The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-24
HISTORICAL RECOLLECTIONS

HISTORICAL RECoLLEcT1oNs. ~
BY q. WASHINGTON JONES.
AS soon as Rosecrans occupied
Murfreesboro, he went to work to for
tify the place. Gen. Morton, his chief
engineer an officer of ability in his
profession, was charged with this duty
and he performed it we'll. When the
works were completed the command
under Rosecrans could have held them
against the attack of all the confede.
rate armies combined. The work was
done by the volunteers many of whom
had never used a spade before. but
they learned, during the progress of
the war, that the pick and spade were
as necessary to successful warfare "A
the sword and musket. In this com.
mand there was a regiment, 10th Illi-
nois), said to have been composed of
Methodist preachers. They would
work all day, and almost every night
in the week religious services were
held in their camp. The writer had
frequent occasions to observe this reg.
iment and desires to place on record
the fact that these Christian men
were among the bravest and best in
the army. Col. Buckner of this regi-
ment was splendid soldier. could
preach a tirst.rate sermon, and he and
his regiment were ready at all times to
enter upon the most difficult and dan.
gerous duty. In the battle of Stone
River the 18th Pennsylvania, lost sew.
eral of it's field officers, and T.. E. Roso
was promoted to be colonel for brave
and distinguished services in this bat.
tie. never saw Drawer man, one so
destitute of any idea of fear. At a
subsequent period in the war he was
captured and confined in Libby prison.
1t was Rose who conceived, planned
and executed that difficult piece of en-
gineering, the digging Of a tunnel
under the walls of Libby prison. By
this underground route he made his
escape and reached the Union lines in
safety. At the close of the war he
was appointed to captaincy in the
10th regular Infantry position he now
adorns. While the army was at Muir
freesboro the War Department remod-
eled it, forming them corps. The
troops under Gen. Thomas were en-
titled the 18th, those under Gen. Me-
Cook the Goth, and those under Gen.
Crittenden the 2lst army corps. The
location Of the enemy through
the efficiency of Rosecrans' spies. was
we'll known. The Union force was in
position north of Duck river, it's right
resting at War Trace and it's left at
Shellyville. The TANKS were we'll
guarded by cavalry on the right to
McMinnville and on the left to Column
bic and Spring Hill. Bragg expected
to offer battle at Shellyville. Folks
corps was at this point. Hardee Joined
him on the right and occupied Belle
buckle, Liberty and Hoovers Gaps.
Braggs effective force was estimated
at 10000 men. His main base of sup
plies was at Chattanooga with tenn
porary base at Tullahoma in rear of
the centre of his line. These bases
were connected by the Nashville and
Chattanooga railroad. The object of
Rosecrans' second campaign was to
drive the rebel army from Tennessee.
The plan of the campaign was to
threaten the enemy's left and centre
with a heavy force of infantry and
cavalry and under cover of these de-
monstrations to turn their right, and
form battle on our own ground or
compel retreat over the mountains
by circuitous and dangerous route.
Onthe oath day Of June our movement
began. McCook's Corps was to march
by Old Millersburgh and drive the reb-
ell force from Liberty Gap. This was a
narrow passage between two high
ranges of mountains which, if reso-
lutely defended by a thousand men,
could have been held against ten times
the number. Our troops moved GAL
lantly forward, and drove the enemy
through and beyond the Gap, and en-
camped therein during the night. AL
though there was but one division Ell.
gagged in this affair. yet the fighting
was hard enough to advance it to the
dignity of battle. On the following
morning, the enemy was REINFORCED
by Cleburne's division and again off,
cred battle, which was accepted.
Davis division Of McCook's Corps came
forward to the support of johnson,
and for a short time the battle ragged
furiously. Finally the enemy was re-
pulsed, leaving his killed, and many of
his wounded in our hands. Our troops
buried 23l rebels, and the writer as
serts upon the authority Of his BROTH
er, who was a surgeon in the Confeder.
ate army, that $50 wounded men
were sent to the rear from this en-.
gagement, A private of Company F,
18th Ohio, displayed the noblest hero
ism. He had fallen MORALLY wounded.
His captain and comrades immediately
gathered around him, and endeavored
to cheer him up, but he knew that his