Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1864-08-04


ter I stated that it was probable we
would remain at Nashville for several
months but I have changed my mind
now, and do not think we SHALL This
is another evidence that a soldier is
certain of no abiding place, even for an
hour. While lying in the trenches,
with the bullets whizzing over my head,
I will endeavor to give you concise
detailed account of how We got down
here
After remaining about six weeks in
Nashville, we received orders from Gen.
Sherman to proceed Immediately to the
front. We were relieved on the 18th
by the 45th New York, which was sent
back from the front, and we take their
place in the Sd Brigade, LIST Division of
the goth Army Corps, Maj Gen. Hooker
commanding. The rig hit wing of the
Regiment { one we are in) took the cars
at Nashville on the afternoon OF the 10th
laid over at Chattanooga day and
half, and joined the left at Marietta, Ga.
The left wing, which preceded us day,
met with an accident ten miles south Of
Kingston, Ca, by running off the track,
resulting in the immediate death of one
man in Co. X, and wounding fourteen
of Co. EEL, some of whom have since
died. The two Lieutenants of Co. H
were wounded, one in the neck, the
other in the knee. The Regiment left
Marietta on the morning of the goth,
marched to the Chattahoochee River,
crossed it on canvass pontoons, and
camped for the night two miles in the
rear of the army. We heard heavy
cannonading all day on the goth, and
learned that big fight was going on.
The rebels $4,000 strong, charged in
line of battle four deep on Hooker',s
Corps. They made four charges against
our Division, coming up with wild,
demoniac yells, but were repulsed every
time with great slaughter-admitting a
loss themselves of 1000 AS our Regi-
ment passed along the line in the morn
ing of the 21st to find our position, the
veterans enquired Of us what brigade
We were. "No brigade at all, boys,
only the 31st Wisconsin" we answered.
"What Is that all one Regiment ? By
George, you are as large as any brigade
we have GOT We told them we were
only one of Wisconsin s Regiments, and
small one at that, only 600 men. We
found our position, and remained on the
line that day expecting an attack, none
was made, however "Fighting Joe
came and took look at us and thought
we we're good for thousand rebels He
well deserves the soubriquet of"Fightng
Joe," for he rides fearlessly along the
line giving orders and seeing that every
thing is all right; perfectly cool and un-
concerned ; apparently Indifferent to
shells, sharpshooters, bullets, or other
rebel compliments He is a great
favorite with his Corps. and his men
have the utmost confidence in him.
Corporal Tom j. and myself took a
walk over part of the battle field OF the
previous day and saw many dead rebels
the Union dead were being collected
and buried first. The rebel loss was
much heavier than ours from the fact
that they were hurried with such reck-
lessness against our lines, only to be
moved down. It was said that the
rebel soldiers were made drunk before
charging, a statement | believe to be
true, for most of the prisoners taken
were decidedly drunk. 1t must be a
bad cause indeed that needs whiskey to
prop it up. Certainly it never can sue
coed. On the morning Of the 22d the
rebels were fanked ON our right and fell
back two miles; we advanced and threw
up breastworks, the enemy meantime
Smelling US, but without doing any
damage to our Regiment, except knock
ing a stack of guns to pieces. We
worked with will, and in about three
hours, with the aid of our bayopsts, tin
plates and some slaves we had, quite a
respectable breastwork thrown up, where
we are now lying behind. The Regi-
ment has lost few men, principally on
the skirmish line. Company E had one
Serg't killed, another wounded severely,
and one or two men taken prisoners.
Company 1 one killed. Company G one
wounded. Company c have met with
no casualties thus far, with the excep-
ton of Joseph Dochnell wounded
slightly on the thigh by a log knocked
off the breas.works by shell.
We are mile aud half from At
lanta and can see the spires of the city,
and expect to be in there during the
course of week, but may be disap-
pointed however, it is only a question
of time. The country is billy and
wooded on this side of the city. Our
batteries have been playing on the city
for the last "a hours, and have set it'on
fire in several places. It is magnifi-
cent sight in the nighttime to see the
batteries issuing forth sheets of fame,
and shells bursting, lighting up the
heavens for miles. The sky is murky
and the sun shines dimly like in Indian
summer, from the incessant cannon
nading.
Reports of various kinds are going