- Joined
- May 18, 2005
- Location
- Spring Hill, Tennessee
As we approach the Tennessee Campaign, here's a little taste. This was written by a member of Fenner's Louisiana Battery of Lee's corps in the Army of Tennessee. The writer's name is Thomas. He penned this letter to his mother and sister on January 18, 1865.
It appears that the author of this letter may be First Lieutenant Thomas J. Duggan. He was born on April 7, 1833 and passed away in 1907 and was buried at Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans, Louisiana.
At the time he was serving with the corps artillery headquarters as Assistant Inspector General. When Fenner's battery was ordered to Murfreesboro with Forrest's cavalry after the Battle of Franklin, Thomas apparently stayed with the corps artillery headquarters at Nashville.
This was in a Texas newspaper in May, 1865.
"Hood's Campaign Into Tennessee.
The following private letter, though long delayed, will be interesting to many:
FENNER'S BATTERY, LEE'S CORPS, ARMY OF TENNESSEE, NEAR COLUMBUS, Miss., January 18th, 1865.
My Dear Mother and Sister:--I am enabled once more to write you a few lines, which I hope in the course of time will reach you. Since last writing you, I have been through an ordeal of fire and death, but I have fortunately escaped untouched. I rejoined my company at Jacksonville, Ala., in October last, and we soon after started out for the redemption of Tennessee. After much severe marching, we reached Florence, Ala., where we were enthusiastically welcomed by the citizens. We remained there about two weeks, and commenced an advance movement into Tennessee. We drove the small garrisons of the enemy before us without any trouble, captured Johnsonville with an immense quantity of stores, and finally reached Columbia, Tenn. There the Federals had concentrated from the different outposts about 25,000 men. They made but a feeble resistance and evacuated the place. We pursued them vigorously to Spring Hill, where an opportunity was lost of gaining a decisive victory. One corps of our army was on each flank of the enemy and one in the front. A faint attack having been made on the center of the enemy's lines, they gave way and fled precipitately. If we had pushed them at that time, the whole army would have been routed. However, we failed to take advantage of their panic, and the confusion was soon remedied. They retreated rapidly and we kept up a hot pursuit, had several hours the start of us, but having such a large wagon train, we soon gained on them. Having arrived at Franklin, they immediately commenced throwing up works, with the intention of keeping us at bay until their trains could be removed to a safe distance. It is astonishing to see what powerful works they can throw up in a few hours. When our whole army was drawn up in line of battle, they had completed two lines of very good works with abattus for artillery, and were quietly awaiting us. The attack was soon commenced. Stewart's corps on the right, Cheatham's on the left, and ours in the center. They met our first onset bravely, and it was only after the most desperate fighting that they were compelled to fall back to their second and strongest line. Then commenced a succession of the most gallant charges that have ever been made in this war. Our brave men would charge right up to the ditches while they were pouring on a perfect hail-storm of bullets. They would place their muskets over the enemy's parapets, discharge and reload them. The battle commenced at three o'clock and lasted until ten o'clock, without intermission. Our battery was in position on a high hill overlooking the whole field, and it was, without doubt, the grandest, most sublime and most awful scene I have ever witnessed. After the firing ceased, orders were issued to each battery to open the next morning and fire a hundred rounds, but the Yankees were not to be found next morning. They made good their retreat that night and we were in possession of the city. I went over the battle-field very early the next morning before anything had been removed. It was before daylight, and the clear, cold moon shone peacefully and calmly down on the pale, ghastly faces lying thick on the ground. Some were stretched with composed limbs and resigned features, as if they slept in peace with God; others with distorted mien and limbs, grasping the turf in the agonizing death-struggle. On our return, we passed over the same field. Nothing was to be seen save the little boards marking the resting place of each hero that perished there. Cattle were gently grazing around their graves, where, but a short time before, the storm of battle had raged and the earth shook with the mighty shock. God, grant that the blood that has been spilt will not be in vain—that we may soon conquer an honorable independence, and all live to forget the horrid scene we have passed through. We pressed the Federals rapidly to Nashville and invested the place, threw up three lines of breast works around it, and commenced skirmishing. In the meantime, the Federals were heavily reinforced and became the assaulting party.
Our men again fought gallantly, but were over-powered by numbers, and one division having given away, they came in on our flank and the whole army was soon on the retreat, we fell back a short distance and threw up a line of works during the night. The yankees attacked with four lines of battle the next morning. We then slaughtered them like sheep, but they closed up their scattered lines and charged again and again. Flesh and blood could stand no longer, and the whole army gave away in irremediable confusion. Then commenced my sufferings. I had been barefooted for a week before, but while in camp, suffered but little, as I could toast my feet by the fire. But now we had to retreat rapidly all night with a cold, drizzling rain beating upon me, and not a thing to wrap around me on a rock, flinty road; every step I made the blood spurted from both feet, and my teeth chattered with cold. I cannot conceive how I ever got through that night. However, I rested next morning in an old barn and soon felt strong enough to pursue my rough road, a good Samaritan lady gave men a pair of old shoes and socks, the fourth day and I fared somewhat better. My feet are nearly well now and I am getting very good rations, and am consequently better satisfied, and hope we may soon be led against the merciless foe. We lost our guns at Nashville and are here awaiting new pieces.
If you see a chance to, send me any clothing, do so if you please, I have barely sufficient clothing to protect me from the cold and bleak winds. Nothing but patriotism keeps our army together, and, thank Heaven, there is a strong patriotic spirit still actuating and nerving our little band of heroes. Our country needs our services now more than ever. She is in a perilous condition and should be supported. I, for one, shall stand by her to the last, and advise all my fellow soldiers to do the same. I will push on the best I can, miserably and poorly sometimes, but cheerfully always.
Affectionately your son and brother, THOMAS."
It appears that the author of this letter may be First Lieutenant Thomas J. Duggan. He was born on April 7, 1833 and passed away in 1907 and was buried at Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans, Louisiana.
At the time he was serving with the corps artillery headquarters as Assistant Inspector General. When Fenner's battery was ordered to Murfreesboro with Forrest's cavalry after the Battle of Franklin, Thomas apparently stayed with the corps artillery headquarters at Nashville.
This was in a Texas newspaper in May, 1865.
"Hood's Campaign Into Tennessee.
The following private letter, though long delayed, will be interesting to many:
FENNER'S BATTERY, LEE'S CORPS, ARMY OF TENNESSEE, NEAR COLUMBUS, Miss., January 18th, 1865.
My Dear Mother and Sister:--I am enabled once more to write you a few lines, which I hope in the course of time will reach you. Since last writing you, I have been through an ordeal of fire and death, but I have fortunately escaped untouched. I rejoined my company at Jacksonville, Ala., in October last, and we soon after started out for the redemption of Tennessee. After much severe marching, we reached Florence, Ala., where we were enthusiastically welcomed by the citizens. We remained there about two weeks, and commenced an advance movement into Tennessee. We drove the small garrisons of the enemy before us without any trouble, captured Johnsonville with an immense quantity of stores, and finally reached Columbia, Tenn. There the Federals had concentrated from the different outposts about 25,000 men. They made but a feeble resistance and evacuated the place. We pursued them vigorously to Spring Hill, where an opportunity was lost of gaining a decisive victory. One corps of our army was on each flank of the enemy and one in the front. A faint attack having been made on the center of the enemy's lines, they gave way and fled precipitately. If we had pushed them at that time, the whole army would have been routed. However, we failed to take advantage of their panic, and the confusion was soon remedied. They retreated rapidly and we kept up a hot pursuit, had several hours the start of us, but having such a large wagon train, we soon gained on them. Having arrived at Franklin, they immediately commenced throwing up works, with the intention of keeping us at bay until their trains could be removed to a safe distance. It is astonishing to see what powerful works they can throw up in a few hours. When our whole army was drawn up in line of battle, they had completed two lines of very good works with abattus for artillery, and were quietly awaiting us. The attack was soon commenced. Stewart's corps on the right, Cheatham's on the left, and ours in the center. They met our first onset bravely, and it was only after the most desperate fighting that they were compelled to fall back to their second and strongest line. Then commenced a succession of the most gallant charges that have ever been made in this war. Our brave men would charge right up to the ditches while they were pouring on a perfect hail-storm of bullets. They would place their muskets over the enemy's parapets, discharge and reload them. The battle commenced at three o'clock and lasted until ten o'clock, without intermission. Our battery was in position on a high hill overlooking the whole field, and it was, without doubt, the grandest, most sublime and most awful scene I have ever witnessed. After the firing ceased, orders were issued to each battery to open the next morning and fire a hundred rounds, but the Yankees were not to be found next morning. They made good their retreat that night and we were in possession of the city. I went over the battle-field very early the next morning before anything had been removed. It was before daylight, and the clear, cold moon shone peacefully and calmly down on the pale, ghastly faces lying thick on the ground. Some were stretched with composed limbs and resigned features, as if they slept in peace with God; others with distorted mien and limbs, grasping the turf in the agonizing death-struggle. On our return, we passed over the same field. Nothing was to be seen save the little boards marking the resting place of each hero that perished there. Cattle were gently grazing around their graves, where, but a short time before, the storm of battle had raged and the earth shook with the mighty shock. God, grant that the blood that has been spilt will not be in vain—that we may soon conquer an honorable independence, and all live to forget the horrid scene we have passed through. We pressed the Federals rapidly to Nashville and invested the place, threw up three lines of breast works around it, and commenced skirmishing. In the meantime, the Federals were heavily reinforced and became the assaulting party.
Our men again fought gallantly, but were over-powered by numbers, and one division having given away, they came in on our flank and the whole army was soon on the retreat, we fell back a short distance and threw up a line of works during the night. The yankees attacked with four lines of battle the next morning. We then slaughtered them like sheep, but they closed up their scattered lines and charged again and again. Flesh and blood could stand no longer, and the whole army gave away in irremediable confusion. Then commenced my sufferings. I had been barefooted for a week before, but while in camp, suffered but little, as I could toast my feet by the fire. But now we had to retreat rapidly all night with a cold, drizzling rain beating upon me, and not a thing to wrap around me on a rock, flinty road; every step I made the blood spurted from both feet, and my teeth chattered with cold. I cannot conceive how I ever got through that night. However, I rested next morning in an old barn and soon felt strong enough to pursue my rough road, a good Samaritan lady gave men a pair of old shoes and socks, the fourth day and I fared somewhat better. My feet are nearly well now and I am getting very good rations, and am consequently better satisfied, and hope we may soon be led against the merciless foe. We lost our guns at Nashville and are here awaiting new pieces.
If you see a chance to, send me any clothing, do so if you please, I have barely sufficient clothing to protect me from the cold and bleak winds. Nothing but patriotism keeps our army together, and, thank Heaven, there is a strong patriotic spirit still actuating and nerving our little band of heroes. Our country needs our services now more than ever. She is in a perilous condition and should be supported. I, for one, shall stand by her to the last, and advise all my fellow soldiers to do the same. I will push on the best I can, miserably and poorly sometimes, but cheerfully always.
Affectionately your son and brother, THOMAS."
Bringing the