The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-03-23


dents Of Marches, Camp Life, Foras-
ing Experiences and Battle Scenes.
winter campaigning" said the
Major, had an infinite variety Of ups
and downs In 1863. l was looking
over a diary the other day, covering
In the space Of hundred words each
day of the year 1868, a fighting year
for most Of our armies.
THE record began In a matter-of-
fact way, reading in this wise: Thurs
day-Morning very cold. Aroused at
o'clock; our brigade stumbling to
the front to stand two hours on out
post Rebel lines and fires In plain
view. Return to our bivouac; cook
breakfast, and change position. At
tack made on our center repulsed.
Chase hogs between the lines, kill sew
eral, and have a New Years dinner.
At night build large fires and are
comfortable, but cannot sleep because
Of continuous firing on the ekirmish
line
Evidently something had been do
ing. This record Is Of the second day
at Stone River, or the day after the
bloody struggle Of Dec. 81. 1852. This
Is made clearer by the record Of FRI
day, Jan. 2: Aroused at ) o'clock and
breakfast without interruption. Re
Neved by two other regiments and re
- 70 the rear near the river. Build
/. inc Of eastworks while we rest
3. s don't like the looks Of things
About noon REINFORCED by Negley's
and other divisions. At O'Clock ter
rife attack made by the enemy in
force. Our line at first crushed back,
but REINFORCED by Davis and Wood,
hurls the rebels back, and we pursue
at a run. Battle continues until after
dark, and we return to our bivouac
In the rain, wet and muddy
THAT IL a reference by a partici-
pant to one Of the most picturesque
engagements Of the war, to the turn
ing point in the battle of Stone River.
II the man who wrote the charge
knew it, he didn't care to give par
ticulars. Coming to Saturday, he
wrote: A rainy, disagreeable day.
Lines quiet until night, when rebels
make sortie and are repulsed. Night
very disagreeable. Troops moving all
night from left to right and boys
grumble because they can't sleep.
About O'Clock the clouds break
away, the moon shines, and we have
q rainbow at night Boys think it is
q sign the rebs are Hcked.'
1.-THE important thing to these men
lying on their arms was the weather,
and they complained Of the noise made
by troops moving into position as men
at home complain. Of a man on the
street who whistles or sings. How
ever, on Sunday the rain ceased and
the sun came out on a shivering army.
About noon discover that the rebels
have abandoned their advanced lines
and squads are sent out to bury the
dead. Rebel dead collected for burial,
but Union dead lying where they
were shot down. Find nine of our
regiment dead at one point Find
others severely wounded. Troops on
the right find Murfreesboro evacu-
ated' There ought to have been a
yell or a cheer there, but there is no
sign of any citation.
Monday, we are told, was very
pleasant, but Black was found near
the rebel breastworks, dead. Pockets
rified; buttons cut from his coat, and
boots pulled of. Our advance NOV es
beyond Murfreesboro, passing through
the town, which is simply hospital
for the wounded Of both armies
Black was one Of the color guards of
our regiment, who, when the color
bearer was shot, caught up the flag
and waved it almost In the faces of
the enemy. When Black was shot be
tween the eyes the wounded color
bearer took the dag again and carried
1t through the fight. The writer says
! nothing Of this. He does not color the
| picture, because, to say that Black
was found was enough to recall the
whole picture to him.
1.-The record shows that the troops
on Tuesday were still burying the
dead, and that on Wednesday the di
vision Palmer'O marched across the
river, through Murfreesboro, an6
three miles out on the McMunnvills
road, and then: Our regiment, with
out supper, sent on picket, and boy.
in a state Of mind. Meet Rosecrans
and staff, and the General, as Re sees
the regimental flag, says: Hello
These men were with me In West vir
ginia. 1 am proud Of you boys, fol
what you did last week. l hope yor
are all feeling well."' They wers
They forgot all about supper, ant
when, as they stood supperless tina
nj int and a brilliant meteor flashe(
across the sky. they said Old Rosy
was sure to win
i THE next night, Thursday, Jan.
the men slept In tents for the frs
time since leaving Nashville, Dec. 2e
The next day tho division moved bacl
. mile to better camping ground. Fri
day and Saturday were cold and tn
little funnel-shaped stoves didn't worl
well. On that day. however, the boy
found the wounded Of their compan,
comfortably housed On Monday the,
marched back to Murfreesboro, an
dix miles on the Nolansville pix
!, ~