The National tribune., 1900-08-23
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades Along the Whole
Line.
THE 10TH ILL. AT STONE RIVER.

Line.
THE 10TH ILL. AT STONE RIVER.
W. L. Kester, Co. II, 10th ILL.,, Kansas,
H., has heard an inquiry as to why so
much is written about Lookout Mountain
and Missionary Ridge as compared to that
about Stone River and Chickamauga. He
does not know, unless il is because the
push" in the aforementioned battles was
in different direction to what it was at
the others. I'VE 'monkeyed with the
Johnnies three days at Lookout and Mis-
sionary, but at the close of the last day
went at them with n whoop, and almost
wiped them off the face of the earth.
But we were not so successful at Stone
River and Chickamauga. 1t was hard to
tell to what army victory belonged, as we
lost the field at Chickamauga. In this bat
tie there seemed to be no rear, for in any
direction we seemed to find the enemy
ready for fight. At Stone River we lost
the battlefield during the first two days,
but on the third day regained the field and
started the rebels on the run for warmer
climate. l never saw an army in worse
muddle than ours was the second days
fight at Stone River, and how we ever got
out as we did has always been mystery
to me. No General except Rosecrans
could have Strengthened it out as he did.
"Our regiment, the 10Th H.. belonging
to Johnson'S Division, was on the extreme
right Of our army, and guarding the am
munition train near the Nashville and
Murfreesboro Pike. three-quarters of n
mile in rear of our line of battle. On the
morning of Dec. 80 the rebels moved on
our extreme right (the weakest part of our
line) in heavy force. Our brigade was be-
ing moved down in short order.
Il saw an Aid coming across n meadow
in the direction Of our regiment as fast
as his horse could carry him. He dashed
10
Colonel. We were ordered at once to the
relief of the 3Oth Ind. Gen. Lawton was
Captain in the Both Ind. Mt that time.
We crossed two meadows before reaching
the Both. We found them at an old fence,
within n short distance of the rebel forces,
three lines deep. While crossing the mea-
dOws above mentioned our men were be-
ing shot down at almost every step.
while we were going to the relief Of
our brigade we could see 4 large rebel
force of cavalry swinging around to our
rear, which later caused us to fall back
and got us in the muddle above spoken of.
We lost very heavily in both killed and
wounded in this days engagement. Gen.
Sill, our brigade commander, was killed.
Our Colonel, Sheridan Z. Reed. was also
shot directly through the head"
COL. KELL's MEN.
]. B. Kell, NJ. D., Limaville, O., writes:
as Il SOl VI al veteran nave DttH lOI IL
long time an interested reader of your col
umns. My father, the late Col. John
kell, was Captain of Co. +, 1st Ohio, in
the three months service. and at the ex-
piration of his term of enlistment was ap-
pointed LieutenantColonel of the I'd Ohio,
Col. l.. A. Harris commanding, who upon
resigning was succeeded as Colonel of the
regiment by my father, until that dark
day, Dec. 81, 1862, when the light and joy
of our family was eXtinguished by a rebel
bullet. | have often thought | would like
to see series of letters by some member
Of Co. +, 1st Ohio, relating to the scenes
and incidents that occurred during the trip
of the company from Ohio to Washington.
| have several highly priced letters written
to my aunt by my father, one Of which,
dated Lancaster, Pa, says the company
arrived there, and found commissares
conspicuous by their absence, but it was
not long before the citizens had nicely
prepared food on the ground by the
wagon-load. Nothing was too good for a
noticing lady with little girl who re-
minded him strongly of his own loved little
girl at home (since joined her father in
that unbroken company abOve), and he had
to take her in his arms and give her q Kiss
for sake of the loved one at home. l do
wish L could read in your columns a full
history of the advance of the list Ohio
three months service, and especially Co.
F., upon Washington, and also the later
history Of the I'd Ohio in the battles of
Perryville and Stone River. At the first
Bull Run fight the 1st Ohio did not be-
come demoraliZed, but retreated from the
field in good order, and in his report of the
action Gen. Robert G. Schenck gives my
fathers company the honor of being the
only company of his brigade that received
individual mention in his report. Cannot
some member of the LIST D. V. /. three
months service of literary proclivities or
some one Of the % o. V. I. give us Sc
ries of letters upon the work of the regl-
ment!"
FRIENDS IN NEED.
l.. w. Armstrong, Corporal, Co. E. 10th
ILL.,, Randolph, Ia, writes: "In December,
on or about the 23d, 1868, we arrived at
Chattanooga from near Knoxville, Tenn.
After the battle OF Missionary Ridge we
were attached to Shermans army and
sent up to relieve Gen. Burnside, who was
besieged at Knoxville by Gen. Longstreet's
forces. We were not very well clothed
when We started, and we were nearly
naked when we returned to Chattanooga.
Our camp was over the river from the
town. The morning of Dec. 23 or "a,
lSG3, we arrived at Chattanooga. We
who were destitute of shoes and the lame,
ragged and sick were sent in advance of
the division. We had to wait some time
III Chattanooga before we could cross the
river. When coming into town some Ma
JOr-Gcneral met us, and after gazing at
our squad inquired who we were and
where we had come from, and then made
comments on our appearance. After halt
ing down by the river we built fires As
there was no wood we burned soft coal.
While there sOme cavalry escort to this
General we had metz came down and
asked where those fellows were who were
bare-fOOted. | was one OF those who re-
spOnded. i went with one of the cavalry
men to their quarters in large house. He
gave me pair of shoes. While in the act
of putting the shoes on my sore and bleed
ing feet another of the men in the room
asked if | had not socks. He gave me
his, and some other of the men inquired
if | had any supper lit was then after
dark. | answered no. They gave me
hot coffee, hardtack and sow belly, all
could hold, and then filled my hayersack
with hardtack and meat, and l went on
my way rejoicing. What l want to know
is, who were the cavalry and who was the
General? l wish l could tell them face
to face how grateful feel towards them
for their Kindness"
SAVED BY MULE.
III. G. Barker. Co. A, Sth Ind. Cav.
Atoka, l. r., writes: 81 noticed an inter
esting account by w. II. Carter, Co. G,
1st Tenn. Cav, in which he endeavors
to correct Comrade S. N. Jones, Co. A,