Soldier's Stories

[hawglips]

BALTIMORE, July 1, 1861.

MY BELOVED CHILD:

The plot thickens around us here, the usurpation becoming more and more dictatorial. Thankful I feel that we are not personally endangered, but I do not feel the less indignant at the outrageous arrest of our citizens, or the less sympathy for my neighbors who are subjected to the tyranny of the arbitrary power in Washington. We are such a loyal people, that it takes only 30,000 men to keep us quiet; and our police and marshal of police arrested! There will be no stop to this until you send them flying from Virginia, then we may have a chance to show our loyalty.

(letter to Randolph McKim, from his mother)



(Message edited by hawglips on October 15, 2004)

[dawna]

Camp Ruth Well West Va.

This the 11th day of November 1862

As it has been sometime, Catharine, since I have written to you and I will now try to write you a few lines to let you know how we are getting along this cold and disagreeable weather. The health of myself and Regt. is excellent considering the exposure to which we have been subjected for the last 11 days. We have marched 140 miles in this time for we were out on a scout. We went to Logan Court House a distance of 70 miles we burnt two grist mills and we burnt the town and everything else that would burn. We took about 30 prisoners and killed one man and captured about 50 horses after which we turned back. We were within 23 miles of the line between Kentucky and this state.

Some days it rained and some it snowed and we had a very rough time of it but a good time. We took everything that we could get. Honey, chickens, turkeys, butter, and even milked the cows as we passed along. We returned to camp rejoicing like a tribe of indians after a great victory.

We have not got moved into our winter quarters yet for the old Sawmill broke down and we have to repair it so as to get lumber to finish the buildings with. I think we will be all fixed up in a few days if nothing happens none that we know of now. After we have got fixed for the winter some of us will have a chance to go home and I hope that I shall be one of them for I am anxious to see you all again and to pass a few days in Perry County this winter.

But I am not certain of this happy privilege for was is very uncertain and we know not what moment we will have to leave this for we are threatened very hard by the rebels for they say they will have this valley, this winter, in their possession. But time will prove all things and we will see again Spring whether they will carry out their threats or not. I hope they will let us rest this winter for we have been through on the fast line for the last 4 or 5 months and we would be very willing to stay in our little tents for 2 or 4 months. I sincerely hope that the war will be at end this winter we are all getting tired of it and be very willing to quit if they will, that is to lay down their arms and return to their peaceful homes but the prospect is dark at the present time.

Catharine, war is a horrible thing. I assure you, no-one has any idea of the horrors of war, until they have seen for themselves Destruction on every side, what the rebels leave, the union troops Destroy, and what the union troops leave, the rebel troops Destroy, and every thing has gone to Destruction.

I am sorry Catharine that some person has made themselves so free as to open my letters, and it would not do for me to find out who the person or persons are if I ever should be permitted to meet them. But I hope that they will not medle with any more of my letters for I wish for no one to read my letters that I write to you but yourself. I will now close my letter for this time hoping that it will reach you unopened and that it will find you well and hearty and free hearted as ever.

Write soon and remember me your true hearted lover.

Write soon and direct to me Co D. 30th Regt. O.V.I.
Candleton West Va

Catharine Shick - E.J.A

[dawna]

Fighting Chaplain of the 32nd Ohio

Russell B. Bennett, Chaplain of the Thirty-second, was known in the Seventeenth Army Corps as the "fighting Chaplain." He first enlisted in the regiment as a private, and was a good and brave soldier in the ranks. When Chaplain Nickerson resigned and left the service, Bennett was promoted to the chaplaincy of the regiment.

Bennett not only believed in the efficacy of prayer, but also believed in the efficacy of shot and shell, and, instead of remaining in the rear during an engagement, he was always up in the front line, not only to minister to the wounded and dying, but, with gun in hand, took his place in the ranks and encouraged the soldiers by his coolness and bravery.

Of the many instances in which he rendered good services during a battle, we give one as related by the boys of the regiment. On the day the brave and gallant McPherson fell, Atlanta, July 22, 1864, the Seventeenth Corps was hotly engaged. The Thirty-second Regiment was flanked on all sides, and was compelled to change front several times, not knowing in what direction to look for the enemy.

At one time, during a few moments' lull in the battle, the Thirty-second was lying down in the edge of a corn-field waiting for the next attack, the Chaplain, cautioning the boys to lie very still, and protect themselves the best they could, advanced into the corn-field to make a reconnoissance, and, mounting a stump some forty or fifty yards in front of the line, discovered the battle line of the enemy rapidly advancing, and moving back to his regiment, passed the word along the line that the enemy were close upon them; then, taking the musket of William B. Mitchell, of Company B - brother to John and James Mitchell, of Marysville - he fired on the advancing line, Mitchell, lying on the ground, would rapidly re-load the gun, and again Bennett would fire, and all the time exhorting the boys to "lie-low" until the enemy were close upon them, then to "fire-low."

All this time he stood erect, not seeming to have any thought of his own safety, but only solicitous for the soldiers of the regiment, whom he loved dearly. Mitchell was killed as he lay on the ground, and, his body falling into the hands of the enemy, was never recovered. Bennett was universally respected and loved by all of the officers and soldiers of the regiment, and to-day the boys all have a good word for Chaplain Bennett.

By: W.L. Curry

[thea_447]

TJJ to Gen. Joseph E. Johnston
Date: 1862 February 18
Place: Winchester,Virginia


Winchester
Feby 18th, 1862

General

I have received information that there is below Washington another Brigade besides Sickles' and that they are provided with pontoon trains by which they can cross their Art. & other force in about four (4) hours and that they design doing so with the night at three or four different points, and that the first favorable night is the time fixed upon. That the crossing is to be followed by the reoccupation of Fredericksburg.

The 1st Tennessee leaves for Knoxville at dawn tomorrow morning. Would have left this morning, but I thought it best not to move until something could be heard respecting the time when the cars could receive them, as the weather has been very bad, and the troops are comfortable in their present position, & are within a day's march of Strasburg. Tomorrow at 10 o'clock A.M. the 1st Georgia will leave, and the Regiments for Genl Humes will move in time for their R. R. transportation. As there is no evidence of an immediate move on this place, I do not attach much importance to the information respecting the crossing of the Potomac below you, but have felt it my duty to make mention of it. The information is that the crossing is to be at night. The troops for Manassas can leave at any time via Snicker's Gap; as the boats now there will transport 250 Inft. per trip, but unless I receive further instructions from you, I will keep them as you directed until after the Regiments for the Virginia District leave.

Respectfully your Obt. Servt.
T.J. Jackson
Maj. Genl
Genl. J. E. Johnston

[thea_447]

** COURAGEOUS DEEDS **

In December of 1862, Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan set out on one of his notorious cavalry raids, while Bragg's Confederates gathered along the banks of the Stones River. The following is an excerpt, written by Veteran G. W. Duncan, of Franklin, Kentucky, who tells a story of the courageous deed of one young Southern female during Morgan's capture of Hartsville, Tennessee:

"Col. C. B. Moore commanded the brigade of Federal troops that occupied Hartsville, Tenn., in December, 1862. On Thursday, before the capture of Moore's Brigade by Gen. Morgan, Mr. John Hinton, a citizen who lived in or near Hartsville, rode leisurely out of the place, through the pickets, and stopped at the Widow Kirby's, some four miles east of the village. His destination was two miles ****her on and across the Cumberland river to Mr. Frank Kirby's, but he was shadowed so closely by Moore's pickets that he felt certain they would halt, and perhaps search him, if he started to cross the river, which would be fatal to him, for he had a paper showing the strength and position of the Federals at Hartsville. Hinton explained the situation to Mrs. Kirby and her daughter, a young girl of sixteen or eighteen years of age. The latter immediately proposed to carry the paper to her Uncle Frank. With a woman's wit and a veteran's courage, she ripped a slit out of her old sunbonnet, wra! pped the paper around it, replaced the slit, stitched it up, and, with the bonnet dangling negligently on the back of her neck, she mounted her horse and rode leisurely toward the river, dodged the keen eyes of the pickets, crossed the river at an unknown ford, and rode up to her uncle's house. Mr. Kirby was on the outlook for Hinton, and when his niece arrived was much disappointed and greatly concerned, thinking perhaps he had been arrested and everything discovered. But a look and a word from the girl explained the situation. A few moments after she entered the house, Mr. Kirby's little son, a lad of some ten or twelve years of age, crawled over the yard fence, whistling as he walked toward the woods, ostensibly to drive up the cows; but once within the shadows, he quickened his pace, and in a few moments came up with some of Morgan's men, who were expecting him and to whom he delivered the paper. Less than twenty-four hours afterwards, on Sunday morning by daylight, the ci! tizens of Hartsville and Moore's Brigade of soldiers were aroused from slumber by the booming of Morgan's guns. By ten o'clock the battle had been fought; Morgan had captured the entire Federal force, and was on the south side of the Cumberland. On his way to report to Gen. Bragg at Murfreesboro." *** Above is an excerpt from: Confederate Veteran, Vol. VIII, No. 8 Nashville, Tenn., October 1900.

[thea_447]

<B>

Cornelius C. Platter Civil War Diary, 1864 - 1865

Pages 49 - 54




Page: [49] Large Image | DjVu ImageFletcher B. Haynes severely in shoulder Obtained intrenching tools from the 3d Brigade and [unclear: threw] up a splendid line of works. Can see the Rebel works very plainly but the distance is too great for musketry. Heavy cannonading & musketry in direction of Ft [Fort] McAllister -- Suppose it to be our men attacking the fort. Genl [General] Rice will attempt to cross the Little Ogeechee tonight - Had a taste of salt water today the tide comes up this far. -- The Brigade has not yet arrived and no news from it. Rebs are very "saucy" in our front. No news from the fleet or any part of our line.


Wednesday Dec 14th 1864. [View Civil War timeline for this date]

Gen. [General] Rice did not cross the "Ogeechee last night as expected, much to the "Chagrin" of Gen. [General] Corse - At 2 AM Genl [General] Corse sent for 2 of our best Companies to effect a crossing, but after going to the River did not attempt it. Co [Colonel] "E"





Page: [50] 12 Ills [illegible] & remained all day. Very little forming along the line to day [today]. Ft [Fort] McAllister was captured yesterday evening it was taken by the 2d Div [Division] [illegible] Capturing its garrison of 250 men [added and] 19 Guns Our loss was about 80 killed and wounded Enemies [Enemies]loss heavy - We now have a base of supplies and Shermans Grand army is safe and can defy the whole [illegible] Do not think we will do anything untill [until] we get a fresh supply of rations - We are now very short and have nothing but "corn bread" to eat - no coffee - The Brigade came in from the RR Bridge this morning, being relieved by 3d Div [Division] Was down to the "Ogeechee" this morning - think it will be very difficult [difficut] to effect a crossing Lieut [Lieutenant] Pittman was sent for by Gen [General] Corse - A large mail reported "aboard" the fleet. which we are very anxious to get. It is more than a month since we have seen any northern papers.




Page: [51]


Thursday, Dec 15th 1864 [View Civil War timeline for this date]A very spirited Cannonading duel This morning - Our batteries seem to have the best of it. Spent the day in writing letters wrote three one to Father -- Lizzie and Lt [Lieutenant] H.R. S.R. 15 tons of mail said to be at the coast but cannot come up untill [intil] the obstructions in the "Ogeechee" are removed. But little firing on the Skirmish line. - The boys of Co [Company] "E" procured a small " [illegible] guns" and took it out on the "skirmish line" It throws a [unclear: formed] ball and created quite a disturbance among the enemys [illegible] It has been a nice day. cool and pleasant - No Rations & eating very slim.


Friday Dec 16th 1864 [View Civil War timeline for this date]Was up early. Enemy threw shell in among us. Col [Colonel] Adams being afraid that some one would get hurt moved us back to where the rest of the Brigade was - 1/2 mile from our position occupied at morning


Page: [52]

12th Ills detailed as [illegible] Guards to 13th AC. Rec'd [Received] large mail this morning -- got six letters 2 from Lizzie -- 2 from home, one from "Hugh R S." and one from Columbus - an official documents" -- also rec'd [received] a huge lot Of Cincinnati Gazetts [Gazettes] - Sat up very late reading the news was after 12 o'clock when I gave myself up to the arms of "Morpheus" -


Saturday Dec 17th 1864 [View Civil War timeline for this date]Was up early and reread my letters and papers in hopes of finding something new. Spent the day in reading and writing. Wrote a long letter to Columbus -- Mail left the Regiment this evening -- Made out a complete Roster of officers & sergents [Sergeants] and sent them to Columbus by "Davy [unclear: Samme] " Rations are getting very scarce. The army is worse off for Rations than anytime since we have been "in the field" -- think we will get a supply tomorrow - for supper we had "hard tack" and "cold boild [boiled] beef" -- --




Page: [53]
Saturday Dec 18th 1864 Went to "Kings bridge" to day [today] in company with Capt [Captain] Lockwood Lt [Lieutenant] Johnson and "Hank Comstock" -- Went to see the "fleet" and to get something for our men to eat -- only one boat at the bridge unloading Rations. A large no of soldiers at the landing. 12th Ills started for Hilton Head to day [today] in charge of prisoners - After repeated efforts at the bridge we succeeded in getting some "Hard tack" & sugar for our men - Returned about dark. Had a rich dinner today - "Bill of Fare" "Dried Apples" - Men are living on "parched corn" to day" [today] - Rations will be issued some time tonight. Men are very hungry -- A battery of 32 Rd Parrott guns arrived today from New York & was sent to the 20th AC on the left of our lines. - 17th AC are worse off than our corps for Rations - Capt [Captain] Compton "[illegible] " was mustered out today & will start march soon.

</B>

[thea_447]

From the memoirs of Archibald Atcinson,Jr., a surgeon in the Army of Northern Virginia:

<FONT color=#0000ff>When we were ordered to the Potomac (some 150
miles in a straight line) we had to travel at night, the
heat being too great to press the horses during the
day; + it also being easier to conceal our movement
from the enemy under cover of darkness.
About 4 o'clock one morning, the Col. asked
me to take Lieut. Phillips + go on ahead to select
a camp where there w'd be trees to which to tie
the horses, pure water, + the proximity of a wheat
field. We pushed on, + in about an hour found
a suitable place, marking the spot as arrang-
ed by placing a piece of paper under the
top stone of the fence. Hearing firing we went
on to where we saw a great fog as if near
a river, which proved to be the Potomac
+ we passed through Shepherdstown, +
descending the steep bank crossed at
[In margin: Shepherdston] the Shepherdstown ford. We did not
know where the infantry was, but knew by
the great number of stragglers that
they were in Md. We pushed on 1 mile
+ came to the battle field of Sharpesburg
on Antietam. We had no business there + sat on
our horses beside a straw stack on which were
hundreds of people. Soon the cannon balls fell all
around us + Phillips proposed that we should fall back
200 yds. to a corn field + feed our horses. We took our
bridles off when a shot fell like a great stone within
five feet of us, but failed to explode. We then took
the corn behind another stack where the horses
ate their feed on the ground, squatting at
each cannon ball which struck the front
side of the stack. Going back across the
river, I met my brother Bob on his way to
Shepherdstown. He asked me to go with him
+ took me to Dr. Paron's house where I found
our cousin Lilly Lee + her sisters attending

[Page 2]


the wouded [wounded] in their house + yard. I passed poor
Buck Cocke, + gave him all the contents of
my haversack for his breakfast.
x x x x x x x x x x x x
[In margin: Middleburg] We were at Middleburg kept by Gen. Stuart's disobe-
dience of Gen. Lee's orders to follow him. Gen. Stuart had
allowed Gregg Averill + Buford, yankee cavelry
generals, to delude him by their feint of attack-
ing the rear of Lee's army, + Gen. Stuart stayed
there fighting a fresh brigade each day.
If he had gone on as directed by Lee, he
would still have been between Gen. Lee's rear
+ the enemy. As it was, Gen. Lee did not know
what was before him + had to feel his way along
through the lower valley of Va. to cross the
Potomac, nor could he know if the enemy
were before, behind, or on either flank. It
was when Stuart left Middleburg + passed
through Upperville + was crossing the Blue
Ridge at Ashley's Gap that my Brother Bob
did himself so much credit as to induce
Col. J. Lucius Davis[5] of the 10th Va. Cavelry to say
that he had covered himself with glory
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
After the battle at Sewell Mountain, a house
was assigned to me as hospital for my


+ the enemy. As it was, Gen. Lee did not know
what was before him + had to feel his way along
through the lower valley of Va. to cross the
Potomac, nor could he know if the enemy
were before, behind, or on either flank. It
was when Stuart left Middleburg + passed
through Upperville + was crossing the Blue
Ridge at Ashley's Gap that my Brother Bob
did himself so much credit as to induce
Col. J. Lucius Davis[5] of the 10th Va. Cavelry to say
that he had covered himself with glory
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
After the battle at Sewell Mountain, a house
was assigned to me as hospital for my
men, as it was locked + deserted I had
to get in through a window. Whilst I
was investigating the manager for the owner
of the house came + asked why I had entered
the house. I told him my object, + he went down
the hill. In the meantime I had the windows
opened so as to air the house + was arranging
in my mind how I'd place my sick men, when
an orderly rode up with an order from Gen.
Floyd to report to him near by. I did so, giv-
ing him Gen. Wise's order + he said " now Dr.
please return to Gen. Wise, + give him my com-
plements, + say he cannot have the house
for a hospital as Gen. Floyd will occupy

[Page 3]
it himself as his head-quarters.["] I asked him [to]
give me the instructions in writing, which he
did. It may be well imagined Gen. Wise was
not especially pleased at having his orders
disregarded, but Gen. Floyd was his senior
+ really was in command. Gen. Wise was not
the most amiable for it. Gen. Floyd had order-
ed the whole command to fall back from
New River + Gen. Wise refused to obey. He was
soon ordered away + shortly after followed
the disaster at Roanoke Island in N.C. when
poor Jennings Wise was killed. He was
a great favorite + an idol with his
father. After Gen. Wise went back from Sew-
ell Mt. to Richmond, Col. J. Lucius Davis
was in command of the Wise legion. He was
Col. of the Wise cavalry then, which after-
wards was made the 10th Va. Cavalry. Con-
sisting of companies from Henrico Co.
(Capt. Magruder), from Richmond City, on[e]
from Petersburg,. Capt. H. Clay Vale, one from
Franklin, Capt. Rosser, one from Albermarl
Capt. Delters, one from Rockingham, Capt.
Pennybacker, one from Dory + Davidson Cos.
McCofts, Wm. B. Clements, another from
Richmond City under Capt. Robt. Caskic,
one from Rockbridge, Capt. Davidson, one
from N.C. Capt. Tincker. I cannot just now
recollect any others. Of course there is choice
in all Cos. of a regt., few are altogether bad
+ rough, some of our companies were good.
[In margin: Sewell] It was about this time that a message came down
the Mt. to my hospital asking if I could take a sick soldier
in, + allow his Co. physician to attend him. I was glad to do so
both because I had an excess of work + a scarcity of
medicines. The man proved to be one from an Ala.
reg. and was suffering with Camp fever. The poor
fellow was burning up, skin, brain, stomach
+ bowels. The Dr. asked my advice + I urged
him to [ ] stimulat[ive] or the man woul[d] [die]

[Page 4]


of brain fever. He however thought his plan was
the wiser, + in 48 hours the man was a raving ma-
niac, + the Dr. then asked me to secure an am-
bulance that the man might be taken to the
convalescents hospital at the White Sulphur
Springs,[6] the man died that night in the am-
bulance. I had the Vaughan Hotel for my hospital,
nominially a cavalry hospital for the sick of the
Wise legion, but I never turned any sick man off.
The house was in a large meadow + as a cavalry-
man came in his horse would be turned into this
meadow where besides an abundance of good
grass there was plenty of water. I had about 500
sick + convalescent soldiers, cavalry, infantry + artillery
of all the comanders in that section. There
was an epidemic of measles in the army + every
soldier who had not been 10 miles from his home
before he enlisted was seized with it. I've had
boys of 16, + fathers of 60 years lying side by side
on straw beds placed on the floor all suffering from
measles or some of its complications. We had the poorest
commissary arrangements,+ all I could get for my
men was salt + hard crackers. I made the conva-
lescents shoot squirrels, ground hogs, pheasants,
+ turkeys with which to make soup for the men.
I don't know how poor fellows fared who were sick
in camp. I made all sorts of soups + stews for the
men. The nights were as cold as in Jan. lower down
for we were high up the mountain, + had to have
fires all the time.[7] One night about 10 o'clock in a
pouring rain the infantry came marching by
the hospital. There were ambulances all laden
with tents + trunks (for early in the war officers attempt-
ed to carry trunks) then came artillery + the rattling
over the corduroy road was fearful. No one would
or could tell us any thing as to why they were
vacating so suddenly. I had never seen an army
terror stricken before, + though I could not see the
men for the rain + darkness, I knew their hearts were
in their throats. They went [as if] they thought Gen. [Page 5]
Rosecrantz's army was within 200 yds. of them.

[thea_447]

Instead of 15 miles behind with a swollen river
between, they would stop for nothing, listen to
nothing, but rushed on hurry scurry + not
a word for any one. I had over 400 sick men
in the hospital + in the sheds + barns around
the premises + I did not wish them to be captured
but I made up my mind if this had to result
from the mismanagement of those in command
I would remain with them. Two weeks before
my reg. had gone off over towards Lyon river
for some secret raid. I being in the hospital +
in charge of the sick did not know of their
going. Dr. C the senior in charge of the Wise legion
(as it was called) had sent me word that he had
left a couple of large boxes back on the road near
Hawk's Nest + if the command vacated that sec-
tion please to look after them. He should have
turned them over to the quarter-master of the legion
+ there would have been no furthur trouble or re-
sponsibility about them, but it was his way as
I found afterwards to do things on the spur of
the moment + without any idea of system, con-
venience or responsibility. I had told him I
would do my best if any thing happened. I asked for (next page)
x x x x x x x x x x x
We reached Culpepper C. House the day after the
great storm. x x We had been in Orange Co. + had
picketed Raccoon ford + there abouts. No one of us
knew why when all of a sudden there was a move-
ment across the Rapidan river + there began a run-
ning fight. He crossed under cover of our horse
artillery which scarcely made noise enough to
frighten any body. We kept on fighting as we
went. We were evidently on the advance for we were
pressed forward, first one reg. would go forward
+ have a tug for ten minutes + then another would
go up to support it.[In margin, "page 398"] No falling back towards the
river until when we reached the neighborhood
Brandy (some 9 miles off) we were well into it.
[In margin is statement "out of place here]

[Page 6]


volunteers + one Corvell from Franklin Co. (Rosser's
Co. [9]) agreed to go back with one to get the supplies
which Dr. Clendenin had left. The whole lot was not
worth the risk of being captured or killed in secur-
ing. We pressed a wagon + horse + made the
driver go back. We passed Dogwood gap in the moun
tain where I knew Gen. Wise was in quarters. We
knew there must be pickets out beyond Gen.Wise quarters.
We were as silent as possible, but could hear men's
voices + see lights way down the road. We got
the boxes on the wagon + started back, as we re-
passed Gen. Wise's quarters about 4 A.M. I went in +
was Capt Tabb his adj-general to whom I told
the trouble. Just then some one cried out from
the next room, "Who in the h- is that here at this
time of the night? + what in the d--l do you want?"
I told him who I was + what I wanted; that his officers
had taken all the ambulances + loaded them with
their tents + baggage, leaving the sick to whom of
right the ambulances belonged to be captured
at the various hospitals. He asked what I thought he
should do under the circumstances. I replied that the
only proper thing to do was to send a courier after
those ambulances + to have the officers throw out
their tents + baggage in the mud + rain + bring
back the ambulances to my hospital for the sick.
There were over 20 ambulances. I got Capt. Tabb
to write the order + send the courier right off. We
then went back to the hospital reaching there about
7 A.M. I found many of the convalescents had gotten
off, + I knew Gen. Wise would now notify me when
to fall back with the remainder of my sick.
I gave the wagon driver his breakfast + dinner +
food for his horse + he felt rewarded. By noon
the ambulances were returned + I put into them
all the men who could not walk + sent them off. It
was a hard night which I shall never forget.
Gen. Wise praised me for my action, + I never heard
any thing more about the officers but we vacated that
part of Sewell Mt. + never went back, Rosecrantz never advan-
ced [as far as I kn]ow.

[thea_447]

This article is excerpts from a reprint of the "Journal of the U.S. Cavalry Association", written by E.N. Gilpin of the Third Iowa Cavalry, and it's entitled
"The Last Campaign." The first page of this slim volume has the signature of James Harrison Wilson, commander of the Union forces in the Battle of Selma.

April 1st: Maplesville Station on Alabama and Tennessee R.R.
Marched at daylight. Skirmishing all day, driving them slowly but steadily. Near the station Old Maplesville, more generally known as Ebenezer Church, we met the enemy under General Forrest. Long advanced on the right with the second division, Upton on the left with our division. We could hear the shrill whistle of the locomotives and knew the enemy was being reinforced. Upton ordered Winslow's brigade to charge with the saber and led them himself.

The Confederates held the crest of a ridge, flanked by a deep miry creek with artillery posted so as to sweep both roads. As soon as we developed their position one could have sworn Forrest was in command. A column was advancing to charge our flank...Rodney, in a flash double teamed and gained the hill top, swung his guns free, and sent the shells whirling over our boys who were fighting hand to hand in the fields below.

By a succession of impetuous charges we forced them (the Confederates) from the field, dislodged them from the heights and drove them helter skelter five miles past Maplesville Station. The food was strewn with guns, belts, cartridge boxes, coats and hats...

Our division captured two ten-pounder Parrot guns and 135 prisoners. The Second Division one gun and two hundred prisoners...

April 2nd: Sunday, Selma, Alabama. Left camp at 9:30 a.m. Detached expeditions burned iron works, factories, rolling and flour mills and destroyed millions of dollars worth. Our line of march is along the top of hills that extend to the city of Selma...A wide fertile valley below us shows delightfullly green, and as we march we hear the tinkling of bells, the lowing of cattle, and singing of larks in the fields. Stopping here to eat my dinner, the indistinct murmur of life on a farm comes to my ears like music.

Went to the head of the column and found it halted in full view and range of the enemy's works at Selma. General Wilson came up and he and General Upton examined the position with their field glasses. The fortifications are 600 yards distant, a formidable line of forts and earthworks, with palisades extending a distance of three miles, with the flanks resting on the river above and below the city...

Our last day's march was pushed so swiftly that no time was left Forrest to make disposition of his forces, until we closed in on the city..Volley followed volley; the long loud rattle of our Spencers and the replay by our batteries to the incessant heavy booming of guns from the forts. Our boys charged dismounted across the fields and swamps, over rifle pits and embankments, over trenches and palisades, up through the battery smoke, on to the parapet yelling like devils...

General Wilson, on his white horse, led forward the mounted reserves. At a steady trot the long blue line formed across the plain; then spurring to a gallop, the ground trembled with the thunder of hoofs, the air scintillant with the flash of saber blades, the cavalry charge like a tornado let loose swept through all opposition. Our carbines and sabers, Yankees and yells, proved too much for the Johnnies and Selmas was fairly won!...

Still April 2nd: Forrest made his escape along the river road, fleeing with his broken army. As they ran, they set fire to a large cotton storehouse near the Arsenal. The fire spread to barracks and ammunition houses, shells exploding and flying in every direction. The Confederates running for life, jumping their horses over the bluffs into the river, our cavalry-men after them to the brink; Soldiers yelling vengeance; citizens scared, women and children screaming, excitement high everywhere.

Of all the sights of my experience, this is most like the horrors of war - a captured city burning at night, a victorious army advancing and a demoralized one retreating.

The soldiers, overpowered by weariness, wrapped in their blankets, sunk to rest about the streets; the citizens, exhausted by fear, the cries of their children hushed at last, snatching a troubled sleep; the wounded, lulled by opiates in forgetfulness of their amputated legs and arms; the dead, in their last sleep, with white faces upturned to the sky; for the passion, cruelty, bitterness and anguish of war, this Sunday night now nearly gone, will be remembered. If there is a merciful God in the heavens, He must be looking down upon this scene in pity.

April 3rd...Many guns found (in the wooden forts), some fine Parrott guns. We broke, spiked and burned them all. General Wilson, who looks the daredevil as he gallops past, is as cautious as an old maid...If we had laid siege to Selma, half the command would have been killed or wounded. As it was, we lost less than 400. We struck them like the lightning; the thunderclap was there as soon as the flash. When the storm broke, all we had to do was take them in out of the wet.

From the forts, we went to the iron foundry; immense machinery, hundreds of guns of all sizes, some very fine naval guns, and thousands of shot and shell.

April 4: Went down to the Selma arsenal...Looked at the shot and shell piled up in great rows through the long shops. From there went to the stockade where about 3,000 prisoners are confined...The fair ladies of Selma are busying themselves feeding and caring for the captured Confederates. Our boys sympathize with the Johnnies and as a consequence, walk home with the girls.

The large foundry was fired just at dark; shells are exploding one after another, then by platoons and squadrons, then back to one and up and away again, never stopping, a bright light flashing and wavering, throwing shadows over housetops, trees, church spires and in among the columns that support the balcony above our heads...

April 5th: The Selma arsenal covers ten acres of ground, and is full of all manner of military stores. Thousands of boxes of ammunition and caissons ready for shipment - but too late! There were rifles, carbines, canned powder, revolvers and muskets, an immense array of stores for killing Yankees.

And on April 7th: Saddled Charley and rode out beyond town to the forts and works which surround the city. Spent a pleasant day following my fancy. Selma is a beautiful place, and the war has never been much of a burden to it until our Cavalry Corps came in.

**********************************************

I've heard figures for Wilson's troops ranging from 13,500 to 14,000 men.
And I've heard that Forrest did not have his regulars with him but rather relied on old men, boys, etc. that he corraled in town the night before the battle and they ranged between 2,500 to 3,500 in number, although one site for the Battle of Selma states there were approximately 5,000.

I understand that Forrest had left his troops elsewhere and he either waited too late (because of the weather, road conditions, etc.) to order them to Selma. Any observations on this would be appreciated..... Thea

[Johnny Rube]

This is from Letters from a Badger Boy in Blue. Letters from Chauncey Cooke who enlisted at age sixteen and was sent to Kentucky to take part in the campaign against Bragg.

Columbus, Ky., March 5th, 1863
25th Wis. Vol. Infantry

Dear Folks at Home:

I sent you a letter a day or two ago and maybe I will hear from you soon. I hope I shall. I am well and we are hearing and seeing things and the days are not so heavy as at Madison. The weather is fine--most of the time warm and clear.

We drill every day, do police work, cleaning round the camp, and take a stroll now and then back in the country, far as the pickets will let us. We are really in the "Sunny South." The slaves, contrabands, we call them, are flocking into Columbus by the hundred. General Thomas of the regular army is here enlisting them for the war. All the old buildings on the edge of the town are more than full. You never meet one but he jerks his hat off and bows and shows the whitest teeth. I never saw a bunch of them together, but I could pick out an Uncle Tom, a Quimbo, a Chloe, an Eliza, or any other character in Uncle Tom's Cabin. The women take in a lot of dimes washing for the soldiers, and the men around picking up odd jobs. I like to talk with them. They are funny enough, and the stories they tell of slave life never to be forgotten. Ask any of them how he feels and the answer nearly always will be, "Sah, I feels might good, sah," or "God bress you, massa, I'se so proud I'se a free man." Some are leaving daily on up-river boats for Cairo and up the Ohio River. The Ohio has always been the river Jordan to the slave. It has been the dream of his life even to look upon the Ohio River.

The government transports returning from down river points where they had been with troops or supplies would pick up free men on every landing and deliver them free of charge at places along the Ohio and upper Mississippi points.

The slaves are not all black as we in the North are apt to suppose. Some of them are quite light. Those used as house servants seem to have some education and don't talk so broad. A real pretty yellow girl about 18 was delivering some washing to the boys yesterday. She left her master and mistress in December and came to Columbus. In answer to the questions of the boys she said she left home because her mistress was cross to her and all other servants since Lincoln's emancipation. She said her mother came with her. One of the boys asked her why her father did not come with her. She said, "My father hain't no colored man, he's a white man." When the boys began to laugh she picked up her two-bushel basket of clothes, balanced it on her head, and went her way. That girl must have made fifty stops among the tents leaving her basket of clothes. I wonder if she heard the same dirty talk in each of them. The talk wasn't clean, but some of us who tho't so just let it pass and kept still.

Your son,
Chauncey

Columbus Ky., March 21st, 1863
25th Wisconsin Vol.

Dear Mother:

After drill went out in the edge of the woods. Its more peaceful and homelike than the racket of the camp. I can see the picket guard beyond me slowly pacing his beat. There is no enemy about but the discipline and regulations are just as rigid as they are in Georgia. No white man can come within the picket line except he has the password. A Negro is allowed to come in. We are afrraid that the whites may be spies, we know the blacks are our friends.

The health of the regiment is good save a few cases of bowel trouble. The boys call it the Kentucky quickstep. There is more sickness among the poor lazy blacks. They are filling all the vacant houses and even sleeping under the trees, so anxious are they to get near "de Lincoln soldiers." They live on scraps and whatever they can pick up in camp and they will shine our shoes or do any camp work for an old shirt or cast-off coat. They had a revival meeting at the foot of the bluff last night and such shouting and singing and moaning. It was Massa Lincoln was a savior that came after two hundred years of tribulation in the cotton fields and cane. They had long known that something was going to happen because so many times their massa had visitors and they would tell the servants to stay in their cabins and not come to the "big house" until they were called. Then some of the house servnats would creep round under the windows and hear the white folks talking about the war and that the slaves were going to be free. And when the one that was sent to listen would come back and tell the others, they would get down on their knees and pray in whispers and give thanks to the Lord. Everything with the darkies is Lord, Lord. Their faith that the Lord will help them has held out more than 200 years.

I sometimes wonder if the Lord is not partial to the white race and rather puts it onto the black race because they are black. We sometimes get terribly confused when we try to think of the law of Providence. This black race for instance, they can't talk ten words about slavery and old Massa and old Missus, but they get in something about "de blessed Lord and de lovely Jesus" and yet in this land of Washington, God has permitted them to be bought and sold like our cattle and hogs in the stockyards for more than 200 years.

I listened for two hours this morning to the stories of a toothless old slave with one blind eye who had come up the river from near Memphis. He told me a lot of stuff. He said his master sold his wife and children to a cotton planter in Alabama to pay his gambling debts, and when he told his master he couldn't stand it, he was tied to the whipping post stripped and given 40 lashes. The next night he ran to the swamps. The bloodhounds were put on his track and caught him and pulled him down. They bit him in the face and put out his eye and crushed one of his hands so he could not use it. He stripped down his pants and showed me a gash on one of his hips where one of the hounds hung unto [sic] him until he nearly bled to death. This happened in sight of Nashville, the capitol of Tennessee. I told this to some of the boys and they said it was all bosh, that the n*****s were lying to me. But this story was just like the ones in Uncle Tom's Cabin, and I believe them. And father knows of things very much like this that are true.

I will write you again soon,
Your son
Chauncey