Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-11-12
Battle of Chaplin Hills.-From the
1O5th Regiment.
CAMP NEAR MUMFoRDsvILLE, KY,
October 29th, 1862.

! OclOOSf -Sln, lcO--
/ Eds. CHromcle:-The l05th regiment
left camp at Louisville, on the lst dav O
Oct, as part of the general advance from
| that city, against Bragg. We had beer
assigned to TerrilPs light brigade, com
posed of the l0lst Ind, and lU5th Ohio
/ and the SOth and the l23d Ill. infantry
and one battery of Artillery, Parsons
8 guns. Leaving our tents and heavy
baggage in camp, in charge of those who
were unable to endure the march, we sci
out from the city, that bright October
morning, jubilant, and anxious to meet
I the foe. The long columns of infantry
the batteries of artillery, and the numer
Gus squadrons of cavalry, all moving to
wards the enemy, indicated that something
was going to be done, that inactivity wa.
/ at an end, and that henceforth, the wal
in Kentucky was to be prosecuted with 6
viGSI commensurate with the Importance
of the issues at stake. .E
We continued our march from day tc
day, in q southeasterly direction, with nc
prospect of Immediate battle, 1.-THE enemy
fleeing before our advance) until the ev.
ening of Oct. Tth, Tuesday when the ru-
NOR spread through camp that the enemy
were in force some 6 or Z miles beyond at
Perryville, prepared to give us battle
That night we placed in our haversacks
"a hours rations of parched corn and
boiled beef, four wagons not having come
up, nothing better could be affordedl and
lay down to rest, beneath the open sky,
prepared for on the morrow's advance
At an early hour in the morning, our brig
ade was on the march towards Perryville,
. through an uneven country where water
seemed a rarely and running streams un-
kR0Hp. The day was quite warm, and
we suffered much from thirst, which our
rations OF parched corn by nomeans serv-
ed to allay. At almost every house by
the wayside, and at points along the route
where by-roads came in from the sur
rounding country, were collected groups
of citizens, men, women and children, of
every shade of color, from the fair, rosy
checked, Kentucky girl with her white
dress and pink apron, waving her hat
trimmed with 'the red, white and blue,
and bidding the passing soldiers cheer
full ''God speed" 10 wonder our eyes
strayed from the prescribed soldierly po-
sition. Who could blame them ?)-down
to the thick Tipped, woolly pated darkey,
gazing with open mouth in stupid wonder
at the invading Yankees. There were
sober, gray-headed farmers whose anxious
looks and restless manner indicated that
something more than the passing of a col
umn of soldiers, had called them from
their homes. They, evidently, expected
battle, and repeatedly told US we would
soon find "a right smart of secesh." We
were inclined to doubt their predictions,
believing that the rebels would leave at
our approach but the events of that day
taught US, that the citizens were better
posted in reference to rebels plans, than
we. The column marched slowly, fire.
auently halting, and it was afternoon,
when, with stacked arms resting by the
Wayside, some (industriously) making
their dinners OF parched corn, others
slumbering on the smooth green-sWard,
dreaming, perchance, of their far away
buckeye homes, the loud boom of cannon
smote the ear, and ''attention, battalion %
called every man 10 his place in the ranks.
With quickened steps, the men resumed
the march, unmindful now of heat and
thirst. Louder, more continuous, grew
the cannonade, and soon-blue wreaths OF
smoke, Just discernible above the tops OF
the trees away to the left, told where the
conflict had begun. Parsons battery of
our brigade had opened the battle, and
the regiments of infantry now prepared
to act their parts in the bloody drama, up
on whose first scene the curtain had al
ready arisen. Companies and Z were
thrown forward as skirmishers, g deploy-
ed B as reserve. Over hills and through
cornfelds, now lying down, and now adj
yancing, we moved until ordered TO re-
Join the regiment then lying under a ridge
partially IEooded, on which, farther to the
left, where there was no timber, was
planted Parsons battery, In the mean
time the l23d III. had become engaged,
and quick vollies of musketry were min,
gled with the heavier boom of cannon
And now the order comes to laid the
l23d Ill. and support the battery on the
ridge" Immediately the l05th is formed
in lineup on the ridge-flipg TO the
| left-through the open woods on double
quick, away we 60 to our first field. Soon
! evidences 3f strife and desolation all
around us,-Wousded men lying by the
wayside,-trees with branches Topped by
cannon shot and torn by shell, whose
sharp whizzing sound now adds new mu-
sic to the dire of battle. A moment, and
we have reached the fence, separating
the cleared land from the timber. The
pioneers tear down the obstruction, and
out we go upon the open ridge, in the
rear. and to the left of those fire belch-
ing guns, already hard pressed by the adj
vancing foe. The balls are flying like
hail around and over our heads. Quick
orders pass, and faced by the rear rank,
the left ON the right, we confront the en-
leuy. The scene is strangely confused
and indistinct at first; more like the halt
formed imagery of feyerish dream than
| - ,...1;..S 'NIo,,de of ssriaohra anvAlope