East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-01-13
From the 23d Regiment.
BLAIs's cRoss ROAD, NEAR KsoxyILL, ,
December 20, 1863.

Col. Stockton, who was going home
soon from Knoxville. The next day
I returned here to the Regiment
While on my way down 1 met Col.
Campbell, who was at the head of a
Brigade, of which he was in command.
He stopped and visited with me while
his brigade passed. The horses and
men including the Second Michigan,
were all in the finest condition posi-
bic. l will hurry over an account Of
our retreat from Lenoir and the seige.
After abandoning our wagons and
chicken fxings, the surplus mules
were harnessed to the artillery, all OF
which was thus successfully secured.
We were pressed hard by the enemy
until about eleven o'clock, A. NJ,
when we reached Campbelps Station,
and made a successful stand. The
artillery was posted upon the brow of
the hill across ravine, while the in
fantry formed upon the opposite side
Of the creek and sent out slirmishers.
A heavy force Of the rebels soon push
ed boldly forward but coming under
a heavy fire from our artillery they
were soon driven to a cover Of forest
on their right; an attempt was then
made to flank us on our right by n
large body of infantry and cavalry
moving through the woods, but being
severely shelled by Benjamin's and
Edwards Batteries and annoyed by
our skirmishers, fell back and made
another bold dash at our front. Then
it was that our valiant little regiment
made its debut upon the battle field,
and as we had ever anticipated, nobly
sustained the glorious reputation Of
our State. Until the shades Of eve
ming began to fall the fight ragged flu
riously. When taken into considera-
ton that this was our first engagement,
that tho number of tho enen,y was
far superior to our own, and that our
Regiment with the 111th Ohio, and
the 10th Illinois TALL unskilled in
fight sustained an unwavering line
beside the veteran Regiments Of tho
9th Army Corps till the evening of
that awful day, then retired last from
the field under CALLING fire from the
enemy's artillery in the most perfect
order-Co. D, as slxirmishers remain
oil upon the field long after night-fall,
the other troops had oil lef., and the
sturdy heroes of Neeley's Bend stood
their ground until the enemy was
right upon them-have we not rea-
son to feel that we too have earned O
reputation worthy the name of Mich
igan. / call the day an awful one
In the darkest hours OF morning, the
enemy fred by vollies upon our pick
cts. We abandoned our clothing,
food, and means Of transportation, and
marched ten miles through mud ankle
deep. We fought that battle and re-
tired again into tho darkness of an
other long night, with vigilant foe
vigorously pursuing; and marched fif-
teen moro miles through mud and
miro, reaching Knoxville at 4 a. NJ,
the next morning, tired, hungry and
exhausted Not mouthful to eat
had we during the day nor did NOR
sci reach us until noon, then before it
could be divided we were forced to
march through tho town to its opposite
suburbs.
The experience certainly was such
as few have realized and few can des-
cribe. The names Of the wounded
and killed wero long since gathered
for publication, you undoubtedly have
them. With all Of the surrounding
gloom and terror of that day, thera
was moving along with and directing
the human storm, one whose presence
with us gave assurance that we were
"not left to blind fatality" In him
all felt a confidence that buoyed them
up in tho darkest hour. All knew
that when he choose to turn upon the
enemy and say 'thus far and no far
Their" his word would then be law
Thus it was at Campbell's Station and
again at Knoxville. That one was
Gen. Burnside, we loose him with re-
membored regrets, but not before tho
siege, Of which / will write next.
DEC. 22d.-My facilities for writing
are superb, my seat pack, my table
a pillow across my lap. AS our mail
does not leave before tomorrow
will write more, Last night was
much milder than the two previous,
The ground has been frozen hard fol
nearly week, but this morning the
warm sun begins to timber it up, the
birds sing gaily, and we hope that the
most severe season is past. Still il
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