The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-12-30

Sketch OF its Part In the Battle OF Stone River
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your issue
OF Nov III is an article from the pen of ID. b.
Mcdonnell, 9.h Ind, in which he says that at
the battle OF Stone River, Dec. -, 1862, lac saw
q regiment 90 into battle TO his right. in front
OF The Cowen House. the right wing OF the army
having been driven back. HecOuld not under
stand why 1t was sent in there, as there was
nothing that IL could accomplish, aud he
thought someone bad surely Numbered.
think the regiment 10 which he alludes was
the 18th Pa. Johnson's Division was part of
McCoOks lIWcntieih) Corps, and was on the
extreme right wing ai the battle Of Stone River
The division Was composed Of three brlgades-
Mi!ich's, Kirk 8 and Baldwin's NV recOllec-
tiOn OF the formation OF these brigades on the
evening OF Dec. 30 1862, is as follows: VIII
llch's brigade was on the extreme right wing.
with Baldwins Brigade IN the rear as reserve:
Kinks Brigade was formed with the 18th Pa
depoyed IN front joining the right Of Gen
Dayls's Division, and the Both Ind. joining
the left OF Millich's Brigade. The 18th Ind.
IN double column was ina the rear AS reserve,
and the Bath Ill. 10 the extreme right and
real OF the Brigade supporting the battery. The
18th Ill. was detached as guard 10 the division
train.
on the morning Of Dec 81, just at dawn, the
writer being on outpost picket we could hear
the enemy advancing, and in less than 10 min
was an open cornheld-in four heavy col
unns, battalion front, with strong reserve in
mass. They advanced 10 the cOrHield fence III
which We had our outpost pickets. the right of
their columns not extending any farther 10 OGr
left than the right of Gen. Daviss Division.
The front battaliOns fired one YOlley and
moved 10y their left flank, followed by the other
columns, Alter receiving the third Y0lley aud
returning our compliments 10 the enemy, we
fell back upon our reserve The enemy marched
but short d lstance 10 the left aud then moved
by the right flank driving and outnanking the
whole OF JohnsOus Division except the 18th
Pa and probably the left Of the Both Ind.
These regiments could not advance on account
of the right being driven back, nor could they
fire as long as our pickets were in their front.
There being 40 advancing enemy ia our front,
aud the balance Of the division falling back
the Colonel Of the 18th Immediately ordered
the regiment 10 change front aud moved al
double-quick in the direction Of the heavy
firing
We had advanced but a short distance until
some commanding officer, said TO be Gen. Hazen,
and stall. quickly rode mp TO our Colonel and
ordered him TO advance his battalion over an
Old field that was partly grown upwith bushes,
IA TIC direction OF the COwen House. aud pick up
some oil the eBomy's stragglcrs that were lurk-
ing among the bushes. The reader will under
stand That this field was in the rear of the
enemy where The battle was then raging our
lines having been broken, leaving a gap be-
tween the divisions Of Davis and johnson. The
Colonel at first declined 10 take his regiment
In there, stating to the General that il was
likely that lac would meet with heavier force
OF the enemy than he would be able 10 conc
with. The General replied that IL he met with
much resistance be would support him with
his command, at the same time pointing 10 a
brigade Of troops moving in the same direction.
The Colonel of the 18th Pa. dcployed the
Ranking companies Of his regiment as skirmish.