The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-04-21
A WINTER CAMPAIGN.
Some Interesting Extracts from Diary
Of Soldier Who Fought in
Tennessee.

WAa AROhAAk over "a lAHFh
the other day, covering in the space OF
hundred words each day Of the wear
1853. fighting year for most Of our
armies.
The record began in a matter Of fact
way reading in this wise: 'Tbursday
Morning very cold. Aroused at tbres
O'Clock; our brigade stumbling 10 tho
iront to stand two hours on outnost
Rebel lines and fires in plain view Re-
turn to our bivouac; cook breakfast
and change position. Attack made ON
our center repulsed Chase hops no
tween the lines, kill several. and have o
New Years dinner. At night build
large hres and are comfortable but can.
not sleep because OF continuous firing an
the skirmish line
Evidently something had beer do
Ing. This record is Of the second dav
al stone River, or the day after the
bloody struggle Of December 81 1869
ms Is made clearer by the record Of
FRIDAY January 2: Aroused at five
O'Clock and breakfast without Interim.
ton. Relieved by two other regiments
ana retire TO the rear near the river
Build line Of breastworks while Wa
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 a run. Battle continues m
I'll after dark and We return 10
our biyouac in the rain, wet and
muddy
mat Is a reference by a participant
to one OF the most picturesque engage
ments Of the war. to the turning point
in the battle Of Stone River. II 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 sortle and
are repulsed. Night very dlsagreeable.
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
II is sign the rebs are licked.
The important thing 10 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 tho sun came out on
shiyering 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 oui |
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 a
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 rified; but. /
tons cut from his coat, and boots pulled |
of. Our advance moves beyond Muir.
freesboro, passing through the town
which is simply a hospital for the
wounded Of both armies Black was
one Of the color guards Of our regiment,
who, when the colorbe 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 stan and the gen.
eral, as he sees the regimental flag,
says: "Hellol These men were with
me in West Virginia | am proud OF
you boys. for what you did last week.
| hope you are all feeling we'll" They
we're. They forgot all about supper,
md when. as they stood supperless that
night and a brilliant meteor flashed
across the sky, they said Old Rosy was
sure to win.
"The next night, Thursday, January
;. the men slept in tents for the first
lime since leaving Nashville, December
,6. The next day the division moved
1ack a mile to better camping ground.
Friday and Saturday were cold and the
little funnel-shaped stoves didn't work
we'll. On that day, however the boys
ound the wounded Of their company
housed. On Monday they
marched back to Murfreesboro, and six
niles on the Nolansville pike across the
battlefield OF December 81. passing |
hundreds OF soldiers graves and hun
Ireds OF dead horses.
"Then came a week Of severely cold
weather., the brigade moving, mean
ime. to a new camp on Cripple creek.
tx miles farther out on the McMunn-
lille road. The first night in the new
amp the men stood in line of battle :
Without fires and It was supposed we
we're there only for a day OF two. But
ents were pitched along the line Of
attle and the regiment remained there !
ntil the forward movement in June.
-oing through all the experiences Of a
winter campaign. but returning after
very skirmish. raid, or scout to camp,
lhich came TO seem like home"
A Ni1hf Attach