The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-10-22
Correspondence of the KESosHA TELEGRAPH
The Battles of Chickamaugn from O"T
peinf Of View-EThe Old First"
CuATrANoOGA, OCT. TO, IoU0.

Paint of VieW-'EThe Old First"
CHATTANOOGA, Oct. 10, 1868.
The smoke of desperate battle has but
nartially cleared away after three weeks time,
vet we think it not altogether selfish to write
a short account of ourselves 10 those that
have some right to know. Civilians from
Wisconsin, four or five days after the severest
of the fighting, sought from General Stark
weather, a list Of his casualties; the General
had no time on his hands to attend 10 tle
matter. neither was he in any humor 10 record
casualties to crafty what seemed to hlin and
atbers, a selfish curiosity. The TACT Is that
civilians are not very much welcomed III the
ARM. ON the heels of a severe engagement.
The soldiers and officers would rather hail
ye-r4sts to their thinned companies and regi-
mo uts, than compilers of registers of killed
wounded; of course these observations
10 not apply to dear relatives who sustain
terrible losses, but to those who seek positions
of no danger, and yet hatter themselves that
they are doing their whole duty to their coun-
try in the hour Of its peril.
We have had but little heart to write about
ourselves up to this time, although if we ever
had right to tell Of our deeds, and Of our
suferings, we have double right now!
will say nothing of the crossing Of rivers and
the toiling over mountain ranges III DUST
thirst, and broiling sun, for days and nights
together, without rest. No description could
give your readers an impression sufficient to
induce an adequate sympathy.
An hour after we had crossed the Lookout
Mountain, we were ordered forward q. {. the
1st Division, commanded by General Baird
in the absence of Rousseau to reinforce Gen
eral Negley, commanding the I'd Division of
our corps, the 14th, commanded by General
Thomas General Negley was endeavoring
to force the enemy from gap in a range Of
mountains, being eight miles east-south- east
Of our camp. Our division reported TO Cen
eral Negley on the morning Of the 18th Of
September, and Immediately relieved several
regiments Of General Ncgieys on picket and
on the first hne Of battle. Il was while SIS
tanning these pgsitions-early on the after
noon of that day, that Lieut. +. I. Nickles
belonging to Co C of our regiment, but acting
as aid-decanp to General Starkweather, was
instantly killed by sharpshooter, while car
rying an order to the picket line a very short
distance in advance of the regiment Very
shortly after this the enemy was seen moving
on both our tanks, and a retreat was ordered
General Starkweather, with his brigade, and
Colonel Stanley, with his brigade of NegIey
Division, were ordered to cover the retreat.
The guns of our battery, the 4th Ind, were
placed in position. All the curious and all
the officials not bearing arms and all the
trains are now out Of the way. The regi-
ments are III line Of battle, and the batteries
are III position, all facing the advancing enc
my With all the warriors there it seemed
lonely, and it was very still. The order was
given by the right Of companies to retire.
We retired very slowly and crossed Chiclla-
manga Greek. and then halted; formed into
line again, face to the foe. At tits iuncture
the enemy advanced rapidly, cavalry III adj
vance, with infantry and artillery, all yelling
at the top Of their voices. Here the list Wis,
Oath ILL.,, 2lst Wis, 18th ILL.,, and 18th Mich
poured III their vollies while two guns of our
battery gave them the grape and canister.
The ford Of the creek was filled with horses
and their rebel riders, No more wells heard.
The order was repeated to retire as before.
We had good position here and could have
held it in front, but the enemy was advancing
on bothtlanks, Whlepreparing to withdraw
at this time the enemy made a charge on our
two guns. They were signally repulsed by
the 2lst Ohio. After this, we cot another
good position Oh the ascent of the hill rising
from the Chickamtuga. This we maintained
until dark, when We returned to Stephens
Gap. Here, at midnight we buried Lieut.
Eickles. We had two or three men in the
battery wounded-one mortalIy.
For three Or four days we remained al
Stephens Gap, awaiting the concentration O
the corps,-only two divisions of the 14th
corps being with US while McCook's corps
was lar 10 tho %,outh, and on the west side OF
inc MOI" '.ltain; the concentration Of the rebel
army in one point, making it necessary to re-
call McCook to u.s. when we could not force
our way to him.
On the 18th of September, we took up oul
line of march to Owens Ford of ChiclIamaugs
Creek. Here our corps passed General Crit
tendens, and we went into camp i'll line OF
battle, We spent the night of the 18th at
this point On the afternoon Of the 18th, we
were on the march the whole army was
marching by the left, on towards the north
We travelled far into the night, and left most
of the army i'll bivouac by the road side We
halted at Crawfish Springs, and were places
III position by a staff officer of Gen. Thomas.
We made up large fires; warmed ourselves
drank sweet waters from the great spring
The more Fortunate got little cotfee-some
smoked pipes, and the most OF us talked OF thu
morrow. We then, one after the other
stretched ourselves on our soft beds OF dust
all trying to sleep; some not succeeding Ih'
writer was of the latter number. At mid
night, a staff officer from General Baird wa
riding through and among the weary soldiers
inquiring for General Starkweather. shout
cd to him at a distance, that the General wa
at this point; General S. was asleep and mus
be awakened. General Brannons troop
are now advancing; you will please have
your brigade i'll readiness to fall in on hi
rear and proceed on the road towards
the left, or north" 1t never takes long fo
our brigade to get ready. We stood by til,
dusty roadside two hours, while troops, artil
lery, and ambulances, covered us with dust
as thick as snow would cover us in a storm
Away to our front, were large camp fires be
ing lighted, but no troops at them. We fel
in in due time and when we had proceeded
about a mile or so, General Brannons Di
vision was found to have taken Il road to the
right of ours; but having the same general
direction UPWARDS Chattanooga. We Kept on
now till about a. m, plodding through tn,
dust, and passing these mysterious fires 4
the very earliest dawn Of the morning of tn,
18th, we reached the last fire, and the division
was halted. General Baird and his brigade
commanders, consulted long together Itwa
discovered, that Bragg's Headquarters wer
not far from where we stood That pickle
firing had been heard in the early part of tn,
night. The mounted men who were sent t.
light the fires, could proceed no farther &c
At this information, our course was chance,