Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-01-18
"reminiscences Of the Second Tennes
see Cavalry.
BY JNO. w. ANDES.

On Saturday, the 8 day OF January
1863, there was no fighting excep Thy
the cavalry, and that on a small scale
confined to our pickets and the Con-
federate rear guard. Under cover OF
night the Confederate forces had fallen
back. General Bragg's army had suf-
fered fearfully. not only from the Fed
eral guns, bsyonets and sabres, but
from cold and exposure and destltu-
ton of supplies. Both armies APP
Deared exhausted, neither being anx-
ions to renew the fight. The writer
had been on duty constantly since the
onening of the battle, unrefreshed
by food, except scanty sup
pIy, or sleep, and was much
exhausted. By permission OF Col.
Cook, he being IL command or the
regiment at the time, L went to an
old clubhouse, corn crlo, near by
where we were on picket, got off
ray horse, tied him to an apple tree,
went into the crib among some
wounded soldiers, lay down on some
! blankets and soon tell asleep. This
was about O'Clock in the morning. [
was, at the time, wet and cold, and had
ale nothing for thirty hours. L slept
until | O'Clock the next day, when L
aWOke and was unable 10 get on my
horse without assistance. With the
aid of some kind fellow soldiers, who
were strangers, l was mounted and
started in search of my regiment.
Fortunately, found it In less than a
half mile from the place L had been
laying. That was one of the times when
l had very little choice between living
4 Il Il h0f /
had but little care for anything. Com
pany Nj, Of our regiment, came up
that day, which completed our quota
of companies, and were ready for
organization and formal mastering
into the service. our supply trains
came up also and were hailed with joy. |
Ga Monday, January 5 b, the entire |
army marched into MurfreesbOro', |
with cOlors flying, bands playing and |
drums beating. We found The city |
almost deserted. the citizens having
fled with Gen. Bragg, who, with his
army, had retreaLed across Duck river. |
During the progress of the battle, he
had had his headquarters in the court
house, from which he could have
a good view of the surrounding coun-
try, the main battlefield being perhaps
one mile away. General ROsecrans'
forces were distributed around Muir
freesEOrO' aud went into winter quar-
tiers. The surrounding country was
rich and presented a fine field for for
aging. Foraging trains were sent out
daily, and an abundance of corn was
procured; but the close proximity of
Bragg's forces, especially his cavalry,
rendered it necessary to send a heavy
squad with each foraging train. The
railroad to Nashville, our base of sup
to live, for the most part, on
what could be secured in the To-
cality where we were quarteTed. The
troops were living on half rations.
The Second Cavalry was peculiarly
AS stated in a former
letter, our camb equippage had been
captured early in The battle of Stone
River. The weather continued cold
and disagreeable, and we were with
put tents. The men suffered greatly. I
Many of them sickened and died. (
We had no little picket duty to per- {
orm. On the 18th of January we !
went on a scout TO NOlensville, Tri- {
Inc and Eaglesville. AT the latter
place We ran on squad OF COnfeder-
tie soldiers, who were enjoying a fine
We then after being out '
nree days, returned to camps at :
VI urfrees bOIo'. II had turned very
old, and the men having got their
clothing wet, their clothes were frozen I
tiff and the men were frozen almost 9
o death. This entire month was a
ough one. We were on fOraging ex-
editions and doing picket duty al s
most constantly, and when in camps t
we're very uncOmfOrtably situated. ',
)ur sick list became q large one and
ur men were dying almost daily. In q
EDITION to our other duties, q cOnsid- Y
rable camp guard was kept up every =
ay. Our camp was on low ground, :.
MT we were living in mud and water.
he water stood on the ground in our u
ents, and we had to raise our beds to -,
eep out of it. 1t was not unusual to
md men dead in their tents in
he morning. Harry Harms
aging on his bed in his tent, dead. :,
1e had been complaining for few :.
avs, but continued able to go about.
his was a very cold and disagreeble f
light, and he lay upon single blanket 7
n the ground. He was taken violent :
Y i'll during the night and soon died. !
Tut il is im possible to describe the suf- L
eriugs of our soldiers about this time. !,
Hard fare, scanry supplies of clothing =
nd food aud exceedingly cold, in a
Iement weather We had not yet g
cen formally organized aud mustered, T
ntil the ooh of January, when we :,
yere mustered by Capt. Young and
lustered to date back TO the time of K
ur enlistment. We then had twelve ii
all companies, armed and equipped.
n ray next will give the organIza-
ion.