Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-01-16
CAMP AT MURFREEsBoRo', Tenn, /
In111lnrr a lsna


in the fight;
CAMP At MURFREEsBoRo', TENN,
January 8, 1868.
I am at present all right, and in health
as good as ever. I escaped our great bat
tie at MurfreesbOrO A harder, or long
er, or a severer battle, never was in
We were constantly in the field for five
days and nights, laying on the battle
ground at our posts and our cannon, watch
ing with eager eyes for our chance to
strike blow to end the struggle in which
we were in. We had plenty of chances,
and you may believe, every blow we gave
with our cannon took effect upon the enc
my, as the feldin our frontplainly shows.
The rebel dead lie thick, literally torn to
pieces by our cannon and shell. On
Wednesday morning we went in front of
our line of battle, in thick cedar wood, to
take our position near our right wing
The 18th, 10th, 18th and 18th Regular In
fantry were in our front. We had not been
here but little while when the enemy cut
and broke our right flank, under General
Johnston, the men flying in all directions.
They next met our Regular Brigade, who
stood their terrible fire and checked them
for while, but on account of the immense
number of the enemy they had to contend
with, they had to give way, retreating in
pretty good order. The cracking Of mus
kerry here was terrible, bullets came like
hail all around US, and many brave man
on both sides fell here. Our battery came
out of here on q gallop, and had we been
three minutes later they would have been
upon us but for the way they were
checked by the infantry, they would have
had us. About Eve hundred yards from
the edge of the woods we took position
on a small hill. Loomis' Michigan Bat
terry, the Chicago Board Of Trade Battery,
and our battery were in line on this hill.
The rebels eheered at their success so far
and followed our men out of the wood into
the open field, headed by their flag, deter
mined no doubt to capture the battery and
chase us off from the field. Now was the
time for the artillery-fate relied on
lutlI AGIN-unA 0uIA q AO1A VI SeAAbA
never was heard before three batteries,
making eighteen guns, pouring in cannis-
ter and shell at short range upon them,
soon checked them, and made them hunt
their holes and fee in all directions but
towards us. After we had ceased firing
not q rebel was to be seen, with the excep-
ton of squad Of or 10 who rose from
their hiding places with a white handker-
chief, and hollering, "don't fire." they
were our prisoners. This was the hardest
contest of the day, and the firing after
wards was not so hard. At one time one
of their batteries fired on as, killing some
horses but after our fire was directed at
them, they soon left. The rest of the day,
and the next day, not much was done ex-
cept altering the lines and skirmishing.-
Friday forenoon passed off rather still,
changing troops from the right to the left;
but towards four O'Clock an attack was
made on the left. The rebels, eight col
umns strong, came on and succeeded in
pushing our men to the river. General
Negley's division came up in time to re-
inforce, and went in for life or death, and
drove the enemy before them in all diree-
tions, capturing or rebel flags and 10 or
u cannon. Had not darkness come on
to stay them they would have run through
to Murfreesboro. This was harder, think
than the attack on the right, for terrible
was the cracking of musketry and the
roar of cannon l had heard musketry
before, but none that could put terror in
ones soul like this. Although so terrible,
1 never heard such cheering as our men
gave as they were pushing the enemy
cheering went along the whole line, and
doubt not every one wished to be in the
fray. The rebel banners that were cap
tured were taken along the whole line to
tell all that victory was ours in the strug-
gle. Cheers and cheers went up, every
heart was alive, and new strength came to
all, and had not night came on the men
would have fought with double vigor, and
nOdoubt we would have been in Murfrees-
boro before we were. While this was go
ing on in the left, Loomis' "Chicago
Board of Trade" and our battery were in
the centre watching for our time. No at
tempt was made here, so we remained ST.
lent. We remained in the front during
the night, every man was to lay at his
post, but to sleep was impossible, as it
IdluGu dlA n4EuN anu AuC uluu WAS duklG
deep. We contented ourselves the best
way we could, sitting around small, low
fires. The night passed off quietly, except
the occasional firing of the piekets. The
infantry lay in the mud all night along
side. Before daylight every one was at
his post 50 as to be ready. Day came and
was welcomed by all, but still it rained.
Wet through and shiVering with cold, and
hungry as wolves, we we're ready for the
attack at our posts. No attack was made,
so we built fires, but had nothing to eat
The horses had nothing to eat for two
days and we're almost given out A load
of corn came for them, but the men could
not stand it. They pitched in, taking
about half the corn, roasting it by the fire
and eating it as sweet as if it had been
johnny cake. l saw on the field horses
cut up and men roasting the meat like
beefsteak. Saturday it rained all day, no
sun out and twas pretty cold The "pion-
eers" were busy in throwing up earth
works, the rebel skirmishers firing upon
them from behind trees, ,stumps and houses.
After building works for our batteries, we
moved in, taking our position. The rebel
skirmishers skedaddled and didn't bother
us much afterwards. They were not over
five hundred yards from us, but it would
notdO for us to fire on them, so they were
left to the care Of the infantry. At dusk
we fired the last cannon of the battle
Six rounds out Of each piece to clear the
woods to put out our pickets. As soon as
the pickets were out they were met by the
rebels. Sharp firing for about half an
hour went on, when the rebels withdrew.
The rest of the night passed off still, ex-
ceptthe toot Of the cars. Whether they
were receiving reinforcements or eTacu-
sting, we couldn't tell. Day light told ell.
Not rebel was to be seen. They had left
us victors Of the battle before Murfrees-
boro'. All our Generals deserve credit
for this. for they came daily cheering the