grass" region, and, failing in that, to drive him from
+Kentucky. The army moved October 1, 1862, and my division, now a
+part of the Third Corps, commanded by General C. C. Gilbert, marched
+directly on Bardstown, where it was thought the enemy would make a
+stand, but Bragg's troops retreated toward Perryville, only resisting
+sufficiently to enable the forces of General Kirby Smith to be drawn
+in closer&mdash;they having begun a concentration at Frankfort&mdash;so they
+could be used in a combined attack on Louisville as soon as the
+Confederate commander's political projects were perfected.</p>
+
+<p>Much time was consumed by Buell's army in its march on Perryville,
+but we finally neared it on the evening of October 7. During the
+day, Brigadier-General Robert B. Mitchell's division of Gilbert's
+corps was in the advance on the Springfield pike, but as the enemy
+developed that he was in strong force on the opposite side of a small
+stream called Doctor's Creek, a tributary of Chaplin River, my
+division was brought up and passed to the front. It was very
+difficult to obtain water in this section of Kentucky, as a drought
+had prevailed for many weeks, and the troops were suffering so for
+water that it became absolutely necessary that we should gain
+possession of Doctor's Creek in order to relieve their distress.
+Consequently General Gilbert, during the night, directed me to push
+beyond Doctor's Creek early the next morning. At daylight on the 8th
+I moved out Colonel Dan McCook's brigade and Barnett's battery for
+the purpose, but after we had crossed the creek with some slight
+skirmishing, I found that we could not hold the ground unless we
+carried and occupied a range of hills, called Chaplin Heights, in
+front of Chaplin River. As this would project my command in the
+direction of Perryville considerably beyond the troops that were on
+either flank, I brought up Laiboldt's brigade and Hescock's battery
+to strengthen Colonel McCook. Putting both brigades into line we
+quickly carried the Heights, much to the surprise of the enemy, I
+think, for he did not hold on to the valuable ground as strongly as
+he should have done. This success not only ensured us a good supply
+of water, but also, later in the day, had an important bearing in the
+battle of Perryville. After taking the Heights, I brought up the
+rest of my division and intrenched, without much difficulty, by
+throwing up a strong line of rifle-pits, although the enemy's
+sharpshooters annoyed us enough to make me order Laiboldt's brigade
+to drive them in on the main body. This was successfully done in a
+few minutes, but in pushing them back to Chaplin River, we discovered
+the Confederates forming a line of battle on the opposite bank, with
+the apparent purpose of an attack in force, so I withdrew the brigade
+to our intrenchments on the crest and there awaited the assault.</p>
+
+<p>While this skirmishing was going on, General Gilbert&mdash;the corps
+commander&mdash;whose headquarters were located on a hill about a mile
+distant to the rear, kept sending me messages by signal not to bring
+on an engagement. I replied to each message that I was not bringing
+on an engagement, but that the enemy evidently intended to do so, and
+that I believed I should shortly be attacked. Soon after returning
+to the crest and getting snugly fixed in the rifle-pits, my attention
+was called to our left, the high ground we occupied affording me in
+that direction an unobstructed view. I then saw General A. McD.
+McCook's corps&mdash;the First-advancing toward Chaplin River by the
+Mackville road, apparently unconscious that the Confederates were
+present in force behind the stream. I tried by the use of signal
+flags to get information of the situation to these troops, but my
+efforts failed, and the leading regiments seemed to approach the
+river indifferently prepared to meet the sudden attack that speedily
+followed, delivered as it was from the chosen position of the enemy.
+The fury of the Confederate assault soon halted this advance force,
+and in a short time threw it into confusion, pushed it back a
+considerable distance, and ultimately inflicted upon it such loss of
+men and guns as to seriously cripple McCook's corps, and prevent for
+the whole day further offensive movement on his part, though he
+stoutly resisted the enemy's assaults until 4 o'clock in the
+afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>Seeing McCook so fiercely attacked, in order to aid him I advanced
+Hescock's battery, supported by six regiments, to a very good
+position in front of a belt of timber on my extreme left, where an
+enfilading fire could be opened on that portion of the enemy
+attacking the right of the First Corps, and also on his batteries
+across Chaplin River. But at this juncture he placed two batteries
+on my right and began to mass troops behind them, and General
+Gilbert, fearing that my intrenched position on the heights might be
+carried, directed me to withdraw Hescock and his supports and return
+them to the pits. My recall was opportune, for I had no sooner got
+back to my original line than the Confederates attacked me furiously,
+advancing almost to my intrenchments, notwithstanding that a large
+part of the ground over which they had to move was swept by a heavy
+fire of canister from both my batteries. Before they had quite
+reached us, however, our telling fire made them recoil, and as they
+fell back, I directed an advance of my whole division, bringing up my
+reserve regiments to occupy the crest of the hills; Colonel William
+P. Carlin's brigade of Mitchell's division meanwhile moving forward
+on my right to cover that flank. This advance pressed the enemy to
+Perryville, but he retired in such good order that we gained nothing
+but some favorable ground that enabled me to establish my batteries
+in positions where they could again turn their attention to the
+Confederates in front of McCook, whose critical condition was shortly
+after relieved, however, by a united pressure of Gilbert's corps
+against the flank of McCook's assailants, compelling them to retire
+behind Chaplin River.</p>
+
+<p>The battle virtually ended about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, though
+more or less desultory firing continued until dark. Considering the
+severity of the engagement on McCook's front, and the reverses that
+had befallen him, I question if, from that part of the line, much
+could have been done toward retrieving the blunders of the day, but
+it did seem to me that, had the commander of the army been able to be
+present on the field, he could have taken advantage of Bragg's final
+repulse, and there would have remained in our hands more than the
+barren field. But no attempt was made to do anything more till next
+morning, and then we secured little except the enemy's killed and
+most severely wounded.</p>
+
+<p>The operations of my division during the engagement pleased. General
+Gilbert very much, and he informed me that he would relax a rigidly
+enforced order which General Buell had issued some days before,
+sufficiently to permit my trains to come to the front and supply my
+almost starving troops with rations. The order in question was one
+of those issued, doubtless with a good intent, to secure generally
+the safety of our trains, but General Gilbert was not elastic, and on
+the march he had construed the order so illiberally that it was next
+to impossible to supply the men with food, and they were particularly
+short in this respect on the eve of the battle. I had then
+endeavored to persuade him to modify his iron-clad interpretation of
+the order, but without effect, and the only wagons we could bring up
+from the general parks in rear were ambulances and those containing
+ammunition. So to gain access to our trains was a great boon, and at
+that moment a more welcome result than would have been a complete
+victory minus this concession.</p>
+
+<p>When the battle ceased General Gilbert asked me to join him at
+Buell's headquarters, which were a considerable distance to the rear,
+so after making some dispositions for the evening I proceeded there
+as requested. I arrived just as Buell was about to sit down to his
+supper, and noticing that he was lame, then learned that he had been
+severely injured by a recent fall from his horse. He kindly invited
+me to join him at the table, an invitation which I accepted with
+alacrity, enjoying the meal with a relish known only to a very-hungry
+man, for I had eaten nothing since morning. Of course the events of
+the day were the chief topic of discussion&mdash;as they were during my
+stay at headquarters&mdash;but the conversation indicated that what had
+occurred was not fully realized, and I returned to my troops
+impressed with the belief that General Buell and his staff-officers
+were unconscious of the magnitude of the battle that had just been
+fought.</p>
+
+<p>It had been expected by Buell that he would fight the enemy on the
+9th of October, but the Confederates disposed of that proposition by
+attacking us on the 8th, thus disarranging a tactical conception
+which, with our superior numbers, would doubtless have proved
+successful had it not been anticipated by an enterprising foe.
+During the battle on the 8th the Second Corps, under General Thomas
+L. Crittenden, accompanied by General George H. Thomas, lay idle the
+whole day for want of orders, although it was near enough to the
+field to take an active part in the fight; and, moreover, a large
+part of Gilbert's corps was unengaged during the pressure on McCook.
+Had these troops been put in on the enemy's left at any time after he
+assaulted McCook, success would have been beyond question; but there
+was no one on the ground authorized to take advantage of the
+situation, and the battle of Perryville remains in history an example
+of lost opportunities. This was due in some measure probably to
+General Buell's accident, but is mainly attributable to the fact that
+he did not clearly apprehend Bragg's aim, which was to gain time to
+withdraw behind Dick's River all the troops he had in Kentucky, for
+the Confederate general had no idea of risking the fate of his army
+on one general battle at a place or on a day to be chosen by the
+Union commander.</p>
+
+<p>Considering the number of troops actually engaged, the losses to
+Buell were severe, amounting to something over five thousand in
+killed, wounded, and missing. Among the killed were two brigade
+commanders of much promise&mdash;General James S. Jackson and General
+William R. Terrill. McCook's corps lost twelve guns, some of which
+were recovered next day. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded we
+never learned, but it must have equalled ours; and about four
+thousand prisoners, consisting principally of sick and wounded, fell
+into our hands. In the first report of the battle sent North to the
+newspapers I was reported among the killed; but I was pleased to
+notice, when the papers reached us a few days later, that the error
+had been corrected before my obituary could be written.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy retired from our front the night of the 8th, falling back
+on Harrodsburg to form a junction with Kirby Smith, and by taking
+this line of retreat opened to us the road to Danville and the chance
+for a direct march against his depot of supplies at Bryantsville. We
+did not take advantage of this opening, however, and late in the
+day&mdash;on the 9th&mdash;my division marched in pursuit, in the direction of
+Harrodsburg, which was the apex of a triangle having for its base a
+line from Perryville to Danville. The pursuit was slow, very slow,
+consuming the evening of the 9th and all of the 10th and 11th. By
+cutting across the triangle spoken of above, just south of the apex,
+I struck the Harrodsburg-Danville road, near Cave Springs, joining
+there Gilbert's left division, which had preceded me and marched
+through Harrodsburg. Here we again rested until the intention of the
+enemy could be divined, and we could learn on which side of Dick's
+River he would give us battle. A reconnoissance sent toward the
+Dickville crossing developed to a certainty that we should not have
+another engagement, however; for it disclosed the fact that Bragg's
+army had disappeared toward Camp Dick Robinson, leaving only a small
+rear-guard at Danville, which in turn quickly fled in the direction
+of Lancaster, after exchanging a few shots with Hescock's battery.</p>
+
+<p>While this parting salute of deadly projectiles was going on, a
+little, daughter of Colonel William J. Landram, whose home was in
+Danville, came running out from his house and planted a small
+national flag on one of Hescock's guns. The patriotic act was so
+brave and touching that it thrilled all who witnessed the scene; and
+until the close of the war, when peace separated the surviving
+officers and men of the battery, that little flag was protected and
+cherished as a memento of the Perryville campaign.</p>
+
+<p>Pursuit of the enemy was not continued in force beyond Crab Orchard,
+but some portions of the army kept at Bragg's heels until he crossed
+the Cumberland River, a part of his troops retiring to Tennessee by
+way of Cumberland Gap, but the major portion through Somerset. As
+the retreat of Bragg transferred the theatre of operations back to
+Tennessee, orders were now issued for a concentration of Buell's army
+at Bowling Green, with a view to marching it to Nashville, and my
+division moved to that point without noteworthy incident. I reached
+Bowling Green with a force much reduced by the losses sustained in
+the battle of Perryville and by sickness. I had started from
+Louisville on October 1 with twelve regiments of infantry&mdash;four old
+and eight new ones&mdash;and two batteries, but many poor fellows,
+overcome by fatigue, and diseases induced by the heat, dust, and
+drought of the season, had to be left at roadside hospitals. This
+was particularly the case with the new regiments, the men of which,
+much depressed by homesickness, and not yet inured to campaigning,
+fell easy victims to the hardships of war.</p>
+
+<p>At Bowling Green General Buell was relieved, General W. S. Rosecrans
+succeeding him. The army as a whole did not manifest much regret at
+the change of commanders, for the campaign from Louisville on was
+looked upon generally as a lamentable failure, yet there were many
+who still had the utmost confidence in General Buell, and they
+repelled with some asperity the reflections cast upon him by his
+critics. These admirers held him blameless throughout for the
+blunders of the campaign, but the greater number laid every error at
+his door, and even went to the absurdity of challenging his loyalty
+in a mild way, but they particularly charged incompetency at
+Perryville, where McCook's corps was so badly crippled while nearly
+30,000 Union troops were idle on the field, or within striking
+distance. With these it was no use to argue that Buell's accident
+stood in the way of his activity, nor that he did not know that the
+action had assumed the proportions of a battle. The physical
+disability was denied or contested, but even granting this, his
+detractors claimed that it did not excuse his ignorance of the true
+condition of the fight, and finally worsted his champions by pointing
+out that Bragg's retreat by way of Harrodsburg beyond Dick's River so
+jeopardized the Confederate army, that had a skillful and energetic
+advance of the Union troops been made, instead of wasting precious
+time in slow and unnecessary tactical manoeuvres, the enemy could
+have been destroyed before he could quit the State of Kentucky.</p>
+
+<br><br><br><br>
+<center><a name="p200"></a><img alt="p200.jpg (120K)" src="images/p200.jpg" height="764" width="650">
+</center>
+<a href="images/p200.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg">
+</a>
+
+
+
+<br><br><br><br>
+<center><h2><a name="ch12"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2></center>
+<br>
+
+<p>MOVING TO BOWLING GREEN&mdash;JAMES CARD, THE SCOUT AND GUIDE&mdash;GENERAL
+SILL&mdash;COLONEL SCHAEFER&mdash;COLONEL G. W. ROBERTS&mdash;MOVEMENT ON
+MURFREESBORO'&mdash;OPENING OF THE BATTLE OF STONE RIVER.</p>
+
+<p>My division had moved from Crab Orchard to Bowling Green by easy
+marches, reaching this place November 1. General Rosecrans assumed
+command of the department October 30, at Louisville, and joined the
+army November 2. There had been much pressure brought to bear on
+General Buell to induce him to take measures looking to the occupancy
+of East Tennessee, and the clamor to this end from Washington still
+continued; but now that Bragg was south of the Cumberland River, in a
+position threatening Nashville, which was garrisoned by but a small
+force, it was apparent to every one at all conversant with the
+situation that a battle would have to be fought somewhere in Middle
+Tennessee. So, notwithstanding the pressure from Washington, the
+army was soon put in motion for Nashville, and when we arrived there
+my division went into camp north of the river, on a plateau just
+outside the little town of Edgefield, until the movements of the
+enemy should be further developed.</p>
+
+<p>While in this camp, on the plantation of Mr. Hobson, there came to my
+headquarters one morning an East Tennessean named James Card, who
+offered to the Union cause his services in any capacity in which they
+might be made useful. This offer, and the relation of his personal
+history, were given with such sincerity of speech and manner that in
+a short time I became convinced of his honesty of purpose. He was a
+small, active, busy man, with a determined way about him, and his
+countenance indicated great intelligence. He gave minute information
+that was of inestimable value to me regarding East and Middle
+Tennessee and northern Georgia, for, with a view to the army's future
+movements, I was then making a study of the topography of this
+region, and posting myself as to Middle Tennessee, for all knew this
+would be the scene of active operations whenever the campaign was
+resumed. This man, like most of the East Tennesseans whom I had met,
+was intensely loyal and patriotic, and the interview led in a few
+days to his employment as a scout and guide, and subsequently to the
+engaging in the same capacity of two of his brothers, who were good
+men; but not quite as active nor so intelligent as he was. Card had
+been a colporter, having pedled books, especially religious tracts,
+over all Middle and East Tennessee and Georgia, assisted by his
+brothers at times, and was therefore thoroughly familiar with these
+regions, their roads and inhabitants. He also preached to country
+congregations occasionally, when ministers were scarce, and I have no
+doubt often performed the functions of family physician in the
+mountain district. Thus his opportunities were great; and the loyal
+people in every section of the country being well known to him and
+his brothers, the three began, at this time, a system of scouting and
+investigation which bore its first-fruits in specifically locating
+the different divisions of Bragg's army, with statements of their
+strength and condition, and all with so much accuracy that I
+thereafter felt reasonably sure that I could at all times procure
+such knowledge of the enemy's operations as would well equip me for
+any contingency that might arise.</p>
+
+<p>By the middle of November the enemy, having assembled his forces in
+Middle Tennessee, showed considerable boldness, and it became
+necessary to rearrange the Union lines; so my troops were moved to
+the south side of the river, out on the Murfreesboro' pike, to Mill
+Creek, distant from Nashville about seven miles. While we were in
+camp on Mill Creek the army was reorganized, and General Joshua W.
+Sill, at his own request, was assigned to my division, and took
+command of Colonel Nicholas Greusel's brigade. My division became at
+the same time the Third Division, Right Wing, Fourteenth Army Corps,
+its three brigades of four regiments each being respectively
+commanded by General Sill, Colonel Frederick Schaefer and Colonel Dan
+McCook; but a few days later Colonel George W. Roberts's brigade,
+from the garrison at Nashville, was substituted for McCook's.</p>
+
+<p>General Sill was a classmate of mine at the Military Academy, having
+graduated in 1853. On graduating he was appointed to the Ordnance
+Corps, and served in that department at various arsenals and ordnance
+depots throughout the country till early in 1861, when he resigned to
+accept a professorship of mathematics and civil engineering at the
+Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute. At the breaking out
+of the war he immediately tendered his services to the Government,
+and soon rose to the colonelcy of the Thirty-Third Ohio Volunteers,
+and afterward to the rank of brigadier-general. I knew him well, and
+was glad that he came to my division, though I was very loth to
+relieve Colonel Greusel, of the Thirty-Sixth Illinois, who had
+already indicated much military skill and bravery, and at the battle
+of Perryville had handled his men with the experience of a veteran.
+Sill's modesty and courage were exceeded only by a capacity that had
+already been demonstrated in many practical ways, and his untimely
+death, almost within a month of his joining me, abruptly closed a
+career which, had it been prolonged a little more, not only would
+have shed additional lustre on his name, but would have been of
+marked benefit to his country.</p>
+
+<p>Colonel Schaefer, of the Second Missouri Infantry, had been absent on
+sick-leave during the Kentucky campaign, but about this date he
+returned to duty, and by seniority fell in command of the second
+brigade. He was of German birth, having come from Baden, where,
+prior to 1848, he had been a non-commissioned officer in the service
+of his State. He took part as an insurgent in the so-called
+revolution which occurred at Baden in that year, and, compelled to
+emigrate on the suppression of the insurrection, made his way to this
+country and settled in St. Louis. Here the breaking out of the war
+found him, and through the personal interest which General Sigel took
+in him he was commissioned a colonel of volunteers. He had had a
+pretty fair education, a taste for the military profession, and was
+of tall and slender build, all of which gave him a student-like
+appearance. He was extremely excitable and nervous when anticipating
+a crisis, but always calmed down to cool deliberation when the
+critical moment came. With such a man I could not be less than well
+satisfied, although the officer whom he replaced&mdash;Colonel
+Laiboldt&mdash;had performed efficient service and shown much capacity in the recent
+campaign.</p>
+
+<p>Colonel G. W. Roberts, of the Forty-Second Illinois Infantry, also
+came to me in the reorganization. He was an ideal soldier both in
+mind and body. He was young, tall, handsome, brave, and dashing, and
+possessed a balance-wheel of such good judgment that in his sphere of
+action no occasion could arise from which he would not reap the best
+results. But he too was destined to lay, down his life within a few
+days, and on the same fatal field. His brigade had been performing
+garrison duty in Nashville during the siege of that city while
+Buell's army was in Kentucky, but disliking the prospect of
+inactivity pending the operations opening before us, Roberts had
+requested and obtained a transfer to the army in the field. His
+brigade relieved Colonel Dan McCook's, the latter reluctantly joining
+the garrison at Nashville, every one in it disappointed and disgusted
+that the circumstances existing at this time should necessitate their
+relegation to the harassing and tantalizing duty of protecting our
+depots and line of supply.</p>
+
+<p>I was fortunate in having such brigade commanders, and no less
+favored in the regimental and battery commanders. They all were not
+only patriots, but soldiers, and knowing that discipline must be one
+of the most potent factors in bringing to a successful termination,
+the mighty contest in which our nation was struggling for existence,
+they studied and practiced its methods ceaselessly, inspiring with
+the same spirit that pervaded themselves the loyal hearts of their
+subordinate officers and men. All worked unremittingly in the camp
+at Mill Creek in preparing for the storm, which now plainly indicated
+its speedy coming. Drills, parades, scouts, foraging expeditions,
+picket and guard duty, made up the course in this school of
+instruction, supplemented by frequent changes in the locations of the
+different brigades, so that the division could have opportunity to
+learn to break camp quickly and to move out promptly on the march.
+Foraging expeditions were particularly beneficial in this respect,
+and when sent out, though absent sometimes for days, the men went
+without tents or knapsacks, equipped with only one blanket and their
+arms, ammunition, and rations, to teach them to shift for themselves
+with slender means in the event of necessity. The number of
+regimental and headquarters wagons was cut down to the lowest
+possible figure, and everything made compact by turning into the
+supply and ammunition trains of the division all surplus
+transportation, and restricting the personal baggage of officers to
+the fewest effects possible.</p>
+
+<p>My own staff also was somewhat reorganized and increased at Mill
+Creek, and though it had been perfectly satisfactory before, yet, on
+account of the changes of troops that had occurred in the command, I
+found it necessary to replace valuable officers in some instances,
+and secure additional ones in others. The gathering of information
+about the enemy was also industriously pursued, and Card and his
+brothers were used constantly on expeditions within the Confederate
+lines, frequently visiting Murfreesboro', Sparta, Tullahoma,
+Shelbyville, and other points. What they learned was reported to
+army headquarters, often orally through me or personally communicated
+by Card himself, but much was forwarded in official letters,
+beginning with November 24, when I transmitted accurate information
+of the concentration of Bragg's main force at Tullahoma. Indeed,
+Card kept me so well posted as to every movement of the enemy, not
+only with reference to the troops in my immediate front, but also
+throughout his whole army, that General Rosecrans placed the most
+unreserved reliance on all his statements, and many times used them
+to check and correct the reports brought in by his own scouts.</p>
+
+<p>Slight skirmishes took place frequently during this period, and now
+and then heavy demonstrations were made in the neighborhood of
+Nolensville by reconnoitring parties from both armies, but none of
+these ever grew into a battle. These affairs sprung from the desire
+of each side to feel his antagonist, and had little result beyond
+emphasizing the fact that behind each line of pickets lay a massed
+and powerful army busily preparing for the inevitable conflict and
+eager for its opening. So it wore on till the evening of December
+25, 1862; then came the order to move forward.</p>
+
+<p>General Rosecrans, in the reorganization of the army, had assigned
+Major-General A. McD. McCook to command the right wing, Major-General
+George H. Thomas the centre, and Major-General T. L. Crittenden the
+left wing. McCook's wing was made up of three divisions, commanded
+in order of rank by Brigadier-General Jeff. C. Davis;
+Brigadier-General R. W. Johnson, and Brigadier-General P. H. Sheridan.
+Although the corps nomenclature established by General Buell was
+dropped, the grand divisions into which he had organized the army at
+Louisville were maintained, and, in fact, the conditions established
+then remained practically unaltered, with the exception of the
+interchange of some brigades, the transfer of a few general officers
+from one wing or division to another, and the substitution of General
+Thomas for Gilbert as a corps commander. The army was thus compact
+and cohesive, undisturbed by discord and unembarrassed by jealousies
+of any moment; and it may be said that under a commander who, we
+believed, had the energy and skill necessary to direct us to success,
+a national confidence in our invincibility made us all keen for a
+test of strength with the Confederates. We had not long to wait.</p>
+
+<p>Early on the morning of December 26, 1862, in a heavy rain, the army
+marched, the movement being directed on Murfreesboro', where the
+enemy had made some preparation to go into winter-quarters, and to
+hold which town it was hoped he would accept battle. General Thomas
+moved by the Franklin and Wilson pikes, General Crittenden by the
+Murfreesboro' pike, through Lavergne, and General McCook by the
+Nolensville pike&mdash;Davis's division in advance. As McCook's command
+neared Nolensville, I received a message from Davis informing me that
+the Confederates were in considerable force, posted on a range of
+hills in his front, and requesting me to support him in an attack he
+was about to make. When the head of my column arrived at Nolensville
+I began massing my troops on the right of the road, and by the time
+this formation was nearly completed Davis advanced, but not meeting
+with sufficient resistance to demand active assistance from me, he
+with his own command carried the hills, capturing one piece of
+artillery. This position of the Confederates was a strong one,
+defending Knob's Gap, through which the Nolensville and Triune pike
+passed. On the 27th Johnson's division, followed by mine, advanced
+to Triune, and engaged in a severe skirmish near that place, but my
+troops were not called into action, the stand made by the enemy being
+only for the purpose of gaining time to draw in his outlying troops,
+which done, he retired toward Murfreesboro'. I remained inactive at
+Triune during the 28th, but early on the 29th moved out by the Bole
+Jack road to the support of, Davis in his advance to Stewart's Creek,
+and encamped at Wilkinson's crossroads, from which point to
+Murfreesboro', distant about six miles, there was a good turnpike.
+The enemy had sullenly resisted the progress of Crittenden and McCook
+throughout the preceding three days, and as it was thought probable
+that he might offer battle at Stewart's Creek, Thomas, in pursuance
+of his original instructions looking to just such a contingency, had
+now fallen into the centre by way of the Nolensville crossroads.</p>
+
+<p>On the morning of the 3oth I had the advance of McCook's corps on the
+Wilkinson pike, Roberts's brigade leading. At first only slight
+skirmishing took place, but when we came within about three miles of
+Murfreesboro' the resistance of the enemy's pickets grew serious, and
+a little further on so strong that I had to put in two regiments to
+push them back. I succeeded in driving them about half a mile, when
+I was directed by McCook to form line of battle and place my
+artillery in position so that I could act in concert with Davis's
+division, which he wished to post on my right in the general line he
+desired to take up. In obedience to these directions I deployed on
+the right of, and oblique to the Wilkinson pike, with a front of four
+regiments, a second line of four regiments within short supporting
+distance, and a reserve of one brigade in column of regiments to the
+rear of my centre. All this time the enemy kept up a heavy artillery
+and musketry fire on my skirmishers, he occupying, with his
+sharpshooters, beyond some open fields, a heavy belt of timber to my
+front and right, where it was intended the left of Davis should
+finally rest. To gain this point Davis was ordered to swing his
+division into it in conjunction with a wheeling movement of my right
+brigade, until our continuous line should face nearly due east. This
+would give us possession of the timber referred to, and not only rid
+us of the annoying fire from the skirmishers screened by it, but also
+place us close in to what was now developing as Bragg's line of
+battle. The movement was begun about half-past 2, and was
+successfully executed, after a stubborn resistance. In this
+preliminary affair the enemy had put in one battery of artillery,
+which was silenced in a little while, however, by Bush's and
+Hescock's guns. By sundown I had taken up my prescribed position,
+facing almost east, my left (Roberts's brigade) resting on the
+Wilkinson pike, the right (Sill's brigade) in the timber we had just
+gained, and the reserve brigade (Schaefer's) to the rear of my
+centre, on some rising ground in the edge of a strip of woods behind
+Houghtaling's and Hescock's batteries. Davis's division was placed
+in position on my right, his troops thrown somewhat to the rear, so
+that his line formed nearly a right angle with mine, while Johnson's
+division formed in a very exposed position on the right of Davis,
+prolonging the general line just across the Franklin pike.</p>
+
+<p>The centre, under Thomas, had already formed to my left, the right of
+Negley's division joining my left in a cedar thicket near the
+Wilkinson pike, while Crittenden's corps was posted on the left of
+Thomas, his left resting on Stone River, at a point about two miles
+and a half from Murfreesboro'.</p>
+
+<p>The precision that had characterized every manoeuvre of the past
+three days, and the exactness with which each corps and division fell
+into its allotted place on the evening of the 30th, indicated that at
+the outset of the campaign a well-digested plan of operations had
+been prepared for us; and although the scheme of the expected battle
+was not known to subordinates of my grade, yet all the movements up
+to this time had been so successfully and accurately made as to give
+much promise for the morrow, and when night fell there was general
+anticipation of the best results to the Union army.</p>
+
+<br><br><br><br>
+<center><h2><a name="ch13"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2></center>
+<br>
+
+<p>ASSAULT ON OUR RIGHT FLANK&mdash;OCCUPYING A NEW POSITION&mdash;THE ENEMY
+CHECKED&mdash;TERRIBLE LOSS OF OFFICERS&mdash;AMMUNITION GIVES
+OUT&mdash;RECONSTRUCTING THE LINE&mdash;COLLECTING THE WOUNDED AND BURYING THE
+DEAD&mdash;DEALING WITH COWARDS&mdash;RESULTS OF THE VICTORY.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy under Bragg lay between us and stone River in order of
+battle, his general line conforming to the course of that stream. In
+my immediate front he appeared to be established in strong force in a
+dense cedar wood, just beyond an open valley, which varied from two
+hundred to four hundred yards in width, the cedars extending the
+entire length of the valley. From the events of the day and evening
+of the 3oth, it was apparent that the two armies were in close
+proximity, and orders received during the night revealed the fact
+that Rosecrans intended to attack by throwing his left on the enemy's
+right, with the expectation of driving it in toward Murfreesboro', so
+that the right of Crittenden's corps could attack Bragg's centre in
+reverse, while Thomas supported Crittenden by a simultaneous front
+assault; and from the movements of the enemy at daylight next
+morning, it was plainly indicated that Bragg had planned to swing his
+left on our right by an exactly similar manoeuvre, get possession of
+the railroad and the Nashville pike, and if possible cut us off from
+our base at Nashville. The conceptions in the minds of the two
+generals were almost identical; but Bragg took the initiative,
+beginning his movement about an hour earlier than the time set by
+Rosecrans, which gained him an immense advantage in execution in the
+earlier stages of the action.</p>
+
+<p>During the evening, feeling keenly all the solicitude which
+attends one in anticipation of a battle, I examined my position with
+great care, inspecting its whole length several times to remedy any
+defects that might exist, and to let the men see that I was alive to
+their interests and advantages. After dark, I went back to the rear
+of my reserve brigade, and establishing my headquarters behind the
+trunk of a large fallen tree, which would shelter me somewhat from
+the cold December wind, lay down beside a small camp-fire to get some
+rest.</p>
+
+<p>At 2 o'clock on the morning of the 31st General Sill came back to me
+to report that on his front a continuous movement of infantry and
+artillery had been going on all night within the Confederate lines,
+and that he was convinced that Bragg was massing on our right with
+the purpose of making an attack from that direction early in the
+morning. After discussing for a few minutes the probabilities of
+such a course on the part of the enemy, I thought McCook should be
+made acquainted with what was going on, so Sill and I went back to
+see him at his headquarters, not far from the Griscom House, where we
+found him sleeping on some straw in the angle of a worm-fence. I
+waked him up and communicated the intelligence, and our consequent
+impressions. He talked the matter over with us for some little time,
+but in view of the offensive-defensive part he was to play in the
+coming battle, did not seem to think that there was a necessity for
+any further dispositions than had already been taken. He said that
+he thought Johnson's division would be able to take care of the
+right, and seemed confident that the early assault which was to be
+made from Rosecrans's left would anticipate and check the designs
+which we presaged. We two then returned to my little camp-fire
+behind the log, and as we continued talking of what might be expected
+from the indications on the right, and Sill becoming more anxious, I
+directed two regiments from the reserve to report to him, that they
+might be placed within very short supporting distance of his line.
+He then rejoined his brigade, better satisfied, but still adhering to
+the belief he had expressed when first making his report.</p>
+
+<p>Long before dawn my division breakfasted, and was assembled under
+arms, the infantry in line, the cannoneers at their pieces, but while
+we were thus preparing, all the recent signs of activity in the
+enemy's camp were hushed, a death-like stillness prevailing in the
+cedars to our front. Shortly after daylight General Hardee opened
+the engagement, just as Sill had predicted, by a fierce attack on
+Johnson's division, the extreme right of the Union line. Immediate
+success attending this assault, Hardee extended the attack gradually
+along in front of Davis, hip movement taking the form of a wheel to
+the right, the pivot being nearly opposite the left of my division.
+Johnson's division soon gave way, and two of Davis's brigades were
+forced to fall back with it, though stubbornly resisting the
+determined and sweeping onset.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime the enemy had also attacked me, advancing across an
+old cotton-field in Sill's front in heavy masses, which were
+furiously opened upon by Bush's battery from Sill's line, and by
+Hescock's and Houghtaling's batteries, which had an oblique fire on
+the field from a commanding position in rear of my centre. The
+effect of this fire on the advancing column was terrible, but it
+continued on till it reached the edge of the timber where Sill's
+right lay, when my infantry opened at a range of not over fifty
+yards. For a short time the Confederates withstood the fire, but
+then wavered, broke, and fell back toward their original line. As
+they retired, Sill's brigade followed in a spirited charge, driving
+them back across the open ground and behind their intrenchments. In
+this charge the gallant Sill was killed; a rifle ball passing through
+his upper lip and penetrating the brain. Although this was a heavy
+loss, yet the enemy's discomfiture was such as to give us an hour's
+time, and as Colonel Greusel, Thirty-sixth Illinois, succeeded to
+Sill's command, I directed him, as he took charge, to recall the
+brigade to its original position, for the turning-column on my
+extreme right was now assuming the most menacing attitude, and it was
+urgently necessary to prepare for it.</p>
+
+<p>When that portion of the enemy driven back by Sill recovered from its
+repulse it again advanced to the attack, this time directing its
+efforts chiefly upon my extreme right, and the front of Woodruff's
+brigade of Davis's division, which brigade still held on in its first
+position. In front of my centre the Confederates were again driven
+back, but as the assault on Woodruff was in conjunction with an
+advance of the column that had forced Johnson to retire, Woodruff was
+compelled unfortunately to give way, and two regiments on the right
+of my line went with him, till they rallied on the two reserve
+regiments which, in anticipation of the enemy's initiatory attack I
+had sent to Sill's rear before daylight.</p>
+
+<p>Both Johnson's and Davis's divisions were now practically gone from
+our line, having retired with a loss of all formation, and they were
+being closely pursued by the enemy, whose columns were following the
+arc of a circle that would ultimately carry him in on my rear. In
+consequence of the fact that this state of things would soon subject
+me to a fire in reverse, I hastily withdrew Sill's brigade and the
+reserve regiments supporting it, and ordered Roberts's brigade, which
+at the close of the enemy's second repulse had changed front toward
+the south and formed in column of regiments, to cover the withdrawal
+by a charge on the Confederates as they came into the timber where my
+right had originally rested. Roberts made the charge at the proper
+time, and was successful in checking the enemy's advance, thus giving
+us a breathing-spell, during which I was able to take up a new
+position with Schaefer's and Sill's brigades on the commanding ground
+to the rear, where Hescock's and Houghtaling's batteries had been
+posted all the morning.</p>
+
+<p>The general course of this new position was at right angles with my
+original line, and it took the shape of an obtuse angle, with my
+three batteries at the apex. Davis, and Carlin of his division,
+endeavored to rally their men here on my right, but their efforts
+were practically unavailing,&mdash;though the calm and cool appearance of
+Carlin, who at the time was smoking a stumpy pipe, had some effect,
+and was in strong contrast to the excited manner of Davis, who seemed
+overpowered by the disaster that had befallen his command. But few
+could be rallied, however, as the men were badly demoralized, and
+most of them fell back beyond the Wilkinson pike, where they
+reorganized behind the troops of General Thomas.</p>
+
+<p>At this juncture the enemy's turning-column began advancing again in
+concert with Cheatham's division, and as the extreme left of the
+Confederates was directed on Griscom's house, and their right on the
+Blanton house, my new position was in danger of envelopment. No hope
+of stemming the tide at this point seemed probable, but to gain time
+I retained my ground as long as possible, and until, under directions
+from General McCook, I moved to the front from my left flank and
+attached myself to the right of Negley's division, which up to this
+hour had been left almost undisturbed by the enemy in the line it had
+taken up the night before. Under a heavy fire we succeeded in this
+manoeuvre, Schaefer's brigade marching first, then the batteries, and
+Roberts's and Sill's brigades following. When my division arrived on
+this new ground, I posted Roberts on Negley's right, with Hescock's
+and Bush's guns, the brigade and guns occupying a low rocky ridge of
+limestone, which faced them toward Murfreesboro', nearly south. The
+rest of my division was aligned facing west, along the edge of a
+cedar thicket, the rear rank backed up on the right flank of Roberts,
+with Houghtaling's battery in the angle. This presented Sill's and
+Schaefer's brigades in an almost opposite direction to the line we
+had so confidently taken up the night before, and covered Negley's
+rear. The enemy, in the meantime, had continued his wheeling
+movement till he occupied the ground that my batteries and reserve
+brigade had held in the morning, and I had now so changed my position
+that the left brigade of my division approached his intrenchments in
+front of Stone River, while Sill's and Schaeffer's brigades, by
+facing nearly west, confronted the successful troops that had smashed
+in our extreme right.</p>
+
+<p>I had hardly got straightened out in this last place when I was
+attacked by Cheatham's'division, which, notwithstanding the
+staggering blows it had previously received from Sill and Roberts,
+now again moved forward in conjunction with the wheeling movement
+under the immediate command of Hardee. One of the most sanguinary
+contests of the day now took place. In fulfillment of Bragg's
+original design no doubt, Cheatham's division attacked on my left,
+while heavy masses under Hardee, covered by batteries posted on the
+high ground formerly occupied by my guns, assaulted my right, the
+whole force advancing simultaneously. At the same time the enemy
+opened an artillery fire from his intrenchments in front of
+Murfreesboro', and it seemed that he was present on every side. My
+position was strong, however, located in the edge of a dense cedar
+thicket and commanding a slight depression of open ground that lay in
+my front. My men were in good spirits too, notwithstanding they had
+been a good deal hustled around since daylight, with losses that had
+told considerably on their numbers. Only a short distance now
+separated the contending lines, and as the batteries on each side
+were not much more than two hundred yards apart when the enemy made
+his assault, the artillery fire was fearful in its effect on the
+ranks of both contestants, the enemy's heavy masses staggering under
+the torrent of shell and canister from our batteries, while our lines
+were thinned by his ricochetting projectiles, that rebounded again
+and again over the thinly covered limestone formation and sped on to
+the rear of Negley. But all his efforts to dislodge or destroy us
+were futile, and for the first time since daylight General Hardee was
+seriously checked in the turning movement he had begun for the
+purpose of getting possession of the Nashville pike, and though
+reinforced until two-fifths of Bragg's army was now at his command,
+yet he met with repulse after repulse, which created great gaps in
+his lines and taught him that to overwhelm us was hopeless.</p>
+
+<p>As the enemy was recoiling from his first attack, I received a
+message from Rosecrans telling me that he was making new
+dispositions, and directing me to hold on where I was until they were
+completed. From this I judged that the existing conditions of the
+battle would probably require a sacrifice of my command, so I
+informed Roberts and Schaefer that we must be prepared to meet the
+demand on us by withstanding the assault of the enemy, no matter what
+the outcome. Every energy was therefore bent to the simple holding
+of our ground, and as ammunition was getting scarce, instructions
+were given throughout the command to have it reserve its fire till
+the most effective moment. In a little while came a second and a
+third assault, and although they were as daring and furious as the
+first, yet in each case the Confederates were repulsed, driven back
+in confusion, but not without deadly loss to us, for the noble
+Roberts was killed, and Colonel Harrington, of the Twenty-Seventh
+Illinois, who succeeded to his brigade, was mortally wounded a few
+minutes later. I had now on the death-roll three brigade commanders,
+and the loss of subordinate officers and men was appalling, but their
+sacrifice had accomplished the desired result; they had not fallen in
+vain. Indeed, the bravery and tenacity of my division gave to
+Rosecrans the time required to make new dispositions, and exacted
+from our foes the highest commendations.</p>
+
+<p>A lull followed the third fierce assault, and an investigation showed
+that, with the exception of a few rounds in my brigade, our
+ammunition was entirely exhausted; and while it was apparent that the
+enemy was reluctant to renew the conflict in my front, yet I was
+satisfied I could not hold on much longer without the danger of
+ultimate capture, so I prepared to withdraw as soon as the troops of
+Rousseau's division, which had been ordered to take up a line on my
+right, came into position. Schaefer's and Sill's brigades being
+without a cartridge, I directed them to fix bayonets for a charge,
+and await any attempt of the enemy to embarrass my retreat, while
+Roberts's brigade, offering such resistance as its small quantity of
+ammunition would permit, was pulled slowly in toward the Nashville
+pike. Eighty of the horses of Houghtaling's battery having been
+killed, an attempt was made to bring his guns back by hand over the
+rocky ground, but it could not be done, and we had to abandon them.
+Hescock also had lost most of his horses, but all his guns were
+saved. Bush's battery lost two pieces, the tangled underbrush in the
+dense cedars proving an obstacle to getting them away which his
+almost superhuman exertions could not surmount. Thus far the bloody
+duel had cost me heavily, one-third of my division being killed or
+wounded. I had already three brigade commanders killed; a little
+later I lost my fourth&mdash;Colonel Schaefer.</p>
+
+<p>The difficulties of withdrawing were very great, as the ground was
+exceptionally rocky, and the growth of cedars almost impenetrable for
+wheeled carriages. Retiring sullenly under a heavy fire, while the
+general line was reformed to my right and rear, my division was at
+length drawn through the cedars and debouched into an open space near
+the Murfreesboro' pike, behind the right of Palmer's division. Two
+regiments of Sill's brigade, however, on account of the conformation
+of the ground, were obliged to fall back from the point where
+Woodruff's brigade of Davis's division had rallied after the disaster
+of the early morning. The division came out of the cedars with
+unbroken ranks, thinned by only its killed and wounded&mdash;but few
+missing. When we came into the open ground, McCook directed
+Roberts's brigade&mdash;now commanded by Colonel Luther P. Bradley&mdash;to
+proceed a short distance to the rear on the Nashville pike, to repel
+the enemy's threatening attempt at our communications. Willingly and
+cheerfully the brigade again entered the fight under these new
+conditions, and although it was supplied with but three or four
+cartridges to the man now, it charged gallantly and recaptured two
+pieces of artillery which the Union troops had had to abandon at that
+point.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly after we debouched from the cedars I was directed by
+Rosecrans to send some aid to the right of General Palmer's division;
+and two of Schaefer's regiments, having obtained ammunition, were
+pushed up on Palmer's right, accompanied by four of Hescock's guns;
+but the advance of the enemy here had already been checked by Palmer,
+and only a desultory contest ensued. Rosecrans, whom I now met in
+the open ground west of the railroad, behind Palmer, directed that my
+command should relieve Wood's division, which was required to fall
+back and take up the new line that had been marked out while I was
+holding on in the cedars. His usually florid face had lost its ruddy
+color, and his anxious eyes told that the disasters of the morning
+were testing his powers to the very verge of endurance, but he seemed
+fully to comprehend what had befallen us. His firmly set lips and,
+the calmness with which his instructions were delivered inspired
+confidence in all around him; and expressing approbation of what my
+division had done, while deliberately directing it to a new point, he
+renewed in us all the hope of final victory, though it must be
+admitted that at this phase of the battle the chances lay largely
+with the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>Withdrawing the two regiments and Hescock's battery, that I had
+posted on the right of Palmer, I moved as directed by Rosecrans into
+the position to the east of the railroad, and formed immediately to
+the right of Wood, who was now being attacked all along his front,
+but more particularly where his right rested near the railroad.
+Under a storm of shot and shell that came in torrents my troops took
+up the new ground, advancing through a clump of open timber to Wood's
+assistance. Forming in line in front of the timber we poured a
+telling fire into the enemy's ranks, which were then attacking across
+some cleared fields; but when he discovered additional troops
+confronting him, he gave up the attempt to carry Wood's position. It
+was here that I lost Schaefer, who was killed instantly, making my
+fourth brigade commander dead that day. The enemy in front of Wood
+having been checked, our whole line east of the railroad executed
+undisturbed its retrograde movement to a position about three hundred
+yards to its rear. When I fell back to the edge of the clump of
+timber, where when first coming on the ground I had formed to help
+Wood, I was ordered by Rosecrans to prepare to make a charge should
+the enemy again assault us. In anticipation of this work I massed my
+troops in close column. The expected attack never came, however, but
+the shot and shell of a furious cannonade told with fatal effect upon
+men and officers as they lay on their faces hugging the ground. The
+torments of this trying situation were almost unbearable, but it was
+obvious to all that it was necessary to have at hand a compact body
+of troops to repel any assault the enemy might make pending the
+reconstruction of the extreme right of our line, and a silent
+determination to stay seemed to take hold of each individual soldier;
+nor was this grim silence interrupted throughout the cannonade,
+except in one instance, when one of the regiments broke out in a
+lusty cheer as a startled rabbit in search of a new hiding-place
+safely ran the whole length of the line on the backs of the men.</p>
+
+<p>While my troops were still lying here, General Rosecrans, with a part
+of his staff and a few orderlies, rode out on the rearranged line to
+supervise its formation and encourage the men, and in prosecution of
+these objects moved around the front of my column of attack, within
+range of the batteries that were shelling us so viciously. As he
+passed to the open ground on my left, I joined him. The enemy seeing
+this mounted party, turned his guns upon it, and his accurate aim was
+soon rewarded, for a solid shot carried away the head of Colonel
+Garesche, the chief-of-staff, and killed or wounded two or three
+orderlies. Garesche's appalling death stunned us all, and a
+momentary expression of horror spread over Rosecrans's face; but at
+such a time the importance of self-control was vital, and he pursued
+his course with an appearance of indifference, which, however, those
+immediately about him saw was assumed, for undoubtedly he felt most
+deeply the death of his friend and trusted staff-officer.</p>
+
+<p>No other attacks were made on us to the east of the railroad for the
+rest of the afternoon, and just before dark I was directed to
+withdraw and take up a position along the west side of the Nashville
+pike, on the extreme right of our new line, where Roberts's brigade
+and the Seventy-third and Eighty-eighth Illinois had already been
+placed by McCook. The day had cost me much anxiety and sadness, and
+I was sorely disappointed at the general result, though I could not
+be other than pleased at the part taken by my command. The loss of
+my brigade commanders&mdash;Sill, Roberts, Schaefer, and Harrington-and a
+large number of regimental and battery officers, with so many of
+their men, struck deep into my heart: My thinned ranks told the
+woeful tale of the fierce struggles, indescribable by words, through
+which my division had passed since 7 o'clock in the morning; and
+this, added to our hungry and exhausted condition, was naturally
+disheartening. The men had been made veterans, however, by the
+fortunes and misfortunes of the day, and as they went into their new
+places still confident of final success, it was plain to see that
+they felt a self-confidence inspired by the part they had already
+played.</p>
+
+<p>My headquarters were now established on the Nashville pike, about
+three miles and a half from Murfreesboro'; my division being aligned
+to the west of the pike, bowed out and facing almost west, Cleburn's
+division of the Confederates confronting it. Davis's division was
+posted on my right, and Walker's brigade of Thomas's corps, which had
+reported to me, took up a line that connected my left with Johnson's
+division.</p>
+
+<p>Late in the evening General Rosecrans, accompanied by General McCook,
+and several other officers whose names I am now unable to recall,
+rode by my headquarters on their way to the rear to look for a new
+line of battle&mdash;on Overall's creek it was said&mdash;that would preserve
+our communications with Nashville and offer better facilities for
+resistance than the one we were now holding. Considerable time had
+elapsed when they returned from this exploration and proceeded to
+their respective commands, without intimating to me that anything had
+been determined upon by the reconnoissance, but a little later it was
+rumored through the different headquarters that while the party was
+looking for a new position it discovered the enemy's troops moving
+toward our right and rear, the head of his columns being conducted in
+the darkness by the aid of torches, and that no alternative was left
+us but to hold the lines we then occupied. The torches had been seen
+unquestionably, and possibly created some alarm at first in the minds
+of the reconnoitring party, but it was soon ascertained that the
+lights came from a battalion of the Fourth regular cavalry that was
+picketing our flank and happened to be starting its bivouac fires at
+the moment. The fires and the supposed movements had no weight,
+therefore, in deciding the proposition to take up a line at Overall's
+creek, but General Rosecrans, fortunately for the army, decided to
+remain where he was. Doubtless reflections during his ride caused
+him to realize that the enemy must be quite as much crippled as
+himself. If it had been decided to fall back to Overall's creek, we
+could have withdrawn without much difficulty very likely, but such a
+retrograde movement would have left to the enemy the entire
+battle-field of Stone River and ultimately compelled our retreat to
+Nashville.</p>
+
+<p>In the night of December 3rd several slight demonstrations were made
+on my front, but from the darkness neither party felt the effect of
+the other's fire, and when daylight came again the skirmishers and
+lines of battle were in about the same position they had taken up the
+evening before. Soon after daybreak it became evident that the
+conflict was to be renewed, and a little later the enemy resumed the
+offensive by an attack along my left front, especially on Walker's
+brigade. His attempt was ineffectual, however, and so easily
+repulsed as to demonstrate that the desperate character of his
+assaults the day before had nearly exhausted his strength. About 3
+o'clock in the afternoon he made another feeble charge on my front,
+but our fire from the barricades and rifle-pits soon demoralized his
+advancing lines, which fell back in some confusion, thus enabling us
+to pick up about a hundred prisoners. From this time till the
+evening of January 3 Bragg's left remained in our front, and
+continued to show itself at intervals by weak demonstrations, which
+we afterward ascertained were directly intended to cover the
+desperate assault he made with Breckenridge on the left of Rosecrans,
+an assault that really had in view only a defensive purpose, for
+unless Bragg dislodged the troops which were now massing in front of
+his right he would be obliged to withdraw General Polk's corps behind
+Stone River and finally abandon Murfreesboro'. The sequel proved
+this to be the case; and the ill-judged assault led by Breckenridge
+ending in entire defeat, Bragg retired from Murfreesboro' the night
+of January 3.</p>
+
+<p>General Rosecrans occupied Murfreesboro' on the 4th and 5th, having
+gained a costly victory, which was not decisive enough in its
+character to greatly affect the general course of the war, though it
+somewhat strengthened and increased our hold on Middle Tennessee.
+The enemy in retiring did not fall back very far&mdash;only behind Duck
+River to Shelbyville and Tullahoma&mdash;and but little endeavor was made
+to follow him. Indeed, we were not in condition to pursue, even if
+it had been the intention at the outset of the campaign.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as possible after the Confederate retreat I went over the
+battle-field to collect such of my wounded as had not been carried
+off to the South and to bury my dead. In the cedars and on the
+ground where I had been so fiercely assaulted when the battle opened,
+on the morning of the 31st, evidences of the bloody struggle appeared
+on every hand in the form of broken fire-arms, fragments of
+accoutrements, and splintered trees. The dead had nearly all been
+left unburied, but as there was likelihood of their mutilation by
+roving swine, the bodies had mostly been collected in piles at
+different points and inclosed by rail fences. The sad duties of
+interment and of caring for the wounded were completed by the 5th,
+and on the 6th I moved my division three miles, south of
+Murfreesboro' on the Shelbyville pike, going into camp on the banks
+of Stone River. Here the condition of my command was thoroughly
+looked into, and an endeavor made to correct such defects as had been
+disclosed by the recent battle.</p>
+
+<p>During the engagement there had been little straggling, and my list
+of missing was small and legitimate; still, it was known that a very
+few had shirked their duty, and an example was necessary. Among this
+small number were four officers who, it was charged, had abandoned
+their colors and regiments. When their guilt was clearly
+established, and as soon as an opportunity occurred, I caused the
+whole division to be formed in a hollow square, closed in mass, and
+had the four officers marched to the centre, where, telling them that
+I would not humiliate any officer or soldier by requiring him to
+touch their disgraced swords, I compelled them to deliver theirs up
+to my colored servant, who also cut from their coats every insignia
+of rank. Then, after there had been read to the command an order
+from army headquarters dismissing the four from the service, the
+scene was brought to a close by drumming the cowards out of camp. It
+was a mortifying spectacle, but from that day no officer in that
+division ever abandoned his colors.</p>
+
+<p>My effective force in the battle of Stone River was 4,154 officers
+and men. Of this number I lost 1,633 killed, wounded, and missing,
+or nearly 40 per cent. In the remaining years of the war, though
+often engaged in most severe contests, I never experienced in any of
+my commands so high a rate of casualties. The ratio of loss in the
+whole of Rosecrans's army was also high, and Bragg's losses were
+almost equally great. Rosecrans carried into the action about 42,000
+officers and men. He lost 13,230, or 31 per cent. Bragg's effective
+force was 37,800 officers and men; he lost 10,306, or nearly 28 per
+cent.</p>
+
+<p>Though our victory was dearly bought, yet the importance of gaining
+the day at any price was very great, particularly when we consider
+what might have been the result had not the gallantry of the army and
+the manoeuvring during the early disaster saved us from ultimate
+defeat. We had started out from Nashville on an offensive campaign,
+probably with no intention of going beyond Murfreesboro', in
+midwinter, but still with the expectation of delivering a crushing
+blow should the enemy accept our challenge to battle. He met us with
+a plan of attack almost the counterpart of our own. In the execution
+of his plan he had many advantages, not the least of which was his
+intimate knowledge of the ground, and he came near destroying us.
+Had he done so, Nashville would probably have fallen; at all events,
+Kentucky would have been opened again to his incursions, and the
+theatre of war very likely transferred once more to the Ohio River.
+As the case now stood, however, Nashville was firmly established as a
+base for future operations, Kentucky was safe from the possibility of
+being again overrun, and Bragg, thrown on the defensive, was
+compelled to give his thoughts to the protection of the interior of
+the Confederacy and the security of Chattanooga, rather than indulge
+in schemes of conquest north of the Cumberland River. While he still
+held on in Middle Tennessee his grasp was so much loosened that only
+slight effort would be necessary to push him back into Georgia, and
+thus give to the mountain region of East Tennessee an opportunity to
+prove its loyalty to the, Union.</p>
+
+<p>The victory quieted the fears of the West and Northwest, destroyed
+the hopes of the secession element in Kentucky, renewed the drooping
+spirits of the East Tennesseans, and demoralized the disunionists in
+Middle Tennessee; yet it was a negative victory so far as concerned
+the result on the battle-field. Rosecrans seems to have planned the
+battle with the idea that the enemy would continue passive, remain
+entirely on the defensive, and that it was necessary only to push
+forward our left in order to force the evacuation of Murfreesboro';
+and notwithstanding the fact that on the afternoon of December 30
+McCook received information that the right of Johnson's division.
+resting near the Franklin pike, extended only to about the centre of
+the Confederate army, it does not appear that attack from that
+quarter was at all apprehended by the Union commanders.</p>
+
+<p>The natural line of retreat of the Confederates was not threatened by
+the design of Rosecrans; and Bragg, without risk to his
+communications, anticipated it by a counter-attack of like character
+from his own left, and demolished his adversary's plan the moment we
+were thrown on the defensive. Had Bragg followed up with the spirit
+which characterized its beginning the successful attack by Hardee on
+our right wing&mdash;and there seems no reason why he should not have done
+so&mdash;the army of Rosecrans still might have got back to Nashville, but
+it would have been depleted and demoralized to such a degree as to
+unfit it for offensive operations for a long time afterward. Bragg's
+intrenchments in front of Stone River were very strong, and there
+seems no reason why he should not have used his plain advantage as
+explained, but instead he allowed us to gain time, intrench, and
+recover a confidence that at first was badly shaken. Finally, to cap
+the climax of his errors, he directed Breckenridge to make the
+assault from his right flank on January 2, with small chance for
+anything but disaster, when the real purpose in view could have been
+accomplished without the necessity of any offensive manoeuvre
+whatever.</p>
+
+<br><br><br><br>
+<center><a name="p238"></a><img alt="p238.jpg (146K)" src="images/p238.jpg" height="461" width="650"></center>
+<a href="images/p238.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg">
+</a>
+<br><br><br><br>
+
+<br><br><br><br>
+<center><h2><a name="ch14"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2></center>
+<br>
+
+<p>APPOINTED A MAJOR-GENERAL&mdash;THE SECRET EXPEDITION UNDER CARD THE
+SCOUT&mdash;HIS CAPTURE BY GUERRILLAS&mdash;ESCAPE&mdash;A REVENGE PARTY&mdash;WOMEN
+SOLDIERS&mdash;A FIGHT WITH SABRES&mdash;TULLAHOMA CAMPAIGN&mdash;A FOOLISH
+ADVENTURE.</p>
+
+<p>On the 6th of January, 1863, my division settled quietly down in its
+camp south of Murfreesboro'. Its exhausted condition after the
+terrible experiences of the preceding week required attention. It
+needed recuperation, reinforcement, and reorganization, and I set
+about these matters without delay, in anticipation of active
+operations early in the spring. No forward movement was made for
+nearly six months, however, and throughout this period drills,
+parades, reconnoissances, and foraging expeditions filled in the time
+profitably. In addition to these exercises the construction of
+permanent fortifications for the security of Murfreesboro' was
+undertaken by General Rosecrans, and large details from my troops
+were furnished daily for the work. Much attention was also given to
+creating a more perfect system of guard and picket duty-a matter that
+had hitherto been somewhat neglected in the army, as its constant
+activity had permitted scant opportunity for the development of such
+a system. It was at this time that I received my appointment as a
+major-general of Volunteers. My promotion had been recommended by
+General Rosecrans immediately after the battle of Stone River, but
+for some reason it was delayed until April, and though a long time
+elapsed between the promise and the performance, my gratification was
+extreme.</p>
+
+<p>My scout, Card, was exceedingly useful while encamped near
+Murfreesboro, making several trips to East Tennessee within the
+enemy's lines to collect information as to the condition of the loyal
+people there, and to encourage them with the hope of early
+liberation. He also brought back from each trip very accurate
+statements as to the strength and doings of the Confederate army,
+fixing almost with certainty its numbers and the locations of its
+different divisions, and enabling my engineer-officer&mdash;Major
+Morhardt&mdash;to construct good maps of the country in our front. On
+these dangerous excursions Card was always accompanied by one of his
+brothers, the other remaining with me to be ready for duty if any
+accident occurred to those who had gone out, or in case I wanted to
+communicate with them. In this way we kept well posted, although the
+intelligence these men brought was almost always secured at the risk
+of their lives.</p>
+
+<p>Early in the spring, before the Tullahoma campaign began, I thought
+it would be practicable, by sending out a small secret expedition of
+but three or four men, to break the Nashville and Chattanooga
+railroad between Chattanooga and the enemy's position at Tullahoma by
+burning the bridges in Crow Creek valley from its head to Stevenson,
+Alabama, and then the great bridge across the Tennessee River at
+Bridgeport. Feeling confident that I could persuade Card to
+undertake the perilous duty, I broached the contemplated project to
+him, and he at once jumped at the opportunity of thus distinguishing
+himself, saying that with one of his brothers and three other loyal
+East Tennesseeans, whose services he knew could be enlisted, he felt
+sure of carrying out the idea, so I gave him authority to choose his
+own assistants. In a few days his men appeared at my headquarters,
+and when supplied with money in notes of the State Bank of Tennessee,
+current everywhere as gold in those days, the party, composed of
+Card, the second brother, and the three East Tennesseeans, started on
+their precarious enterprise, their course being directed first toward
+the Cumberland Mountains, intending to strike the Nashville and
+Chattanooga railroad somewhere above Anderson's station. They
+expected to get back in about fifteen days, but I looked for some
+knowledge of the progress of their adventure before the expiration of
+that period, hoping to hear through Confederate sources prisoners and
+the like-of the destruction of the bridges. I waited in patience for
+such news, but none came, and as the time Card had allotted himself
+passed by, I watched anxiously for his return, for, as there was
+scarcely a doubt that the expedition had proved a failure, the fate
+of the party became a matter of deep concern to Card's remaining
+brother and to me. Finally this brother volunteered to go to his
+father's house in East Tennessee to get tidings of the party, and I
+consented, for the probabilities were that some of them had made
+their way to that point, or at least that some information had
+reached there about them. As day after day went by, the time fixed
+for this brother's return came round, yet he also remained out; but
+some days after the lad was due Card himself turned up accompanied by
+the brother he had taken with him, soon explained his delay in
+getting back, and gave me the story of his adventures while absent.</p>
+
+<p>After leaving my camp, his party had followed various byways across
+the Cumberland Mountains to Crow Creek Valley, as instructed; but
+when nearing the railroad above Anderson's Station, they were
+captured by some guerrillas prowling about that vicinity, and being
+suspected of disloyalty to the Confederacy, were carried to
+Chattanooga and imprisoned as Yankee spies. Their prospects now were
+decidedly discouraging, for death stared them in the face.
+Fortunately, however, some delays occurred relative to the
+disposition that should be made of them, and they, meanwhile,
+effected their escape from their jailors by way of one of the prison
+windows, from which they managed to displace a bar, and by a skiff,
+in the darkness of night, crossed the Tennessee River a little below
+Chattanooga. From this point the party made their way back to my
+camp, traveling only at night, hiding in the woods by day, and for
+food depending on loyal citizens that Card had become acquainted with
+when preaching and peddling.</p>
+
+<p>Card's first inquiry after relating his story was for the youngest
+brother, whom he had left with me. I told him what I had done, in my
+anxiety about himself, and that more than sufficient time had elapsed
+for his brother's return. His reply was: "They have caught him. The
+poor fellow is dead." His surmise proved correct; for news soon came
+that the poor boy had been captured at his father's house, and
+hanged. The blow to Card was a severe one, and so hardened his heart
+against the guerrillas in the neighborhood of his father's home&mdash;for
+he knew they were guilty of his brother's murder&mdash;that it was with
+difficulty I could persuade him to continue in the employment of the
+Government, so determined was he to avenge his brother's death at the
+first opportunity. Finally, however, I succeeded in quieting the
+almost uncontrollable rage that seemed to possess him, and he
+remained with me during the Tullahoma and Chickamauga campaigns; but
+when we reached Knoxville the next winter, he took his departure,
+informing me that he was going for the bushwhackers who had killed
+his brother. A short time after he left me, I saw him at the head of
+about thirty well-armed East Tennesseeans&mdash;refugees. They were
+determined-looking men, seeking revenge for the wrongs and sufferings
+that had been put upon them in the last two years, and no doubt
+wreaked their vengeance right and left on all who had been in any way
+instrumental in persecuting them.</p>
+
+<p>The feeding of our army from the base at Louisville was attended with
+a great many difficulties, as the enemy's cavalry was constantly
+breaking the railroad and intercepting our communications on the
+Cumberland River at different points that were easily accessible to
+his then superior force of troopers. The accumulation of reserve
+stores was therefore not an easy task, and to get forage ahead a few
+days was well-nigh impossible, unless that brought from the North was
+supplemented by what we could gather from the country. Corn was
+abundant in the region to the south and southwest of Murfreesboro',
+so to make good our deficiences in this respect, I employed a brigade
+about once a week in the duty of collecting and bringing in forage,
+sending out sometimes as many as a hundred and fifty wagons to haul
+the grain which my scouts had previously located. In nearly every
+one of these expeditions the enemy was encountered, and the wagons
+were usually loaded while the skirmishers kept up a running fire,
+Often there would occur a respectable brush, with the loss on each
+side of a number of killed and wounded. The officer in direct
+command always reported to me personally whatever had happened during
+the time he was out&mdash;the result of his reconnoissance, so to speak,
+for that war the real nature of these excursions&mdash;and on one occasion
+the colonel in command, Colonel Conrad, of the Fifteenth Missouri,
+informed me that he got through without much difficulty; in fact,
+that everything had gone all right and been eminently satisfactory,
+except that in returning he had been mortified greatly by the conduct
+of the two females belonging to the detachment and division train at
+my headquarters. These women, he said, had given much annoyance by
+getting drunk, and to some extent demoralizing his men. To say that
+I was astonished at his statement would be a mild way of putting it,
+and had I not known him to be a most upright man and of sound sense,
+I should have doubted not only his veracity, but his sanity.
+Inquiring who they were and for further details, I was informed that
+there certainly were in the command two females, that in some
+mysterious manner had attached themselves to the service as soldiers;
+that one, an East Tennessee woman, was a teamster in the division
+wagon-train and the other a private soldier in a cavalry company
+temporarily attached to my headquarters for escort duty. While out
+on the foraging expedition these Amazons had secured a supply of
+"apple-jack" by some means, got very drunk, and on the return had
+fallen into Stone River and been nearly drowned. After they had been
+fished from, the water, in the process of resuscitation their sex was
+disclosed, though up to this time it appeared to be known only to
+each other. The story was straight and the circumstance clear, so,
+convinced of Conrad's continued sanity, I directed the
+provost-marshal to bring in arrest to my headquarters the two disturbers of
+Conrad's peace of mind, After some little search the East Tennessee
+woman was found in camp, somewhat the worse for the experiences of
+the day before, but awaiting her fate content idly smoking a
+cob-pipe. She was brought to me, and put in duress under charge of the
+division surgeon until her companion could be secured. To the doctor
+she related that the year before she had "refugeed" from East
+Tennessee, and on arriving in Louisville assumed men's apparel and
+sought and obtained employment as a teamster in the quartermaster's
+department. Her features were very large, and so coarse and
+masculine was her general appearance that she would readily have
+passed as a man, and in her case the deception was no doubt easily
+practiced. Next day the "she dragoon" was caught, and proved to be a
+rather prepossessing young woman, and though necessarily bronzed and
+hardened by exposure, I doubt if, even with these marks of
+campaigning, she could have deceived as readily as did her companion.
+How the two got acquainted, I never learned, and though they had
+joined the army independently of each other, yet an intimacy had
+sprung up between them long before the mishaps of the foraging
+expedition. They both were forwarded to army headquarters, and, when
+provided with clothing suited to their sex, sent back to Nashville,
+and thence beyond our lines to Louisville.</p>
+
+<p>On January 9, by an order from the War Department, the Army of the
+Cumberland had been divided into three corps, designated the
+Fourteenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-first. This order did not alter
+the composition of the former grand divisions, nor change the
+commanders, but the new nomenclature was a decided improvement over
+the clumsy designations Right Wing, Centre, and Left Wing, which were
+well calculated to lead to confusion sometimes. McCook's wing became
+the Twentieth Corps, and my division continued of the same
+organization, and held the same number as formerly-the Third
+Division, Twentieth Corps. My first brigade was now commanded by
+Brigadier-General William H. Lytle, the second by Colonel Bernard
+Laiboldt, and the third by Colonel Luther P. Bradley.</p>
+
+<p>On the 4th of March I was directed to move in light marching order
+toward Franklin and join General Gordon Granger, to take part in some
+operations which he was projecting against General Earl Van Dorn,
+then at Spring Hill. Knowing that my line of march would carry me
+through a region where forage was plentiful, I took along a large
+train of empty wagons, which I determined to fill with corn and send
+back to Murfreesboro', believing that I could successfully cover the
+train by Minty's brigade of cavalry, which had joined me for the
+purpose of aiding in a reconnoissance toward Shelbyville. In
+marching the column I placed a regiment of infantry at its head, then
+the wagon-train, then a brigade of infantry&mdash;masking the cavalry
+behind this brigade. The enemy, discovering that the train was with
+us, and thinking he could capture it, came boldly out with his,
+cavalry to attack. The head of his column came up to the crossroads
+at Versailles, but holding him there, I passed the train and infantry
+brigade beyond toward Eagleville, and when my cavalry had been thus
+unmasked, Minty, followed by the balance of my division, which was
+still behind, charged him with the sabre. Success was immediate and
+complete, and pursuit of the routed forces continued through
+Unionville, until we fell upon and drove in the Confederate outposts
+at Shelbyville. Here the enemy was taken by surprise evidently,
+which was most fortunate for us, otherwise the consequences might
+have been disastrous. Minty captured in the charge about fifty
+prisoners and a few wagons and mules, and thus enabled me to load my
+train with corn, and send it back to Murfreesboro' unmolested. In
+this little fight the sabre was freely used by both sides, and I do
+not believe that during the whole war I again knew of so large a
+percentage of wounds by that arm in proportion to the numbers
+engaged.</p>
+
+<p>That night I encamped at Eagleville, and next day reported to Granger
+at Franklin, arriving in the midst of much excitement prevailing on
+account of the loss of Coburn's brigade, which had been captured the
+day before a little distance south of that point, while marching to
+form a junction with a column that had been directed on Columbia from
+Murfreesboro'. Shortly after Coburn's capture General Granger had
+come upon the scene, and the next day he advanced my division and
+Minty's troops directly on Spring Hill, with a view to making some
+reprisal; but Van Dorn had no intention of accommodating us, and
+retired from Spring Hill, offering but little resistance. He
+continued to fall back, till finally he got behind Duck River, where
+operations against him ceased; for, in consequence of the incessant
+rains of the season, the streams had become almost impassable.
+Later, I returned by way of Franklin to my old camp at Murfreesboro',
+passing over on this march the ground on which the Confederate
+General Hood met with such disaster the following year in his attack
+on Stanley's corps.</p>
+
+<p>My command had all returned from the Franklin expedition to
+Murfreesboro' and gone into camp on the Salem pike by the latter part
+of March, from which time till June it took part in only the little
+affairs of outposts occurring every now and then on my own front. In
+the meanwhile General Rosecrans had been materially reinforced by the
+return of sick and wounded men; his army had become well disciplined,
+and was tolerably supplied; and he was repeatedly pressed by the
+authorities at Washington to undertake offensive operations.</p>
+
+<p>During the spring and early summer Rosecrans resisted, with a great
+deal of spirit and on various grounds, these frequent urgings, and
+out of this grew up an acrimonious correspondence and strained
+feeling between him and General Halleck. Early in June, however,
+stores had been accumulated and other preparations made for a move
+forward, Resecrans seeming to have decided that he could safely risk
+an advance, with the prospect of good results. Before finally
+deciding, he called upon most of his corps and division commanders
+for their opinions on certain propositions which he presented, and
+most of them still opposed the projected movement, I among the
+number, reasoning that while General Grant was operating against
+Vicksburg, it was better to hold Bragg in Middle Tennessee than to
+push him so far back into Georgia that interior means of
+communication would give the Confederate Government the opportunity
+of quickly joining a part of his force to that of General Johnson in
+Mississippi.</p>
+
+<p>At this stage, and in fact prior to it, Rosecrans seemed to manifest
+special confidence in me, often discussing his plans with me
+independent of the occasions on which he formally referred them for
+my views. I recollect that on two different occasions about this
+time he unfolded his designs to me in this informal way, outlining
+generally how he expected ultimately to force Bragg south of the
+Tennessee River, and going into the details of the contemplated move
+on Tullahoma. His schemes, to my mind, were not only comprehensive,
+but exact, and showed conclusively, what no one doubted then, that
+they were original with him. I found in them very little to
+criticise unfavorably, if we were to move at all, and Rosecrans
+certainly impressed me that he favored an advance at an early day,
+though many of his generals were against it until the operations on
+the Mississippi River should culminate in something definite. There
+was much, fully apparent in the circumstances about his headquarters,
+leading to the conviction that Rosecrans originated the Tullahoma
+campaign, and the record of his prior performances collaterally
+sustains the visible evidence then existing. In my opinion, then,
+based on a clear recollection of various occurrences growing out of
+our intimacy, he conceived the plan of the Tullahoma campaign and the
+one succeeding it; and is therefore entitled to every credit that
+attended their execution, no matter what may be claimed for others.</p>
+
+<p>On the 23d of June Bragg was covering his position north of Duck
+River with a front extending from McMinnville, where his cavalry
+rested, through Wartrace and Shelbyville to Columbia, his depot being
+at Tullahoma. Rosecrans, thinking that Bragg would offer strong
+resistance at Shelbyville&mdash;which was somewhat protected by a spur of
+low mountains or hills, offshoots of the Cumberland
+Mountains&mdash;decided to turn that place; consequently, he directed the mass of the
+Union army on the enemy's right flank, about Manchester.</p>
+
+<p>On the 26th of June McCook's corps advanced toward Liberty Gap, my
+divisions marching on the Shelbyville pike. I had proceeded but a
+few miles when I encountered the enemy's pickets, who fell back to
+Christiana, about nine miles from Murfreesboro'. Here I was assailed
+pretty wickedly by the enemy's sharpshooters and a section of
+artillery, but as I was instructed to do nothing more than cover the
+road from Eagleville, over which Brannan's division was to approach
+Christiana, I made little reply to this severe annoyance, wishing to
+conceal the strength of my force. As soon as the head of Brannan's
+column arrived I marched across-country to the left, and encamped
+that night at the little town of Millersburg, in the vicinity of
+Liberty Gap. I was directed to move from Millersburg, on Hoover's
+Gap&mdash;a pass in the range of hills already referred to, through which
+ran the turnpike from Murfreesboro' to Manchester&mdash;but heavy rains
+had made the country roads almost impassable, and the last of my
+division did not reach Hoover's Gap till the morning of June 27,
+after its abandonment by the enemy. Continuing on to Fairfield, the
+head of my column met, south of that place, a small force of
+Confederate infantry and cavalry, which after a slight skirmish
+Laiboldt's brigade drove back toward Wartrace. The next morning I
+arrived at Manchester, where I remained quiet for the day. Early on
+the 29th I marched by the Lynchburg road for Tullahoma, where the
+enemy was believed to be in force, and came into position about six
+miles from the town.</p>
+
+<p>By the 31st the whole army had been concentrated, in spite of many
+difficulties, and though, on account of the heavy rains that had
+fallen almost incessantly since we left Murfreesboro', its movements
+had been slow and somewhat inaccurate, yet the precision with which
+it took up a line of battle for an attack on Tullahoma showed that
+forethought and study had been given to every detail. The enemy had
+determined to fall back from Tullahoma at the beginning of the
+campaign, however, and as we advanced, his evacuation had so far
+progressed that when, on July 1. We reached the earthworks thrown.
+up early in the year for the defense of the place, he had almost
+wholly disappeared, carrying off all his stores and munitions of war
+except some little subsistence and eleven pieces of artillery. A
+strong rearguard remained to cover the retreat, and on my front the
+usual encounters between advancing and retreating forces took place.
+Just before reaching the intrenchments on the Lynchburg road, I came
+upon an open space that was covered by a network of fallen trees and
+underbrush, which had been slashed all along in front of the enemy's
+earthworks. This made our progress very difficult, but I shortly
+became satisfied that there were only a few of the enemy within the
+works, so moving a battalion of cavalry that had joined me the day
+before down the road as rapidly as the obstructions would permit, the
+Confederate pickets quickly departed, and we gained possession of the
+town. Three siege guns, four caissons, a few stores, and a small
+number of prisoners fell into my hands.</p>
+
+<p>That same evening orders were issued to the army to push on from
+Tullahoma in pursuit, for, as it was thought that we might not be
+able to cross Elk River on account of its swollen condition, we could
+do the enemy some damage by keeping close as possible at his heels.
+I marched on the Winchester road at 3 o'clock on the 2d of July and
+about 8 o'clock reached Elk River ford. The stream was for the time
+truly an impassable torrent, and all hope of crossing by the
+Winchester ford had to be abandoned. Deeming that further effort
+should be made, however, under guidance of Card, I turned the head of
+my column in the direction of Alisona, marching up the river and
+nearly parallel with it till I came to Rock Creek. With a little
+delay we got across Rock Creek, which was also much swollen, and
+finding a short distance above its mouth a ford on Elk River that
+Card said was practicable, I determined to attempt it: Some of the
+enemy's cavalry were guarding this ford, but after a sharp little
+skirmish my battalion of cavalry crossed and took up a strong
+position on the other bank. The stream was very high and the current
+very swift, the water, tumbling along over its rocky bed in an
+immense volume, but still it was fordable for infantry if means could
+be devised by which the men could keep their feet. A cable was
+stretched across just below the ford as a lifeline for the weaker
+ones, and then the men of the entire division having secured their
+ammunition by placing the cartridge-boxes on their shoulders, the
+column pushed cheerfully into the rushing current. The men as they
+entered the water joined each other in sets of four in a close
+embrace, which enabled them to retain a foothold and successfully
+resist the force of the flood. When they were across I turned the
+column down the left bank of Elk River, and driving the enemy from
+some slight works near Estelle Springs, regained the Winchester road.</p>
+
+<p>By this time it was clear that Bragg intended to fall back behind the
+Tennessee River, and our only chance of accomplishing anything of
+importance was to smash up his rear-guard before it crossed the
+Cumberland Mountains, and in pursuance of this idea I was directed to
+attack such of his force as was holding on to Winchester. At 4
+o'clock on the morning of July 2 I moved on that town, and when we
+got close to it directed my mounted troops to charge a small force of
+Confederate cavalry that was picketing their front. The Confederates
+resisted but little, and our men went with them in a disorderly chase
+through the village to Boiling Fork, a small stream about half a mile
+beyond. Here the fleeing pickets, rallying behind a stronger force,
+made a stand, and I was directed by McCook to delay till I
+ascertained if Davis's division, which was to support me, had made
+the crossing of Elk River, and until I could open up communication
+with Brannan's division, which was to come in on my left at Decherd.
+As soon as I learned that Davis was across I pushed on, but the delay
+had permitted the enemy to pull his rear-guard up on the mountain,
+and rendered nugatory all further efforts to hurt him materially, our
+only returns consisting in forcing him to relinquish a small amount
+of transportation and forage at the mouth of the pass just beyond
+Cowan, a station on the line of the Nashville and Chattanooga
+railroad.</p>
+
+<p>At Cowan, Colonel Watkins, of the Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, reported to
+me with twelve hundred mounted men. Having heard during the night
+that the enemy had halted on the mountain near the University&mdash;an
+educational establishment on the summit&mdash;I directed Watkins to make a
+reconnoissance and find out the value of the information. He learned
+that Wharton's brigade of cavalry was halted at the University to
+cover a moderately large force of the enemy's infantry which had not
+yet got down the mountain on the other side, so I pushed Watkins out
+again on the 5th, supporting him by a brigade of infantry, which I
+accompanied myself. We were too late, however, for when we arrived
+at the top of the mountain Wharton had disappeared, and though
+Watkins pursued to Bridgeport, he was able to do nothing more, and on
+his return reported that the last of the enemy had crossed the
+Tennessee River and burned the railroad bridge.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing further could now be done, so I instructed Watkins to rejoin
+the division at Cowan, and being greatly fatigued by the hard
+campaigning of the previous ten days, I concluded to go back to my
+camp in a more comfortable way than on the back of my tired horse.
+In his retreat the enemy had not disturbed the railway track at all,
+and as we had captured a hand-car at Cowan, I thought I would have it
+brought up to the station near the University to carry me down the
+mountain to my camp, and, desiring company, I persuasively invited
+Colonel Frank T. Sherman to ride with me. I sent for the car by a
+courier, and for a long time patiently awaited its arrival, in fact,
+until all the returning troops had passed us, but still it did not
+come. Thinking it somewhat risky to remain at the station without
+protection, Sherman and myself started our horses to Cowan by our
+orderlies, and set out on foot to meet the car, trudging along down
+the track in momentary expectation of falling in with our private
+conveyance. We had not gone very far before night overtook us, and
+we then began to realize the dangers surrounding us, for there we
+were alone and helpless, tramping on in the darkness over an unknown
+railroad track in the enemy's country, liable on the one hand to go
+tumbling through some bridge or trestle, and on the other, to
+possible capture or death at the hands of the guerrillas then
+infesting these mountains. Just after dark we came to a little cabin
+near the track, where we made bold to ask for water, notwithstanding
+the fact that to disclose ourselves to the inmates might lead to
+fatal consequences. The water was kindly given, but the owner and
+his family were very much exercised lest some misfortune might befall
+us near their house, and be charged to them, so they encouraged us to
+move on with a frankness inspired by fear of future trouble to
+themselves.</p>
+
+<p>At every turn we eagerly hoped to meet the hand-car, but it never
+came, and we jolted on from tie to tie for eleven weary miles,
+reaching Cowan after midnight, exhausted and sore in every muscle
+from frequent falls on the rough, unballasted road-bed. Inquiry.
+developed that the car had been well manned, and started to us as
+ordered, and nobody could account for its non-arrival. Further
+investigation next day showed, however, that when it reached the foot
+of the mountain, where the railroad formed a junction, the improvised
+crew, in the belief no doubt that the University was on the main line
+instead of near the branch to Tracy City, followed the main stem
+until it carried them clear across the range down the Crow Creek
+Valley, where the party was captured.</p>
+
+<p>I had reason to remember for many a day this foolish adventure, for
+my sore bones and bruised muscles, caused me physical suffering until
+I left the Army of the Cumberland the next spring; but I had still
+more reason to feel for my captured men, and on this account I have
+never ceased to regret that I so thoughtlessly undertook to rejoin my
+troops by rail, instead of sticking to my faithful horse.</p>
+
+<br><br><br><br>
+<center><h2><a name="ch15"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2></center>
+<br>
+
+<p>ORDERED TO OCCUPY BRIDGEPORT&mdash;A SPY&mdash;THE BATTLE OF
+CHICKAMAUGA&mdash;GENERAL THOMAS&mdash;TREATED TO COFFEE&mdash;RESULTS OF THE BATTLE.</p>
+
+<p>The Tullahoma campaign was practically closed by the disappearance of
+the enemy from the country north of the Tennessee River. Middle
+Tennessee was once more in the possession of the National troops, and
+Rosecrans though strongly urged from Washington to continue on,
+resisted the pressure until he could repair the Nashville and
+Chattanooga railroad, which was of vital importance in supplying his
+army from its secondary base at Nashville. As he desired to hold
+this road to where it crossed the Tennessee, it was necessary to push
+a force beyond the mountains, and after a few days of rest at Cowan
+my division was ordered to take station at Stevenson, Alabama, the
+junction of the Memphis and Charleston road with the Nashville and
+Chattanooga, with instructions to occupy Bridgeport also.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy had meanwhile concentrated most of his forces at
+Chattanooga for the twofold purpose of holding this gateway of the
+Cumberland Mountains, and to assume a defensive attitude which would
+enable him to take advantage of such circumstances as might arise in
+the development of the offensive campaign he knew we must make. The
+peculiar topography of the country was much to his advantage, and
+while we had a broad river and numerous spurs and ridges of the
+Cumberland Mountains to cross at a long distance from our base, he
+was backed up on his depots of supply, and connected by interior
+lines of railway with the different armies of the Confederacy, so
+that he could be speedily reinforced.</p>
+
+<p>Bridgeport was to be ultimately a sub-depot for storing subsistence
+supplies, and one of the points at which our army would cross the
+Tennessee, so I occupied it on July 29 with two brigades, retaining
+one at Stevenson, however, to protect that railway junction from
+raids by way of Caperton's ferry. By the 29th of August a
+considerable quantity of supplies had been accumulated, and then
+began a general movement of our troops for crossing the river. As
+there were not with the army enough pontoons to complete the two
+bridges required, I was expected to build one of them of trestles;
+and a battalion of the First Michigan Engineers under Colonel Innis
+was sent me to help construct the bridge. Early on the 3ist I sent
+into the neighboring woods about fifteen hundred men with axes and
+teams, and by nightfall they had delivered on the riverbank fifteen
+hundred logs suitable for a trestle bridge. Flooring had been
+shipped to me in advance by rail, but the quantity was insufficient,
+and the lack had to be supplied by utilizing planking and
+weather-boarding taken from barns and houses in the surrounding country. The
+next day Innis's engineers, with the assistance of the detail that
+had felled the timber, cut and half-notched the logs, and put the
+bridge across; spanning the main channel, which was swimming deep,
+with four or five pontoons that had been sent me for this purpose.
+On the 2d and 3d of September my division crossed on the bridge in
+safety, though we were delayed somewhat because of its giving way
+once where the pontoons joined the trestles. We were followed by a
+few detachments from other commands, and by nearly all the
+transportation of McCook's corps.</p>
+
+<p>After getting to the south side of the Tennessee River I was ordered
+to Valley Head, where McCook's corps was to concentrate. On the 4th
+of September I ascended Sand Mountain, but had got only half way
+across the plateau, on top, when night came, the march having been a
+most toilsome one. The next day we descended to the base, and
+encamped near Trenton. On the 10th I arrived at Valley Head, and
+climbing Lookout Mountain, encamped on the plateau at Indian Falls.
+The following day I went down into Broomtown Valley to Alpine.
+The march of McCook's corps from Valley Head to Alpine was in
+pursuance of orders directing it to advance on Summerville, the
+possession of which place would further threaten the enemy's
+communications, it being assumed that Bragg was in full retreat
+south, as he had abandoned Chattanooga on the 8th. This assumption
+soon proved erroneous, however, and as we, while in Broomtown Valley,
+could not communicate directly with Thomas's corps, the scattered
+condition of the army began to alarm us all, and McCook abandoned the
+advance to Summerville, ordering back to the summit of Lookout
+Mountain such of the corps trains as had got down into Broomtown
+Valley.</p>
+
+<p>But before this I had grown uneasy in regard to the disjointed
+situation of our army, and, to inform myself of what was going on,
+determined to send a spy into the enemy's lines. In passing Valley
+Head on the 10th my scout Card, who had been on the lookout for some
+one capable to undertake the task, brought me a Union man with whom
+he was acquainted, who lived on Sand Mountain, and had been much
+persecuted by guerrillas on account of his loyal sentiments. He knew
+the country well, and as his loyalty was vouched for I asked him to
+go into the enemy's camp, which I believed to be near Lafayette, and,
+bring me such information as he could gather. He said such a journey
+would be at the risk of his life, and that at best he could not
+expect to remain in that section of country if he undertook it, but
+that he would run all the chances if I would enable him to emigrate
+to the West at the end c f the "job," which I could do by purchasing
+the small "bunch" of stock he owned on the mountain. To this I
+readily assented, and he started on the delicate undertaking. He
+penetrated the enemy's lines with little difficulty, but while
+prosecuting his search for information was suspected, and at once
+arrested and placed under guard. From this critical situation he
+escaped; however, making his way through the enemy's picket-line in
+the darkness by crawling on his belly and deceiving the sentinels by
+imitating the grunts of the half-wild, sand-colored hogs with which
+the country abounded. He succeeded in reaching Rosecrans's
+headquarters finally, and there gave the definite information that
+Bragg intended to fight, and that he expected to be reinforced by
+Longstreet.</p>
+
+<p>By this time it was clear that Bragg had abandoned Chattanooga with
+the sole design of striking us in detail as we followed in pursuit;
+and to prevent his achieving this purpose orders came at 12 o'clock,
+midnight, for McCook to draw in toward Chattanooga. This could be
+done only by recrossing Lookout Mountain, the enemy's army at
+Lafayette now interposing between us and Thomas's corps. The
+retrograde march began at once. I moved back over the mountain on
+the 13th and 14th to Stevens's Mills, and on the 15th and 16th
+recrossed through Stevens's Gap, in the Lookout range, and encamped
+at its base in McLamore's cove. The march was made with all possible
+celerity, for the situation was critical and demanded every exertion.
+The ascent and descent of the mountains was extremely exhausting, the
+steep grades often rendering it necessary to drag up and let down by
+hand both the transportation and artillery. But at last we were in
+conjunction with the main army, and my division breathed easier.</p>
+
+<p>On the 17th I remained in line of battle all day and night in front
+of McLamore's cove, the enemy making slight demonstrations against me
+from the direction of Lafayette. The main body of the army having
+bodily moved to the left meanwhile, I followed it on the 18th,
+encamping at Pond Spring. On the 19th I resumed the march to the
+left and went into line of battle at Crawfish Springs to cover our
+right and rear. Immediately after forming this line, I again became
+isolated by the general movement to the left, and in consequence was
+directed to advance and hold the ford of Chickamauga Creek at Lee and
+Gordon's Mills, thus coming into close communication with the balance
+of our forces. I moved into this position rapidly, being compelled,
+though, first to drive back the enemy's cavalry skirmishers, who,
+having crossed to the west side of the creek, annoyed the right flank
+of my column a good deal while en route.</p>
+
+<p>Upon arrival at Lee and Gordon's Mills I found the ford over
+Chickamauga Creek temporarily uncovered, through the hurried movement
+of Wood to the assistance of Davis's division. The enemy was already
+present in small force, with the evident intention of taking
+permanent possession, but my troops at once actively engaged him and
+recovered the ford with some slight losses. Scarcely had this been
+done when I was directed to assist Crittenden. Leaving Lytle's
+brigade at the ford, I proceeded with Bradley's and Laiboldt's to
+help Crittenden, whose main line was formed to the east of the
+Chattanooga and Lafayette road, its right trending toward a point on
+Chickamauga Creek about a mile and a half north of Lee and Gordon's
+Mills. By the time I had joined Crittenden with my two brigades,
+Davis had been worsted in an attack Rosecrans had ordered him to make
+on the left of that portion of the enemy's line which was located
+along the west bank of the Chickamauga, the repulse being so severe
+that one of Davis's batteries had to be abandoned. Bradley's brigade
+arrived on the ground first and was hastily formed and thrown into
+the fight, which up to this moment had been very doubtful, fortune
+inclining first to one side, then to the other. Bradley's brigade
+went in with steadiness, and charging across an open corn-field that
+lay in front of the Lafayette road, recovered Davis's guns and forced
+the enemy to retire. Meanwhile Laiboldt's brigade had come on the
+scene, and forming it on Bradley's right, I found myself at the end
+of the contest holding the ground which was Davis's original
+position. It was an ugly fight and my loss was heavy, including
+Bradley wounded. The temporary success was cheering, and when
+Lytle's brigade joined me a little later I suggested to Crittenden
+that we attack, but investigation showed that his troops, having been
+engaged all day, were not in condition, so the suggestion could not
+be carried out.</p>
+
+<p>The events of the day had indicated that Bragg's main object was to
+turn Rosecrans's left; it was therefore still deemed necessary that
+the army should continue its flank movement to the left, so orders
+came to draw my troops in toward the widow Glenn's house. By
+strengthening the skirmish line and shifting my brigades in
+succession from right to left until the point designated was reached,
+I was able to effect the withdrawal without much difficulty, calling
+in my skirmish line after the main force had retired.</p>
+
+<p>My command having settled down for the night in this new line I rode
+to army headquarters, to learn if possible the expectations for the
+morrow and hear the result of the battle in General Thomas's front.
+Nearly all the superior officers of the army were at headquarters,
+and it struck me that much depression prevailed, notwithstanding the
+fact that the enemy's attempts during the day to turn our left flank
+and also envelop our right had been unsuccessful. It was now
+positively known, through prisoners and otherwise, that Bragg had
+been reinforced to such an extent as to make him materially outnumber
+us, consequently there was much apprehension for the future.</p>
+
+<p>The necessity of protecting our left was most apparent, and the next
+day the drifting in that direction was to be continued. This
+movement in the presence of the enemy, who at all points was actively
+seeking an opportunity to penetrate our line and interpose a column
+between its right and left, was most dangerous. But the necessity
+for shifting the army to the left was obvious, hence only the method
+by which it was undertaken is open to question. The move was made by
+the flank in the face of an exultant foe superior in numbers, and was
+a violation of a simple and fundamental military principle. Under
+such circumstances columns naturally stretch out into attenuated
+lines, organizations become separated, and intervals occur, all of
+which we experienced; and had the orders for the movement been
+construed properly I doubt if it could have been executed without
+serious danger. Necessity knows no law, however, and when all the
+circumstances of this battle are fully considered it is possible that
+justification may be found for the manoeuvres by which the army was
+thus drifted to the left. We were in a bad strait unquestionably,
+and under such conditions possibly the exception had to be applied
+rather than the rule.</p>
+
+<p>At daylight on the morning of the 20th a dense fog obscured
+everything; consequently both armies were passive so far as fighting
+was concerned. Rosecrans took advantage of the inaction to rearrange
+his right, and I was pulled back closer to the widow Glenn's house to
+a strong position, where I threw together some rails and logs as
+barricades, but I was disconnected from the troops on my left by a
+considerable interval. Here I awaited the approach of the enemy, but
+he did not disturb me, although about 9 o'clock in the forenoon he
+had opened on our extreme left with musketry fire and a heavy
+cannonade. Two hours later it was discovered by McCook that the
+interval between the main army and me was widening, and he ordered me
+to send Laiboldt's brigade to occupy a portion of the front that had
+been covered by Negley's division. Before getting this brigade into
+place, however, two small brigades of Davis's division occupied the
+ground, and I directed Laiboldt to form in column of regiments on the
+crest of a low ridge in rear of Carlin's brigade, so as to prevent
+Davis's right flank from being turned. The enemy was now feeling
+Davis strongly, and I was about sending for Lytle's and Bradley's
+brigades when I received an order to move these rapidly to the,
+extreme left of the army to the assistance of General Thomas. I rode
+hastily back toward their position, but in the meanwhile, they had
+been notified by direct orders from McCook, and were moving out at a
+double-quick toward the Lafayette road. By this time the enemy had
+assaulted Davis furiously in front and flank, and driven him from his
+line, and as the confused mass came back, McCook ordered Laiboldt to
+charge by deploying to the front. This he did through Davis's broken
+ranks, but failed to check the enemy's heavy lines, and finally
+Laiboldt's brigade broke also and fell to the rear. My remaining
+troops, headed by Lytle, were now passing along the rear of the
+ground where this disaster took place&mdash;in column on the road&mdash;en
+route to Thomas, and as the hundreds of fugitives rushed back, McCook
+directed me to throw in Lytle's and Bradley's brigades. This was
+hastily done, they being formed to the front under a terrible fire.
+Scarcely were they aligned when the same horde of Confederates that
+had overwhelmed Davis and Laiboldt poured in upon them a deadly fire
+and shivered the two brigades to pieces. We succeeded in rallying
+them, however, and by a counter attack regained the ridge that
+Laiboldt had been driven from, where we captured the colors of the
+Twenty-fourth Alabama. We could not hold the ridge, though, and my
+troops were driven back with heavy loss, including General Lytle
+killed, past the widow Glenn's house, and till I managed to establish
+them in line of battle on a range of low hills behind the Dry Valley
+road.</p>
+
+<p>During these occurrences General Rosecrans passed down the road
+behind my line, and sent word that he wished to see me, but affairs
+were too critical to admit of my going to him at once, and he rode on
+to Chattanooga. It is to be regretted that he did not wait till I
+could join him, for the delay would have permitted him to see that
+matters were not in quite such bad shape as he supposed; still, there
+is no disguising the fact that at this juncture his army was badly
+crippled.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly after my division had rallied on the low hills already
+described, I discovered that the enemy, instead of attacking me in
+front, was wedging in between my division and the balance of the
+army; in short, endeavoring to cut me off from Chattanooga. This
+necessitated another retrograde movement, which brought me back to
+the southern face of Missionary Ridge, where I was joined by Carlin's
+brigade of Davis's division. Still thinking I could join General
+Thomas, I rode some distance to the left of my line to look for a way
+out, but found that the enemy had intervened so far as to isolate me
+effectually. I then determined to march directly to Rossville, and
+from there effect a junction with Thomas by the Lafayette road. I
+reached Rossville about o'clock in the afternoon, bringing with me
+eight guns, forty-six caissons, and a long ammunition train, the
+latter having been found in a state of confusion behind the widow
+Glenn's when I was being driven back behind the Dry Valley road.</p>
+
+<p>The head of my column passed through Rossville, appearing upon
+Thomas's left about 6 o'clock in the evening, penetrated without any
+opposition the right of the enemy's line, and captured several of his
+field-hospitals. As soon as I got on the field I informed Thomas of
+the presence of my command, and asked for orders. He replied that
+his lines were disorganized, and that it would be futile to attack;
+that all I could do was to hold on, and aid in covering his
+withdrawal to Rossville.</p>
+
+<br><br><br><br>
+<center><a name="p285"></a><img alt="p285.jpg (56K)" src="images/p285.jpg" height="344" width="650">
+</center>
+<a href="images/p285.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg">
+</a>
+<br><br><br><br>
+
+<p>I accompanied him back to Rossville, and when we reached the skirt of
+the little hamlet General Thomas halted and we dismounted. Going
+into one of the angles of a worm fence near by I took a rail from the
+top and put it through the lower rails at a proper height from the
+ground to make a seat, and General Thomas and I sat down while, my
+troops were moving by. The General appeared very much exhausted,
+seemed to forget what he had stopped for, and said little or nothing
+of the incidents of the day. This was the second occasion on which I
+had met him in the midst of misfortune, for during the fight in the
+cedars at Stone River, when our prospects were most disheartening, we
+held a brief conversation respecting the line he was then taking up
+for the purpose of helping me. At other times, in periods of
+inactivity, I saw but little of him. He impressed me, now as he did
+in the cedars, his quiet, unobtrusive: demeanor communicating a
+gloomy rather than a hopeful view of the situation. This apparent
+depression was due no doubt to the severe trial through which he had
+gone in the last forty-eight hours, which, strain had exhausted him
+very much both physically and mentally. His success in maintaining
+his ground was undoubtedly largely influenced by the fact that
+two-thirds of the National forces had been sent to his succor, but his
+firm purpose to save the army was the mainstay on which all relied
+after Rosecrans left the field. As the command was getting pretty
+well past, I rose to go in order to put my troops into camp. This
+aroused the General, when, remarking that he had a little flask of
+brandy in his saddle-holster, he added that he had just stopped for
+the purpose of offering me a drink, as he knew I must be very tired.
+He requested one of his staff-officers to get the flask, and after
+taking a sip himself, passed it to me. Refreshed by the brandy, I
+mounted and rode off to supervise the encamping of my division, by no
+means an easy task considering the darkness, and the confusion that
+existed among the troops that had preceded us into Rossville.</p>
+
+<p>This done, I lay down at the foot of a tree, with my saddle for a
+pillow, and saddle-blanket for a cover. Some soldiers near me having
+built a fire, were making coffee, and I guess I must have been
+looking on wistfully, for in a little while they brought me a
+tin-cupful of the coffee and a small piece of hard bread, which I
+relished keenly, it being the first food that had passed my lips
+since the night before. I was very tired, very hungry, and much
+discouraged by what had taken place since morning. I had been
+obliged to fight my command under the most disadvantageous
+circumstances, disconnected, without supports, without even
+opportunity to form in line of battle, and at one time contending
+against four divisions of the enemy. In this battle of Chickamauga,
+out of an effective strength Of 4,000 bayonets, I had lost 1,517
+officers and men, including two brigade commanders. This was not
+satisfactory indeed, it was most depressing&mdash;and then there was much
+confusion prevailing around Rossville; and, this condition of things
+doubtless increasing my gloomy reflections, it did not seem to me
+that the outlook for the next day was at all auspicious, unless the
+enemy was slow to improve his present advantage. Exhaustion soon
+quieted all forebodings, though, and I fell into a sound sleep, from
+which I was not aroused till daylight.</p>
+
+<p>On the morning of the 21st the enemy failed to advance, and his
+inaction gave us the opportunity for getting the broken and
+disorganized army into shape. It took a large part of the day to
+accomplish this, and the chances of complete victory would have been
+greatly in Bragg's favor if he could have attacked us vigorously at
+this time. But he had been badly hurt in the two days' conflict, and
+his inactivity on the 21st showed that he too had to go through the
+process of reorganization. Indeed, his crippled condition began to
+show itself the preceding evening, and I have always thought that,
+had General Thomas held on and attacked the Confederate right and
+rear from where I made the junction with him on the Lafayette road,
+the field of Chickamauga would have been relinquished to us; but it
+was fated to be otherwise.</p>
+
+<p>Rosecrans, McCook, and Crittenden passed out of the battle when they
+went back to Chattanooga, and their absence was discouraging to all
+aware of it. Doubtless this had much to do with Thomas's final
+withdrawal, thus leaving the field to the enemy, though at an immense
+cost in killed and wounded. The night of the 21st the army moved
+back from Rossville, and my division, as the rearguard of the
+Twentieth Corps, got within our lines at Chattanooga about 8 o'clock
+the morning of the 22d. Our unmolested retirement from Rossville
+lent additional force to the belief that the enemy had been badly
+injured, and further impressed me with the conviction that we might
+have held on. Indeed, the battle of Chickamauga was somewhat like
+that of Stone River, victory resting with the side that had the grit
+to defer longest its relinquishment of the field.</p>
+
+<p>The manoeuvres by which Rosecrans had carried his army over the
+Cumberland Mountains, crossed the Tennessee River, and possessed
+himself of Chattanooga, merit the highest commendation up to the
+abandonment of this town by Bragg on the 8th of September; but I have
+always fancied that that evacuation made Rosecrans over-confident,
+and led him to think that he could force Bragg south as far as Rome.
+After the Union army passed the river and Chattanooga fell into our
+hands; we still kept pressing the enemy's communications, and the
+configuration of the country necessitated more or less isolation of
+the different corps. McCook's corps of three divisions had crossed
+two difficult ridges&mdash;Sand and Lookout mountains&mdash;to Alpine in
+Broomtown Valley with intentions against Summerville. Thomas's corps
+had marched by the way of Stevens's Gap toward Lafayette, which he
+expected to occupy. Crittenden had passed through Chattanooga, at
+first directing his march an Ringgold. Thus the corps of the army
+were not in conjunction, and between McCook and Thomas there
+intervened a positive and aggressive obstacle in the shape of Bragg's
+army concentrating and awaiting reinforcement at Lafayette. Under
+these circumstances Bragg could have taken the different corps in
+detail, and it is strange that he did not, even before receiving his
+reinforcements, turn on McCook in Broomtown Valley and destroy him.</p>
+
+<p>Intelligence that Bragg would give battle began to come to us from
+various sources as early as the 10th of September, and on the 11th
+McCook found that he could not communicate with Thomas by the direct
+road through Broomtown Valley; but we did not begin closing in toward
+Chattanooga till the 13th, and even then the Twentieth Corps had
+before it the certainty of many delays that must necessarily result
+from the circuitous and difficult mountain roads which we would be
+obliged to follow. Had the different corps, beginning with McCook's,
+been drawn in toward Chattanooga between the 8th and 12th of
+September, the objective point of the campaign would have remained in
+our hands without the battle of Chickamauga, but, as has been seen,
+this was not done. McCook was almost constantly on the march day and
+night between the 13th and the 19th, ascending and descending
+mountains, his men worried and wearied, so that when they appeared on
+the battle-field, their fatigued condition operated greatly against
+their efficiency. This delay in concentration was also the original
+cause of the continuous shifting toward our left to the support of
+Thomas, by which manoeuvre Rosecrans endeavored to protect his
+communications with Chattanooga, and out of which grew the intervals
+that offered such tempting opportunities to Bragg. In addition to
+all this, much transpired on the field of battle tending to bring
+about disaster. There did not seem to be any well-defined plan of
+action in the fighting; and this led to much independence of judgment
+in construing orders among some of the subordinate generals. It also
+gave rise to much license in issuing orders: too many people were
+giving important directions, affecting the whole army, without
+authority from its head. In view, therefore, of all the errors that
+were committed from the time Chattanooga fell into our hands after
+our first crossing the Tennessee, it was fortunate that the Union
+defeat was not more complete, that it left in the enemy's possession
+not much more than the barren results arising from the simple holding
+of the ground on which the engagement was fought.</p>
+
+
+
+<br><br>
+<hr>
+<br><br>
+<br><br>
+<br><br>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of General Philip H.
+Sheridan, Vol. I., Part 2, by P. H. Sheridan
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