Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1884-08-16
CAMPAIGNS AND BATTLES
OF THE
18th TENNESSEE REGIMENT.
Copyrighted June 9th, 1884. All rights re-
served.
BY II. A. HEAD.

nell, who now became Colonel by pro-
motion. Capt. D. T. Brown, of Cons
pany X, was Lieutenant Colonel, and
Capt. H. H. billiard, of Company F,
became Major. Col, Donnell was
Captain of Company G at the begin
ming of the war and became Lieutenant
Colonel at the reorganization at Cor
inth. In private life he was teacher
by profession, and at the beginning of
the war he was President of Cumber-
land Female College at McMinnville.
AS soldier he had no previous military
record. AS an officer, he was strict
and rigid disciplinaran, and as a gen.
tleman he was kind and generous. He
was warmly and conscientiously devoted
to the cause he had vowed to defend,
and to the duties his office imposed.
He was zealously devoted to the CONS
fort, the welfare and the efficiency of
his men, and was thoroughly alive to
their interest in every respect. The
promotion gave satisfaction to the men,
who would have elected him to the po-
sition had opportunity offered. They
had great confidence in the ability and
integrity of Col. Donnell, and accorded
to him the same respect and obedience
that had been accorded to his prede,
cessor.
The principal portion Of Bragg's
army was now at Tullahoma, though
Cheathams division and the greater
portion of Folks corps was at Shelby
vile. The army devoted its time to
drilling and fortifying in front of the
Federal approaches. During the latter
part of March the whole army was con-
centrated at Tullahoma and remained
till the first of May, when they return
ed to Shelbyville. About the Goth of
June the Federals began their forward
movement, and the Confederates retired
to Tullahoma and took position behind
the Notifications in trent of that place.
Gen. Bragg expected that Rosecrans
would attack him here, but subsequent
ly learned that it was the intention of
the Federal General to flank the posi-
ton, and accordingly the Confederates
withdrew on the night of July LIST. On
the morning of July I'd the 18th passed
by their original camp of rendezvous at
Camp Harris, near Estill Springs. Two
years had elapsed since their departure
from the place at the beginning of the
war. The place looked natural TO the
boys, but the changes in the ranks Of
the companies had been great. How
many had been left upon the fields Of
Perryyille and Murfreesboro! How
many had died of disease The cas-
ualties of these two years had been
great indeed, and the men looked sac
as they passed by their first camping
ground.
The Confederates confined their re
treat across the Tennessee river and ar
rived at Chattanooga early in July
During this retreat Vicksburg haC
fallen into the hands of the enemy, BY
which the whole Mississippi river wa
open to the enemy. Other points ha(
fallen into the hands of the enemy
The Confederate soldiers began to grow
detected at the loss of so many strong
holds, especially when they realizes
that place once in the hands of tn
Federals was permanently lost. l
seemed that the Confederate histor,
was fast becoming a catalogue of re
verses, and the Confederate soldier wa
growing weary of the many addition
that were being added to the list. Be
set with these feelings the Confederate
arrived at Chattanooga and encampe
upon the same ground that they ha
occupied the year before.
The men, discouraged by so man
reverses, had begun to desert, and Ger
Bragg had been Furnishing the evil wit
the severest penalties. Quite a nun
Der of soldiers had been courtmartiale
and shot while the army was at Tull'
homa and Shelbyville. These victim
were principally from the Gulf State
though few were from the horde
States. When the army arrived {
Chattanooga there were quite a nun