The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-05-12
Incidents OF Stone River.

lucky when shooting at squirrels: yet
when l tested my marksma nship at mill
tary target, l saw that my qualities as a
| sharpshooter would be entirely satisfac-
moon l would have hit the earth We
| went into camp: and my first meal con-
sisted mostly of mustard was mustered
into the service beyond Il doubt. After
| that our meals, while in Ohio, steadily i'm
proved. l was with the regiment about
two years. and was III all the lights III
which it was active.
| imagine that impressions l made on
the bark of some of the trees that l hug.
ged are there yet | put them in fervid
embrace. l was not heroic by nature. pa
triotism was my incentive. 1t was the be-
lief of most of us. l think. that disrup-
ton of the Union meant the death of a
Government of the people; because people
| would not have trusted unity Govern
ment that had failed to preserve unity :
therefore we fought for the Lincoln Gov
eminent"
Our regiment was good one. Our
company and regimental officers were' gen.
struggling to protect the liberties and the
prosperity of the SOutherners themselves
and we were not actuated by any narrow
hate.
When, on Monday evening, we heard
sharpshooters "practicing." | felt little
weak in the knees. On Tuesday morning
the skirmishers and pioneers made rough
road: then followed a cannon; and we
marched directly behind it, to engage, if
called upon to do SO.
Granville Moody was our Colombian
eloquent Methodist preacher of heroic an
cestry: a native of Maine. EmphatlcaIly
he belonged to the church militant. He
is now dead-one of the church trium-
plant, let us hope.
When we emerged from the woods we
passed the corner of a pasture, and saw
squad of rebels, half hidden by hillOck,
who sent leaden salutation from our left.
which caused us to bow with an abrupt
ness not copied from Partisan boulevard.
Then firing opened up in our front, and
the Colonel ordered our foremost files, to
shoot at the shooters. / saw two OF our
boys prepare to use their Enfields then
cooler reflection caused them to place their
guns on their shoulders. Had they obeyed
orders they might have shot our own
skrmishers for such were the men in our
front. who were firing, but not at us. All
day. Tuesday, we were in the cedar woods,
listening to the active skirmish lines. At
night we went on picket; and John James,
of Co. A. trusty cOmrade. cOughed at
times, because of bronchial affection. Some
rebel was sure to shoot at the cough every
time He was coughing near me. and |
heard the bullets cut the air with as much
clips adjectives with exactness in address
ing a school board.
On Wednesday morning. I had piece
of raw beef on a stick. and was holding it
over a slow fire to cook for breakfast.
when / heard few shots near our right
wing. 'There goes the Fighting McCook,"
said I; "and he will be in MurfreesborO
before night" Soon the musketry was
given in volleys: and the fierce roar Of can
non was added to the crash of the
muskets. 1t was evident that the gallant
McCook was going in the wrong direction
to reach Murfreesboro. Sheridan's Divi-
sion was at our right. and was handled
with the skill. dash and pluck that marked
that military hero.
Gen. Negley ordered an advance. We
went through woods and lay in close col
umn of divisions, while our artillery thun-
dered. A rebel gun in our front sent its
shells above us and beyond us, and we
heard almost continuous explosions.
Missiles of our Southern brethren whisper
ed confdentially in our ears without ceas-
ing. l thought we could never live for a
minute. if compelled to rise in such pitt
less storm. l had been brought up
piously; had been taught to pray; and
thought 1t very suitable occasion to ex-
ercise the gift. l prayed for Gods pro-
lection, and for what else do not remem-
Der.
Fall in!' was the command Of Col.
Moody. as the old hero mounted the horse
given him by Bellamy Storer. and faced
the tempest in manner worthy of the old
crusader from whom he descended. We
soon deployed, while advancing. and
reached a low, dlapidated fence. where
enthusiastically. We then fell back about
% yards, formed another line in the corn
field, reloaded our guns, and again sent
our ''leaden sentiments" toward the rebel
line of battle. Then we returned to the
fence, running along the Wilkerson turn
pike, and again resumed firing.
l was about to kneel where / had been
when we were there before, when the i'm
preston was made upon my mind that
would be killed if / did so; therefore,
stepped to the left. Isaac Johnson Smith
took my abandoned position. He was
kneeling on both knees peering for hui
man target. when he cried ooh! :" put his
The heart had been struck A convuIsive
movement Of his lower limbs was the last
he ever made.
That battle was, in its inception, and
in Rosecrans's design, a tactical master
piece. The first failure was due to an
attenuated right wing, which. when de-
prived of its artillery, could not resist the
fierce attacks of succession of rebel lines.
Our army finally won by sort of
wrought-iron persstency which would not
accept defeat
During the march to the battle and dur
ing the strife. there were cold Winter
rains, and mud ad infntum. The irst
guns were fired on Monday about sun
down: the last on the succeeding Satur-
day night.
1t is classed among the decisive strug-
giles or the war; and it is alleged that it
greatly strengthened the loyalty of a GER
tain State which had wabbled
There was in our company a joIy-good
fellow-a file closer-called Corpt Catfish.
When at the end of the fight, we marched
into the town as victors, heard him saw.
as he showed a hat torn by rebel shell
and as he raised his eyes piously: Bows
III tell you what made me fight so Ina I'd :
had Just got religion !"-JosEPH M
6 BAKER, 60. A, 74th Ohio, Columbus,
Third Corps at Beverly Ford.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIRIrNr. Conr, 5