, 1863-01-26
The Glorious 1 9th-A Stirring Account
OF the Part 1t Took in the Fight.

OF the Part 1t Took in the Fight.
Editors Chicago Tribune:
Knowing how anxious many Of your read
crs are for any and all the particulars Of the
19 eo1duet Of tie 1sth sena ySn % eoRy ct =
18th Illinois. BE left the freshman Glass Of
the Northwestern University 1t Evanston In
June, 1861, and has shared the fortunes Of the
regiment MP to this time. Like al his COM
rides, he loves Gen. Inrcni2 with tervor
great man. Of course, the letter was not In
Tended for publication, and the personal allu-
sions were written only for a parents eye.
| ,I1s<Isg1~- MuRrnEEsBoRo, Jan. 6, 1865.
FDEAR MOTHER: = = After I re-.
covered from my illness, Of which I wrote
you, overlook the regiment on the 30th ult,,
in time to 60 into the fight. We did not have
a very severe fight that day, and lost only nine
blankets were In the wagons, miles in the
rear. In the morning VIC were up early and
in line Of battle. The firing soon became
heavy on our right, and as va SAW Sheridan's
division drive the rebels, we cheercd heartily.
Presently we found, by the sound Of the mus
kerry, that the rebels had turned our right.
lost lis artillery, and his veteran troops were
giving way before the enemy. Further back
towards our rear we heard firing. Then our
guns opened on the enemy. We changed
front, fixed bayonets and charged, but the foe
fled before We had advanced ten rods. We
commenced firing, and soon storm Of
bullets whistled through our ranks. At the
moTtallJ wounded. He was Of our company,
and Turchin's pet. We had repulsed the enc
my, but uid was wanted for the eth III. I'VE
faced to the right and walked over the eth,
who were lying down, aud filed around in
front Of the 18th Ohio as cool1y rs though on
In 80 r. 7 .E
the column amidst storm Of shot and shell
Edgarton's battery had been taken and was
turned upon US, and the Washington battery
opened on us with shell. One shell cut off q
large tree and it fell in our ranks, knocking
down three men. Then word came that we
we're surrounded and cut of, and must cut
our way out.
We faced about, formed column, and rush
ed into thu cedar swamp with fixed bayonets.
Fortunately, tile rebels had left US q little
space to get out OF, and we rushed through
ard formed OIL the left Of Sheridan. Soon Nc
moved to the front and commenced firing
again. All at once Sheridan's men fell back
and began to run; then Mil1er's brigade came
out Of the woods in fill retreat. Negley saw
that unless something could stop the rebels,
MI was lost. He ordered us to stand till the
rest could form. The rest Of our brigade had
left US, and the 19th alone bere back the ad-
xancinE rrbels. For nearly half an hour we
stood with the enemy in front aud on both
hanks. At Inst NC saw that the 18th Ohio and
42d Ill, had formed, and <sold Roscy'' was
leading them to the charge. Then Scott gave
the word to retreat, and NC came ont Of the
woods mud retired to the center rs reserves.
We were engaged no more that day.
We slept again without blankets, and in
great doubt. Rosccrans had become dcspcr-
ate, and lad the bridges in our rear burned,
SO that TIC must tight or die, for there was no
thought of retreat with him. New Years
day we were not engaged, but stood ready all
day. The next morning VIC were moved to
1t became quite severe. Then Rosecraas rode
up and asked for Gen. Pa!mer. He was not
to be found. Rosecr1ns galloped up to Col.
Stnnly, who commanded onr brigade. and
said, "Col. stanly, save OUT left, if you
can.'' by the left flank, march, was the
command, conn q, 9nd away We went. by the right
ward we went. We iay down for a moment
and fired, then up ind forward, right through
the river, though a rebel division disputed
the passage. Col. Scott rushed in without
stopping, and Adjutant Bangs was beside
nl11 lin u u5g;lng ;l on the men: Scott put. his
I rushed out with one or two others from the
cover, and vent ahead to Scott. For mo.
mont half dozen Of MS drew the rebel fire,
and nearly all we're shot. I received a shot III
the hand, but fought on. Scott soon fell,
wounded in the leg. Then we fought for re-
vengc. We ran forward and drove the rebels
in perfect terror before us. The rebels fought
with the courage Of desperation their
wounded fought, and ne had to kill them, for
even with the bayonct 1t their breasts they
would not surrender These were the Lou
isiana and Florida regiments. Many Of the
Tennessee men, however, were glad to sur
render. One Of them lay on the ground
badly wounded. I came to the tree where he
lay, TO shelter myself while was loading.
Tie poor fellow raised up and said, eco in
I'm glad to sec you make 'cm run! Tn a
conscript. XIII them; they forced me into
the goth Tennessee. Hurrah for the Union y
You may be sure I was cheercd by this Just
after this We charged Oh rebel battery, and
| took it.
saw the Color Sergeant standing behind q
tree, and told him to give the ftas to me Il
he was afraid to go forward with it. He said
he dare go Us far as I, so We rushed forward
Of shot and shell. The rebel batteries poured
in grippe and canister, but shot too high, Wc
formed in line to make a charge, but It was sc
dark that we Ind to discontinue tie fight. VIZ
took our positions, stacked arms, and went
back to get blankets out Of the knapsacks O.
the dead rebels, We took, each man what
blankets We wanted, also haversacks, I got
one we'll filled with biscuit, nice ham, snsa,
and coffee, and had good supper. We tool
the colors Of the Goth Tennessee. The grount
was hcapcd with rebel dead, and a. NC looked
over the field by the light Of torches for on
fallen comrades, the scene was terrible. ",
lost l24 out Of $40 men In this fight. On Mon
day We entered Murfreesboro. It is one hos
pital. Every house is full of rebel wounded
| j. II. TRACY.