Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1905-01-27
A WINTER CAMPAIGN.
Some Interesting Extracts from Diary
Of Soldier Who Fought in
Tennessee.

and | wonder If the ups are any better
or the downs any harder on the Shakhe
than they were with us in Kentucky and
Tennessee. l was looking over a diary
the other day, covering in the space of
hundred words each day of the year
1863, a fighting year for most of our
armies
The record began in matter of fact
way, reading in this wise: Thursday
Morning very cold Aroused at three
o'clock; our brigade stumbling to the
front to stand two hours on OUTPOST
Rebel lines and fires in plain view. Re-
turn to our bivouac; cook breakfast
and change position. Attack made on
our center repulsed. Chase hogs be-
tween the lines, kill several, and have a
New Years dinner. At night build
large fires and are comfortable, but can
not sleep because of continuous firing on
the skirmish line
Evidently something had been do
ing. This record is of the second dav
at Stone River, or the day after the
bloody struggle of December 81. 1862.
This is made clearer by the record of
Friday, January 2: Aroused at five
O'Clock and breakfast without interrup-
ton. Relieved by two other regiments
and retire to the rear near the river.
Build line of breastworks While we
rest. Boys don't like the looks of
Things. About noon reinforced by Neg
ley's and other divisions. At three
O'Clock terrific attack made by the en-
emy in force. Our line at first crushed
back, but reinforced by Davis and
Wood, hurls the rebels back, and we
pursue at run. Battle continues un-
til after dark and we return to
our bivouac in the rain, wet and
muddy
THAT is reference by participant
to one of the most picturesque engage
ments of the war, to the turning point
in the battle of Stone River. If the
man who wrote the charge knew it, he
didn't care to give particulars Com
ing to Saturday, he wrote: "A rainy,
disagreeable day. Lines quiet until
night, when rebels make a sortie and
are repulsed. Night very disagreeable.
Troops moving all night from left to
right and boys grrumble because they
can't sleep. About three O'Clock the
clouds break away, the moon shines and
we have rainbow at night. Boys think
| it is sign the rebs are licked
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.
However, 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 9TH
ers severely wounded. Troops on the
right find Murfreesboro evacuated
There ought to have been a yell or
cheer there, but there is no sign of any
elation.
Monday, We are told, was very pleas
ant, but Black was found near the rebel
breastworks, dead. Pockets rifled; but
tons cut from his coat, and boots pulled
Off Our advance moves beyond Muir
freesboro, 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 between the eyes the wound
ed color-bearer took the flag again and
carried it 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.
''The record shows that the troops
on Tuesday were still burying the dead
and that on Wednesday the division
(Palmer's) marched across the river,
through Murfreesboro, and three miles
out on the McMunnville road, and then: {:
Our regiment, without supper, sent on
picket, and boys in a state of mind.
Meet Rosecrans and staff and the gen.
eral, as he sees the regimental flag,
says: Hello! These men were with
me in West Virginia. l am proud OF
, you boys, for what you did last week.
hope you are all feeling WE'LL" They
were. They forgot all about supper
and when, as they stood supperless that
night and brilliant meteor flashed
across the sky, they said old Rosy was
sure to win.
"The next night, Thursday, January
8, the men slept in tents for the first
time since leaving Nashville, December
rs. The next day the division moved
back mile to better camping ground
Friday and Saturday were cold and thu
{ little funnel-shaped stoves didn't work
I we'll. On that day, however. the boys
> found the wounded of their company
3 comfortably housed. On Monday they
[ marched back to Murfreesboro, and si1
miles on the Nolansville pike across thu
battlefield of December 81, passing
: hundreds of soldiers graves and hun