Murfreesboro The Battle of Stones River, a poem composed on the field by J. N. Hazzard, Co D, 19th Reg't, O.V.I.

19thOhio

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157 years ago the 19th Ohio was marching from Nashville to confront Bragg at Murfreesboro. The regiment had already seen action at Rich Mountain, Shiloh, Corinth and had missed action at Perryville. They were now part of the newly-formed Army of the Cumberland under command of Major General William Rosecrans, with whom they had served at Rich Mountain. Now they were preparing for new action at Stones River.

At some time after the battle, but "on the field," Hazzard composed a poem describing events he either observed or heard about soon after the battle.

I propose to print the poem in parts in accordance with the verses as they describe events on the 157th anniversary of that day's events. The poem was found in the Stones River National Battlefield Ohio Regimental Files. A published copy of the poem was provided to me by a descendant of Hazzard, C. Raymond Atwood, for publication in Dixie Odyssey. Hazzard is buried in Alliance City Cemetery.

The Battle of Stones River
by J. N. Hazzard

Dec. 29, 1862:

When Rosecrans his force advanced On Murfreesboro town:
The stubborn foe retreated slow, Disputing all the ground,
Yet onward moved our well-formed line, Through rain and mud and storm.
Although sometimes in the advance, The fray grew very warm.

M'Cook's Corps passed through Nolensville, and Crittenden's Lavergne;
While the Division Generals Led the advance by turn.
Both Stewart's Creek and Overall's Were crossed with small delay;
But when we reached Stone River's Banks, There, Bragg resolved to stay.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Dec. 30, 1862

The Ohio 19th, as part of Van Cleve's 5th Division, were camped at the left of the Union line preparing to cross over Stones River to the east the next morning to attack Confederates under Breckenridge. Hazzard described the situation:

Our line was formed just after dark; We ate our scant repast,
And then lay down upon the ground, Our weary limbs to rest.
But long before the morning's Sun Displayed its ray of light,
The troops were in battle array And ready for the fight.

Our gallant chieftain and his staff, Passed swiftly to and fro;
Preparing on the Rebel hordes, To strike a dreadful blow!
While watching closely through his glass, Each movement that was made,
A cannon ball came humming by - His orderly fell dead.

The day passed by and on our left, But few shots were exchanged.
But on our right as they advanced, The battle fiercely raged.
That night the wind blew cold and bleak, We felt its deathlike chill-
Yet scarce a murmur could be heard From men or iron will.
 
Dec. 31, 1862

Early morning on New Years Eve the 3rd Division crossed over Stones River only to be called back through the cold water to support the collapsing Union right.

Hazzard poetically tells us:

The day had come - the hour drew near When each must be engaged;
And sounds coming from the right, told where the battle raged.
Hark! What means that - they've turned our flank - Our lines are giving way;
Johnson's Division is falling back In terror and dismay.

Deep horror then each bosom filled; All's lost without relief!
But yonder coming from the left, Was General Van Cleve.
Two small brigades were quickly formed, Of men who had fought before;
Who opened on the butternuts, With a tremendous roar.

Our General always right at hand, Cries; Charge the day is won!
When each with steady nerve obeyed, And back the Rebels run.
The battle raged until almost dark, Its sounds then died away;
And both threw out their picket line, To hold the foe at bay.

Our wounded they were gathered up - Alas! they were not all -
The dead lay scattered o'er the field , Whter they had chance to fall,
And far outspread o'er wood and field, The lines of living lay;
Ready the contest to renew, When dawned another day.
 
January 2

On January 2, Van Cleve's (now Sam Beatty's) Division waded again through the cold Stones River to confront Breckenridge as was planned on the 31st. A large Rebel force forced the Union back to the west side of the river. There a massed 57 gun (Hazzard says 100) Union artillery barrage saved the day forcing the fight back to the east side of the river and running the Confederates out of Murfreesboro.

Hazzard completes his story thusly:

Our left was weak, which Bragg well knew. And thinking that his chance.
He massed his force in column deep. And on us did advance.
We met him with a desperate charge, But soon was forced to yield;
While many dead and wounded, Were left upon the field. . .

Still on they came and pressed us sore, They thought the victory won;
But Rosey coming from he Right With full one hundred gun.
Sent death and terror through their lines, And drenched the field with blood.
We charged again and drove them back In panic through the wood.

Again the lowering shades of night, Silenced the bttle's roar.
We gathered up our wounded, Who Lay weltering in their gore.
Brave General Sill and Garesche, And very many more,
Have fallen nobly at their post, Whose loss we now deplore.

Old Bragg has gone with all his Force And left his dead behind,
For us to bury - which we did - At least what we could find.
But who can fill the vacant place Of father, brother, son,
Or husband, who fell on that field Before the day was won.

Brave soldiers of the Cumberland, Your names are going forth,
Together with your daring deeds, Throughout the loyal North.
Then honor be to Roserans, Who us to victory led,
and Tears for the noble dead.

I trust readers enjoyed Hazzard's observations and views about the Battle of Stones River. To me it seems to describe the flow of the battle for the 19th Ohio and the 3rd Division. Perhaps there are other poems describing various other battles or conflicts from the troop's perspective.

Happy New Year
 
Happy New Year

Happy New Year and welcome! Great post!


Stone's River after battle report:

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Reports of Maj. Charles F. Manderson, Nineteenth Ohio Infantry.

HDQRS. NINETEENTH REGT. OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Field, near Murfreesborough, Tenn., January 6, 1863.
LIEUT.: I transmit you the following report of the participation
of the Nineteenth Regt. Ohio Volunteers, U. S. Army (Charles F.
Manderson, major commanding), in the action in front of
Murfreesborough, on Wednesday December 31, 1862:

On the morning of that date the regiment was under arms in double
column, between the Murfreesborough turnpike and Chattanooga and
Nashville Railroad, being the right of the front line of the Third
Division, left wing. By order of Col. Samuel Beatty, commanding
First Brigade, after deploying column and loading, we moved by the
right flank to the left, crossing Stone's River at the ford, and forming
line (after throwing Companies A and K out as skirmishers), with the right
resting about 100 yards from the river, the Ninth Kentucky Volunteers,
which were first formed on our right, being moved to the left.

About 10 o'clock we were ordered to recall our skirmishers and recross
the river, which being done we moved by the right flank across the
open space between the railroad and pike, amid the greatest confusion
of retreating batteries, men, teams, and ambulances. At this point
Gen. Rousseau ordered the regiment to move across the turnpike, and
form line in the woods skirting the west of the pike. From this position
we were immediately ordered by Col. Beatty to march by the left
flank back to the railroad, and then by the right flank back to our
former position, in the last-named woods, under a fire by which we lost
several men.

This scene was one of disorder and panic. Regt. after regiment
swept through our lines in the greatest confusion; but through it all our
men preserved an unbroken front, and when the pursuing enemy came
within 75 or 100 yards, and our front was clear of the retreating and
broken columns, at the order to fire by file, poured most destructive
volleys into the foe, breaking his lines in disorder.

Gen. Rousseau, who was in the rear of the right of the regiment
cheering our men with his presence and words, then ordered a charge,
and our regiment with fixed bayonets, supported by the Ninth Kentucky
Volunteers on our left, and the Seventy-ninth Indiana Volunteers in our
rear, drove the foe in splendid style for about one-fourth of a mile,
when, our ammunition running low, the front line wheeled into column,
and the Seventy-ninth Indiana Volunteers passed through to the front.
The regiment, then forming the second line, in the rear of the
Seventy-ninth Indiana Volunteers, advanced for about three-fourths of
a mile to an open field, where we were separated from our front line
by a cedar thicket.

We were here but a few minutes when our right support gave way, and
left our regiment greatly exposed to a flanking fire. I sent word twice
to Col. Beatty that the enemy had flanked our position in great
force, but received no order. The regiment was suffering most terribly
from the fire, and, seeing the enemy within 50 yards of our right and
in position to destroy us, I ordered a change of front to the right and
rear. Our men, while executing the movement, were thrown into
temporary disorder by the scattered regiments on our right pouring
through the line, but gathered on the instant, formed an excellent line in
good position, and fired with such precision, that, with the aid of a
battery of artillery in our rear and left, we held the ground and drove
the foe from the open field in our front. Being now entirely out of
ammunition, an suffering loss from the fire of our own artillery, we
moved by the right flank into the woods, and formed line on the left of
the Second Brigade, Col. Fyffe commanding, the second battalion
of the Pioneer Corps supporting us on the left. We were here supplied
with ammunition by Capt. Wood assistant inspector-general, Third
Division, and threw out skirmishers, who met no enemy.

About 4 o'clock we were relieved by the First Brigade, First Division,
Col. Walker commanding; bivouacked where we were until
midnight, when we were ordered by Col. Beatty to report to him on
the left of the railroad.

Our loss in this action is as follows, viz: Killed, 1 officer and 11
enlisted men; total, 12. Wounded, 1 officer and 66 enlisted men; total,
67. Missing, 3 enlisted men. Total loss, 82 men. I subjoin as accurate
a list as it is possible at this time to gather.

My men behaved with the utmost bravery and coolness. Senior Capt.
Henry G. Stratton, of Company C, assisted as field officer. He was
severely wounded about noon. First Lieut. Daniel Donovan,
commanding Company B, fell, dead, in front of his company while
gallantly leading a charge. Orderly Sergt. Robert D. Wilson,
commanding Company D, was killed about the same time.

The cool, manly daring of these gallant officers cannot be spoken of
too highly. But the action of all of the Nineteenth Ohio was under the
directing eve of the colonel commanding the brigade and the generals
commanding, and to them I leave further comments.

Respectfully, yours,

CHARLES F. MANDERSON,
Maj., Comdg. Nineteenth Regt. Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Lieut. W. H. H. SHEETS,
A. A. A. G., First Brig., Third Div., Left Wing,
Fourteenth Army Corps, Dept. of the Cumberland.

-----

HDQRS. NINETEENTH REGT. OHIO VOL. INFANTRY,
Field, near Murfreesborough, Tenn. January 6, 1863
LIEUT.: On Friday, January 2, the Nineteenth Ohio Volunteers,
U. S. Army, under my command, was formed, with the right resting
near the high bank on Stone's River, being held with the Ninth
Regt. Kentucky Volunteers, which joined us on the left, in reserve
of the Second and Third Brigades, Third Division, which position we
had assumed on Thursday, January 1, about noon.

Soon after 4 p.m. heavy firing on our front caused us to take arms and
stand in line. The firing had continued about fifteen minutes, when
Lieut. Murdock, aide-de-camp to Col. Beatty, commanding
Third Division, rode up to the front and left of the regiment and ordered
me to advance. Although the order, coming from that source, was
contrary to rule and custom, presuming the occasion to be an emergency
requiring such a deviation. I ordered the regiment forward in
double-quick time. We advanced up a gradual slope for about 200
yards, the lines in front of us pouring through our ranks in confusion;
but the men preserved an excellent front, and rushed upon the enemy.
In some parts of the line our pieces crossed those of the foe. His front
line received a check of some few minutes, and was thrown into
disorder; but a strong flanking party poured over the bank of the river,
and broke our right flank to the rear, file after file. Seeing this, and
that brave officers and many men of our right wing had fallen, I ordered
the left to fall back.

Col. B. C. Grider, commanding First Brigade, here rode up to me
from the left and front, and wished me to rally the men. I told him they
were falling back by order; that the enemy had flanked me in force,
and that I would form line at the foot of the hill. He said, "Do so;" and
stated he would give the same order to the Ninth Kentucky Volunteers,
on our left. The regiment rallied and formed line twice before the
overwhelming force of the enemy drove them across Stone's River. The
storm of missiles was terrific, and for a few moments no men could have
stood under it. The bank of the river presented a scene of indescribable
confusion. The colors of our regiment were seized by Second Lieut.
Philip Reefy, of Company F, who gallantly dashed forward across the
stream, followed by daring spirits of different regiments.

At the same time Col. Grider, bearing the colors of the Ninth
Kentucky Volunteers, crossed with another party, and these flags, with
two belonging to other regiments, rallied under their folds an
indiscriminate mass of men and officers of the Third Division, which,
supported by fresh troops that had been ordered to the conflict, drove
back, in terrible confusion the columns of the enemy, victorious but a
moment before. The colors of the Nineteenth Ohio and Ninth Kentucky
were placed on three pieces of the enemy's artillery, which were
captured and brought into our lines by squads composed of the different
regiments and brigades of the division. After this magnificent scene of
individual heroism, the different detachments of the regiment formed
on the same ground we occupied in the morning, and bivouacked that night.

Again we have the regret the loss of brave officers and men. Capt.
Urwin Bean, of Company E; First Lieut. Job D. Bell, commanding
Company C, and Sergt. Maj. Lyman Tylee were killed while gallantly
performing their duties. First Lieut. Aurora C. Keel, of Company
F, was severely wounded; Second Lieut. William A. Sutherland,
of Company H, slightly. Capt. William H. Allen, of Company F,
rendered most valuable and efficient aid as a field officer. All the line
officers vied with each other in deeds of courage.

I wish particularly to note the gallant bearing of First Lieut. Charles
Brewer, adjutant; Second Lieut. Albert Upson, commanding
Company K, and Sergt. Jason Hurd, commanding Company G. But all
have done their duty, and the unpleasant task is not mine to record any
acts of cowardice in the Nineteenth Ohio Regt.

I annex a list of killed, wounded, and missing.*

In this action we had killed 2 officers and 13 enlisted men; total killed,
15. Wounded, 2 officers and 56 enlisted men; total wounded, 58.
Missing (supposed prisoners), 31 enlisted men.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

CHARLES F. MANDERSON,
Maj. Cmdg. Nineteenth Regt. Ohio Volunteers.

Lieut. W. H. H. SHEETS,
A. A. G., First Brig. Third Div., Left Wing,
Fourteenth Army Corps, Dept. of the Cumberland.

Source: Official Records
PAGE 594-29 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII.
[Series I. Vol. 20. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 29.]

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