The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-01-30
Army CORRESPONDENCE.
Experience of n Tuscarawas
Boy at the Battle Of Murfrees-
bOrO-.-Eating "a Dead Horse.
CAMP NEAR MURFREEsBoRo, TENN, |
January 10th, 1868,

Editor Democrdt:-Having o little
time to devote to writing,I l propose to
employ it ia informing the readers of
your interesting aud justly popular pa.
per. and my friends Of Old 'ruscarawas
that I with few others of the Regular
Brigade-composed OF the 18th, 18th,
18th aud 10th q. s. Iafantry-have sur.
viyed the terrible battle of Stone River
one OF the most terrific and obstinate,
perhaps, that has occurred during the
progress o. this most bloody war 10
give q description Of Of .h" whole battle is
not my purpose in writing at present. Us
your readers have heard mach about it
from older aud more experienced wri'
ters. I therefore will have my say about
the Regular Brigade and be briefly done.
This Brigade was lately formed and Is
now part of Rousseau's Division in
Thomas Corps. Our position on the
battlefield, therefore, was in the center.
On the 26th Of Dec. last we struck
tents and marched from our camp near
Nashvilletoward Franklin Tenn, until
we reached the Wilson Pike, upon which
we marched few miles and eueamped
for the night. Here we found that the
OonfederateS had had their picket lines
extending from the Wilson across 70 the
Nolinsville Pike. On the morning of
the 9th heavy cannonading was heard
in the direction of Nolinsville. Our
march was then directed across the coun.
try toward that place
After marching about eight miles
through woods, over fences, through mud
almost knee. deep, we struck the Nolins.
vile Pike three miles north of the vii.
lage. Here the country and the fences
indicated that skirmishing had been 60
ing on. We encamped about a mile
south Of the town, and, on account of the
bad state of the roads, our teams did
not come up, and We we're exposed all
night to a cold and drenching rain. On
the evening of the 2Sth, near down,
the command was ordered across to the
Murfreesboro Pike, and Immediately
took mp their march for that place. -
The 18th and 10Th Infantry being out
foraging at the time did not march un'
til next morning. On account of the
miserable condition of the roads it was
thought best to send the wagon-trair
by way of Nashville, and Company H
Of the 18th (of which your humble SER
vant is member) was detached as al
escort. We reached the command the
same day, travelling thirty six miles,
By daylight on the 3Oth we were OF
the way TO the battlefield of Stone Riv
er. We were held in reserve during tn
day, slept soundly during the night, lit
tie dreaming that SO soon on the NOR
row the spirits of so many of our BRAY
Comrades would start on their awful an,
mysterious adventure in the land @
Spirits.
Morning came. Every movement wa
executed in quick time. Troops wer
taking position artillery likewise wa
moving rapidly, selecting positions {
advantage; and soon our Brigade wa
ordered to the front. After pushin
forward about half mile, and ator
three hundred yards into thick ceGt
swamp, our Brigade deployed in line (
\ battle. But scarcely had the movemeI
teen executed till it was discovered thu
u I6ere vastly outnumbered, and thcl
iootpsno troops Immediately on OF
Dare soon fanked, and orders wei
my 1s fqll back, Unfortunately ft
fermlnau0 10 climb very large ced'
Asth Goere we had reached it Cap
the Union, 5th Infantry, fell, and in
a,;o,. ..s;. ptes expired, In crossir
battalion was thrown in
" QUIET ga rn. Officers became sep
restoration p,eir men, and the men n,
sings Hd iaeir leaders, became mo
tlonal 81 th.znleSed, and by the tin
49, aapy .s6uld get few of their mi
pcy iDle ConfederateS were so clio
q I'll a9h that they we're compelled
4peese and fall back
salaaGoon after crossing the fence Lieu
,rTm. B. OcelestoD, Co. Fl, 18th lnfar
~, was severely wounded and carried
tie field; this left the Company witho
commissioned officer, and the commal
fell upon Sergt. P. A. Conklin. Th
we kept falling back, showing some
sistance, until we came to the edge
the woods, where upon our left the 6
Ohio had taken position and made te
rible resistance, losing great numbers
their brave fellows; but soon they ga
way, and now came the slaughter '
had TO fall back at least four hundr
yards through an open field, exposed
the FIRE of the euemy who now had ga
ed the edge of the woods; and indie
fit had not been for our artillery, a
had the enemy followed up the adVa
atage, the result might have been serio
In the extreme, but as it was they SO
feell back into the thick timber. Fol
few minutes the muSketrY almost ceas'
but the artillery still belched forth
smoke and iron hail with deafeni
sound, which made the very earth tire
BILE. While this was going on the SC
tered ranks were again in line and mar
ed forward to the skirts of the wn'
ready again for another mortal. conai
bat ere our Brigade " as fairly in D.
tion the Volo".'.eer who were on
right gee way, as we had done bef
Being forced to yield the ground on
count Of vastly superior numbers
bthis fearful crisis our Major ordered
.sadvance. We had gone but four or
rods when the enemy again came tov
inp down upon US like the rolling Il