Year: 1863




EDS. JoURNAL:-Since my last nothing
of Importance has occurred but the cap
ture of eighteen hundred of our men at
Franklin. We have just received the
news here, but have no particulars at all
concerning the affair, so it would hardly
be right for me to indulge an opinion
about it. However, this l will say, that
those who obey the orders of Gen. Rose
Grams strictly and to the letter seldom
are taken unawares. but are generally
prepared for the attack; however, this
may not be true of the affair referred to-


The army is still very busy at work,
and in short time the work for defens
i've or offensive operations will be COM
plete-then look out for the laurels of
the rebels before us. When we fight
again, we will be better supplied with
mounted men than we ever have been,
and l feel confident that our General
will do the work nobly.


Maj. h F. Ralfas, of the 18th Ken.
tucky Volunteers, recently rendered his
resignation, using reasonable language
in its tender, for which Gen. Rosecrans
ordered him under arrest, and under
guard escorting the Major to private
apartments in the Murfreesboro court
house. and honoring the Major with a
display of fixed bayonets at each side
and behind him, and subsequently dis
honorably dismissing him from the SER
vice, with orders to leave our lines in
forty-eight hours; so, you see, THAT s
what 5 the matter" down here in Dixie.


A few days ago the members of Co. G
of the old 42sters took it into their heads
to do the agreeable and the honorable to
I'd Lieut. W. w. McCombs, of that COM
pany. Accordingly, at dinner roll-call,
the Lieutenant was politely invited to
remain after roll-eall for few moments,
whereupon Sergeant Masterson, on be-
half of the non commissioned officers and
privates of the company, said:


L" Lieutenant Combs-On behalf of the
non-commissioned officers and privates
of Company c, have the honor to pre-.
sent you with this sword, as a very slight
token of our respect for you as a man
and an officer, and our appreciation oi
your heroic conduct on the battlefield
This act is prompted by the remem
brance of the hardships and dangers we
| have shared together - the long, ia
tiguing marches, the rude, comfortless
bivouac, the cherries nights of cold and
rain, and the perils of the battlefield
which have in good degree been strip
ped of their hardships and terror by youl
presence, your words of encouragement
and your unselhsh devotion to our vel
| fare


"When we, as soldiers, look back t.
the bloody fields of 'Wartrace anC
Stone River and remember how youl
frail form was borne up amid the din o
battle by the manly courage which in
spired you, we can but admire your de
votion to your country in her hour o
danger, which has kept you, in feeble
health and wasted away by disease, still
in the service.


I'VE would pronounce no unmeaninG
panegyric, nor make an ostentatious dis
play of words; but, inspired with full
confidence in your courage, judgment
zeal, and ability as an officer, and will
grateful hearts for your many acts o
kindness, we present you this sword, AM
we know that it will never be dishonore'
by any act of yours.


Take it, then, and remember, whel
dangers are around you, that we, tn
humble members of Company c, vii
stand by your side, and unite our effort
with yours to defend the cause we S
much love"


To which little speech the Lieutenan
delivered the following impromptu reply


=" Soldiers FelIoao-aodrriors i Yo
have made my heart glad; aye, in thi
your act of generosity and appreciatio
you have called up the extreme gratitud
of heart that never knew what it wa
) to feel disloyal throb, or to refuse al
and comfort to any member of my con
pany, when in my power to grant it. B
assured that l regard this token of e
TEEN, coming as it does from the littl
handful of men now left in our compan,
after having fought with honor at Wa
trace Chaplin Hills, and Stone River
as memento to be preserved and che
) ished as long as life shall last. If


should be my lot again to lead you b
fore the enemy, l feel doubly sure th'


Of you all | may expect deeds of valC
and renown; and, if life and health pc