Nashville - Eyewitness accounts

[scone]

"The 19th Alabama regiment.. was sent out to skirmish to keep the enemy in check.. While the shells were decimating our thin skirmish line a peice of shell hit and layed me out senseless."

"Upon regaing conscious two stalwart Yankees were guarding me. Their 2nd line came along at this time. They were half drunk and had their sleeves rolled up to their elbows though snow lay heavily on the ground. Two jumped out of line turning their guns into clubs belabored me unmercifully. I did some of the biggest dodging I ever did do" Beverly B. Corelius 19th Alabama - Deas' Brigade

[richard]

Henry Campell - " The last 2 weeks has been full of enventful intrest. Hoods army had advanced and surrounded Nasshill where he has been busy for the last three weeks throwing up defences and gradualy approaching the city. On the 15" Thomas, who was quietly making decisive preparations advanced and defeated the rebels completely. On Tuesday night all of the cavalry now just freshly monunted andnumbering about 20,000 were silently crossed over the river and massed on the right of our lines near the Harding Pike. In the morning early some severe faints were made on our left to draw their attention from the real point of attack. About 9 oclock Smiths Corps advanced- charged the rebel line of works and after a hard fight turned their left and drove them back taking 16 guns and 1200 men. The cavalry was now let loose and the rebels driven to their last line of works about 3 miles from the city. Friday our lines advanced and fought hard all day with out gaining much advantage. In the afternoon a charge was made on the key to the rebel position which drove the rebels from their works and gave us posession of the field. They fled in the greatest confusion throwing away their guns and Blankets. 5000 men and over 30 canon fell in our hands. None of the canon belongine to their left wing was saved. ..."

Henry Campbell 2nd Lt. 101st USCI

Henry Campbell inlisted in to the army as a 16yr old who became the buguler for the 18th Indiana Light Artillary. In his diaies of his experiences, he covers from the date of inlistment to his mustering out in Nashville in 1866. Campbell has been quoted many times in many writings about Hoovers Gap, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Atlanta and other areas scattered through the south. I am fortunate to have obtained a copy of this works.