The Yale expositor., 1894-09-21
A Lead Furlough.

July 13, 1862, and after recruiting a
squad of comrades, joined the regi-
ment at Nashville, Term, Nov 6, and
was with it in the field from that
time until June 16, 1865, except three
months following the battle of Chick
amauga, where, on the morning of
September 20, 1868, received from
some kind Johnny furlough in the
form Of rifle-ball wound in the left
shoulder, which also excused me
from participation in the battle and
capture of Missionary Ridge.
At the reorganization of the army
for the summer of 1868, the 51st
Illinois was placed in the Third bril-
gade of the Third division of the
Twentieth corps, army of the Cum
berland. The brigade was command
ed by Colonel l.. p. Bradley, 51st
Illinois, and contained the ED, 27th,
42d, and 5ist Illinois. The division
was under Brigadier-General Philip
II. Sheridan. The corps was COM
manded by Major General A. Med.
McCool1, and was the right wing of
the army, General Rosecrans being in
command of the department and army
of the Cumberland
On September 10, 1868 our division
was In reserve, and was not called
into action until late in the after
noon, only our Third brigade being
engaged that day.
We came onto the field in column at
double-quicl1 step, and being left in
front formed line-of- battle by ION the
right by file into line" and charged
the enemys line without stopping,
driving the line back and recapturing
a part of the 11th Indiana battery,
which had been lost by General Woods
army early in the day.
We were engaged about so minutes,
and the 51st lost 90 out of 200 men
engaged-about 43 per cent Col.
Bradley being twice wounded, the
command of the brigade devolved on
Col. n. II. Wolworth, of the 42d Ill.
We held our position until daylight
of the Goth, when we were moved to
the left some distance, and formed on
knoll near the road. Here we got
breakfast, and rested until nearly 10
o'clock, when the tide of battle
moved off the knoll across the road
to the front, and were soon in it
thick and hot.
We would drive the enemy little,
then be driven back until we were
nearly surrounded, and bullets were
dropping in among us from three di-
rections, and column of the enemy
in plain view was marching toward
our rear, between us and the line on
our left. Suddenly up rode Gems.
Rosecrans and Sheridan to view the
situation.
What n war picture! Grounds about
level, covered with scattered pine
bushes, with now and then large
tree; column of the enemy on our
left going to our rear; line-of- battle
in our front and on our right, and the
two generals near us on their horses,
conspicuous marks for the enemy's
sharpshooters.
How those generals ever got out of
that shower of lead unhurt is one of
the unsolved mysteries of the war,
and should like to know whether
they remembered the circumstance
after the war was over.
That was the last time I ever saw
either of those generals who had
gallantly led us for more than ten
months in march, bivouac and battle,
through foul weather and fair,
through swollen streams and over
high mountains, from Nashville to
Chickamauga.
What impressed the circumstance
so indelibly upon my mind was that
just at this interesting time, as we
fought without protection, rifle ball
from the enemy brushed the hair
from my temple and another passed
through my left shoulder. My rife
dropped from my hand, my left arm fell
useless at my side, and 1 went to the
rear in search of Gen. Sheridan's field
hospital; coming first to Wood s, then
TO Van Cleve's, to Johnson's, to Palm
er's, where l was told to go no far
ther, as Gen. Sheridan's hospital was in
the hands of the enemy.
A few minutes after my arrival
orders came to the hospital for all
who could walk to start to Chattanoo-
ga by the valley road, and all other
wounded to be put into ambulances
and wagons and started for the same
place.
had the good fortune to get ride
part of the way in a headquarters
wagon of an Indiana regiment, 1
think the 72d or 97th mounted in
fantry.
arrived at the rebel hospital build
ings southeast of town at 1O:30 o'clock
p. m, and finding a company COM
rade or two we lay down until morn
ing.
On the o1st we crossed the river on
the pontoon bridge, and lay there un-
til the morning of the ed, when we
started for Bridgeport on foot. That
night we slept on the mountain-top
where had been a signal station; ar
rived at Bridgeport on the night of
the 23d at IL p. M, and lay on the
ground and slept until morning.