The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-23
Fourth Report of IT. II. Greasy,
Chaplain Second Regiment MINI
nesOta Volunteer Infantry.

10 JAMES GEORGE, Colonel commanding Sec
ond Regiment Minnesota Vol. Infantry:
DEAR SIR: Herewith send you my re-
port for the time included between August
1st and December 1st, 1862. The history
OF our regiment for these four months, is
probably more varied by stirring events,
severe toll, great endurance, unfiinching
devotion to duty, and general health and
vigor of nerve, than it ever has been, or
ever will be, for the same length of time,
while we are in the service
This period commences with that melan-
choly event, the cowardly murder by guer-
illas, upon the 9th day Of August, of our
much beloved Brigadier General, Robert
L. McCook. AS military officer, he was
universally and deservedly respected and
beloved by his brigade; and by none more
50 than by the Second Minnesota. His
murder cast deep gloom over this regi-
ment; and his death, even to this day, is
referred to among US only with deep emo
tons of sorrow. We shall ever cherish his
memory with chastened and hallowed de-
light, and hand his name down to posterity
as a true patriot and brave commander.
After spending twelve days near De-
chard, Tennessee, at the great springs, We
left that place, August Goth, for Pelham,
twelve miles east. Here we bivouacked
upon dreary, rocky blutfside, for six days,
challenging in every honorable way the
rebel Bragg to fight US, who was, with a
powerful army exceeding ours in number,
passing north within few miles east Of Us.
But all to no purpose. He would not ac-
cept the challenge.
September 4th and 9th found us at Muir
treesbOro, where our train, after hazard
GUS trip from Dechard, reioined us; and
we were again in tents, after having been
without them for ten days.
From September 7th to the 18th, We
were in Nashville, engaged in guarding the
city, and in fatigue duties upon the extern
sive Notifications then being erected.
On Sabbath afternoon, September IA,
by the appreciation of General Stedman, l
secured one Of the principal churches in
Nashville, for the special use of our bri-
gade, where we could have preaching every
Sabbath, in place dedicated to the wor-
ship of God, instead of being exposed to
all the Inconvenience of field preaching
While thus dreaming, in common with the
whole regiment, that We should spend
many months in Nashville, the order came
at three O'Clock Pm. on that day, that We
must march for Louisville, Kentucky, in
one hour, with five days rations in our
haversacks, leaving our tents all standing.
This order came like a thunderbolt upon
us. But such a folding of blankets, filing
knapsacks and haversacks, saddling
horses and Harvesting mules, leaping of
men from tent to tent, and rushing of
teams to and fro, l am sure are seldom
seen. But when that hour had passed, all
were in line for that long and never-to-be-
forgotten march, which we had in no sense
anticipated at the beginning of that hour.
The weather was warm, the roa.s ex-
cessively dusty, the springs were low,
many of the streams were entirely dried
up, and for days constantly marching in a
thick cloud of dust, nothing but stagnant
water in sink holes could be obtained to
slake our thirst. At the same time We
had nothing but hard bread and pork, and
very light rations of these, without coffee
or sugar. At Bowling Green we drew
-four, but had no means of baking it but
by throwing it into hot ashes. But all
this was endured with that patriotic, SOL
dierly bearing which is the pride of our
American army.
Sept. 9th In thirteen days we arrived
at Louisville. When actually marching,
for we made few halts for part or al
of a day, we varied from twenty to thirty
miles per day in making the two hundred
miles from one city to the other
After spending three days in Louisville
in receiving rations, clothing and pay
ment, we left that city as we came, with
thousands of others in pursuit Of the enc
my. We can not forbear mentioning two
or three incidents, which occurred in that
pursuit, that are especially associated with
this Regiment, here of similar character
might have occurred, had it not been for
our reserved position. Our division was
the reserve OF our corps, and our brigade
the reserve of our division.
Monday, Oct. 9th. Not anticipating an
attack, we left our camp at sunrise. That
day our regiment will not soon forget.
Our brigade led the division, and our regi-
ment the brigade. Thus we were thrown
on that day in front Of all our forces, upon
that route At Springfield we were unce-
tremendously met by spirited and rapid