The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1863-01-22
Letter from the sOlh Ohio Reg.
BATTLE FIELD. Murfreesboro, Tenn.
January 5th. 1863. I


My dear Parents Since writing you
last and hearing from you, great and
sudden changes have taken plsce. With
shudderings l looked over the scenes of
the last few days which have trauspired
here. Thank God. l have escaped un.
scathed /! Oh I! what scenes of blood and
woes
l will commence at the beginning -
Tuesday before Christmas while still in
camp near Nashville / received that fa-
nous taIrel, safe, sound and just in the
nick of time. Christmas over, joyful
and happy, thought could not do 9TH
erwise than cordially thank you for Jour
kindness in going to SO much trouble and
Expense in sending me so many good
things They were appreciated | do as.
sure you. Christmas night we were
startled by the sudden. though, not un.
expected order to get ready next morning
to march, and that without tepts-nolh.
ing excl pit our blankets snd five day .
ralions-to send all our sick aud unable
10 march, with our wagons and tents
back to Nashville. We started next
morning bound for Lavcrgne- met no re-
sistance till about eight miles from camp
near Lavergns, where The retels had
posted themselves in commanding posi-
lion with battery on the pike with can
non. cavalry, several regiments and a
brigade of infantry. Yon doubtless,
know the results Of that skirmish, (for
although we lost some hundreds | call il
but skirmish in comparison with what
| have sscu since. Our regiment was on
the left wing, and therefore was in the
& .ht. for that was mostly conli6ed TO the
regiments. But | saw enough what a
fight would be. There l did my first
lodging. Th' 81 ellis flew thicEly over
our heads and by our sid 8. A rebel hat.
terry was posted on the straight pike in
splendid range, and as our troops came up
they let loose upon us. Tha, night We
bivouacked right in the woods. The
next morning we dove the rotels out Of
Layergns. From there il was one con :
tinued fight until Tuesday, the 3oth Of
Dec, mber. On that afternoon We h4d
very severe fighting on our right. but our
brigade WAS not engag d until Welne'.
day. Tha! day dawned on us bright and
clear every one Of our companies were
drawn up in line, and Gcn'l Rosecrans
issued lis proclamation,and it was read.
with rousing cheers by our patriotic boys,
some Of whom were now shortly 10 be
hGshed in death. That night our brigaIe
camped in a strip Of WOO Is not more than
a thousand yards from the rebels in front
and on our right. We advanced our line
10 the edge of the woods and took our po.
sition. While we lay there little while
We were suddenly started BY FIRE from
the enemy's guns on our extreme right,
about a mile from our position. II con.
tinued to grow louder and louder and get.
ting ncacr 10 us. Gen McCook's corps
WAS on our right, and knew Ly the
firing that the rebsls were driving Nc
Cook 10 our side. Then our Toys grasp,
ed their guns more firmly, ready for any
move ment. Musketry roll alter roll com
ing to our ears. with the heavy booming
Of cannon, which sounded 'hs d. ath knel
to many poor fellows cars. The posi-
lion Of our brigade was becoming rather
precayious--ilo rebels werO living Nc.
Cook to our rear. Then suddenly the
ball opened in onr front to our right
Now We were ordered 10 support Ihem
We double quicked across 10 an open
space to q fence in our from. under an
awful fire Of grape and pannis;er from the
rebels. The fence gained, we poured
volley after volley from our trusty riff Z
into the foe. But still they advanced II
our rear, and brigade after brigade
spread ou, like the wings Of an eagl'
bearing down upon US with full swoop
Now our brave boys hewed gaps in he'll
lines that still advanced. but these were
clos d up as if nothing hal happened =
When they were about 100 yards from
US, their lines broke of from the centre
ami fled 10 our right and left. We werC
AanLed | The 10th brigade on our lef
had fallen back. We had no support or
our right or in our rear. We wore under
u croRs Gre and the order was given L
fall back. But our brave boys did mol
hear the order. They still held theil
places under the most muiderous and
withering ere, while their commanders
were moved down by scores. Our Colo
mel, seeing our situation, ordered us back
We Isll back scaIltrngly. The staff off
GERS Of our regiment bad pitched thti
lines in the rear of the regiment, anC
when the right foil b,ck in disorder,
ran hnnk in saua Ihn hnrsaa Of khA sinlr