this place last summer, when General T. T. Crittenden was taken, and
lost quite a number of men, horses, and one gun, in the battle of Stone
river.
28. At midnight orderlies went clattering around the camps with orders
for the troops to be supplied with five days' provisions, and in
readiness to march at a moment's notice. We expected to be sent away
this morning, but no orders have yet come to move.
Mrs. Colonel B. F. Scribner sent me a very handsome bouquet with her
compliments.
Mr. Furay accompanied Vallandingham outside the Federal lines, and
received from him a parting declaration, written in pencil and signed by
himself, wherein he claimed that he was a citizen of Ohio and of the
United States, brought there by force and against his will, and that he
delivered himself up as a prisoner of war.
30. Captain Gilbert E. Winters, A. C. S., took tea with me. He is as
jovial as the most successful man in the world, and overruns with small
jokes and stories, many of which he claims were told him by President
Lincoln. From this we might infer that the President has very little to
do but entertain and amuse gentlemen, who apply to him for appointments,
with conversation so coarse that it would be discreditable to a stable
boy.
31. Received a letter from daughter Nellie, a little school girl. She
"wishes the war was out." So do I.
JUNE, 1863.
1. By invitation, the mounted officers of our brigade accompanied
General Negley to witness the review of Rousseau's division. There were
quite a large number of spectators, including a few ladies. I was
introduced to General Wood for the first time, although I have known him
by sight, and known of him well, for months. Many officers of Wood's and
Negley's divisions were present. After the review, and while the troops
were leaving the field, Colonel Ducat, Inspector-General on General
Rosecrans' staff, and Colonel Harker, challenged me for a race. Soon
after, Major McDowell, of Rousseau's staff, joined the party; and, while
we were getting into position for the start, General Wagner, who has a
long-legged white horse, which, he insisted, could beat any thing on the
ground, took place in the line. McCook, Wood, Loomis, and many others,
stopped to witness the race. The horses were all pacers; it was, in
fact, a gathering of the best horses in the army, and each man felt
confident. I was absolutely sure my black would win, and the result
proved that I was correct.
The only time during the race that I was honored with the company of my
competitors, was at the starting; then, I observed, they were all up;
but a half a minute later the black took the lead. The old fellow had
evidently been on the track before, and felt as much interest in the
contest as his owner. He knew what was expected of him, and as he went
flying over the ground astonished me, as he did every body else. Loomis,
who professes to know much about horses, said to me before the race took
place, "Your's is a good-looking horse, but he can't beat McDowell's."
Before leaving the field, however, he admitted that he had been
mistaken. My horse was quicker of foot than he supposed.
2. Called on Colonel Scribner and wife, where I met also Colonel Griffin
and wife; had a long conversation about spiritualism, mesmerism,
clairvoyance, and subjects of that ilk. At night there was a fearful
thunder-storm. The rain descended in torrents, and the peals of thunder
were, I think, louder and more frequent than I ever heard before.
Met Loomis; he had accompanied General Rosecrans and others to witness
the trial of a machine, invented by Wilder, for tearing up railroad
tracks and injuring the rails in such a manner as to render them
worthless. Hitherto the rebels, when they have torn up our railroads,
have placed the bars crosswise on a pile of ties, set fire to the
latter, and so heated and bent the rails; but by heating them again they
could be easily straightened and made good. Wilder's instrument twists
them so they can not be used again.
The New York Herald, I observe, refers with great severity to General
Hascall's administration of affairs in Indiana; saying that "to place
such a brainless fool in a military command is not simply an error, it
is a crime." This is grossly unjust. Hascall is not only a gallant
soldier, but a man of education and excellent sense. He has been active,
and possibly severe, in his opposition to treasonable organizations and
notoriously disloyal men, whose influence was exerted to discourage
enlistments and retard the enforcement of the draft. Unfortunately, in
time of civil war, besides the great exigencies which arise to threaten
the commonwealth, innumerable lesser evils gather like flies about an
open wound, to annoy, irritate, and kill. Against these the law has made
no adequate provision. The military must, therefore, often interpose for
the public good, without waiting for legislative authority, or the slow
processes of the civil law, just as the fireman must proceed to batter
down the doors of a burning edifice, without stopping to obtain the
owner's permission to enter and subdue the flames.
3. Our division was reviewed to-day. The spectators were numerous,
numbering among other distinguished personages Generals Rosecrans,
Thomas, Crittenden, Rousseau, Sheridan, and Wood. The weather was
favorable, and the review a success. In the evening, a large party
gathered at Negley's quarters, where lunch and punch were provided in
abundance.
Generals Wood and Crittenden, of the Twenty-first Army Corps, claimed
that I did not beat Wagner fairly in the horse-race the other day. I
expressed a willingness to satisfy them that I could do so any day; and,
further, that my horse could out-go any thing in the Twenty-first Corps.
The upshot of the matter is that we have a race arranged for Friday
afternoon at four o'clock.
The party was a merry one; gentlemen imbibed freely. General Rosecrans'
face was as red as a beet; he had, however, been talking with ladies,
and being a diffident man, was possibly blushing. Wood persisted that
the Twenty-first Corps could not be beaten in a horse-race, and that
Wagner's long-legged white was the most wonderful pacer he ever saw.
Negley seemed possessed with the idea that every body was trying to
escape, and that it was necessary for him to seize them by the arm and
haul them back to the table; he seemed also to be laboring under the
delusion that his guests would not drink unless he kept his eye on them,
and forced them to do so. Lieutenant-Colonel Ducat, an Irishman of the
Charles O'Malley school, insisted upon introducing me to the ladies, but
fortunately I was sober enough to decline the invitation. Harker, late
in the evening, thought he discovered a disposition on the part of
others to play off on him; he felt in duty bound to empty a full
tumbler, while they shirked by taking only half of one, which he
affirmed was unfair and inexcusable. General Thomas, after sitting at
his wine an hour, conversing the while with a lady, arose from the table
evidently very much refreshed, and proceeded to make himself exceedingly
agreeable. I never knew the old gentleman to be so affable, cordial, and
complimentary before.
4. The guns have been reverberating in our front all day. I am told that
Sheridan's division advanced on the Shelbyville road. It is probable
that a part, if not the whole, of the firing is in his front.
5. Read the Autobiography of Peter Cartright. It is written in the
language of the frontier, and presents a rough, strong, uneducated man,
full of vanity, courage, and religious zeal. He never reached the full
measure of dignity requisite to a minister of the Gospel. There are many
amusing incidents in the volume, and many tales of adventures with
sinners, in the cabin, on the road, and at camp meeting, in all of which
Cartright gets the better of the sons of Belial, and triumphs in the
Lord.
8. The One Hundred and Fourth Illinois, Colonel Moore, reported to me
for duty, so that I have now four regiments and a battery. This Colonel
Moore is the same who was in command at Hartsville, and whose regiment
and brigade were captured by the ubiquitous John Morgan last winter. He
has but recently returned from the South, where, for a time, he was
confined in Libby prison.
The rebels are still prowling about our lines, but making no great
demonstrations of power.
9. Governor (?) Billy Williams;, of Indiana, dined with me to-day; he
resides in Warsaw, is a politician, a fair speaker, and an inveterate
story teller.
Wilson has been appointed Assistant Adjutant-General, with the rank of
captain.
13. Had brigade drill in a large clover field, just outside the picket
line. The men were in fine condition, well dressed, and well equipped. I
kept them on the jump for two hours. Generals Thomas and Negley were
present, and were well pleased. I doubt if any brigade in the army, can
execute a greater variety of movements than mine, or go through them in
better style. My voice is excellent, I can make myself heard distinctly
by a whole brigade, without becoming hoarse by hours of exertion.
Starkweather has the best voice in the army; he can be heard a mile
away.
Our division and brigade flags have been changed from light to dark
blue. They look almost like a black no-quarter flag.
We have one solitary rooster: he crows early in the morning, all day,
and through the night if it be moonlight. He mounted a stump near my
door this morning, stood between the tent and the sun, so that his
shadow fell on the canvas, and crowed for half an hour at the top of his
voice. I think the scamp knew I was lying abed longer than usual, and
was determined to make me get up. He is on the most intimate terms with
the soldiers, and struts about the camp with an air of as much
importance as if he wore shoulder-straps, and had been reared at West
Point. He enters the boys' tents, and inspects their quarters with all
the freedom and independence of a regularly detailed inspecting officer.
He is a fine type of the soldier, proud and vain, with a tremendous
opinion of his own fighting qualities.
16. Had a grand corps drill. The line of troops, when stretched out, was
over a mile in length. The Corps was like a clumsy giant, and hours were
required to execute the simplest movement. When, for instance, we
changed front, my brigade marched nearly, if not quite, a mile to take
position in the new line. The waving of banners, the flashing of sabers
and bayonets, the clattering to and fro of muddle-headed aids-de-camp on
impatient steeds, the heavy rumble of artillery wagons, the blue coats
of the soldiers, the golden trappings of the field and staff, made a
grand scene for the disinterested spectator to look upon; but with the
thermometer ranging from eighty-five to one hundred, it was hard work
for the soldier who bore knapsack, haversack, and gun, and calculated to
produce an unusual amount of perspiration, and not a little profanity.
Major-General Thomas guided the immense mass of men, while the
operations of the divisions were superintended by their respective
commanders. I fear the brigade and regimental commanders profited little
by the drill, but I hope the major-generals learned something. The
latter, in their devotion to strategy, have evidently neglected tactics,
and failed to unravel the mysteries of the school of the battalion.
In the morning, with my division commander, I called on General Thomas,
at his quarters, and had the honor to accept from his hands the most
abominable cigar it has ever been my misfortune to attempt to smoke.
19. The army has been lying here now nearly six months. It has of late
been kept pretty busy. Sunday morning inspections, monthly inspections
of troops, frequent inspections of arms and ammunition, innumerable
drills, and constant picketing.
Colonel Miller assumes command of a brigade in Johnson's division. Since
the troops were at Nashville he has been commanding what was known as
the Second Brigade of Negley's division; but the colonels of the brigade
objected to having an imported colonel placed over them, and so Miller
takes command of the brigade to which his regiment is attached. He is a
brave man and a good officer. Colonel Harker's brigade has been relieved
from duty at the fortifications, and is now encamped near us, on the
Liberty road.
21. Mrs. Colonel Scribner and Mrs. Colonel Griffin stopped at my
tent-door for a moment this morning. They were on horseback, and each
had a child on the saddle. They were giving Mrs. Scribner's children a
little ride.
Attended divine service in the camp of the Eighty-eighth Indiana, and
afterward called for a few minutes on Colonel Moore, of the One Hundred
and Fourth Illinois. On returning to my quarters I found Colonels Hobart
and Taylor awaiting me. They were about to visit Colonel T. P. Nicholas,
of the Second Kentucky Cavalry, and desired me to accompany them. We
dined with Colonel Nicholas, and, as is the custom, observed the
apostolic injunction of taking something for the stomach's sake. Toward
evening we visited the field hospital, and paid our respects to Surgeon
Finley and lady. Here, much against our wills, we were compelled to
empty a bottle of sherry. On the way to our own quarters Colonel Taylor
insisted upon our calling with him to see a friend, with whom we were
obliged to take a glass of ale. So that it was about dark when we three
sober gentlemen drew near to our respective quarters. We had become
immensely eloquent on the conduct of the war, and with great unanimity
concluded that if Grant were to take Vicksburg he would be entitled to
our profoundest admiration and respect. Hobart, as usual, spoke of his
State as if it were a separate and independent nation, whose sons, in
imitation of LaFayette, Kosciusko and DeKalb, were devoting their best
blood to the maintenance of free government in a foreign land; while
Taylor, incited thereto by this eulogy on Wisconsin, took up the cudgel
for Kentucky, and dwelt enthusiastically on the gallantry of her men and
the unrivaled beauty of her women.
When I dismounted and turned my horse over to the servant, I caught a
glimpse of the signal lights on the dome of the court-house, and was
astonished to find just double the usual number, in the act of
performing a Dutch waltz. I concluded that the Signal Corps must be
drunk. Saddened by the reflection that those occupying high places,
whose duty it was to let their light shine before men, should be found
in this condition of hopeless inebriety, I heaved a sigh which might
have been mistaken by the uncharitable for a hic-cough, and lay down to
rest.
23. My colt had a sore eye a day or two ago, but it is now getting well.
The boys pet him, and by pinching him have taught him to bite. I fear
they will spoil him. I have not ridden him much of late. He has a way of
walking on his hind legs, for which the saddles in use are not
calculated, and there is, consequently, a constant tendency, on the part
of the rider, to slip over his tail.
Captain Wells sent a colored teamster, who had just come in, tired and
hungry, to his quarters for dinner. Simon Bolivar Buckner, who now has
charge of the commissary and culinary branch of the Captain's
establishment, was in the act of dining when the teamster entered the
tent and seated himself at the table. Buckner, astonished at this
unceremonious intrusion, exclaimed: "What you doin' har, sah?" "De Capin
tole me fer to come and get my dinnah." "Hell," shouted Buckner, "does
de Capin 'spose I'm guiane to eat wid a d--n common nigger? Git out'er
har, till I'm done got through."
Buckner gets married every time we move camp. On last Sunday Captain
Wells found him dressed very elaborately, in white vest and clean linen,
and said to him: "What's in the wind, Buckner?" "Gwine to be married dis
ebening, sah." "What time?" "Five o'clock, sah." "Can't spare you,
Buckner. Expect friends here to dine at six, and want a good dinner
gotten up." "Berry well, sah; can pos'pone de wedin', sah. Dis'pintment
to lady, sah; but it'll be all right."
24. The note of preparation for a general advance sounded late last
night. Reynolds moved at 4 A. M.; Rousseau at 7; our division will leave
at 10. A long line of cavalry is at this moment going out on the
Manchester pike.
* * * * *
Rain commenced falling soon after we left Murfreesboro, and continued
the remainder of the day. The roads were sloppy, and marching
disagreeable. Encamped at Big creek for the night; Rousseau and Reynolds
in advance.
Before leaving Murfreesboro I handed John what I supposed to be a
package of tea, and told him to fill my canteen with cold tea. On the
road I took two or three drinks, and thought it tasted strongly of
tobacco; but I accounted for it on the supposition that I had been
smoking too much, and that the tobacco taste was in my mouth, and not in
the tea. After getting into camp I drank of it again, when it occurred
to me that John had neglected to cleanse the canteen before putting the
tea in, and go I began to scold him. "I did clean it, sah," retorted
John. "Well, this tea," I replied, "tastes very much like tobacco
juice." "It is terbacker juice, sah." "Why, how is that?" "You gib me
paper terbacker, an' tole me hab some tea made, sah, and I done jes as
you tole me, sah." "Why you are a fool, John; did you suppose I wanted
you to make me tea out of tobacco?" "Don know, sah; dat's what you tole
me, sah; done jes as you tole me, sah."
25. Marched to Hoover's Gap. Heavy skirmishing in front during the day.
Reynolds lost fifteen killed, and quite a number wounded. A stubborn
fight was expected, and our division moved up to take part in it; but
the enemy fell back. Rain has been falling most of the day. A pain in my
side admonishes me that I should have worn heavier boots.
26. Moved to Beech Grove. Cannonading in front during the whole day; but
we have now become so accustomed to the noise of the guns that it hardly
excites remark. The sky is still cloudy, and I fear we shall have more
rain to-night. The boys are busy gathering leaves and twigs to keep them
from the damp ground. General Negley's quarters are a few rods to my
left, and General Thomas' just below us, at the bottom of the hill.
Reynolds is four miles in advance.
27. We left Beech Grove, or Jacob's Store, this morning, at five
o'clock, and conducted the wagon train of our division through to
Manchester. Rosecrans and Reynolds are here. The latter took possession
of the place two or three hours before my brigade reached it, and the
former came up three hours after we had gone into camp. We are now
twelve miles from Tullahoma. The guns are thundering off in the
direction of Wartrace. Hardee's corps was driven from Fairfield this
morning. My baggage has not come, and I am compelled to sleep on the
wet ground in a still wetter overcoat.
28. My baggage arrived during the night, and this morning I changed my
clothes and expected to spend the Sabbath quietly; but about 10 A. M. I
was ordered to proceed to Hillsboro, a place eight miles from
Manchester, on the old stage road to Chattanooga. When we were moving
out I met Durbin Ward, who asked me where I was going. I told him.
"Why," said he, "I thought, from the rose in your button-hole, that you
were going to a wedding." "No," I replied; "but I hope we are going to
nothing more serious."
29. My position is one of great danger, being so far from support and so
near the enemy. Last night my pickets on the Tullahoma road were driven
in, after a sharp fight, and my command was put in line of battle, and
so remained for an hour or more; but we were not again disturbed. No
fires were built, and the darkness was impenetrable.
At noon I received orders to proceed to Bobo's Cross-roads, and reach
that point before nightfall. There were two ways of going there: the one
via Manchester was comparatively safe, although considerably out of the
direct line; the other was direct, but somewhat unsafe, because it would
take me near the enemy's front. The distance by this shorter route was
eleven miles. I chose the latter. It led through a sparsely settled,
open oak country. Two regiments of Wheeler's cavalry had been hovering
about Hillsboro during the day, evidently watching our movements. After
proceeding about three miles, a dash was made upon my skirmish line,
which resulted in the killing of a lieutenant, the capture of one man,
and the wounding of several others. I instantly formed line of battle,
and pushed forward as rapidly as the nature of the ground would admit;
but the enemy fell back.
About five o'clock, as we drew near Bobo's, two cannon shots and quite a
brisk fire of musketry advised us that the rebels were either still in
possession of the Cross-roads or our friends were mistaking us for the
enemy. I formed line of battle, and ordered the few cavalrymen who
accompanied me to make a detour to the right and rear, and ascertain, if
possible, who were in our front. The videttes soon after reported the
enemy advancing, with a squadron of cavalry in the lead, and I put my
artillery in position to give them a raking fire when they should reach
a bend of the road. At this moment when life and death seemed to hang in
the balance, and when we supposed we were in the presence of a very
considerable, if not an overwhelming, force of the enemy, a half-grown
hog emerged from the woods, and ran across the road. Fifty men sprang
from the ranks and gave it chase, and before order was fully restored,
and the line readjusted, my cavalry returned with the information that
the troops in front were our own.
The incidents of the last six days would fill a volume; but I have been
on horseback so much, and otherwise so thoroughly engaged, that I have
been, and am now, too weary to note them down, even if I had the
conveniences at hand for so doing.
JULY, 1863.
1. My brigade, with a battalion of cavalry attached, started from Bobo's
Cross-roads in the direction of Winchester. When one mile out we picked
up three deserters, who reported that the rebels had evacuated
Tullahoma, and were in full retreat. Half a mile further along I
overtook the enemy's rear guard, when a sharp fight occurred between the
cavalry, resulting, I think, in very little injury to either party. The
enemy fell back a mile or more, when he opened on us with artillery, and
a sharp artillery fight took place, which lasted for perhaps thirty
minutes. Several men on both sides were killed and wounded. The enemy
finally retired, and taking a second position awaited our arrival, and
opened on us again. I pushed forward in the thick woods, and drove him
from point to point for seven miles. Negley followed with the other
brigades of the division, ready to support me in case the enemy proved
too strong, but I did not need assistance. The force opposed to us
simply desired to retard pursuit; and whenever we pushed against it
vigorously fell back.
2. This morning we discover that we bivouacked during the night within
half a mile of a large force of rebel cavalry and infantry. After
proceeding a little way, we found the enemy in position on the bluffs on
the opposite side of Elk river, with his artillery planted so as to
sweep the road leading to the bridge. Halting my infantry and cavalry
under the cover of the hill, I sent to the rear for an additional
battery, and, before the enemy seemed to be aware of what we were doing,
I got ten guns in position on the crest of the hill and commenced
firing. The enemy's cavalry and infantry, which up to this time had
lined the opposite hills, began to scatter in great confusion; but we
did not have it all our own way by any means. The rebels replied with
shot and shell very vigorously, and for half an hour the fight was very
interesting; at the end of that time, however, their batteries limbered
up and left on the double quick. In the meantime, I had sent a
detachment of infantry to occupy a stockade which the enemy had
constructed near the bridge, and from this position good work was done
by driving off his sharpshooters. We found the bridge partially burned,
and the river too much swollen for either the men or trains to ford it.
Rousseau and Brannan, I understand, succeeded in crossing at an upper
ford, and are in hot pursuit.