The National tribune., 1904-06-02
FROM A VETERANS DIARY.
Service On the Cumberland-capt by
Forrest

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Perhaps
Il few extracts from my diary may in
terest some comrades.
Feb. !, 1S63.-Boarded boats on the
Ohio, near New Albany. 2.-Forty boats.
loaded with men and provisions. going
down the Ohio. 3-Entered the Cumber-
land River. 4.-Arrived at Fort Donelson
just after second battle. 5.-Passed over
battlefield; helped bury a number of
killed-side by side. without boxes. Killed
and wounded numbered 140 or 100; Tn
ion loss IA or IL; about 6.OOO rebels and
600 Union men engaged. 6.-Went up the
river two boats abreast for protection.
home. 9.-Marched three miles; camped
put up tents; did our washing; 1000 dar-
kies camped between us and Nashville.
14.-Received Enfield rifles in exchange
for our old Austrian guns. Supposed that
negroes and these guns will soon close
the war. 21.-Marched eight miles
through rain storm. 22.-Foraging--
teams secured corn fodder and hay. Do
Forasing. Very wet day. 26-Thunder
and rain On guard 27-Chopped wood.
2S.-Mustered for pay. Dug potatoes as
good as they were in the Fall.
March 2.-Except four companies, bri-
gade marched to Franklin. 3.-Bridge
guard: 4-Artilery firing in front: Re
engagement in front. 6.-Bad news from
front. Brigade engaged by entire force
of Forrest, Van Dorm and Wheeler. Re
port is 600 killed and wounded, most OF
remainder captured. Brigade consists of
10Th Mich 33d and S5th Ind, 22d Wis,
commanded by Brig. Gen. Coburn. Note:
Gen. COburn never received sufficient Gre
dit for this fight. He started four com
panies short and was denied support by
commander at Franklin at time when
nearly out of ammunition.l More fir
ing in front. Enemy's loss reported three
20 our one. S-Stragglers returning to
Brentwood-75 from 10Th Mich. two
thirds of them sick or wounded. Chaplain,
Quartermaster and Surgeon Bennett re-
turn. Adjutant Adams and Lieut.. Blood
good, of 22d Wis, the only field officers
who escaped capture. Two colOr-bearers
of 10Th Mich. were shot and then Maj.
Shafter took the colors and pressed for
ward. 16.-Alarm on picket line. Formed
and marched. Deployed. Fired volley
into cOrnfield and returned to camp. 90
On picket every other night since the bat
tie. 25.-Surrounded by large force of
cnemy-cavary and artillery-and com
PEELED to surrender. Gen. Forrest told
us to fill our haversacks from Our own
supplies, as he probably could not feed
us for three or four days. Marched 80
miles. 2G.-Marched 30 miles to south
east bank Of Duck River. Forgot to say
yesterday that we forded Big Harpath
River. Men had to take hold of tails of
guards horses and grasp each other
hands. River five feet deep and 10 rods
wide. 27.-I,eached Columbia. Tenn; re-
ccived rations-cornbread and bit of mea t
size of two fingers. 2S.-In Court House
at Columbia. Got one-third rations of
cornbrcad and meat. 29.-Paroled;
marched eight miles; rations only for din
ner-meat and cornbread in small guam
tity. Lay in the woods for the night.
30.-Rcceiyed small ration of meat and
meal and cooked it on fiat stones. Marched
20 miles. \ woman said she was glad
to sec us because she is loyal woman.
The girl said we looked like white folks
afoot and the rebel guards like niggers
alorseback." Such sentiments here are
refreshing.-J. G. WHITAKER. Second
Brigade, Third Division, Twentieth Corps,
PaMnee CITY. Neb.