Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-01-13
Ii. Col. McAse's Last Letter.


the telegraph report came announcing his
death on the battle field. The telegraph
notice and the within words seem scarcely
reconcilable, for with this letter before US
so life-like, hopeful and defiant inits spirit,
we can hardly credit the other. But he
is Unexpectedly leyeled TO dust without any.
doubt, and his hopes Of the future as sol
dier and citizen are ended. The hoDors
intended for the living must now be car
ried to the tomb of the dead and there
vanish, except in memory. Honored be
bis grave and peace to his ashes. Those
who were present at that memorable meet
ING in the Court House, the day before
Mckee and his men left for the war, may
remember his parting words and apply
hem: GAS for me, only God can hinder
my departure and the best can do for my
country till the war ends" He has fulfill
ed his promise and bravely served his
| country TIL hlndered by death:
IN THE FIELD NEAR TRIUNE, TENN,
/ December 2sth 1862.
FRIEND CovER The army of the
Cumberland got itself in motion on Friday
December goth | assure YOU it was
great relief to almost all of us to again be
put to work and taking tie right direction
toward the center of Dixie. When the or
der came to move to the front shout Of
"Bully for Rosecrans" rent the air every
where, and everybody was delighted with
the prospect, after having remained com
paratively inactive in camp for several
weeks. Davis division, which is the ex-
IRENE right of the right wing Of the army,
took the lead This division is composed
of three brigales, Isl commanded by Col.
Post, Cd by Col. Carlin, and the Sd by
Gen. Woodruff. Posts brigade was in the
advance, then Carlin, then Woodruff.
j Davis division proceeded on a somewhat
I circuitous route to MolansylIie. lie was
i supported on the left by Gen. Sheridan's
q division, and am informed that Gen. Mig
Q ley had proceeded on the Franklin turnpike,
q which was sill TO the right Of Davis.
Z About one o'clock in the afternoon, the di-
I vision arrived in front of the enemy's can p
at Noansyille, and found them drawn up
in line Of battle ready to receive us. Pin
ney's 9th Wis, battery, opened the fire
with shell at moderate range but the enemy
being pretty well under cover of the hills
it's not supposed that much damage was
i done. In a few moments they repied
with considerable vigor. Posts brigade
was drawn up in line to support Pnney's
battery and skirmshers were thrown out
10 the front, when musketry fire was open
ed but not yet very heavily. Carlin's brig
ade was formed rapidly on the right of
Post, and advanced through heavy thick
ct Of cedars to skirt of open woods and
fields, the skirmishers being pretty well oc-
cupied with the rebel cavalry in trout, I'M
til the brigade was halted and deployed up
in line, when the rebel batteries opened on
us from the left and Immediately in front Of
Post. The order "nnsling knapsacks" was
given by Col. Carlin, and was quickly
obeyed by the brigade, and then all was
ready. THAT battery mast be taken" was
the order. Carlin swung his brigade
around to the left and started for il the bat.
terv fred ut few rounds before il limbered
up and started to the rear, in the direction
of Murfreesboro. 1t had been raining all
day. The roads were terribly muddy aud
the fields were nothing but beds Of soft
muck-the men sinking 20 the ankle at
every step. Now let me give you slight
idea of the country we were in, and in
which we now had to contend with
the enemy: After our brigade had swung
around and advanced and occupied the po
sition previously occupied by the rebels
and their battery, we were then at right
angles with our first position, and we halt
ed for rest aud for orders. In front and to
our left was an open plainfor some distance
in which is located this little southern
town, Nolansville. Surrounding this
plain, or rather basin, is continuous
chain of hills, high and precipitous. Di-
rectIy in our front, and not more than
mile distant, is deep cut or gorge through
the mountain through which the Nolans-
vile and Triune turnpike passes. This
oap in the mount in is not more than three
hundred PAGES in width ana is closed in
by steep bIuffy walls. The rebels have ia
ken position 10 this gap aud have placed
their artillery and TROOPS in It, 1t looks
like "hard road to travel. 1t is Posts |
privilege to take it, While we rest he APP
proaches COL Carlin; now remember he
POST has hardly changed his position
since he first opened fire on the enemy.
He asks Carlin what be proposes to do;
Carlin answers that he intends TO let his
men rest, and then go where h. is ordered
Post is pale and has Tut little to say
complains that his men are used up and
cannot move; Carlin tells him that if he
(Carlin) is ordered forward, he wants hlm
70 support his left; he wants Posts brig
.ade on the left of the turnpike; Post says
7fothing ;.makes no reply; now an and OF
Gen. Davis rides up with oriers-"Izdt
battery must be taken al any rash" Car
In n,,,>t do II This is a serious business; i