The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-06

more, and had marched many hundreds of miles
over mountains and through valleys We had
suffered from rain, and cold, and heat, from
hunger and thirst, but had taken 10 part in any
battle. Our ranks had been thinned by sickness
and desertion; bnt change was to come soon
and we were TO win name as fighting regi-
ment as well asa marching one. Buell. was super
seeded and Rosecrans put in command. 1t was on
the last day of the year 1862 we took our baptism
OF fire. and terrible one it was. Stone river
gave its name to one of the most terrible battles
of the war. It was there our gallant Colonel
Hines wounded, but we fought on until the
last From that time on We had as much of
fighting as we wanted. We were ever in the
forefront from that time on Through the Chat
tanooga campaign we footed it back and forth until
we were placed on garrison duty, and thus we took
no part in the battle of Chickamauga, but in the
battles that took place under Grant and Sher-
man we had our share. After the battles of
Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain we were
sent with the forces to relieve Burnside at Knox
vile.
All the world knows Of the march from Chat
tanooga to Atlanta, with its Rankings and
battles. In all we did our share. In marching
we nearly always had the advance, and in fighting
occupied the skirmish line. 1t was at the battle
OF kesaca that we won our best laurels, and
lost our Colonel, who had commanded the regi
ment after the resignation of Colonel Hines.
While out On the skirmish line we got lost from
our command but discovered quite force of
the enemy busily engaged with the Twenty third
corps. We crept up close on their flank and
opened brisk fire. This diversion gave the
Twenty-third chance, and troops were sent to
occupy the ground we had thus gained. Colonel
Leonard was just mounting his horse after
consultation with General Newton, when his leg
was shattered by she'll He fingered for some
hours but died knowing that victory was ours.
Almost every day now made vacant place in
some OF the messes~of our regiment as the move
ment toward Atlanta was a continuous fight.
After the capture of Atlanta, and while pre-
pairing for the march to the sea, the army oc-
cupled pleasant quarters in and around Atlanta.
1t was while our men encamped here that the
great religious revival took place, and a large
number OF persons were converted. Meetings
were held every night for awhile, and great
deal of good was accomplished, as great num-
Der were redeemed from gambling and drinking.
In the army many man religiously brought UP
fell away and engaged in vices he would never
have thought of at home. The effect Of this
revival on the regiment was sensibly felt
throughout the remainder of the war;
When Sherman started on his march to the
sea we were left to take part with Thomas in
the glorious campaign of Franklin and Nash
vile. The battle of Franklin was one of the
thousand men, and he knew that
utter destruction awaited him if he
failed to crush Schoieh and his little
army. Never were more desperate charges made
upon foe than Hood made upon our forces thal
day. Again and again they came on, up to the
very muzzles of our guns, and once they pierced
our lines and all seemed lost, when Opdykes
brigade charged on the flank of the rebels, and
turned their victory into defeat. Darkness did
not put an end to the conflict, but long into the
hours of the night the rebels kept making their
furious charges. Our regiment alone lost in
that battle 135 men. Among them was Captain
Dunn, as brave an officer as ever commanded
company.
This battle was soon followed by that of Nash
vile, when Hood was completely destroyed, and
we went into winter quarters at Nashville. Tho
next spring marched into East Tennessee,
and after few months of service there, were
transferred to Texas. where we remained until
the war closed.