The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-06-13


Cox's 10th Ind. battery had been fed,
watered. and harnessed 10 the guns and
caissons. and so far as Woods Division
was concerned we were ready for the
FRAY.
The right wing Of the army, under
Gen. A. Med. NcCook, WAS to remain
in place, simply holding its position,
while we of the left wing, under Crtten-
den, were to cross Stones River, attack
the rebels in flank and sweep everything
before ms. McCook was then to swing IN,
and the rebels would have been ground
between the upper and neither mill
stones.
A beautiful plan certainly, but plans
do not always work as anticipated, and
our friends in gray did not mean to be
caught in that way Instead, they SIM
ply reversed our plan, attacked our
right wing, under McCook, crushed and
drove it back and put our whole army
on the defensive. Our movement on
the left was promptly begun. Van
Cleve's Division was crossing and we
were preparing to follow, when off on
our right the storm broke and the right
wing was swept back in terrible disor-
der.
Gen. Wood, with an Orderly, passed
our regiment, riding toward our front,
and upon his invitation | accompanied
him. Scarcely had We reached point
where we could survey the rebel posi-
ton before the noise Of
CANNON AND MUsKETIY
on the right coming nearer and nearer
indicated that our men were beng
driven, and in a moment we could see
Them streaming back through the cedar
thickets in great confusion. The Gen
eral at once put spurs TO his horse and
rode back to his division, and / followed
as closely as | could, which / am free
to say was not very close. Gen. Wood
was a splendid rider and rode a mag
nifcent horse, while ] was not so fortu-
nate in either particular.
The movement Of the left wing was
stopped, and regiment after regiment
and brigade after brigade hurried off TO
the right to help stem the tide Of rebel
success. Biderless horses were galloping |
IN all directions batteries were flying
over the field TO new positions, ambu- !
lances were being hurried TO their
places, Aids and OrdeIlies were hurry /
ing TO carry and execute orders, fugi- |
tives many Of them wounded, were /
streaming back from the broken right,
and above and over al could he heard
the continuous rattle Of musketrv and
the deep booming Of cannon from both
Union and Confederate armies The
scene was terrible in its grandeur and
never expect to witness such another.
The other regiments Of our division
had gone to support the right wing, and |
the 18th and 9th Ind. were left TO hold /
the extreme left of the army, with no /
second line, no reserve, and only Cox's |
battery to help them. The rebel bat
terry in our front, now unmasked, began |
firing at a rapid rate, and shot, shell, /
grape and canister swept the open
ground in our front.
Soon we were ordered forward and our
real part in the battle Of Stones River
began.
In crossing tie open ground TO a posi-
ton near the Round Forest our lines
were swept by the artillery fire from the
battery on the nights in front. and en-
fladed by battery on our right Our
losses were heavy, and here went down
many of our best and blavest boys
The worst Of it was we could not strike
back. as We were not within musketTy-
range Of the rebels, but our time came .
later and we exacted full reparation
from them for our losses.
Willie the regiment was lying down
the battery in our front obtained our
range, and here, too, We lost many men,
including Capt Templcton, Of Co. D,
who was struck by solid shot and lived
only short time. A Shell exploded
near me, covering me with dirt. as also
my horse. A fat piece Of it struck me
on the left ankle, and another piece IN
ficted flesh wound il my horses
shoulder Ny ankle was bruised and
very painful, but otheyHf-e ] was all
right, and my horse after a few Jumps.
euie,od down and behaved admirably.
The order came TO move forward to a
small cotton-feld in our right front, to
lie down and wait orders 10 fire. Cur
horses IN this movement were left to the
rear, mine being placed in charge Of
Peter CIogher, Of Co. B,.,who had been
painfully but not seriously wounded
shortly before The cotton had been
imperfectly picked, and bolls with their
loads Of feecy whiteness gave us fair
concealment from the
ADVANCING EEBrIs
How well ] remember The splendid ap-
pearance presented by them as they
marched to the attack, the stars and
bars flung 10 the breeze, mounted off
GERS and company officers all in place,
their lines presenting solid front, and
all seemingly determined to emulate
and leIpetGate the success achieved by
their comrades on the night: