The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-01-22
From the gath Regiment.

the Oath Wis. Regiment to his parents in this city,
will be read with interest. He gives a vivid de
s~cription of the part taken by his compa ny in the
battle Of NJ urfreesbOro:
CANT NEAR MCRFREEsBoRo,
Jan. 8, 1863.
My Dear Parents
Your son is all right after passing through one
Of the greatest battles on record in the United
States. On Friday, The day after Christmas, the
great Western Army left Nashville in pursuit of
the rebels. We had nothing but our o~Yercoats
and blankets to carry. We passed beyond our
picket lines at 10 O'Clock and commenced driving
a heavy rebel cavalry picket through cornfelds,
over hills, down valleys, through the woods and
at last down the Pike All the while in a drench>
ing rain, wet to the skin, and up to our knees in
mud fact. We double-quicked through the
village Of Nolansville up o steep hill where we ex-
pected to go into a battle, but were agreeabjy dis
! appointed. Here the 18th Wis. took a brass can,
non from the rebels, one that they took from us at
Shiloh. 1t had stopped raining at D O'clock. We
had Just got asleep, when it began to rain again
and rained till morning, when we found ourselves
aaoat. Marched at 10 o'clock, passed through a
cornfield, crossed q stream, went up Il steep hill
IlA LLIOLSh oLh CAAASi NNAN ="
imagine how we felt, when we came up in line
of battle again expecting to fight. We were wet
through by another rain, and completely covered
with mud, and it was o, SO cold! We advanced
this day Saturday only four miles, and during a
heavy rain we built huts with rails from q fence.
We laid here all day Sunday, which was a splen-
did day. As we were nearly starved we took to
~foraging. l fetched into camp two splendid hams
and one shoulder that were fresh cured, so that
we had something to eat. On Monday we started
across the country to the Murfreesboro pike, our
cavalry skirmishing in advance, through one of
the most Godsforsaken wilds | ever saw We
struck the pike at 6 o'clock, and q camp at 9 oe
clock in another cornieId, We slept that night
half covered over with mud, without fire and also
supper. Arose next morning early, cooked break
fast, those who had any to cook, and those who
didn't, held their blankets before the fire to dry,
for it had rained all night. Got into line at 9 o.
clock and were told that there would surely be a
battle that day, Tuesday. There was the usual
talking before a battle, what we were expected to
do, &c. Throwing out a heavy diminishing line
for the two divisions advancing on the Pike.
When we had driven them as far as we could,
we filed off from the pike into. a strip ofwoods and
took up our position on the edge of them, facing a
cornfeld. We lay in line here supporting Rusch's
Battery till 4 o'clock, when we began to advance
through the cornlieId to an open space about 200
wards wide. Here we lay down and the cannon
/ from both sides played over our heads at a great
rate. A young fellow in Go. K stood up, and had
hardly got on his feet before a she'll from the ene>
my took his head away from him, scattering the
brains all around, A solid shot passed through
the necks oftwo horses standing directly in front
ofme. At dark we crossed the open space into
the woods and lay low again. Here one~halt of
each company passed TO the rear 600 yards inthe
woods and built fires TO get warm-nothing TO eat,
The half remaining of Cos. G and B were sent out
as pickets. When the fist half got warm they
came down and relieved us. We slept none that
night, and had one cracker given each one of us.
At daylight this "wednesday morning the rebels
came down on us in 5 columns.
We stood and gave it TO them till the regiment
on cur right broke and run when we followed suit.
We rallied in the cornfeld and stood our ground
for a few moments, when the order was given for
| a general retreat, as the whole right flank was
turned. We retreated through woods where we
lay Tuesday, crossed the Pike thro' some woods
through another opening into some woods deslg-
mated as the Cedars. Here the oath got lost from
the division. But l must go back. In the morn
in g VIII EN- we were fir att a C k g d,
our Brigadier General was killed, and the other
three regiments of our Brigade could not be found
after the retreat and when Col. Greusel took com
mand, ours was the only regiment he could find.
In the "skedaddle' we lost our division, and in
the afternoon we were guarding on the plank and
keeping rebel cavalry from coming too close. At
night We drew rations of coffee, sugar and bacon
The next morning we were marched back down
to the front and laid there till 3 in the afternoon,
when we Cos. G and b were taken out to guard
prisoners.
The rest Of the day was spent in cannonading.
Friday, the next morning, the rebels charged on
our batteries, and were driven back badly cut
M. In the afternoon they made another charge
further towards the left and drove our forces to
the rivers edge. where we rallied and in turn drove
the rebels two or three miles, capturing twelve
| pieces Of artillery and their pet battery. The
cannonading this a~ftertoon was the heaviest thai
any of US ever heard.
On Saturday the rebels ''skedaddled, and OF
Sunday afternoon we discovered it and our caval
ry entered Murlreesboro. This battle is consid'
cred the heaviest ever fought in the western part
if not the whole of the United States. They killed
every General in our division, The killed ia ou
company is 3, wounded and missing 25. Their
were % killed in the regiment. One Commits
stoned Off er killed, Lieut.. Nix of Co. D, Lieut.
Blever of Co. A was wounded. In our eompan,
I'D Sergt. Geo. Cole and 9Th Sergt. Chas. Swan
we're wounded. 2d corporal Burdick and At
corn. Turner were taken prisoners, and 8th corp
Webber was wounded twice. The loss in our Co
Is tbe heaviest OF any in the regiment. We wen
into the battle with AZ men, and there were p VIII
came oat all right My friend I'd Sergt. Geo. Al
lanson and myself stuck together all the time.
We will remain in camp here tor two weeks an
and then advance | received the bundle 20,
sent me by Mr.. L~arraway. l have no more tim
10 write at present. Your SOD,
FrGEEE.