The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1863-12-31
From the Army.

OluCCtS iosp'laI ~ A"@'f''aSt ''
from his brother the End LII. OF Go.
&C. Although not designed for pub
location, it may prove of interest to Gu
readers who have friends in the army.
The letter is dated Camp near Chat
tanooga, Nov. 50, 1868.
eve started at - O'Clock, midnight
on the Esd and marched to the river,
about . miles, to where our division
of our army corps was crossing, where
we waited until 5 A. NJ. ct the cath
and crossed the river in Pontoon boats,
(hold,ng about 80 men each) and form
ed on the opposite side, and different
from what any one expected. This was
all done without = gun beng fired
YES and more, the first division that
crossed captured the whole rebel picket,
amounting to l Lieutenant and 80 men
and major division field officer OF the
day.
We Immediately advanced on to high
ground and commenced to entrench,
and by O'Clock we had two complete
lines Of works, for what troops were
already across, and all felt as though
we had oeen highly successful so far,
and were pleased with our success.
Daring the day we were busy in reco-
noitering the ground in front, and
troops We're constantly crossing in
boats until about 2 T.. NJ, when i pom
toon bridge was completed and our
side Of the river seemed to swarm with
"Yanks." About 5 p. NJ. we moved
to the left about miles and advanced
to the top of a spur of ''Tnnncll Ridge"
our sk;rnishers driving the rebels as
they advanced. When we arrived at
Tie Top, we were compelled 10 lie down
and seek shelter. as the rebels opened
with artillery, and more than once
made the shells howl around us. While
wing there, quite heavy fight took
place on our left between a Division Of
our army corps and the rebels, who
were on aridge but our men soon drove
them from the position and that ended
the fight for that cay for the left. At
dark, we were ordered down to tie
level ground % stay for the night and
rough night we had, as the ground
was cold and vet from rain that fol-
that day, and We had no blankets ONLY
wha. We took along with us on cur
| backs.
On the Morning Of the 25;l We were
up early, expecting TO have orders t.
ma, CHI soon, and we expected To have
\ long hard fight, bnt we were not cal
led on to move until about half past l !
A. m or l. o'clock, and then We were
thrown in line st the margin Of til,
woods with a large open field between
us and the Il. i. tunnel and in rlai.
view Of Me rebel line ef artillery an
Infantry. The artillery soon opened OF
US as we lay in good range Of thgi'
guns, and after " shots to ct t!lt
range, they pumped a solid si,ot int,
TO. FL" of our RECT. wounling MGR
severely. one had his arm shot off a,
the shoulder. We " ere then iauyel /,
; the right under partia! shelter wher,
We lay only few moments, shcn Gen
Blair came along and ordered Cen
| Mathies to 60 forward ard stop Ii,
rebels, who were advancing towards
+. large white house, to the left OF the r
II. where it enters the Tunnel. ",
lmm' diaiely deployed to the right al,
made enc Of the pre,tiest charge
(across the field 81 Of mile wide
that you ever saw, under very heav
, fire Of artillery and musketry, hu, "
. lost only a few wounded as we went O
]: quick time most Of the way, and Ii
artillery could not touch us. Som
were wounded 10 the regiment how
ever, with rifle balls. A. b. Ita,mo
of Co. 'tC' was struck with q muske
ball which entered lis blouse and yes
. crushing looking glass in pieces.
picked up the ball and gave it to Lir
and he went on III to the ranks an
went through the fight like hero as h
is.
We gained position in rear Of tn
white house and the rebels ran befor
US. There we lay a long time, do no
know how long, when we were ordere'
to the left, to the top of the mountain
were brigade Of the. 18th Army corp
were holly engaged. We went to ,h'
top on double quick amid murderou
fire Of balls and shell. Killed am
wounded were strewn all along the sid,
Of the mountains. As we went about
half Of the way up, saw the dead
body of Cap. Stoddard, Goth Missouri
We tour b,igade) took position at.some
log works made by the lebels the nigh,
before, to the left of the 9th Pa. with