Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1897-12-31


.tlrealnt of in our philosophy this by
the way of introduction to some simple
battlefield narratives pertaining to tho Sew
.cnty third Illinois volunteers. the preach
or regiment led by the famous soldier
minister, James r.. jacques. Colonel
jacques served short term as chaplain OF
the Sixth Illinois cavalry, and Governor
Yates authorized him to raise Il regiment
of infantry among the Methodist frater-
nifty. His name was SO powerful that he
had the pick of 80 companies, and; two
ether regiments were formed out Of the
overflow contingent, and it would have
sheen possible to raise u preacher brigade
but for the fact that the government had
ordered recruiting stopped.
: The Seventy third is not On the list Of
commands glorified by passing through
horrible slaughter gust to win "jeweled
cup and sword" for some political favorite
1t simply placed itself under orders and
iobeyed them, was tithed its tenth to dot
by the enemy's bullets, another tenth By
disease and in the general wear and tear
jof three years service dropped 500 men out
Of the a72 who mustered with it at Camp
Butler In August, 1862
Curiously enough, the preacher regi-
ment" was assigned to the division of Phil
Sheridan, that tearing, swearing Irishman
$50 the realism makers say) whose un.
ministerial language punctuates the mar
ratives of his would be chroniclers. Per
laps the histories am following have
been expurgated, for surely there is q
three years record under Sheridan depict
cd in all detail and "nary an oath" tc
serve Us a badge for Little Phil"
Tho first battlefield narrative I shall,
quote is that pertaining to Stone River:
where; Sheridan had something in the ma
.ture Of rehearsal for Cedar Creek. Hie
,diyision was the third in line from the
right of>the army, which was attacked anc
1dveffuu by. the Confederates on the morn
ling Of Dec. 81, 1869. Says the narrative
written by, 4, man u the raals:.
We were warned to be ready for battle at
7daybreak on Wednesday morning. An hour be
fore this time General Sheridan, on foot and
line, visited each regimental commander, saw
personally that. the men were aroused and ua-
der arms, posted his artillery and made every
thing ready well in advance Of the time named
In his orders. Nearly an hour after daybreas
the attack came on Johnson's division, q fe"
hundred yards on our right. Driven by thu
overwhelming force Of tile onset, johnson,
throwing the augmented weight Of the army
On Sheridan who was relied on TO check him
until tho disaster was retrieved. Sheridan held
his ground until thanked and pounded out Of
it, then stubbornly retreated across an open
cotton field, where he left one.third of his men,
killed and wounded, and two OF his brigade
commanders. 4
4 We executed this movement under heav!
fire, and Captain Alsop of Company Fwns kill.
ed and many others Of the regiment wounded
We crossed high rail fence-however, it was
not so high after we crossed it-and soon after
formed in in line Of battle in the edge Of q
thick cedar woods. Here wo sew pla.1lJ rc5el
flags and two lines Of battle, with bayonets
hxed, advancing rapidly, with the '.rebel yell'
.accompanin. ent. We repulsed several desper.
alto charges By the triumphing robel host, re-
naming ugain until flanked and nearly CAP
,tured, when we fell buck slowly through til:
thick cetlnrs, without orders, purpose Or ray
OF knowledge as to what was transpiring or
side the limits Of our short line OF sight. Under
us the surface was piled with rocks and rent
with caverns; above us the thick, green foliag'.
Intercepted the sunlight. Around us at every
point Of the compass, seemingly, the roar Of