The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-10-08
DUNLAP's SPRINGS, TENN,

For the Republican.
From the Iath Michigan Regiment.
/, DUNLAP's SPRINGS. TENN,
September 25th, 1862. (
GEO. /. PARsoNE, ESQ, Sir-Nearly six week
have nov elapsed since my return to Tennessee
and intended ere this, to have given your read
ers some account of my sojournings, had healt
permitted. On my return here l failed in healtl
rapidly, until l was again brought nigh to tn
gates of death. Acting on the advice of sur
geons, and others, nearly three weeks ago
rendered my resignation OF my position in tn,
service, and suppose it has been accepted.
regret to be compelled to part with the compa
ny that had the honor to command, and will
which had hoped to continue until the end o
the war. Especially did regret to do so at tn,
present time, when the nation is putting fortt
its strength to crush an atrocious and giganti,
rebellion, but at such time could not consent
to remain mere stipendary upon the Govern
ment, without power to grant it aid in its time Of
need.
The place from which write is situated abou,
four miles from Bolivar, Tenn, and has been
hitherto much frequented by the Southern gen
try as a watering-place. 1t comprises nearly a
dozen springs of various mineral qualities, suited
to almost all physical debility. They are snusly
] ensrnnoad 80 . L-----'"' ~
6ne amphitheatre of wooded hills. The build
ings are of no great pretension, consisting prin-
cipaly of a long row Of log huts, With one or
| two moderate sized buildings OF a more aristO-
cratic order, but the springs are excellent, and
do not believe are excelled, if equalled, by any
Others in the United States. At all events
have experienced a benefit from them by two
weeks residence here, which had hardly hoped
to obtain anywhere 10y residence OF as many
months, and trust have now a fair prospect
Of the ultimate recovery of my health
On my return to the regiment, was very
agreeably surprised at the contrast its condition
presented to that of nearly five months previous,
when left it shortly after the battle OF Shiloh.
Then, it's condition was depOrable in the extreme
not over eighty men in the whole Regiment be-
| ing able to do duty-the entire camp turned in
| to hospital, and the Regiment almost destitute
of medical stores, and Of even proper food. Nor,
| though reduced in number over onehaf by los
ses from battles, sickness, &c, the remainder
were, almost without exception, healthy and ro-
bust in appearance, willing and active in the
performance of their duties, and seemed also
cheerful and contended. The men had also made
fine progress in discipline as soldiers, due in
great part, so far as my own company is con-
cerned, to the efficiency of Lieut.. Gassenmere,
who has been in charge of the company most OF
the time since the battle of Shiloh, and who de.
serves much credit for the manner in which he
has discharged the arduous duties devolving up
on him, sole acting officer of the company.
Though its fame has been less trumpted forth
than that of other regiments, the 18th Michigan
Infantry has its full share of honorable ser
vice. In the great battle OF Shiloh i, performed
no mean part, and our enemies bear witness to
the terrible accuracy and destructive effect Of its
fire. The two companies despatched from this
Regiment on the reconnaissance, on the morning
of the 9Th OF April, held in check for nearly two
hours an overwhelming force OF the enemy, anu
saved the army from SURPRISE if not humiliation,
and no spot upon the whole field bore such ter
rible evidence of Carnage as that in front of the
position taken by the Michigan 18th. when, for
more than FIVE hours, Gen. Prentis's Division
wthstood firmly the fierce onsets of the Conied
crate host. Here on space of not over three
acres of ground. Corporal Palmer, of my COM
pany counted four hundred rebels left dead up
on the field. visited the place before the bur.
ial of the dead, and must say that the sight was
appalling. The thick brush were riddied with
balls, and the dead bodies lay so close upon each
other, that one could have walked over nearly
the whole space upon them alone
In this brief notice Of that battle, canno,
pass without bearing record to the gallant con
duct of our Lieut. Col. VIM. H Graves, who,
side by side with Gen Prentiss, rode along
the lines through the terrific storm OF leader
hail, az coolly as though he was on dress parade.
Capt. Graves, nov Major, deserves honorable
mention for bis gallant conduct while in COM
mand Of two companies that made the reconnois
sance on the morning Of April 9th. | could
mention others equally deserving commentator
by their bravery. bu. forbear, lest by not men
tioning all such cases. might do an uninten-
| ,onsl injustice to some. In this connection
wish to correct a statement published. | sm IL.
formed, by one Of the Niles papers, and to which
nv name was attached, relative to the gallantry
said to have been displayed by Col Quinn, in
rescuiug our regimental colors from the enemy
kno~ nothing Of such transaction, for sa~
nothing Of it, and signed, Intentionally, no such
statement.
Since nv return, Col. Quinn received notice OF
the acceptance of his resignation, and has gone
home. trust this event viii result in the bene
fit to the Regiment BY putting quie'us upon
the unhappy differences that have heretofore eK.
listed among its superior officers, and BY restor-
HARMONY to its councils, place them in a more
prosperous condition. Ny best wishes 60 with
it, and my prayers for the safety of officers and
men, and their return with honor to their homes
at the close of this lsmentable war.
Aside from a couple of small skirmishes which
happened in this vicinity some three weeks ago,
and the breaking of railroad communications
With Jackson for a week or so, little OF interest
has occurred in this vicinity, newspapers to the
| contrary.
| Our regiment has been absent from Bolivar
some ten DAYS, having gone to luka TO witness
the second great skedaddle of Gen. Price-the
first of which h.. been appropriately noticed BY
| Prensiss of the Louisville Journal. They re-