Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-01-30
From the 18th Regulars
NASHVILLE, Tenn, General Hospital No. 6.
IannarT 18th. 1863.


Mr. Thomson. Editor "A few weeks ago
1 FORWARDED short letter to you for publica-
ticn which y.,7 did accordingly, also sent one
of the Same TO the Standard thinking that
some of our friends would be glad to'learn
through the columns of that periodical our
whereabouts, bur it has never appeared, for
want OF etiquette or flwery style of writing
OF which soldiers lay but little OF no claim
10, or some other justiflble cause, it finds no
place, we therefore content ourselves with a
part of a column in the Delaware GIzette-
We have just passed through one among the
hardes fought and bloodist battles ever fought
in the Unified States. On the morning of the
25ih of December. 1862, we passed through
Nashville cnroute for MuFfreesboro, on the
26th we came into the vicinity of the bat lie
ground, the elements of war were raging and
appeared ready to barst in every quarter. =
Gen. McCook with his division, drew the 6 st
heavy fire and mlde the attack the firing b.
came general all along the whole linz from
ieht TO left, dly after dIy for five days we
We're novel from point to point TO sireny hen
the weak divisions whers the enealy cru'd
make the strongest as-aI't, day after day the
battle grew ti-rccr and m)ce furious, time and
again our men bad To hack from their posi-
tions and with renewed vigor would regain
their lost gronnd. Ol the 3lst early in the
IN 0rning the butte was again renew I'd, which
think wis the hardest days e 5ht and the
greatest slaughter OF mnn during the whole
action. Il appeared that the heavens had for
weeks AMI m7nths reserved her tlIanlcrs for
that ~, vap0r auj sm IKE darkened the hOri-
~, and it seemed as if the heavens an1 earth
were rolled orcther rs a scroll and as if the
elements would melt with heat, for surely i;
was hn' p zee. That day fixed the destiny Of
thousands Of good soldiers the battle line was
formed into three divisions, right. left and cen
ter, on that day the 3lst Olip ami the 18Th
Regulars were placed in advance on the right
of the cea'er Column, where the enemy had
the evening before taken Our ground, here We
held orr position steadily till the afternoon,
though we ware confronted with thr1t columns
10 oar one with the full Intention OF breaking
our cen 'er; W. stoo fifm until the right wing
gave way. a soon as it gave way we were ex~
p0scl to a eros fire which rak d our regiIn mt
20 that there was but few left and we were
compelled to fall back; on the evening of that
day was wound al in the left arm. the large
bine Of my arm was broken about two inches
from the hand, the ball passing through that
part of the arm and through ths ffeshy plri
Of the arm two or three inchci beow the
shoulder, the next day cur gallent General
r .5ecrans rallied the men up AMI that day
aud afterwards regained all our lost ground
and pat the aliens t. fight. Oar regiment went
nto the battle with 100 as good soldiers as
ever eat bread, AMI came ont with only 300,
bHl still think that lew more will be fou nd
living. if not our regimant is pretty well us ed
up. Till the close Of the battle / suffered very
much, and for several days after, bat anr now
in the General Hospital, No. 6, at Nashville,
well cared for and doing well, and from the
nature of the wound not suffering as much as
would be expected. How long it will be before
will be able to pop at the enemy Of our
country again / cannot tell, but | mist wait
with PAL silence till can. Providence has bro:'
ME through thus far trust him for time to
come. WM II. MAXWELL.