The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-01-23
Capt, Bartlett's Battery at MuFlrees'
81 a. boro'.

Capt, Bartlett's Battery at MuFlrees'
81 a. boro'.
The followihg private letter, received
by Mr.. JohuA. Rddle, oftbis place, from,
his son, Sergeant 9. L. Riddle, OF Battery
@, Is! Ohio Artillery. who was 10 the Muir
frcesboro' battle, will bo read with inter
est. We are glad to learn that "ali the
Chardon boys" after Ggh,ing bravely
and effectively, ,"came ou; safe and sound"
Their record is n noble one, and the friends
they have left at home are justly proud Of
il: a9 al8
MURFREEsD mot Jan. 9Th, 1868.
DEAR PARENTS On The night Of Dec.
2oth, we drove in the Rebel pickets, and
eucamped withina mile and a halt Of their
breas,works. The ncxtmorning, the skir-
finishing commenced in good earhes; -
Our division took its position on the right
Of the center, in the edge ofa cedar swami,
and, in the afternoon, sbelled the woods
about, 10 ascertain lheir positions but
they kept QUOT. That night we slept by
our guns, expecting TO hnyc a fight in the
morning, and we did get quite as much
MS we wanted. This was on Tuesday
On Wednesday, VIC got pate n lew" "hard
tarks," aud, at o'clock, took our posi-.
ton in a corn field, and shelled out q bat
terry that was playing upon us. After
this, we charged our front on the opposite
side Of the corn field, and commenced
throwing canister into the enemy, who
had broken our lines. and were surround
ing our division. They we're marching
on to US in solid columns, poufing vo'ley
after volley into our ranks. Their bat
teiies, throwing canister and shell, were
also brought to bear upon as, causing our
men 10 fall thick and fast. The infantry
supporting us broke and ran. The Reb-
els then charged upon our battery.
The gun under my charge threw 81
rounds of canister, and tie other guns the
same yet the Rebels pressed upon us,
and we were compelled TO leave two OF
our pieces. My gun we succeeded ir
getting partially off, when the horses were
shot, and we were compelled to leave it,
1t was pretty tough fight. went in
with eight cannoEiers, and came out with
but three. Ny horse was shot from un.
der ME in the fore part of the fight, but
father, it was no place 10 finch, and, when
the oannoniers were shot, took theiI
places. | acted in three mems places.--
The balls came thick and fast about my
head, and ! could see the men fall all
around me, and expected every moment
| til lat
piece, tho Rebels were so close that they
ordered us TO halt, out we ''couldn't see
it," and, rushing forward, cut our way
through Them. When our guns were
playing upon them, could see the can
lister sweep spape ten feet wide through
their ranks, piling them up in winnows
but they would close up in a moment, and
press speedily upon us.
We lost four guns and foriy.seven
horses | don't know how many men. -
We afterwards went in with the two re-
manning guns, and captured twcIve-
pounder brass gun. We cnme into town
Monday. Every house and church is
filed with wounded. | believe all the
Chardon boys came out sife and sound. -
The Rebels bayoneted all of our wounded
that could moi GET off The field. Some
we're seen with thirteen bayonet wounds
i have told you all about the fight.
will now tell you what Mind Of "grub" We
had 10 fight on. The first two days, we
had hard tack and raw shoulder, and the
rest OF the time, -four, with which we
would mix water. making q sort OF batter,
and cook il in the form Of pancakes.--
Some of the troops had 10 eat horse-Aesh
We fought the old year out, and the new
year 10, aud that's the way We wecelebrated
the New Year, BY the way. | captured
nice sabre worth about 500, ,00, ,and also
n cavalry saddle. aasas ra
Well l must close for the present.
expect to have another gun to command
in few days. @. l.. RIDDLE,
lst Sergi, Battery G. lsl o. VA.