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TTHE 
 
 STORY OF A REGIMENT 
 
 BEING A NARRATIVE OF THE 
 
 Service of the Second Keoiment, 
 
 MINNESOTA VETERAN VOLUNTEER 
 INFANTRY, 
 
 In the Civil War of 1861-1865, 
 
 ^^VOFCO/V 
 
 JUDSON W. BISHOF», 
 
 (Late Colonel and Bvt. Brkj. Genl. U. S. V.) 
 
 WRITTEN AND PUBLISHED FOR. AND BY RECJUEST OF THE 
 SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE REGIMENT. 
 
 ST. PAUL. MINN. 
 1890. 
 
s 
 
-.z::;;^^^-^^^-:?^^^ i^ ^€^'' 
 
 
 i^-C^-^-C^ 
 
 p:ntercd according to act of Congress, in the year 1890, by J. W 
 Bishop, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
INXRODUCXION 
 
 In response to the often repeated request of my 
 comrades, now surviving, of the Second Minnesota 
 Regiment, I recently promised to write a connected 
 narrative of the service of the regiment from 1861 
 to 1865. 
 
 Having been the first man to be mustered into 
 that regiment and the last man to be mustered 
 out of it, and having served continuously in it 
 from first to last, and having for more than half 
 the term of service, had the responsibility of its 
 administration, discipline and command, it should 
 not be a diflficult task for me to make a continuous 
 record of all important events in its history. As 
 moreover its services were always and everywhere 
 honorable, efiicient and satisfactory, it should be, 
 and is, a labor of love to review and record them. 
 
 But amid the absorbing and varied cares of -a 
 busy life 1 have found it impossible to give to the 
 work the continuous attention that is necessary to 
 perform such work well, and I should not be 
 satisfied with it now, if I could suppose that I 
 should ever have the leisure time in which to im- 
 prove upon it. 
 
 It is intended to be and I believe is, a faithful 
 and truthful record of facts and events, and as such 
 
2 Introduction. 
 
 will be tested without discredit b\^ the official 
 reports and the diaries and letters of the time 
 With less care in this respect, and wath more free- 
 dom of invention and imagination, a more 
 interesting and readable war story could doubtless 
 have been made of it. 
 
 In writing the story of the regiment the frequent 
 mention of names has been avoided. A great 
 man\^ of the seventeen hundred and eighty men 
 who were members of it have w^ell deserved personal 
 mention for gallant and meritorious conduct, else 
 the regiment as such could not have acquired its 
 conceded high reputation, but it is obviously 
 impossible to mention all, or some without omitting 
 others equally worth}^ and rny comrades generally 
 will, I trust, be content to claim the histor^^ of 
 the regiment, which they helped to make, as their 
 own, and be proud of it as they have. a right to be. 
 
 A part of the record history of the regiment 
 consists of such correspondence, official reports, 
 orders and recommendations as would encumber 
 the progress of the narrative if placed therein ; 
 these are given in the appendix, usually in full, and 
 from official* sources. Some of them are now^ for 
 the first time in print and all of them wnll be of 
 interest to members of the regiment. 
 
 I had proposed to append also a complete 
 roster giving the official military record of each 
 and all the members of the regiment, but I find 
 upon examination, that the only record thus far 
 compiled is imperfect, erroneous and unsatisfactory. 
 The compilation of a new and complete one from 
 original rolls and records is impracticable within 
 
Introduction. 3 
 
 the time at my command, and I am thus compelled 
 to close the book without it. 
 
 This is less to be regretted, however, in view of 
 the fact that the State has by law provided for 
 the preparation of an official roster of all the 
 Minnesota soldiers, of which every such soldier 
 now surviving (or his representative if dead) is to 
 receive a copy free of expense. 
 
 I am under obligations to comrades D. C. 
 Wilson, Wm. Bircher and M. D. E. Runals for the 
 use of their daily journals (1861 to 1865) ^vhich 
 have been valuable references in locating events 
 and dates. 
 
 The work, such as it is, Comrades, is now sub- 
 mitted in the hope that it will meet \'our kind 
 approval and that it ma^^ revive, as you read it, 3'our 
 interest and pride in the memory of our regiment 
 and of your service in and with it, as it has in- 
 deed revived mine to prepare the record for you. 
 
 J. W. BISHOP. 
 St. Paul, June, 1890. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I.— Getting Into the Service 17 
 
 The war opens at Sumpter — The President's call 
 for troops — Gov. Ramsey tenders a regiment — The 
 executive proclamation— The Adjutant General's 
 order — The militia companiCvS — Company "A "holds 
 a meeting — And volunteers — And is formally tend- 
 ered — And accepted for the 1st regiment — Is after- 
 wards left out as supernumerary — And awaits a call 
 for a second regiment — Marching orders received — 
 The company re-enlists for three \'cars — Re])orts at 
 Fort Snelling — Is mustered into the service — Marches 
 to Fort Ripley— Other companie?5 report and are 
 mustered in — Field and staff officers are appointed — 
 Regiment assembled at Fort Snelling — Preparations 
 for going South — Mrs. and Miss Van Cleve. 
 
 CHAPTER II.— Going to the War 26 
 
 We leave Fort Snelling— The march through 
 St. Paul — Voyage down the river — La Crosse — 
 Chicago and the " Wigwam "—Our Pittsburg Re- 
 ception — Orders changed — A voyage down the Ohio 
 river— Louisville, Kentucky— A call on Gen. Sher- 
 man — A night ride to Lebanon Junction — Assigned 
 to Gen. Geo. H. Thomas' division— Relieved by 3rd 
 Minnesota regiment-Ordered to Lebanon-Brigaded 
 with other regiments— The mules and the wagoners. 
 
 CHAPTER III.— The Mill Springs Campaign 33 
 
 Our march out on New Year's day — Leaving 
 the "pike"— Rain, mud and discomfort— Only the 
 
Index. 
 
 top rail — Apple jack — Logan's cross roads — Topo- 
 graphy—Assembling the troops— Out on picket— 
 The night before the battle— The attack upon the 
 pickets — Long roll in the camps — The battle opens — 
 The 2nd Minnesota goes in— The fighting "through 
 the same fence" — Killing of Bailie Peyton — A ba^^- 
 onet charge — Hon. Charles Scheffer — Death of Gen. 
 Zollicoffer — The enemy routed — Our pursuit — Biv- 
 ouac on Moulden's Hill — We occupy the enemy's 
 camp next morning — Captured artiller\% animals 
 and stores— Battle flag captured by 2nd Minne- 
 sota — Killed and wounded. 
 
 CHAPTER IV.— Mill Springs to Shiloh 49 
 
 Return march to Louisville — Dr. Jackson's farm — 
 A flag presented by the loyal ladies of Louisville — 
 Vo\^ige down the Ohio river to Smithfield — And up 
 the Cumberland to Nashville — March from Nash- 
 ville — Detention at Duck river — Rain, mud and night 
 marching — Arrival at Savannah — By river to 
 Shiloh— The battle field— Burial of the dead— Col. 
 VanCleve promoted — Band mustered out — Halleck's 
 arrival — Seige of Corinth — Evacuation, and pursuit 
 of the enem3^ — Disappointment and disgust. 
 
 CHAPTER v.— CoRLNTHTo Louisville 57 
 
 Our march eastward — Camp at Tuscumbia— 
 Fourth of July— Gov. Ramsey's fisit— The "bugle 
 band" organized—Florence— Sensational proceedings 
 in church — " Kingdom Comin " — The plundering of 
 Athens, Tennessee — The murder of Gen. Robert L. 
 McCook— Company "C " 3rd Minnesota regiment- 
 News of the Indian massacre in, Minnesota — Lieut. 
 Col. Wilkin appointed Colonel of 9th Minnesota 
 regiment — March to Nashville — Bragg's army 
 crosses the Cumberland — The race for Louisville — 
 Seventy miles in three days— "Sink holes" and 
 •'dough gods"— The battle of the apples— Cave 
 
Index. 7 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 City— A hard march via Elizabethtown to the Ohio 
 river at the mouth of Salt river— Steamers to Louis- 
 ville—Orders relieving Buell issued and suspended. 
 
 CHAPTER VI.— The Perryville Campaign 69 
 
 Killing of Gen. William Nelson — Reorganization of 
 of the army— Capt. Gilbert and Capt. Gay assigned 
 to command over their vseniors — We march out to 
 find the enemy — A seventeen mile skirmish — The 
 battle of Perrvville — Our brigade ordered in at twi- 
 light — A startling experience — Comments on the 
 battle— The pursuit to Crab Crchard— A cocky In- 
 spector General — An arrest ordered and trouble 
 promised — Crab Orchard via Lebanon, Cave City 
 and Bowling Green to Mitchelville — Repairing the 
 tunnel — Camp at Cunningham's Ford — Capture of 
 new regiments — Gallatin, Tennessee — Proclamation 
 of Emancipation — A lard mine — Ordered to rejoin 
 the division. 
 
 CHAPTER Vn.— Triune and Tullaiioma 80 
 
 A vain chase after Wheeler's cavalr3' — Camp at 
 the Battle farm — The Battle family — An inspection 
 of the regiment — Col. George goes to Minnesota — 
 A brilliant fight b_v our foraging party — Congratu- 
 latory orders — Good-b3^ to the Battle family — An 
 expedition to Harpeth river — A quick march to 
 Chapel Hill — A fight and capture of prisoners — 
 Encampment at Triune — Building fortifications — 
 Our detail samples Gen. Steedman's whiskey — We 
 get Enfield rifles— Gen. Schofield succeeds Steedman, 
 and Gen. Brannan succeeds Schofield in the com- 
 mand of the division— Brigade exercises— " Pup 
 tents" issued — A grajid review — A night march to 
 Franklin — An inhospitable reception — Tullahoma 
 campaign begins — A rainy day skirmish — An as- 
 tonished surgeon — Hooker's Gap — Tullahoma 
 captured— Fording Elk river. 
 
8 Index. 
 
 PAGK. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII.— The Campaign and Battle of 
 
 Chicamauga yi 
 
 Up the Cumberland mountains— An adjourned 
 university— Battle Creek— Picketing the Tennessee 
 river— Building rafts and scows — Crossing the 
 river— Nic-a-Jack Cave — Crossing Racoon moun- 
 tain—Lookout Valley— Lookout Mountain— Lee's 
 Mill— A scrimmage at Pond Springs— The night 
 march before the battle— That breakfast v^^e never 
 ate— The opening of Chicamauga— Our first day's 
 battle— The stampeded brigade— Charge of the 9th 
 Ohio— Desperate fighting of our brigade— Final 
 repulse of the enem3^ — Next day in reserve — The 
 skulkers— The wounded general officer- Ordered to 
 the left flank — Fight with Breckenridge's division — 
 Change of front under Are— Dispersion of the enemy— 
 Snodgrass Hill — Gen. Thomas — A memorable after- 
 noon — Our successful defense of the ridge — With- 
 drawal to Rossville at night— Every man accounted 
 for — Our brigade commander's report — Heav}' loss 
 of our brigade. 
 
 CHAPTER IX.— Chattanooga and Mission Ridge 113 
 
 Establishing the parallel camps in line of battle — 
 Scanty supply of food, forage and clothing— Our 
 diversions "such as they were" — Skirmishing for 
 fuel — The big guns on Lookout — Reorganization — 
 Col. George is again compelled to leave us — Topo- 
 graphy of Chattanooga — Enemy signalling over our 
 heads — Opening of the "Cracker line" — Prepara- 
 tions for the grand battle — Hooker's battle above 
 the clouds — Sherman's attack on Mission Ridge — 
 Grand and successful assault on Mission Ridge by 
 the Armj-- of the Cumberland — Official report of our 
 regimental commander — Movements of our brigade 
 and of our regiment deployed in the front — Capture 
 of the first line of breastworks — Our brigade com- 
 mander commends the 2nd Minnesota — Comments 
 on the battle. 
 
Index. 9 
 
 PAGB. 
 
 CHAPTER X.— Veteranizing 128 
 
 Return to Chattanooga — Burying the Chica- 
 mauga dead — Invited to reinlist — Discussion in the 
 camps — Eighty- per cent decide favorablv, and arc 
 , 're-enlisted as veterans — The non- veterans are de- 
 tached — The regiment starts for Minnesota — Steam- 
 ers to Bridgeport— Box cars to Nashville— And thence 
 to Louisville — The freedom of the city claimed and 
 granted for the veterans — Our old muskets turned 
 in — A memorable ride to Chicago — That breakfast 
 at Crawfordsville— The sleigh ride from La Crosse 
 to St. Paul— Hospitalit\^ of Winona people— Warm 
 reception of the veterans at St. Paul — The veteran 
 furlough — Public reception at Chatfield — Address by 
 the regimental commander — Reassembling at Fort 
 Snelling — Our entertainment by the ladies of St. 
 Anthony— Return by stages to La Crosse— Col. 
 George rejoins here and assumes command — By rail 
 to Nashville — March thence to Bridgeport — Rejoin 
 division at Ringgold, Georgia. 
 
 CHAPTER XL— T,HE Atlanta Campaign 142 
 
 Stripping for work — Reconnoisance — The cam- 
 paign begins— Tunnel Hill— Snake Creek Gap— 
 Dalton, then Resaca, evacuated — Calhoun — Cass- 
 ville— The 9th Ohio goes home— The famous "hun- 
 dred days" — Intrenchinga line under iire — A battery 
 comes into action— Lieut. Jones killed — Gen. How^- 
 ard's account of it— Kenesaw^ mountain— An unrest- 
 ful camp — A moonlight march— A sad event — Col. 
 George and our non-veterans mustered out — Unsuc- 
 cessful assault of Davis' division— Kenesav\r evacu- 
 ated—Recruits arrive— Garrison dutA' at Marietta— 
 Again to the front — More recruits — Back to Mari- 
 etta—Post and Garrison duty— Again to the front- 
 Battle of Jonesboro— Atlanta evacuated— Force and 
 casualties report — An unpleasant history — Gen. 
 Thomas requests the Governor to fill up the regi- 
 ment—Lieut. Col. Bishop sent to Minnesota for the 
 
10 Index. 
 
 recruits — And returns— Hood's army in our rear and 
 our pursuit — Silver horns for the band — Return to 
 Atlanta. 
 
 CHAPTER XH.— The March to the Sea 156 
 
 The burning of Atlanta — Our march out east- 
 ward—Unbuilding the railroad— An unfortunate 
 train — A resurrection — Howell Cobb's farm — Alill- 
 edgevillc — A provisional legislature — Repeal of the 
 Ordinance of Secession — The foragers and their 
 methods — No straggling allowed — A Methodist 
 minister among the conscripts — "See that 3^ou fall 
 not out bj^ the way" — After the enemy's cavalry — 
 Rice with the bark on — A foraging expedition — Fort 
 McAllister falls — Supplies from the fleet — Savannah 
 evacuated — 40 days' mail — Irish potatoes — Christ- 
 mas and fresh oysters — Chaplain Gleason — Grand 
 review in Savannah — Our regiment ordered into the 
 city — In charge of Central railroad grounds and 
 property — Maj. Uline sent to Minnesota for recruits. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII.— Savannah to Raleigh 168 
 
 The campaign of the Carolinas — We leave Savan- 
 nah — Sister's Ferry — Cross the river into South 
 Carolina — Devastation of the country — Barnwell 
 Court House — Destroying the railroad — Pontooning 
 the river — The countr3' on fire — Burning of Colum- 
 bia — Sunday work — The Catawba river — A precari- 
 ous crossing— Hanging Rock battle ground— The 
 Great Pedee river — Cross into North Carolina — A 
 burning stream — Faj'etteville — Destruction of the 
 arsenal— Battle of Bentonville— Arrival at Golds- 
 boro— An impromptu review-60da\'s' mail at once— 
 A military execution — An inspection — The ba nd — 
 Maj. Uline returns — Some promotions — News of 
 Lee's surrender— Advance to Raleigh— State Insnne 
 Asylum— Johnston's surrender — Halleck's discour- 
 tesy towards Sherman. 
 
Index. 11 
 
 CHAPTER XIV.— Richmond, Washington and Home. .181 
 "A comfortable and leisurely march" — A race of 
 the 14th and 20th corps — We cross into Virginia — 
 Our arrival at Richmond — Forbidden to enter the 
 city — Gen. Halleck proposes to review the 14th 
 corps — Sherman countermands it — And orders our 
 march to Washington — We "route step" through 
 Richmond — The Chicahominy — Pamunkey — Rajii 
 dan and Rappahannock rivers — Bristoe station — 
 Manassas and Bull Run battle fields — Alexandria — 
 The grand_revi^w in Washington — A magnificent 
 military spectacle — Change of encampment — A visit 
 and review by Gen. Geo. H. Thomas — Reorganiza- 
 tion of our division — Col. Bishop assigned to com- 
 mand the 1st brigade — Vovage down the Ohio river — 
 Encampment at Louisville — 20 da\'s of suspense — 
 Muster for discharge — Farewell orders and ad- 
 dresses by our division and corps commanders— By 
 rail to Chicago and La Crosse — Steamer to* Fort 
 Snelling — A parade march at Winona — Grand recep- 
 tion at St. Paul — Encamp at Fort Snelling — Fare- 
 well address by the Colonel — Final pa3'ment and 
 discharge — Dispersion of the men and "good-b^^" 
 
 CHAPTER XV.— Concluding Remarks 192 
 
 In the beginning, the inexperience of officers and 
 men — Organization and duty by companies — The 
 regiment becomes later the unit — Brigading by 
 States — The soldier learns how to take care of him- 
 self—The evolution of discipline — To be always 
 "present and ready" — Army transportation — "Pup 
 tents" — Regimental Bands— Our "pioneer corps" — 
 Recruiting the veteran regiments — Comparative 
 inefficiency of new regiments — Average good physi- 
 cal condition of the old soldier — They have generally 
 been successful in civil life — And partially because of 
 their military experience and training— The Great 
 Beyond. 
 
APPENOIX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 No. 1. Adjutant General's order (State of Minnesota) 
 
 to captains of militia eompanies. April 17th, 1861. ..203 
 
 No. 2. Acceptance (telegram) of Company "A" by 
 
 Lieut. Gov. Ignatius Donnelly. April 22nd, 1861. ...203 
 
 No. 3. Acceptance (letter) of Company "A" by Lieut. 
 
 Gov. Ignatius Donnelly. April 22nd, 1861 203 
 
 No. 4. Order by John B. Sanborn, Adjutant General, to 
 Company "A" to turn over the arms and equip- 
 ments for companies of the 1st regiment. April 
 26th, 1861 204 
 
 No. 5. Tender of " Chatfield Guards" as unconditional 
 volunteers. May 4th, 1861 204 
 
 No. 6. Application of " Chatheld Guards" for reissue 
 
 of arms and equipments. June 7th, 1861 204 
 
 No. 7. Orders from Adjutant General's office to design- 
 ate the post commander at P'^ort Snelling. June 
 26th, 1861 205 
 
 No. 8. Gen. Geo. H. Thomas' report transmitting a 
 rebel flag, captured by 2nd Minnesota regiment at 
 Mill Springs. Dated February 3rd, 1862 205 
 
 No. 9. Report of battle of Mill Springs, by Col. H. P. 
 Van Cleve, commanding 2nd regiment Minnesota 
 volunteers. Dated January 22nd, 1862 206 
 
Index to Appendix. 13 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 No. 10. Official list of killed and wounded of 2nd Min- 
 nesota regiment at battle of Mill Springs. (12 
 killed and 33 wounded.) 207 
 
 No. 11. Report of battle of Mill Springs, by Col. 
 Robert L. McCook, commanding 3rd brigade, 1st 
 division. Dated January 27th, 1862 208 
 
 No. 12. Report of battle of Mill Springs, by Gen. 
 George H. Thomas, commanding 1st division. 
 Dated January 31st, 1862 211 
 
 No. 13. Gen. W. S. Rosecrans' order commending the 
 2nd Minnesota regiment (after inspection by Capt. 
 James Curtis) as " worthy of imitation " 215 
 
 No. 14. Complimentary order by Col. Van Dervecr, 
 commanding 3rd brigade, commending the gallant 
 conduct of Sergant L. N. Holmes and fourteen men 
 of Company "H" in repulsing an attack of rebel 
 calvary. Dated February, 1863 215 
 
 No. 15. Report (referring to No. 14) of Gen. J. H. Steed- 
 man, commanding division. Dated February 15th, 
 1863 216 
 
 No. 16. Report of battle of Chicamauga,by Col. James 
 George, commanding 2nd Minnesota regiment. 
 Dated September 25th, 1863 216 
 
 No. 17. Official list of killed, wounded and captured of 
 the 2nd Minnesota regiment at battles of Chica- 
 mauga. (Killed 35, wounded 113, captured 14; 
 total loss, 162.) 219 
 
 No. 18. Supplementary report of Col. James George, 
 commanding 2nd Minnesota regiment, commending 
 certain officers and men, "for gallant and meritori- 
 ous conduct." Dated September 3()th, 1863 223 
 
 No. 19. Report of battles of Chicamauga, by Col. F. 
 Van Derveer, commanding 3rd brigade. Dated 
 September 25th, 1863 .^. 225 
 
14 Index to Appendix. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 No. 20. Col. James George recommended for pro- 
 motion 232 
 
 No. 21. Official list of killed and wounded of the 2nd 
 Minnesota regiment in battles of Mission Ridge. 
 (Killed 5, wounded 34.) 233 
 
 No. 22. Supplementary^ report of battle of Mission 
 Ridge, by Lieut. Col. J. W. Bishop, commanding 
 2nd Minnesota regiment. Dated December 10th, 
 1863 235 
 
 No. 23. Report of battle of Mission Ridge, by Col. 
 Van Derveer, commanding 3rd brigade 237 
 
 No. 24. Regimental promotions recommended by bri- 
 gade, division, corps and department commanders. 
 Dated July 14, 1864 241 
 
 No. 25. Official report of killed and wounded of 2nd 
 Minnesota regiment in Atlanta campaign. (Killed 
 4, wounded 30.) '. 242 
 
 No. 26. Complimentary letter from Gen. A. Baird, 
 commanding division, to Hon. S. Miller, Governor 
 of Minnesota, commending 2nd Minnesota regi- 
 ment, and asking for recruits to fill up the regiment. 243 
 
 No. 27. Report of force and casualties of 2nd Minne- 
 sota regiment in the campaign of the Carolinas. 
 (Wounded 2, captured 5.) Dated March 23rd, 1865.244 
 
 No. 28. Gen. Bishop attributes his brevet to Brigadier 
 General to the gallant and soldierly conduct of the 
 2nd regiment 246 
 
 No. 29. The promotion twice recommended and re- 
 quested b^^ the corps and army commanders 247 
 
 No. 30. The 2nd Minnesota regiment reported ready 
 for discharge and requests orders to Fort Snelling, 
 Minnesota 248 
 
 No. 31. The Corps Commander's farewell address 249 
 
Index to Appendix. 15 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 No. 32. Orders to proceed to Fort Snelling, Minnesota. 250 
 
 No. 33. Roster of officers when regiment left Minne- 
 sota for the South, October, 1861 251 
 
 No. 34, Roster of officers when regiment veteranized, 
 January, 1864 251 
 
 No. 35. Roster of officers at final muster out, JuK^ 
 1865 252 
 
 No. 36. Various statistics of the regiment 253 
 
 No. 37. Reunion letters, (1887), from Col. H. V. N. 
 Boynton, Col. F. Van Derveer, Gen. A. Baird and 
 Gen. W. S. Rosecrans 254 
 
 Error— See page 58. Gov. Ramsey's visit to Tuscumbia 
 was not on, but a few days after the 4th July, 1862. 
 
THE 
 
 SECOND REGIMENT 
 
 MINNESOTA VETERAN VOLUNTEER 
 INFANTRY 
 
 IN THE 
 
 CIVIL WAR OF 1861-186,-. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 GETTING INTO THE SERVICE. 
 
 The surrender and evacuation of Fort Sumter 
 on the morning of Sunday, April ILth, 1861, was 
 followed on Monday, the 15th, by the President's 
 proclamation and call for 75,000 men to serve 
 three months. 
 
 In orders from the war department, these were 
 apportioned among the several states not then in 
 open rebellion, in ninety-four regiments of 780 men 
 each, the remainder (1,680 men) to be contributed 
 by the District of Columbia. 
 
 Hon. Alex. Ramsey, Governor of Minnesota, 
 beinof then in Washinufton, immediatelv tendered 
 the regiment required from this state, and an 
 executive proclamation, signed by Lieut. Governor 
 Ignatius Donnelly, was published in St. Paul. April 
 16th. It was accompanied by "Special Order No. 
 
18 The Story of the Second Regiment 
 
 1," Adjutant General'vS office, State of Minnesota, 
 April leth, 1861, by Wm. H. Acker, Adjutant General. 
 
 This order called for one regiment of ten com- 
 panies, each of 76 officers and men, and it provided 
 that ''the first ten companies so organized and 
 "reported ready for service at this office by their 
 ''respective captains will be received, provided that 
 "the several militia companies already organized 
 "will be entitled to the preference for the space of 
 "ten days from this date, upon complying with 
 "the foregoing requirements." 
 
 The said companies already organized were 
 named, including Company "A" of Chatfield, Fill- 
 more county, of w^hich the writer was captain, 
 and seven others, located at Mankato, New Ulm, 
 St. Anthony, Clear Water, St. Cloud, St. Paul, and 
 Stillwater respectively. {Appendix No. 1.) 
 
 There were (in 1861) no railroads in Minnesota 
 and no telegraph lines except the single wire from 
 St. Paul along the river bank to LaCrosse, Wis. 
 
 The proclamation and special order, mailed on 
 the 17th were received at Chatfield on the 19th, 
 and published in "The Democrat," on the 20th, 
 with a call for a special meeting of the enrolled 
 members of the "Chatfield Guards," (Company A) 
 to be held at the Armory on Monday evening, 
 April 22nd, to consider the call of the Governor for 
 volunteers. 
 
 At this meeting, which was fully attended, the 
 call was presented, with a brief address by the 
 Captain ; and by a unanimous vote, he was author- 
 ized to offer the company and "to report it 
 organized, armed and ready for marching orders." 
 
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry 1861-18G5. 19 
 
 This tender and report were forwarded by special 
 messenger the same night to Winona, 35 miles, and 
 thence by telegraph to the Adjutant General. (No 
 copy of it can now be found.) 
 
 On the 24th, a telegram was received from Lieu- 
 tenant (and acting) Governor Ignatius Donnell}-, 
 accepting the company and instructing it to await 
 marching orders. This was the seventh company 
 accepted for the first regiment, two companies from 
 St. Paul, one from St. Anthony and three others 
 preceding it, having received the call two or three 
 days earlier. A letter confirming the telegram was 
 received on the 25th. {Appendix Nos. 2 and 3.) 
 
 We were puzzled somewhat by observing that 
 both telegram and letter were dated April 22nd, 
 when our tender of service could not have reached 
 St. Paul until the morning of the 23rd, but satisfied 
 ourselves by presuming that they had actually 
 been written on the 23rd and dated b\' mistake on 
 the 22nd. 
 
 It appeared later that a bogus letter purporting 
 to tender the company, with 63 men, "which 
 number could be increased to the full standard 
 within thirty days," had been sent on the 19th 
 to the Governor by some person as yet unknown, 
 who had forged the Captain's name thereto, and 
 that the telegram and letter of acceptance by 
 Lieut. Governor Donnelly were in fact in reply to 
 this bogus tender of a partial company, while our 
 genuine tender of a full company was not re- 
 sponded to until the 26th, when the following tele- 
 gram was sent by Adjutant General Sanborn, who 
 had in the mean time succeeded Acker, who had 
 
20 The Story of the Second Regiment 
 
 resigned to recruit a company, of which he was 
 later commissioned captain: 
 
 "St. Patl, April 26th, 1861. 
 Capt. J. W. Bishop, Chatfield: 
 
 You will keep your ranks full if possihle. Eleven full 
 companies have already tendered their services, and if ten 
 of these rendezvous here with full ranks your company can- 
 not be received into this regiment. Some may not answer 
 the order of rendezvous. 
 
 John B. Sanborn. 
 
 Adjutant General." 
 
 Meantime, the company, full to the maximum and 
 with more than thirty supernumeraries, had been 
 busily preparing for a prompt response to the 
 expected "marching orders." 
 
 If surprised by the telegram, we were, if possible, 
 more astonished by the arriva] on the 29th of a 
 special messenger from the Adjutant General's office, 
 with an order for our guns and equipments, and the 
 verbal information that the regiment had been made 
 up by the ficceptance of ten companies, which he 
 explained were more convenienth' accessible to the 
 rendezvous at Fort Snelling, than ours. (Appendix 
 No. 4.) 
 
 The disappointment and indignation with whi' h 
 the order was received did not prevent a piompt 
 compliance with it, and the captain went to St. Paul 
 with his guns and without his company. 
 
 The guns were received by the Adjutant General 
 with expressions of appreciation of our promptness 
 in volunteering and regret for our disappointment, 
 but there appeared to be no redress then available, 
 and the captain was obliged to return to his dis- 
 armed and disgusted company and dismiss the men 
 
Minnesota VoLrNTP:EK Infantry 1861-1865. 21 
 
 with the promise that, if the war shonld last long 
 enough to call for a second regiment, company "A " 
 should not again get left at home. 
 
 After authorizing the offer of their services for 
 any regiment thereafter required, the men went to 
 their homes and resumed their ordinary employ- 
 ments. {Appendix Nos, 5 and (>.] 
 
 A letter to Hon. H. M. Rice, then in Washington 
 as senator from Minnesota, brought to the writer 
 a kind reply and assurance that he should have the 
 earliest possible notice of any further call for troops ; 
 a promise which was faithfully fulfilled by a telegram 
 received at Chatfield in time to enable him to reach 
 St. Paul a little before the call for a second regi- 
 ment was received b}^ the governor. 
 
 The company- was again tendered and accepted, 
 and the marching orders below quoted were 
 requested and received on the spot. 
 
 "General Headquarters, State of Minnesota. 
 
 St. Paul, June 14th, 186v5. 
 Special Order No. 5. 
 Capt. Judson W. Bishop. Chattiekl, P'illmore county. 
 Minnesota : 
 You will report your company at Fort Snelling without 
 delay, for the purpose of having the same mustered into the 
 service and pay of the United States. 
 By order of the Commander in Chief. 
 
 John B. Sanborn, 
 
 Adjutant General." 
 
 Similar orders were requested and obtained by 
 Capt. Bishop for Capt. WilHam Markham, who had 
 a company' organized in Olmsted county, which 
 orders were carried bv him to Chatfield and sent by 
 
22 The Story of the Second Regiment 
 
 special messenger to Capt. Markham at Rochester, 
 reaching him next day. 
 
 The war was fairly on now, and the call was for 
 three years' men instead of three months. It 
 required several days of active work to reassemble 
 and reenlist, under the new conditions, enough of 
 the men to make a full company of eighty-three 
 men, the minimum now required. Yet it seems in- 
 credible, as we now look back upon it, that so 
 many could and would divest themselves of all im- 
 peding business, social and family obligations and 
 restraints, and commit themselves for three years 
 to the then unknown hardships and perils of a sol- 
 dier's life in time of active service. 
 
 When we remember that our then young State 
 sent into the field during the war more than one- 
 seventh of her entire population by the census of 
 1860, we appreciate the spirit with which every 
 lo3^al heart responded to ''The Union, it must, and 
 shall be preserved." 
 
 The enlistments commenced at Chatfield on the 
 16th of June, and on the morning of the 22nd the 
 compan}^ marched up the winding hillside road to 
 the table land east of, and overlooking the village, 
 and there halted for the final adieus. 
 
 None who were present will ever forget that hour 
 and experience, and we need not tr^'^ to describe 
 them to others. 
 
 We arrived at Winona, traveling in wagons, the 
 same evening, and went thence b}^ river to Fort 
 Snelling, arriving the next day, June 23rd, and on 
 the 26th were mustered into the service of the 
 United States, by Capt. A. D. Nelson, U. S. A., as 
 
Minnesota Voluxtkkk Infantry 1861-1865. 23 
 
 Company "A" of the Second Regiment Minnesota 
 Volunteer Infantry, and the writer was immediately 
 assigned to the command of the Post. (Appendix 
 No.' 7.) 
 
 Captain Markham's company, which had arrived 
 on the 24th from Rochester, w^as mustered in later 
 in the same day (26th) as Company '*B" of the 
 same regiment. 
 
 Meantime other companies were being recruited, 
 and during the next few days were mustered in suc- 
 cessively, as follows: Company *'C" from Dodge 
 county, ''D" from Ramsey, ''E" from Nicollet, '^F" 
 from Washington, "G" from Ramsey and Brown, 
 ^'H" from Blue Earth, "I" from Goodhue, and "K" 
 recruited at large. 
 
 After being partially armed, uniformed and sup- 
 plied, Company '*A" marched out from Fort Snell- 
 ing on the 3rd day of July with orders to garrison 
 the post at Fort Ripley, 130 miles distant on the 
 upper Misvsissippi river. This march was made 
 wholly on foot, in seven days, one wagon being 
 allowed us for baggage and rations. This was our 
 first experience on our soldier legs, and to many of 
 the men it was a pretty tough one, but they all 
 came through it in good condition and spirit. 
 Company ''F," Capt. John B. Davis, followed us a 
 few days later to Fort Ripley, and Companies "B" 
 and '' C " went to Fort Abercrombie on the upper Red 
 river, and Companies "D" and ''E" to Fort Ridgely 
 on the upper Minnesota river ; the other four com- 
 panies remained at Fort Snelling, with Capt. A. R. 
 Kiefer of Company '*G" as the senior officer in 
 
24 The Story of the Second Regiment 
 
 command. Thus located, the next few weekvS were 
 devoted to drill and instruction of the men. 
 
 On the 22nd of July the Governor appointed H. 
 P. Van Cleve as Colonel, James George as Lieut. 
 Colonel and Simeon Smith as Major. Lieut. Daniel 
 Heane_y of Compan^^ "B" was appointed Adjutant 
 and Lieut. Wm. Grow, of Company "I," Quarter- 
 master. Two da3^s later Reginald Bingham was 
 appointed Surgeon, Moody C. Tolman, Assistant 
 Surgeon, and Rev. Timothy Cressey, Chaplain. 
 Major Smith was within a few days appointed pay- 
 master in the regular army^ and on the 10th of Sep- 
 tember Capt. Alex. Wilkin, of the First Minnesota 
 Regiment, was appointed Major in the Second, vice 
 Smith. 
 
 Col. Van Cleve had been an officer in the regular 
 army, and Lieut. Col. George and Major Wilkin had 
 served as volunteer officers in the Mexican war. 
 None of the other officers had ever had any actual 
 military experience in the field as far as is known 
 to the writer. 
 
 A band of 20 members was here enlisted and 
 organized, with Michael Esch as leader, and at the 
 expense of the State was equipped with instruments 
 and music. 
 
 About the 20th of September, orders were sent 
 out from Regimental Headquarters recalling the 
 detached companies from the several garrisoned 
 posts, and within the first week of October the reg- 
 iment was for the first time assembled at Fort 
 Snelling, Companies "A" and ''F" making, as before, 
 the march of 130 miles in seven days, and on arrival 
 reporting every man "for duty." 
 
Minnesota Volunteer Infantkv 1861-1865. 25 
 
 Here a few days were devoted to active })repar- 
 ation for going to "the front." Instruction and 
 drill, guard mounts and dress parades, and issues 
 of clothing, equipments, arms and ammunition, 
 made a verv busy week of it. As the time for 
 departure approached, our camp was thronged 
 with visitors, some curious to see the evolutions 
 and parades, and some to take leave of their 
 soldier boys, ^vho might never return. 
 
 Most of the companies were now full or nearly 
 full to the maximum number (101 ) and the regiment 
 paraded nearh^ a thousand officers and men, well 
 equipped, and considering their brief service, well 
 disciplined and instructed, though poorly armed 
 with old muskets of several different kinds and 
 calibres; the best at that time available, we were 
 told, and so they were carried without complaint 
 until opportunity^ should arrive to exchange them 
 for better. 
 
 Thus far the post kitchens and mess rooms and 
 compan}^ cooks had provided three bountiful meals 
 a day; and except for a few da\'S on the march 
 we scarcely made the acquaintance of the hard tack 
 and bacon, now so affectionately remembered by 
 men who then grumbled at the soft bread, fresh 
 beef and vegetables so profusely furnished us at 
 Fort Snelling. 
 
 During these busy days Regimental Headquarters 
 were graced with the presence of Mrs. and Miss 
 Van Cleve, the Colonel's wife and daughter, whose 
 kindly interest in every thing that concerned the 
 regiment was always manifest and will be always 
 
26 The Story of the Second Regiment 
 
 grateful!}^ remembered by the men. At this writing 
 (1890) both of these ladies are among the surviving 
 and honorary members of the regiment. 
 
 CHAPTER 11. 
 GOING TO THE WAR. 
 
 On the morning of the 14th of October, 1861, 
 the regiment embarked on a large river steamboat 
 under orders for Washington, D. C. An hour 
 later we had disembarked at the upper levee in 
 St. Paul for a parade march through the city. The 
 people had come out in masses to see us off, and 
 Third street from the Seven Corners to the lower 
 levee was lined with crowds of enthusiastic men, 
 women and children, who waved hats, handker- 
 chiefs and flags and greeted our passing column 
 with cheers, and smiles, and tears and blessings, that 
 at times drowned the gay music of the band and 
 broke up the rythmic tramp of our platoons in spite 
 of our efforts to be, or at least to appear, soldierh^ 
 
 None of us could then predict that of the thous- 
 and muskets, less than three hundred, and of the 
 thirty-six swords, only three should at last return 
 with the colors then so proudly floating over us. 
 The thought was, however, in every heart that we 
 had taken our lives in our hands to be laid dov^^n 
 wherever and whenever dutv might call for them. 
 
 The march ended at the lower levee, where we 
 re-cmbarked and proceeded down the river. Throngs 
 
Minnesota VoLrxTEEK Tneantkv 1861-1865. 27 
 
 of loyal people greeted us at every landiiitr, the 
 friends of the several companies having come from 
 their homes, some of them from interior towns, to 
 bid the boys a last good-by. 
 
 At LaCrosse we were transferred to the railroad 
 and arrived without notcAvorthy adventure at Chi- 
 cago on the morning of the 16th, and were marched 
 to and quartered in the "Wigwam," the large tem- 
 porary building where Abraham Lincoln had been 
 nominated for the presidency at the National Re- 
 publican Convention the year before. . 
 
 Here the company officers were ordered to keep 
 the men strictly within the btiilding until they 
 should be marched out again under arms. The 
 building was large enough not to be crowded with 
 a thousand men, but not being intended for con- 
 tinuous habitation w^as destitute of certain conven- 
 iences, which are as necessary for soldiers as for 
 other human beings, and most of the companies had 
 to be marched out in the evening for exercise, etc., 
 in the open streets, .where the maneuvers greatly 
 astonished the spectators. 
 
 We spent the night in the Wigwam and marched 
 the next day to the Pittsburg and Fort Wayne R. 
 R. depot, and boarded a train for Pittsburg, where 
 we arrived in the afternoon of the 18th. 
 
 Here we were most hospitably received and 
 marched to a public hall, w^here a bountiful hot 
 supper was served bv an association of loyal and 
 generous ladies, who personally attended the tables, 
 to which the soldiers did ample justice. This kind 
 reception, and others like it, were not lost upon the 
 soldiers. Thev remembered and talked of them 
 
28 The Story of the Second Regijmhxt 
 
 wherever thev went, and many a camp fire was 
 brightened by the memory of the kind words and 
 gracious and sympathetic attentions of loval 
 women, to whom all Union soldiers were as sons 
 and brothers. 
 
 Here our orders were changed from Washington, 
 D. C, to Kentucky, and on the 19th we embarked 
 on three small steamers, and after a delightful 
 voyage down the Ohio river, landed at Louisville 
 on the 22nd. 
 
 At his invitation, the writer accompanied Col. 
 Van Cleve to headquarters, where he reported the 
 arrival of the regiment to Gen. W. T. Sherman, then 
 commanding the Department of the Cumberland. 
 This was six days after the famous conference at 
 Louisville between General Sherman and the Secre- 
 tary of War, at which the Secretary' was so plainh^ 
 informed that if Kentucky w^as to be held for the 
 Union, troops and arms and equipage must be sent 
 there as well as to Virginia and Missouri, and the 
 change at Pittsburg of our destination was one of 
 the immediate results of that conference. It was at 
 the time a great disappointment to us, but we did 
 not complain and soon ceased altogether to regret it. 
 
 General Sherman received us in an absent-minded 
 sort of way, walking back and forth in his office. 
 He asked a few disconnected questions, evidentlv 
 thinking of other things as well as of us, and ended 
 the brief interview by ordering us by rail that 
 evening to Lebanon Junction, thirty miles distant, 
 south, on the Louisville and Nashville R. R. We 
 were loaded on a train of open flat cars and spent 
 the night in a cold rain storm, making the trip at 
 
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry 1801-1865. 29 
 
 about six miles per hour, stopping a while at every 
 side track, and occasionally where there was no 
 siding. 
 
 About four o'clock a. m. we disembarked and 
 stacked arms in a field near the Junction and stood 
 around in the soft mud until sunrise, to kee]3 our- 
 selves awake that we might be ready to entertain 
 any party of the enemv who might make us an early 
 morning call. 
 
 Here we relieved the 19th Ilhnois regiment, then 
 commanded by Colonel J. B. Turchin. 
 
 Sometime in the day, October 23rd, our baggage 
 and tents arrived on another train, which had 
 started with us, but in some inexplainable manner 
 had actually run slower than we did. Our camp 
 was set in regulation style, in a field just within 
 the angle formed by the main and Lebanon branch 
 tracks, and at "retreat," camp guard was mounted 
 and we considered the war begun so far as we were 
 concerned. 
 
 We remained here several weeks, sending out de-' 
 tachments to guard the railroad bridges in the vi- 
 cinity, and keeping up the round of guard and 
 picket duty, drill and instruction. "Reveille" was 
 sounded an hour before dayHght, and we then had 
 to "stand to arms" until sunrise to guard against 
 a surprise by the enemy. 
 
 The camp ground was damp and unhealthy, and 
 in this tedious morning hour the fog settled over 
 us Hke a cold wet blanket. Our sick list increased 
 considerabh' until the ground was drained by deep 
 ditches between the rows of tents, and the practice 
 was adopted of serving every man at early "roll 
 
30 The Story of the Second Regiment 
 
 call" a cup of hot coffee and a hard tack, which 
 kept him warm and cheerful until breakfast time. 
 
 Here the paymaster called upon us and squared 
 our accounts to the 31st of October, and here we 
 enjoyed our first Thanksgiving dinner as soldiers. 
 
 On the 15th of November, Gen. D. C. Buell as- 
 sumed the command at Louisville, and on the 2nd 
 of December organized the troops in Kentucky into 
 the "Army of the Ohio." 
 
 Gen. Geo. H. Thomas assumed command, on the 
 6th, of the First Division, comprised of the First, 
 Second and Third Brigades. 
 
 These were composed as follows: 
 First Brigade: Brig. Gen. Albin Schoepf, commanding. 
 
 33rd Reg. Indiana Volunteers, Col. John Cobum. 
 
 17th Reg. Ohio Volunteers, Col. J. M. Connell. 
 
 12th Reg. Kentucky Volunteers, Col. W. A. Hoskins. 
 
 38th Reg. Ohio Volunteers, Col. E. D. Bradley. 
 Second Brigade: Col. M. D. Manson, commanding. 
 4th Reg. Kentucky Volunteers, Col. S. S. Fry. 
 
 14th Reg. Ohio Volunteers, Col. J. B. Steedman. 
 
 10th Reg. Indiana Volunteers, Lieut. Col. W. S. Kise. 
 
 10th Reg. Kentucky Volunteers, Col. J. M. Harlan. 
 Third Brigade: Col. R. L. McCook, commanding. 
 
 18th Reg. United States Infantry, Col. H.B.Carrington. 
 
 2nd Reg. Minnesota Volunteers, Col. H.P.Van Cleve. 
 
 35th Reg. Ohio Volunteers, Col. F. Van Derveer. 
 
 9th Reg. Ohio Volunteers, Lieut. Col. G. Kammerling. 
 Unassigned, but later attached to First Division. 
 
 1st Reg. Kentucky- Cavalry, Col. F. Wolford. 
 
 Battery "B"' First Ohio Artillery, Capt. W. B. Stan- 
 dardt. 
 
 Battery 'C" First Ohio Artillery, Capt. D. Kenny. 
 
 Battery " B " First Kentucky Artillery, Capt.Wetmore. 
 
 A Batallion of Michigan Engineer troops, Lieut. Col. 
 K.. A. Hunton. 
 
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry 1861-1865. 31 
 
 On the 8th of December the 3rd Minnesota regi- 
 ment arrived to relieve us at Lebanon Junction, 
 and the next day we went by rail thirty-seven miles, 
 to Lebanon, where Gen. Thomas had established 
 his headquarters. 
 
 Now, for the first time, we were brigaded with 
 other troops and had the opportunity to compare 
 our own with other regiments. The 9th Ohio, 
 whose Colonel (Robert L. McCook) was our bri- 
 gade commander, w^as composed entirely of Ger- 
 mans, few^ of w^hom could speak English. The regi- 
 ment had been enlisted at Cincinnati, and had seen 
 several months of active service, in West Virginia, 
 participating in the engagements more or less im- 
 portant, at Phillippi, Rich Mountain and Carnifex 
 Ferry. Their manual and tactics were those of the 
 German army, as many of their officers had seen 
 service there. Naturally, wnth their experience in 
 actual w^ar, thc}^ regarded us as comparativeh^ 
 fresh and we modestly respected them as veterans, 
 intending, however, to stay with them in any con- 
 troversy^ we might have by and by with the com- 
 mon enemy. 
 
 The 35th Ohio w^as also our senior by several 
 months of service, mostly in Kentucky, but not 
 having been in any battle and using our language 
 and tactics, they did not claim nor were they con- 
 ceded any superiority. 
 
 Both these regiments were brigaded with ours 
 from this time until their muster out at the expi- 
 ration of three years of service, and we had 
 time and opportunity for close acquaintance and 
 
32 The Story of the Second Regiment 
 
 comradeship, which we remember pleasantW after 
 these iTian}' years. 
 
 The 18th United States Regular Infantry was 
 then one of the newly organized regiments of three 
 battalions of eight companies each. They held them- 
 selves somewhat apart from ns volunteers, and be- 
 fore we had got fairly on the same plane v^ath them 
 as soldiers, they were placed with other regular regi- 
 ments in a brigade by themselves, the 87th Indiana 
 taking their place in our brigade. 
 
 Here we came into the immediate presence of 
 Geo. H. Thomas, then a new Brigadier General of 
 Volunteers, with whom as our Division, Corps or 
 Army commander, w^e served continuously for the 
 next three years, until the beginning of the "Grand 
 March to the Sea" in November, 1864. 
 
 Of him as a man, a soldier or a commander, no 
 man who has ever served with him has any words 
 except of respectful admiration. 
 
 We remained in camp at Lebanon about three 
 weeks, devoting the time mainly to battalion drill 
 and to general instruction in military duties. Our 
 camp ground was reasonably fit for the purpose, 
 the weather not unpleasant for the season, rations 
 were fully and regularly issued, and altogether we 
 fared better as soldiers than we knew or appreci- 
 ated at the time. 
 
 Our band had well improved the long intervals 
 at P^ort Snelling and Lebanon Junction, and our 
 parade-marches and dress parades and guard 
 mounts, duly illustrated the "pomp and circum- 
 stance of war." Among the things, the importance 
 of which was to be better appreciated later, was 
 
H. P. VAN CLEYE, Coxonel. 
 
 July 22, 1861. to March 22, 1862, 
 
 Brig General, U. S. V. 
 
The Mill Springs Campaign. 38 
 
 the coeducation of the wagoners and the mules. 
 This was begun here and some progress made. The 
 earlier lessons afforded a good deal of entertainment 
 to those not engaged in them, but were sadly de- 
 moralizing to the wagoners. It has been stated 
 that no man ever broke a team of six green arm\' 
 mules without breaking his christian character, if 
 he had any, and the army chaplain who offered the 
 long standing reward of one hundred dollars to the 
 man who should drive such a team for thirty davs 
 without the use of profane language, did not have 
 to part with his mone3\ 
 
 With all the comforts of the situation here, we 
 grew weary of mere preparation, and the announce- 
 ment that we were about to commence an active 
 campaign received a general and genuine welcome 
 in the camp. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 THE MILL SPRINGS CAMPAIGN. 
 
 On the morning of the 1st of January, 1862, 
 our brigade folded the tents, loaded the baggage 
 train, and, with bands playing and colors dis- 
 played, marched out on the Columbia "pike." 
 
 Thirteen wagons were allotted for the tents and 
 baggage of each regiment, and they were loaded 
 to their roofs. Each man was expected to carry 
 his rifle and accoutrements, with forty rounds of 
 ball cartridges, knapsack with all his personal 
 
34 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 property, overcoat, blanket, canteen, and haversack 
 with three days' rations in it, a load of forty to 
 fifty pounds. 
 
 We marched that day fourteen miles, and the 
 next, twelve miles, encamping near Campbells- 
 ville. Here we found that most of the men \vere 
 tired, sore-footed and hungry, and many of them 
 had lost their overcoats, blankets, or some other 
 part of their loads on the way. The roads were, 
 however, hard and smooth, and our v^^agons came 
 up in good season, so we made comfortable camps. 
 
 We remained here four days while the wagon 
 trains went back to Lebanon and returned with 
 more rations and supplies, and on the 7th we 
 marched again with somewhat better preparation 
 than before; the men carrying more rations, and 
 less unnecessary^ stuff in their knapsacks, and made 
 twelve miles comfortably. 
 
 On the 8th we passed through Columbia, and 
 here leaving the "pike" we turned eastward on 
 the "dirt road." It immediately began to rain, 
 and before night the road was almost impassable. 
 The next ten days were spent alternately in short 
 but tedious marches in the mud and slush and 
 rain, and in waiting for the wagon trains to come 
 up, so about half the nights and days the troops, 
 without shelter, were lying in the woods or fields 
 along the roadside. This in mid-winter was a very 
 discouraging experience to the volunteers then on 
 their first campaign. Yet they learned speedily to 
 make themselves as comfortable as the circum- 
 stances permitted, and things \vere never so bad 
 that some fun could not be had. 
 
The Mill Springs Campaign. 35 
 
 General Buell had issued an order that no pri- 
 vate property should be appropriated by the troops 
 without proper authority, and thus far the fuel 
 had been provided by the quartermaster, but one 
 evening we encamped in some open hclds where 
 there was no cut wood or forest accessible. The 
 fields were however well fenced with dry rails and, 
 after some exasperating delay, authority was ob- 
 tained to use in this emergency "only the top rail" 
 of the fence along the color line. The cheery camp 
 fires were soon blazing and we had plenty of fuel 
 all the night; next morning the fence was entirely 
 gone. The compan\^ commanders were called to 
 account for its disappearance, but were unable to 
 find any man who took any but the "top rail." 
 
 As we passed through the country we found 
 usually only old men, women and children at 
 home, most of the able bodied citizens having 
 joined some regiment on one side or the other. In 
 some cases brothers had enlisted in opposing reg- 
 iments. Generally the people at home were not 
 seriously foraged upon or molested, but pigs and 
 geese occasionally did come into the camps and 
 were duly "mustered into the army." 
 
 On the 12th of January we encamped about 
 noon near an old time "apple jack" still. It had 
 recentW been in operation and a considerable 
 quantity of the seductive product thereof was yet 
 in the rude building. This was speedily appropri- 
 ated by the soldiers as "contraband of war," and 
 a night of uncommon hilarity in the camps resulted. 
 
 On the 17th of January the head of the column 
 arrived at Logan's Crossroads, nine miles north of 
 
36 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 Zollicoffer's intrenched camp at Beech Grove and 
 seven miles west of Somerset, where the first 
 brigade, commanded by General Schoepf, was 
 posted. Beech Grove was a naturally good posi- 
 tion on the north bank of the Cumberland, on the 
 east side of Oak Creek at its junction with the 
 river. Mill Springs, by which name the campaign 
 and battle are known in our history, was on the 
 south bank of the Cumberland opposite Beech 
 Grove, and had no relation to the battle as far as 
 is known; neither had Fishing Creek, from which 
 the Confederates named the affair that took place 
 on the 19th at Logan's Crossroads. Here we 
 halted for the closing up of the column and to 
 await Schoepf's brigade, which was ordered to 
 join us. 
 
 The first and second East Tennessee (Union) 
 infantr\^ regiments, under Brig. General Carter, 
 were temporarily attached to our division at this 
 time, also a battalion of Michigan Engineer troops. 
 On the 18th, of the forces present, the 2nd Minne- 
 sota, 9th Ohio and 12th Kentucky, with the En- 
 gineer battalion, were encamped around Thomas' 
 headquarters on the Columbia-Somerset road, 
 three quarters of a mile west of Logan's house. 
 At and near Logan's house were the 4th Kentuck}^, 
 10th Indiana and the 1st and 2nd East Tennessee, 
 the battalion of Wolford's Cavalry and two Ohio 
 batteries, Kenny's and Standart's; Schoepf with 
 Wetmore's Kentucky battery, the 33rd Indiana 
 and 17th and 38th Ohio, were at Somerset; and 
 the 10th Kentucky and 14th Ohio were on the 
 road some miles back towards Columbia; all these 
 
The Mill Sprlxgs Campaign. 37 
 
 forces joined us the afternoon or evening after the 
 battle, as did the 35th Ohio. The 18th regulars 
 were still further away and did not arrive till 
 several days afterwards. So we had present and 
 available for the battle seven regiments, two 
 battalions and two batteries. Only four regiments 
 and the battalion of cavalr^^ were, however, engaged 
 seriously enough to have any casualties. 
 
 General Crittenden, the confederate commander, 
 in his report gives his order of march, naming in 
 his column of attack eight regiments, three battal- 
 ions and two batteries. All his regiments were 
 engaged in the battle and lost heavily on the field, 
 according to his oflicial report and casualty list. 
 
 From a point midwa}^ between Thomas' head- 
 quarters and Logan's farm, where the Columbia- 
 Somerset road runs nearly east and west, a road 
 led in a southwesterly direction to the Cumberland 
 river, passing about half a mile south of head- 
 quarters, and is called the Jamestown road. 
 Another road led from Logan's farm southward to 
 Beech Grove and Mill Springs, and is called the 
 Mill Springs road in the reports. The battlefield 
 of the 19th was on both sides of this road, and 
 from half a mile to a mile south from the cross- 
 roads or junction at Logan's house. The ground 
 was undulating and mostly covered with thick 
 woods and brush, with some small open fields en- 
 closed by the usual rail fences of the country. 
 
 About five o'clock in the afternoon of the 18th, 
 Company "A" went out on the Jamestown road 
 and assumed the "Grand guard" duty, posting 
 our reserve about half a mile south of our camp. 
 
38 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 with an advance post eight}- rods further out and 
 with a line of pickets thence extending to the right 
 and to the left and connecting in the last direction 
 with those of the East Tennessee, and they with 
 those of the 10th Indiana, which in a similar manner 
 guarded the Mill Springs road, their reserve post 
 being perhaps a mile east of ours across the fields. 
 
 We had hardly got into place when darkness 
 and rain were upon us ; the darkest night and the 
 coldest and most pitiless and persistent rain we 
 ever knew. It was with great difficulty that the 
 pickets could be visited or relieved at all during 
 the night, and the cooking of supper or even 
 of coffee was, in the absence of shelter, out of 
 the question. Nothing happened to break the tedi- 
 ous monotony of the night, but it has often since 
 occurred to us, that if we had known that Critten- 
 den's forces had at midnight turned out of their 
 comfortable tents and dry blankets and for the 
 next six weary hours were sloshing along in the 
 mud and storm and darkness, we could have much 
 enjoyed the contemplation of their ph3^sical and 
 spiritual condition. It was always some comfort 
 to the soldier on such a night as this, to think 
 that his enemy over there, was at least as wet 
 and cold and wretched as he was himself. 
 
 Just at da3'break arms were taken and prep- 
 arations were being made to relieve the pickets, when 
 a musket shot, another, and then five or six more 
 in quick succession rang out with startling distinct- 
 ness over on the Mill Springs road, a mile or more 
 to our left and front. This was the first rebel shot 
 we had ever heard. At last the enemy! now we 
 
The Mill Springs Campaign. 39 
 
 were going to have a battle. Our first thought was, 
 ''they are making a feint on that road while thev 
 come in force on ours," which was the widest 
 and best traveled one. Every man was keenly 
 awake and alive with expectation, when again 
 on the Mill Springs road the firing broke out, 
 nearer than before, scattering at first, then thicker 
 and faster as the enemy's advance struck the 
 picket reserve. After a few minutes all was 
 still again at the front, but in the camps behind 
 us the long-roll was beating and the companies 
 were forming in hot haste, and presently we heard 
 our regiment and the 9th Ohio moving off towards 
 Logan's farm. 
 
 Then the firing broke out again as the enemy 
 came up to the 10th Indiana and later on to the 4th 
 Kentucky, those regiments having hastily got into 
 position in the woods about half a mile in front of 
 their camp. Here the enemy were held for some 
 time and were compelled to bring up and deploy 
 their two brigades for an attack in full force. In 
 the meantime the 2nd Minnesota and 9th Ohio 
 arrived, (nine companies of each,) and in good order 
 were put into the fight under General Thomas' 
 personal direction, the 2nd taking the line first 
 occupied successiveh^ by the 10th and 4th, which 
 regiments were retired to replenish their ammuni- 
 tion, and the 9th Ohio forming on its right; the 
 Mill Springs road dividing the two newly arrived 
 regiments. 
 
 The new line was immediately advanced some 
 distance through the woods, guiding on the road. 
 The rain had now ceased but the air was loaded 
 
40 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 with mist and smoke, and the underbrush in our 
 part of the field was so thick that a man was 
 hardly visible a musket's length away. Suddenly 
 the 2nd's line came against a rail fence with an 
 open field in front and a line of the enemy's troops 
 were dimly seen through the mist some twenty or 
 thirty rods distant in the field. The firing com- 
 menced immediately and in a few minutes the 
 enemy's line, just mentioned, had disappeared. 
 It was in fact his second line, the first being liter- 
 ally under the guns and noses of the 2nd regiment, 
 only the fence intervening. The sudden arrival of 
 the 2nd at this fence was a surprise to the rebel 
 20th Tennessee, which was already just arrived 
 there, and it was a surprise also to our boys to 
 discover, in the heat of the engagement, that the 
 opposite side of the fence was lined with recumbent 
 rebels. Here, as Col. R. L. McCook says in his 
 official report, "the contest was at first almost 
 hand-to-hand ; the enemy and the 2nd Minnesota 
 were poking their guns through the same fence." 
 This condition of things could not and did not 
 last long after our boys really discovered and got 
 after them ; many of the enemy were killed and 
 wounded there, but more after they got up and 
 were trying to get away. Some remained and 
 surrendered. One lieutenant, as the firing ceased 
 and the smoke lifted, stood a few feet in front of 
 Com]3any "T" of the 2nd and calmly faced his fate. 
 His men had disa])i)eared and he was called on to 
 surrender. He made no reply but raising his revol- 
 ver fired into our ranks with deliberate aim, shoot- 
 ing Lieut. Stout through the body. Further parley 
 
The Mill Sprlngs Campaign. * 4-1 
 
 was useless and he was shot dead where he stood. 
 He was young Bailie Peyton, the son of a noble 
 sire, \vhOvSe sword, presented by the eitizens of New 
 Orleans for his gallant service in the Mexican war, 
 was here found on the dead body of his son. We 
 met his father later at his home near Gallatin, 
 Tennessee. He was one of the foremOvSt Union men 
 of his state and it was an inexpressible grief to 
 him that his onl\' son should have enlisted in the 
 Rebel cause. He said that his only comfort was, 
 in the reflection that he did not die as a coward. 
 
 The enemy in front of the 9th Ohio, sheltered by 
 some buildings and fences, obstinately maintained 
 their position and a bayonet charge, in which part 
 of the 2nd joined, was finally ordered and made and 
 this finished the fight. 
 
 In the meantime, at our post on the Jamestown 
 road, we listened to the battle in a state of excite- 
 ment which I cannot attempt to describe. 
 
 As the regiments moved out of camp towards 
 the field, and the heavier volleys seemed to settle 
 the question that it w^as to be a battle over there 
 and not a feint, we (of Company A) had about 
 decided to abandon our post and join the regiment, 
 when the Lieut. Colonel commanding the Engineer 
 battalion rode up and said General Thomas had 
 left him in charge of all guards and picket details, 
 and ordered us to stack arms and remain where 
 we w^ere. His battalion came out a few minutes 
 later and halted near us. We begged him to 
 relieve us, but entreaty or argument availed nothing 
 w4th him until the final conflict, just described, had 
 fairly opened with a volley of musketry more 
 
42 ' The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 terrible than before, and so long continued as to 
 leave no possible doubt. Then he conceded that 
 we were no longer needed at onr post, and con- 
 sented that we should go to the field with the 
 reserve only, leaving all the men out on the picket 
 line and advance post. So we started on a run 
 across the plow^ed fields in a direct line for the 
 battle. As we approached the woods we were 
 obliged to deflect somewhat to the left to find an 
 open wa^^ and finalU^ got into the Mill Springs road 
 about a quarter of a mile north of the battle- 
 ground, just as the final charge was made. The 
 yelling of the charging regiments v^^as, if possible, 
 more stimulating to us than the musketry had 
 been, but, in fact, we were nearly exhausted 
 physicalh^ when we turned southward in the 
 narrow winding road towards the field of battle. 
 Now we met the stragglers and skulkers and the 
 wounded. On the first stretcher was the body of 
 Lieut Stout, and one of the bearers was that 
 courtly gentleman and honored citizen, Mr. Charles 
 Scheffer, of St. Paul. He was then State Treasurer, 
 and had on the previous day taken from our regi- 
 ment the allotments of pay then authorized to be 
 paid to families or dependents at home. He had 
 gone out to the battle with the regiment and had 
 found this opportunity to render kind service to 
 the wounded men. As we approached the fighting 
 ground the trees were flecked with bullets and the 
 underbrush had been cut away as with a scythe, 
 the dead and w^ounded lay along the fence, on one 
 the blue, on the other the gray ; further on the 
 enemy's dead were everywhere scattered across the 
 
The Mill Spklngs CampaiCtX. 4-3 
 
 open field, and lay in a windrow along the ridge 
 where the second line had stood. We halted a 
 moment where the body of (leneral Zollicoffer lay 
 beside the wagon track. He had been shot through 
 the heart b\^ Colonel Fry, of the 4-th Kentucky, 
 earW in the battle. The two officers, each with an 
 aid, had met in the narrow winding roadway as 
 the}^ w^ere respectively getting their troops into 
 position in the woods on each side of it. All wore 
 waterproof coats or ponchos, and at first did not 
 recognize each other as enemies. As soon as they 
 did, revolvers were drawn; Zollicoffer's aid fired at 
 Col. Fry and got out of the way, leaving his chief 
 to fall by the return he had invited. The body had 
 been dragged out of the w^ay of passing artillery 
 and wagons, and lay by the fence, the face up- 
 turned to the sky and bespattered with mud from 
 the feet of marching men and horses. It was decently 
 cared for later, and, with that of Lieut. Bailie 
 Peyton, was .sent through the lines to Nashville 
 for interment. We soon found our regiment and 
 joined it. The battle was over, and the mob of 
 demoralized fugitives in the distance were rapidly 
 getting out of sight. 
 
 Col. Van Cleve sent a messenger to relieve and 
 bring up our men left on the picket line, and, as 
 the advance was being resumed, gave us the lead. 
 The pursuit was, however, tedious and uneventful. 
 Occasionally a few shots were exchanged with the 
 enemy's rear guard, and some exhausted or wounded 
 stragglers captured were all we had to enliven the 
 chase until we approached Moulden's hill, a high 
 ridge within a mile of and commanding the 
 
44 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 intrenched camp at Beech Grove. Here a show of 
 resistance was made, and General Thomas halted 
 and developed his forces in order of attack. The 
 advance up the easy slope of the hill was an 
 inspiring spectacle to us, but the enem^^ did not 
 remain to enjoy it. When our skirmish line reached 
 the crest of the ridge their rear guard was seen in 
 full retreat again, and soon disappeared within 
 their camp. Our batteries were brought up, and 
 one of them, posted on the left near the river, 
 practised a while with shell on a little steamer 
 crossing and recrossing the stream at a point 
 below the camp, provoking a reply from the 
 enemy's guns which, however, did us no harm. 
 
 The sun was yet an hour high and, as it after- 
 wards appeared, an immediate advance upon the 
 camp would have met with no formidable organized 
 resistance, though it was well protected by breast- 
 works, abbattis and entanglements. Some val- 
 uable lives would, however, have been lost in an 
 assault at that time, and probably most of the 
 enemy would have escaped, as they afterwards 
 did, by dispersion, but without immediately cross- 
 ing the river. The truth, not then known, but 
 generally suspected, was that the demoralized 
 rebels were crossing the Cumberland as fast as they 
 could, and most of the men got over before inorning. 
 
 After a brief surA^ey of the situation as far as it 
 was then to be seen, General Thomas bivouacked 
 his troops in line of battle where they were first 
 halted ; and during the evening the other regiments 
 of his command which had not been in the battle, 
 came up, except the 18th regulars. The night was 
 
The Mill Springs Campaigx. 45 
 
 clear and cold, and the men of Company "A" had 
 had no food or rest during the thirty hours past, 
 and none of the regiments had eaten during the 
 day. The exposure to the storm during the night, 
 the excitement and physical exhaustion of the 
 morning's wild race across the soft ploughed field, 
 of the battle and the day's tramp, began to tell. 
 
 Rations had been spoiled in the haversacks by 
 the rain, or left behind in the morning, and not 
 until nine or ten o'clock in the evening, when the 
 trains came up, was an^-thing procurable to eat. 
 
 That night's exposure broke down many strong 
 men in our regiment who never recovered for duty. 
 
 Next morning our regiment marched into the 
 camp of the 20th Tennessee, within the intrench- 
 ments, and filed off into the compauA^ streets just 
 as we would have done in our own. Apparently 
 the 20th men had not visited their tents at all 
 since they had left them at midnight to attack us; 
 provisions, clothing, blankets and all the comforts 
 that accumulate about a soldier during a month 
 in camp, were here in profusion. All the camps 
 were left b}^ the enemy's regiments in like manner, 
 the tents standing and officers' baggage and per- 
 sonal effects, and supplies of all sorts, in hospitable 
 abandonment. All the artillery, except one gun 
 left back mired in the mud, was foimd full}^ horsed 
 and standing in the narrow roadway leading down 
 into the valley from the camp; the leading gun 
 had locked a wheel on a small tree, and the whole 
 train had been then and there abandoned; more 
 than a thousand horses and mules were frolicking 
 about the valley, helping themselves to forage from 
 
46 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 the unguarded piles. A few wagons hastily loaded 
 with baggage were found on the steamboat land- 
 ing, awaiting a crossing that was not to be made. 
 A few sick, wounded and skulkers were added to 
 our list of prisoners, but the army that had a few 
 hours before marched out in that midnight storm 
 to surprise "old Pap Thomas," was now scattered 
 all over the country south of the Cumberland, 
 every man getting away as fast and as far as he 
 could. Probabl}^ not many of those men were ever 
 brought together again as organized regiments ; 
 they certainly spread dismay and consternation all 
 over the country wherever they went, and probably 
 thus contributed much to succeeding Union victories 
 in Tennessee. 
 
 The little steamer, which had been for twelve 
 hours so busily engaged in crossing the stampeded 
 rebels, w^as set on fire by the last to cross, and 
 drifted down the river and out of sight. 
 
 Schoepf's brigade was sent on the 21st across 
 the river to pursue the enemy, but there was no 
 enemy to pursue and he returned. On the same 
 day we returned to our camp at Logan's cross- 
 roads, and the 22nd was spent in issuing supplies. 
 The dead of both armies were buried on the 20th 
 and 21st, and the wounded were cared for as well 
 as the circumstances permitted. 
 
 On the 23rd we marched to Somerset, and 
 thence southward about two miles. Our trains 
 were mired in the road near Fishing Creek, about 
 three miles from Logan's, and we spent a miser- 
 able night without shelter. On the 24th we en- 
 camped in a pleasant field on the north bank of 
 
The Mill Springs Campaign. 47 
 
 the Cumberland river, where we made ourselves 
 comfortable for a few days. Meantime our sick 
 and wounded men were distributed in all the 
 available buildings in and near Somerset, and in 
 these temporary hospitals were cared for as well 
 as could be under the circumstances. Many a 
 brave fellow who, in anticipation of a battle had 
 cheerfully endured the hardships of the march, now 
 succumbed. The sick largely outnumbered the 
 wounded, and our permanent loss from disease 
 originating or developed in this campaign was 
 more than 15 per cent, of the total force, while 
 the killed and wounded was less than 7V2 percent, 
 of the troops engaged, and many of the wounded 
 were only temporarily disabled. Of the campaign 
 it might be said that the march would have been 
 a severe one even for veterans. 
 
 The battle was on both sides desperately con- 
 tested while it lasted, but was soon over, and the 
 victory- on the field was decisive and complete. 
 
 Among the trophies was a flag of the Fifteenth 
 Mississippi, captured by the Second Minnesota, 
 and by General Thomas forwarded to the war 
 department. (Appendix No. 8.) 
 
 This flag is among those now awaiting the 
 direction of Congress and, let it be hoped, of the 
 Grand Army of the Republic, as to their final dis- 
 position. 
 
 Another trophy that now reposes in the goodly 
 company of war worn flags, in the Adjutant Gen- 
 eral's office at the capitol of Minnesota, is a hand- 
 some banner with the inscription: "Mill Springs, 
 "Jan'y 19, 1862, 2nd Reg't Minn. Vol. Inf'y. 
 
48 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 *' Presented in behalf of the Loyal Ladies of Louisville, 
 ''K3^" This was in commemoration of this battle 
 and victory; which redeemed Kentucky to the Union 
 of States, not to be seriously or permanently oc- 
 cupied by the Confederates again during the war. 
 
 The casualties of the nine companies engaged of 
 our regiment were 12 killed and 33 wounded. 
 In the four regiments (and Wolford's battalion) 
 engaged, the Union loss was 40 killed and 207 
 wounded. Total casualties 247. The Confederate 
 loss was stated by General Crittendien at 126 
 killed, 309 wounded and 99 missing, total 534; 
 but General Thomas reports the Confederate dead, 
 buried b}^ our troops, at 192 and the unwounded 
 prisoners at 89, which w4th the 309 w^ounded and 
 10 missing, not captured, would make the Confed- 
 erate loss 600; under the circumstances Thomas 
 must be conceded to be the better authority as to 
 the dead and prisoners. On the other hand, Crit- 
 tenden, who could have had no knowledge of the 
 Union loss, estimates it at 700, and says ''It was 
 "larger than mine from the fact that my regiments 
 "on the left after having been first driven back fired 
 "from the cover of woods and fences upon a large 
 "number advancing upon them through an open 
 "field, inflicting heavy loss and sustaining but little." 
 
 He had, in fact, more than twice as many men 
 engaged as we did, and his loss on the field was to 
 ours about in the same proportion; so if it were 
 or were not true that his troops were the better 
 sheltered the fire of our men must have been the 
 better directed and delivered. {Appendix Nos. 9, 
 10, 11 and 12.) 
 
Mill Springs to Shiloh. -i9 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 MILL SPRINGS TO SHILOH. 
 
 On the 10th of February, we folded our tents 
 again and began the return march to Louisville. 
 In the afternoon we camped a mile north of Somer- 
 set, where we remained the next day and said 
 "good-by" to many of our comrades in the hOvS- 
 pitals who were too sick or too badly wounded to 
 be moved. Here it rained and snowed alternately, 
 as it did in fact, nearly every day of the march to 
 the Ohio river. The roads were almost impassal^le 
 and the companies were ordered each to march 
 with its wagon to help it along as it often became 
 necessary to do. 
 
 On the 14th we arrived at Crab Orchard where 
 we struck the "pike," as macadamized roads are 
 always called in that country, and thenceforward 
 the march was less tedious, though the weather 
 did not much improve. 
 
 On the 15th we passed through Stanford and 
 on the 16th arrived at Danville where we rested one 
 day while it rained. 
 
 On the 18th made a long march, passing through 
 Perry ville, halting there only long enough to observe 
 the academy with its garrison of bright-eyed 
 school-girls, and encamped within two or three 
 miles of Lebanon. 
 
 On the 19th we marched all day in a drenching 
 rain-storm and encamped on the farm of Dr. Jackson, 
 a brother of the man who killed Col. Ellsworth at 
 
50 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 Alexandria, Va., in the summer of 1861. The 
 doctor was absent under mihtary arrest, but his 
 hospitality was freely drawn upon by the tired, 
 wet and hungry soldiers, who left nothing there 
 t next morning that could be drunk, eaten or carried 
 away. 
 
 On the 24th we passed through Bardstown and 
 on the 25th arrived at Louisville about 3 p. m., and 
 were received with most enthusiastic welcome. The 
 sidewalks were full of loyal men and flags were 
 waved to us from windows and porches as we gaily 
 marched the principal streets towards the river. 
 At the National Hotel the regiment was halted and 
 faced to the front while a deputation of the "Loyal 
 Ladies of Louisville," came out and presented the 
 beautiful silk banner referred to in a preceding 
 chapter. After a brief response by Col. Van Cleve 
 our march was resumed and we went on board 
 the large steamer "Jacob Strader" at the levee. 
 
 Meantime on the 6th, Fort Henry, and on the 
 16th, Fort Donelson, had been captured and the 
 way was now open to Nashville by the Ohio and 
 Cumberland rivers. 
 
 On the 26th our baggage, mules and wagons 
 were taken aboard at Portland, just below the falls 
 and three miles from Louisville levee, and we pro- 
 ceeded down the river, very glad of the change from 
 marching to sailing. 
 
 On the 28th we arrived at Smithfield, where we 
 entered the Cumberland and passed Fort Donelson 
 on the 1st of March and Clarksville on the 2nd, 
 arriving at Nashville next day. On the 4th we dis- 
 embarked and encamped about three miles out of 
 
Mill Springs to Shiloh. 51 
 
 the city on the ''Granny White Pike." Here we had 
 a pleasant and healthy camp and line spring- 
 weather. Ample supplies of clothing, rations and 
 ammunition were issued and accumulated, and a 
 good many of our sick and slightly wounded, who 
 had been left behind, now joined us for duty. 
 
 Meantime arrangements had been made for a 
 junction of Buell's and Halleck's forces to be made 
 near the great bend of the Tennessee river ; Savan- 
 nah, on the right bank, being finally designated by 
 Gen. Halleck as the point. 
 
 On the 16th of March, McCook's division of 
 Buell's army commenced the march towards the 
 appointed rendezvous, followed in order, one day 
 apart, by those of Nelson, Crittenden, Wood and 
 Thomas. Our division (Thomas') having had a 
 battle already, was in this new campaign assigned 
 to the rear of the column, and marched on the 
 20th, passing through the city and out on the 
 Franklin pike some eight or ten miles. On the 
 21st we passed through Franklin and camped a 
 few miles south of the village, remaining there the 
 22nd. On the 23rd we moved up two or three 
 miles to Spring Hill, and here we found the road 
 ahead of us occupied by the camps and trains of 
 the preceding divisions. 
 
 The bridge over Duck River at Columbia had 
 been destroyed. The river was at flood height, 
 no pontoons or other bridge material was avail- 
 able, and we all waited six days for the water to 
 subside. 
 
 On the 29th a bridge was improvised, and a 
 ford, deep and rapid, but practicable with care, 
 
52 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 was found, and the crossing was commenced. It 
 was slow and tedious work, and it was not until 
 the 2nd of April that ours, the rear division, had 
 a clear way to proceed. On the 4th the road 
 ahead of us was so obstructed with the trains of 
 the other divisions that we remained in camp; it 
 was raining heavily all day and night. 
 
 On this da}' General Grant telegraphed in reply 
 to Nelson's message of the 3rd that he could be at 
 Savannah with his division on the 5th, that he 
 (Nelson) need not hasten his march, as transports 
 to convey him to Pittsburg Landing would not 
 be ready before the 8th. {Van Home's History, 
 Army of Cumberland, Vol. 1, page 103.) 
 
 The rain ceased on the 5th, and we marched 
 about twelve miles, keeping close up to the column 
 leading us. Next day, the 6th, the troops ahead 
 of us seemed to be showing more speed, and we 
 began to pass the wagon trains as we overtook 
 them, instead of keeping behind them as we had 
 been doing; so, notwithstanding the bad condition 
 of the roads and frequent detours to pass around 
 the stalled wagon trains, we marched twenty-two 
 miles before dark. During the afternoon, whenever 
 we halted to rest, we could hear the rumbling of 
 the cannonade in the distant west, and we knew 
 that a great battle was in progress. About sunset 
 it commenced to rain again, and speedily grew so 
 dark that a man in the column could scarcely see 
 his file leader within arm's reach. Still we tramped 
 on, tired, cold, wet and hungry, until about eleven 
 o'clock, when our brigade was turned into a soft 
 plowed cotton field, to spend the rest of the night. 
 
Mill Strings to Shiloh. r>H 
 
 The situation here would have been, utterl}- forlorn 
 had it not been enlivened by the order at midnight 
 to "cook three days' rations and be ready to 
 march at 4 o'clock a. m." As it rained all night, 
 the fence rails were laid in the mud for bedding or 
 '^standing room"; no other fuel was available, 
 and the rations were in the wagons, miles behind 
 us. So the cooking was omitted, but we were 
 ready and glad to march at daybreak. 
 
 The halts on the 7th were few and short, but 
 our progress, in the wretched condition of the 
 road, was slow and tedious, though we marched 
 towards the sound of the guns all da^^ We 
 arrived at Savannah in the afternoon of the 8th, 
 to spend another night in the rain without shelter, 
 but had time before dark to select a grass field 
 for our bivouac and get rails and other firewood 
 to cook and sleep by. Here we heard that the 
 field of Shiloh had been won and was held by our 
 Union forces, so we rested contentedh^ Next morn- 
 ing, April 9th, steamers came to Savannah for us, 
 and embarking, we were taken up to Pittsburg 
 Landing, and at noon stacked arms and rested on 
 the battle field. The weather had cleared up, and 
 though our wagons and tents did not arrive for 
 several days, we were comfortable enough without 
 them. The burial of the dead and collection of the 
 wounded now fully occupied a large portion of our 
 men for two or three da\'s. 
 
 The ofiicial reports state the Union loss at 1,754- 
 killed, 8,408 wounded and 2,885 captured or miss- 
 ing; and the Confederate loss at 1,728 killed, 
 8,012 wounded and 959 missing. Of the missing 
 
54 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 many were undoubtedly killed or wounded ; so we 
 had to perform the burial of about 4,000 men, 
 gathering them from every part of the battle field. 
 Some la}^ where they had first fallen, others lived 
 long enough to crawl to some near-b^^ thicket or 
 gully, for protection or for water; some lay in 
 attitudes of rest, their faces showing nothing of 
 suffering or fear, others had evidently died in great 
 agon^^ Some were identified by comrades, and of 
 such the graves were rudely marked ; but many of 
 our dead and nearly all the Confederates were un- 
 knov^n and unrecognized. They were laid side by 
 side in long shallow pits and were covered, a 
 hundred or more, in one grave. Man^^ of the 
 wounded had been able to find their own way to 
 the field hospitals, but several thousand of them 
 v^ere taken up on the field and carried off on 
 stretchers or in ambulances. Some of these were 
 not found until two or three days after the battle. 
 
 All of this was very sad business; none who 
 participated in it or witnessed it, will ever forget it. 
 
 Men can, in the enthusiasm and excitement of 
 battle, see and take part in the murderous work 
 without realizing how horrible it is, but to go over 
 the field the day afterwards, and in cool blood to 
 gather up the mangled and suffering victims, gives 
 one a life-long impression of the cruelty of war 
 and of its pitiful waste of human life. 
 
 After two or three days of this we moved out 
 from the battle field towards Corinth five or six 
 miles, and when our trains arrived established our- 
 selves in camp again, in a pleasant gravell}^ field 
 with shade and spring water. 
 
Mill Spklxgs to Shiloh. 55 
 
 Here Col. Van Cleve was promoted to Brigadier 
 
 General and mustered out of the regiment, Lieut. 
 
 Col. George was promoted to Colonel, Maj. Wilkin 
 
 •to Lieutenant Colonel and Capt. Bishop to Major; 
 
 all their commissions dated March 21st, 1862. 
 
 Gen. Thomas having been assigned to command 
 a corps of several divisions, Brig. Gen. T. W. 
 Sherman assumed command vice Thomas of our 
 division, and Lieut. Col. Wilkin was detailed as 
 Inspector General at his headquarters. He was on 
 detached service thereafter most of the time until 
 he was mustered out of the regiment August 26th, 
 1862, to become Colonel of the 9th Minnesota 
 volunteers. 
 
 At this camp our band was mustered out on the 
 24th of April, by order of Gen. Buell, and the men 
 went home leaving most of their instruments there 
 in the woods. The band had been an agreeable 
 and much appreciated institution in our permanent 
 camps, but in the hard marches of a long campaign 
 the members got scattered and lost, and of late we 
 had had but little music from them. They w^ere 
 good musicians, but did not take kindly to actual 
 soldiering, and w^ere no doubt quite willing to quit 
 there. 
 
 Gen. Halleck arrived at Shiloh on the 11th of 
 April, and after reorganizing the tw^o armies of Buell 
 and Grant and reinforcing them by the army of the 
 Mississippi, under Pope, and b}' a division from 
 Missouri and one from Arkansas, commenced the 
 "seige of Corinth." A general advance and intrench- 
 ment of the Union lines about once a week, with 
 almost daily skirmishing during the intervals, 
 
56 Thk Stoky of the Second Regiment. 
 
 brought us at the end of May into such position 
 that Corinth had to be defended or evacuated. A 
 volley of explosions and a dense cloud of smoke 
 in our front at daybreak on the 30th announced the- 
 final departure of the Confederate army, which 
 with persistence and impudence to be admired had 
 held our greatly superior force at bay for nearly two 
 months. Our lines were immediately^ advanced, but 
 in places met with vigorous resistance from the 
 enemy's picket line, which had been left in position. 
 These men were mostly captured and were im- 
 mensely disgusted to learn that they had been 
 abandoned to such a fate. This narrative is not the 
 place to criticize general operations of armies, but 
 it ma}^ truthfully and properly be said, that we 
 marched into the vacated and desolate streets of 
 Corinth that day with a feeling of disgust and 
 humiliation at the escape of the enemy that we 
 ought to have captured, or at least have broken 
 up and defeated. 
 
 A show of pursuit had to be made, and we 
 marched on after the retreating enemy for several 
 days, passing through Danville and Rienzi. On the 
 6th our regiment ''corduroyed" about four miles 
 of swampy road, by transferring the rail fences 
 from both sides to the centre of the track, where 
 the\' were speedily sunk out of sight b}^ the artil- 
 lery^ and heavily loaded supply wagons. 
 
 On the 8th we halted at Boonville, Miss., where 
 we remained three days. Returning we reached 
 our old camp near Corinth on the 13th, having 
 been out 14 days without tents or baggage, and 
 so far as we could see had accomplished nothing. 
 
Corinth to Lcjuisvillk. 57 
 
 Next day we moved three miles east from 
 Corinth, where we got several days rest, on fresh 
 clean ground. Some reorganization had been going 
 on, however, in our absence, and we found Gen. 
 Thomas in command again of our division, and 
 preparations were soon completed for a new cam- 
 paign. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 CORINTH TO LOUISVILLE. 
 
 Buell's army had hteen projected eastward, with 
 Chattanooga and East Tennessee as the apparent 
 objectives, and the divisions of McCook, Crittenden 
 and Nelson were already well advanced in that 
 direction, when, on the 22nd of June, our brigade 
 broke camp and commenced the march along the 
 Memphis and Charleston railroad, repairing it as 
 we went along, reaching luka Springs on the 25th. 
 The other two brigades of our division were 
 several days' march in advance of us, and, as we 
 moved eastward, troops from Grant's army fol- 
 lowed, and were stationed in detachments to 
 guard the railroad bridges left behind us. 
 
 At luka we were paid off for two months, 
 chiefly in the then new postal currency, which we 
 had not before seen. Col. George here left us on 
 *'sick leave." 
 
 On the 27th our march eastward was resumed, 
 and our regiment arrived on the 29th at Tuscum- 
 bia, Ala. We encamped in an open field, just at 
 
58 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 the edge of the village, and near a remarkably 
 copious spring of pure water. Here Gen. Thomas' 
 division v^as assembled again, and on the 4th of 
 July v^e had a national salute from the three bat- 
 teries and a grand parade of twelve regiments, 
 after which some appropriate and patriotic ad-* 
 dresses were made by Gov. Alex. Ramsey, of Min- 
 nesota, Gens. Steedman and McCook, and perhaps 
 others. 
 
 Gov. Ramsey's visit at this time and place, 
 though brief, gave him opportunity to see and 
 compare the 2nd Minnesota regiment with those 
 from other states, and he was, as he said, quite 
 satisfied with our representalrion of the state. 
 
 Finding ourselves located here for some consid- 
 erable time, our camp was put in good order and 
 made comfortable, and the usual course of company 
 and battalion drill and instruction was instituted. 
 The "company musicians," who in presence of the 
 "band" had been quite overlooked, if not forgot- 
 ten, were now hunted up and investigated. Those 
 who were not in fact musicians w^ere exchanged in 
 their companies for other men who were, or could 
 become such; a "principal musician" was appoint- 
 ed, bugles and fifes and drums were supplied to 
 them, and the same discipline applied to them that 
 prevailed with the other men of the regiment. A 
 few weeks of faithful instruction and practice made 
 them quite proficient in martial music, and the 
 "bugle band" of the 2nd Minnesota received a 
 good deal of attention and commendation from 
 the other regiments, and was much appreciated by 
 our own men. 
 
Corinth to Loiisvillk. 59 
 
 On the 26th of July our pleasant camp here was 
 broken up, and we crossed the Tennessee river to 
 Florence. We were told that Gen. Andrew Jackson 
 had crossed the river here just fifty years before, 
 on his way to New Orleans, in 1812. The next 
 day being Sunday, the usual inspection of troops 
 was had, and this over, a good many officers and 
 enlisted men of the several regiments availed them- 
 selves of the opportunity to attend divine service. 
 The Presbyterian church w^as w^ell filled, the usual 
 congregation of resident w^omen and children oc- 
 cupying perhaps one third of the seats. The 
 uniformed visitors were courteously received and 
 ushered in, mingling with the regular attendants 
 wherever there might be room. The opening 
 services were of the usual character, and the sing- 
 ing was heartily joined in b}'- the soldiers; the 
 scripture readings were attentively listened to, and 
 all heads were reverently bowed when the vener- 
 able minister said "let us pray." The prayer, we 
 were afterwards told, w^as the formal one prescribed 
 by the Presb\'terian church authority of the South, 
 and contained an invocation of the divine blessing 
 upon the "President of the Confederate States and 
 "upon all in authority under him," and upon the 
 armies of the Confederate States, and a direct and 
 earnest appeal that confusion and defeat might 
 overwhelm their enemies, who had invaded their 
 soil and threatened their institutions and their 
 liberties. This had not been generally expected bv 
 the visitors, and it produced at the instant quite 
 an appreciable commotion. A variety of ejacula- 
 tions, not in the usual line of liturgical responses, 
 
60 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 were heard in various parts of the house, and some 
 got up and walked out to vent their indignation 
 in the open air. Most of us remained, however, 
 to see the services through. The prayer ended, the 
 sermon began; a simple, earnest, well composed 
 and well delivered discourse, interesting, edifying 
 and every way unexceptional. The preacher was 
 himself the personification of christian grace and 
 dignity in the pulpit, and we were soon in the 
 mood to ignore, if we could not forgive or forget, 
 the ofi^bnsive prayer. He had probably half com- 
 pleted his discourse when the tramp of marching 
 men was heard coming down the main aisle, and 
 a squad of the provost guard "halted" »and 
 "fronted" at the altar before the minister. A 
 colonel of infantry led the detachment, and now 
 he interrupted the preacher, charged him with 
 insulting the uniform of the United States and 
 those who wore it, in addressing a disloyal peti- 
 tion to the Almighty in their presence, and 
 commanded him to come down and surrender to 
 arrest. The minister graceful^ bowed in compli- 
 ance, and, closing his sermon book, came down 
 and said he was "at your service, sir." Now the 
 ladies interposed, some with tears and pleadings, 
 and some with sneers and taunts at the imposing 
 show of armed men in a peaceful church where 
 only women and children were present to protest, 
 and some fainted, while the colonel marched his 
 guard and prisoner out and to headquarters. The 
 women then appealed to those of as who remained. 
 They were assured that their pastor was not led 
 out to be shot, and that probably no physical 
 
Corinth to Louisville. 61 
 
 harm would be done to him, and as soon as we 
 could without rudeness, we withdrew to discuss in 
 our camp the experiences and events of the morn- 
 ing. The propriet\^ of the arrest, under the circum- 
 stances, was then hoth' debated among those who 
 were present, and the discussion has been renewed 
 at every opportunity since. It still remains as one 
 of the questions' left unsettled at the close 6f the 
 war. The prisoner was sent North under arrest, 
 but what charges were formally preferred, or what, 
 if any, trial or punishment he may have had, was 
 never known to us. 
 
 On Tuesday, the 29th of July, we marched again 
 eastward; the weather was hot and the road 
 dusty, but there seemed to be no urgent haste, 
 and our progress was leisureh^ and comfortable. 
 The great fields, ere while in cotton, were now all 
 in corn, and afforded plenty of roasting ears for 
 the soldiers and forage for the mules. The darkies 
 came in troops from every plantation as we passed, 
 and joined the "Lincum Sogers," bringing horses, 
 mules, cattle, pigs, poultry, bedding and everything 
 else they could carr^-. The\^ had apparently just 
 begun to realize what the war meant to them, 
 and were quite ready to improve the opportunity 
 of going out from bondage, and of despoiling their 
 old masters as they went. 
 
 As we approached Athens we got a mail from 
 the North, and in it some one received a copy of the 
 song, then just published, entitled, "Kingdom 
 Comin'." Adjt. S. P. Jennison sang it in camp 
 that evening in his unctious and inimitable style, 
 while the men of the regiment joined in as they 
 
62 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 learned the chorus, and a crowd of black faces 
 grinning with delight surrounded them, taking in 
 the spirit of the words and music, so appropriate 
 to the situation at the time. In a day or two 
 everybody knew and was singing it, and the 
 darkies would have a circus over it every evening, 
 keeping the song going with original and grotesque 
 variations until they were suppressed by the camp 
 guard at "taps." 
 
 On the 3rd of August we marched through 
 Athens, Tenn. This was a lovely village, and had 
 been noted for being the last place in the state to 
 haul down the Union flag. The inhabitants, how- 
 ever, had been disgracefully plundered by Turchin's 
 brigade of Union soldiers a short time before our 
 arrival, and they regarded our approach with 
 some apprehension, probably; for which they were 
 to be excused. They were not in any way molested 
 or inconvenienced by our presence, except from the 
 desertion of those servants who had not already 
 left them. 
 
 On Monday, the 5th, our brigade commander. 
 Gen. Robert L. McCook, was murdered by a gang of 
 guerillas. He was sick when he left Tuscumbia, and 
 during the whole march w^as unable to sit up or be 
 dressed. He had a bed made in an ambulance, in 
 which it was his ctistom to ride far enough in ad- 
 vance of the troops to avoid the dust which always 
 enveloped the marching column. On this day the 
 road was narrow and sinuous, with a thick growth 
 of small trees on each side. His ambulance, at- 
 tended by two or three stafl^ oflicers, was perhaps 
 half a mile ahead of the column, in which the 35th 
 
Corinth to Louisville. 63 
 
 Ohio was the leading regiment. Suddenly a party 
 of horsemen appeared in the road before him, 
 and the ambulance was immediately turned and 
 started back on the run. The party pursued 
 with yells and firing of revolvers, and, riding up 
 on each side, shot him through the bod3^ The 
 horses were frightened and beyond the control of 
 the driver, who said the General had ordered him 
 to stop before the fatal shot was fired. The team 
 was forced into the thicket and the staff officers, 
 Capts. Brooke and Miller, were captured and 
 hurried away. The head of the column soon 
 arrived, and the General was taken to the nearest 
 house, while the brigade encamped around him. 
 We had no cavalry, and the guerillas could not be 
 overtaken. The men of the 9th Ohio (McCook's 
 own regiment) were wild with rage, and in revenge 
 burned every building in the neighborhood, presum- 
 ing that the rnurderers were residents of the vicin- 
 ity, ,as they probably were. 
 
 The General died next day and the march was 
 at once resumed. Col. Ferdinand Van Derveer 
 assumed command of the brigade, which he very 
 ably administered until the expiration of his term 
 of service, about two years later. 
 
 On the 7th of August we arrived at Winchester, 
 Tenn., where we remained twelve days. 
 
 About this time Company 'X," of the 3rd Min- 
 nesota regiment, commanded by Capt. Mills, was 
 attached to the 2nd regiment. This company was 
 on detached duty when its regiment was surrend- 
 ered at Murfreesboro, July 13, 1862, and pending 
 the exchange and return of their comrades was sent 
 
64 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 to us for duty. It was a fine company of soldiers, 
 and remained with us several weeks, leaving us at 
 Louisville on the 30th of September, for Minnesota, 
 
 On the 19th of August we moved from Win- 
 chester to Decherd, and thence by short marches 
 and intermediate halts of one to three days to 
 Pelham Gap, thus consuming the time to August 
 31st, while Bragg's army were making their way 
 across the mountains and around our left flank 
 towards Nashville. 
 
 During these days we got news of the Indian 
 outbreak and massacre in Minnesota, which cre- 
 ated much apprehension and excitement, as many of 
 our men had families and friends in the threatened 
 frontier counties, Lieut. Col. Alex. Wilkin was on 
 the 26th of August appointed Colonel of the 9th 
 Minnesota regiment, and Maj. J. W. Bishop was 
 commissioned Lieutenant Colonel, and Capt. J. B. 
 Davis, of Company ''F," Major of the 2nd Minne- 
 sota from the same date. Adjt. S. P. Jennison, 
 about the same time, was appointed Lieutenant 
 Colonel of the 10th Minnesota regiment, and Lieut. 
 Charles F. Me^^er took the vacated place as Adju- 
 tant of the 2nd. 
 
 On the 1st of September we marched to Man- 
 chester, and our wagon trains with tents and bag- 
 o^age havinor been sent via Murfreesboro to Nash- 
 ville, we encamped for the night in the fair-ground 
 buildings. Next day resumed the march towards 
 Murfreesboro, arriving there on the 4th. On the 
 3rd we encamped early in the day and sent details 
 into a large melon field near by, who captured 
 
Corinth to Louisville. 65 
 
 several hundred large, line, luscious watermelons 
 which, after our hot and dusty march, were much 
 relished. 
 
 Pursuing our northward march we arrived at 
 Nashville on the 7th and encamped in the edge of 
 the city. Most of our army had already crossed 
 the Cumberland, but it was given out that our 
 brigade should remain at Nashville, and we did for 
 a week, while our divisions north of the river were 
 watching Bragg's movements. By the 14th his 
 army was all across the Cumberland, at points 
 higher up the river and further north than Nash- 
 ville, and the race for Louisville began. Our brigade 
 left Nashville on the 14th and crossing the river 
 encamped just north of Edgefield. We had received 
 five days rations of flour, coffee and sugar only, no 
 clothing or shoes, which were especially needed. In 
 the next three days we marched on the hard, dusty 
 pike seventy miles to Bowling Green. Here, on the 
 18th, more rations of flour were issued, and we 
 crossed the Barren river, in which we found the first 
 suppl}^ of drinkable water since leaving the Cum- 
 berland. On the 19th we marched twent3^-five miles, 
 and on the 20th overtook our other divisions, 
 and passing through their camps, came up to 
 the enemy's rear picket line near Cave City. 
 Here we extended our line of battle to right 
 and left, and posted our picket line confront- 
 ing theirs. This was the seventh day of the march 
 which was without a parallel in our experience 
 thus far. It was the dr^^ season of the year, and in 
 this part of Kentucky there was no living water, 
 except the Barren river, between the Green and 
 
66 The Story of th?: Second Regiment. 
 
 Cumberland rivers. The farmers had depended for 
 a scanty supply on the "sink-holes," which were 
 saucer-like depressions in the fields, with clay sub- 
 soil bottoms, which filled with water in winter and 
 spring, but at this season were nearh^ exhausted by 
 evaporation. Then Bragg's army was ahead of us, 
 and they made it their business to enrich the already 
 viscid water with dead mules and camp offal of all 
 sorts, so it could not be drunk and could hardh^ be 
 used even to mix our ''dough gods." These were 
 made by moistening our flour on a rock with water, 
 and after pounding it into a tough dough, it was 
 spun into a long roll, about an inch in diameter, 
 and wound spirally around a ramrod and so baked 
 at the camp fire. These, with scanty rations of 
 bacon, constituted a decidedly thin diet for the hard 
 service required of us. We had no tents or cook- 
 ing utensils or baggage of any sort except such as 
 were carried on pack mules or on the men's backs, 
 and even these had become sadly deficient, as we 
 had not been able to get any supplies at Nashville. 
 Occasionally we got apples or peaches along the 
 road, but generally the trees were cleaned by the 
 troops ahead of us. 
 
 On this occasion, however, w^e found in our 
 immediate front a big apple orchard, the trees all 
 loaded with juic}^ fruit. The enemy's picket line 
 was along the fence, on the further side, and their 
 camps not far beyond. Our picket line was estab- 
 lished along the fence on our side of the orchard, 
 which was perhaps eighty rods across. Our men 
 began to get over the fence and gather the apples, 
 and the enemy's pickets fired at them; our pickets 
 
Corinth to Loi'isville. 67 
 
 in turn would not let the thirsty rebels get any 
 apples out of their side of the orchard. The situa- 
 tion speedily became known in the camps, and our 
 picket line was in a few minutes reinforced by 
 several hundred of the boys, who "straggled" out 
 there with their guns, and presently our line was 
 advanced with a rush to the further side of the 
 orchard. The enemy's pickets resisted activel}^ but 
 retired just before our line reached them. The^^ 
 made an effort to regain their fence, but our boys 
 wouldn't give it up. The advance troops in both 
 armies got under arms upon hearing the racket, 
 but the affair was probably reported to the gen- 
 erals as a ''picket skirmish" of no consequence, 
 and all became quiet again, and our boys had the 
 run of the orchard that night. Several of the men 
 were wounded, but none killed, in the skirmish, 
 which w^as entirely an affair of the enlisted men. 
 It looked at one time, however, as though a 
 general fight might grow out of it right there and 
 then, and we were all more than willing to have 
 it so. 
 
 This evening we got orders to cook three days' 
 rations and prepare for a battle which would 
 probably take place on the next day. 
 
 The enem}^ however, moved on early next 
 morning, and the foot race began again. Our 
 division remained in camp while the others passed 
 on and took the road ahead of us. On the 22nd 
 we moved camp about two miles to a place near 
 Cave City, where, at the bottom of a natural 
 rocky pit, about a hundred feet deep, an under- 
 ground stream of pure water came to the light. 
 
68 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 A steep path and steps led down to it, and all day 
 it was alive with soldiers, each laden with as 
 many canteens as he could carry. The boys spent 
 the day mainl^^ in filling up like camels with that 
 water, in preparation for resuming the march. 
 
 On the 23rd we started again, crossing Green 
 river about noon, and camped on Bacon's Creek 
 after a march of twenty miles. On the 24th we 
 started at daybreak and marched fast all day, 
 making thirty miles, and halted for the night four 
 or five miles north of Elizabethtown. 
 
 The race was now telling on the footsore rebels, 
 also, and during that and the previous day we 
 passed their exhausted stragglers to the number of 
 several hundred, leaving them to be gathered up 
 as prisoners by our rear guard. Bragg's army 
 was, hovyrever, ahead of us, and within one or 
 two days' march of Louisville. Next day we left 
 the railroad and parallel pike and went straight 
 to the Ohio river, at the mouth of the Salt river, 
 making the twenty miles in less than seven hours, 
 and reaching the river bank about noon, a tired, 
 hungry, ragged, foot-sore crowd. ''Thank God for 
 the Ohio river and hard tack!" exclaimed the 
 champion grumbler of the regiment, ''I'll never 
 complain again." Here were steamers loaded with 
 rations, clothing and shoes, and waiting to carry 
 us to Louisville, about thirty miles up the river. 
 With little ceremony the boxes of hard bread and 
 bacon were rolled ashore and broken open, and, 
 while the steamers were being loaded and depart- 
 ing with other troops, our brigade rested and re- 
 frcvshed and waited our time. Next day we embarked 
 
The Pekryyille Campaign. 69 
 
 also, and soon after noon were at Louisville, 
 where we found most of Buell's arm}- en- 
 camped around and in defence of the city. The 
 next four daA^s were occupied in resupplying the 
 troops with clothing, rations, ammunition and 
 equipment, in preparation for a new and offensive 
 campaign for the recovery and reoccupation of 
 Kentucky and Tennessee. 
 
 During this time orders came from the war 
 department relieving Gen. Buell, and assigning the 
 command to Gen. Thomas; these orders were sus- 
 pended by request of Gen. Thomas, and were never 
 put into effect. 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 THE PERRYYILLE CAMPAIGN. 
 
 While in Louisville, in the last week in September, 
 some important changes and events took place in 
 the organization of Buell's army. 
 
 Gen. William Nelson, who had been one of the 
 most efficient division commanders, was killed on. 
 the 29th at the Gait House, by Gen. Jefferson C. 
 Davis, in a personal quarrel. The army was the 
 same day reorganized into three corps; the first 
 commanded by Gen. A. D. McCook, consisting of 
 the divisions of Rousseau, Sill and Jackson ; the 
 second corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. Crittenden, 
 was composed of the divisions of Wood, Yan Cleve 
 and Smith ; and* the third corps contained the divi- 
 sions of Schoepf, Sheridan and Mitchell. To the 
 
70 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 command of this corps Gen. Buell assigned "Maj. 
 Gen. C. C. Gilbert," by orders of September 29th. 
 Gilbert was a Captain in the 1st United States 
 infantry, who had been "appointed a Major General 
 of volunteers, subject to the approval of the Presi- 
 dent," by Gen. Wright, and by him "assigned to the 
 command of the army of Kentucky." This appoint- 
 ment, it appears, was never approved by the 
 President, though a commission as Brigadier Gen- 
 eral was issued to him on the 25th of September. 
 
 Gen. Buell, supposing him to be in fact a Major 
 General, thus placed him in command of the corps 
 over three division commanders and two of the 
 brigade commanders who were actually his seniors 
 in rank. Gilbert in turn, it is said, assigned Capt. 
 Gay of his staff to the command of the brigade 
 of cavalry, as "Chief of Cavalry," over several 
 colonels and field officers senior to him. 
 
 These unauthorized honors were not very 
 modestly borne by the officers so distinguished, and 
 within the three weeks of the following campaign, a 
 very general protest against them was developed 
 throughout the corps and among the men of every 
 grade in the service. Gen. Buell was held respon- 
 sible for them and so shared the censure. 
 
 Matters were getting decidedly unpleasant all 
 around, when on the 23rd of October "Brig. Gen. 
 C. C. Gilbert" was suddenly relieved by Gen. Buell 
 from the command of the third corps and assigned to 
 the tenth division, and on the next day Gen. Buell 
 himself was, by orders from Washington, relieved 
 from the command of the army and department. 
 
The Pkkrvville Campaign. 71 
 
 and Maj. Gen. W. S. Rosecrans w^as assigned to it, 
 the actual transfer taking place on the 30th. 
 
 On the first of October our army, rested, reclothed 
 and resupplied, moved out to find and fight the 
 enemy now confronting our lines about Louisville. 
 He retired as we advanced, and passing consecutively 
 through Shepardsville, Bardstown and Fredricks- 
 burg, v^e overtook his rear guard near Springfield, 
 on the morning of the 6th, and our regiment being 
 at the head of our column, we had a continual 
 skirmish all da\% both armies moving about seven- 
 teen miles tow^ards Perryville, where was a small 
 stream known as Chaplin river. The country w^e had 
 covered during the past week was almost destitute 
 of water and probably its supposed presence in the 
 vicinit}^ had something to do with locating the 
 collision of the armies at that place. On the 7th 
 we halted in the valley of Doctor's creek, a branch 
 of Chaplin river, in sight of and about three miles 
 east of the village. The creek was nearh' dry, only 
 small pools here and there to be found in the bed, 
 and guards w^ere placed over them to prevent the 
 watering of horses and mules in any except those 
 reserved for that purpose. 
 
 On the 8th we moved, earh^ in the morning, down 
 the valley toward Perr\'ville about a mile, in search 
 of water, and bivouacked as before, having no tents 
 with us. McCook's corps was on the left of our gen- 
 eral line; and about noon w^e heard musketry, and 
 later artiller\^ firing in his front. No order or inform- 
 ation came to us, however, and about four o'clock, 
 our scant}^ supply of water having again given out, 
 a compan}^ w^as detailed from each regiment of our 
 
72 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 division, and carrying all the canteens of their reg- 
 iments, they were sent, in command of Lieut. Col. 
 Bishop, to look for a fresh supply further down the 
 valley to the left. As we pursued our quest we 
 approached the firing and finally found a pool and 
 filled our canteens in full sight of the battle field. 
 One of the enemy's batteries was within easy range 
 of us, but was too busy entertaining their opponents 
 to pay any attention to us. We watched the battle 
 a few minutes and hurried back to our division 
 wondering why the w^hole army, and especially 
 why our division, was not taking any interest or 
 part in it. Soon after our return, and while the 
 canteens were being distributed, our brigade was 
 ordered to McCook's relief, and moving about half 
 a mile to the left we were posted in a strip of 
 woods, on the right of his line, our regiment so far 
 back in the trees that we could see nothing of what 
 was going on in the front but not so far back as to 
 be out of reach of the enemy's artillery, which now 
 and then landed a shell among us. We were, how- 
 ever, in this position for a few minutes in imminent 
 danger from a line of our own men, a new regiment, 
 which just after dark was moved up into position in 
 the woods immediateh^ behind us. They were nerv- 
 ously expecting to find an enemv in that vicinity, 
 and were just ready to open fire at the first indica- 
 tion of his presence. They could not see us in the 
 gloom, nor we them, but a prompt and vigorous in- 
 troduction of the two regiments to each other bv 
 name probabh^ saved us from what would have been 
 a sad misfortune. We had no experience in the 
 whole war more startling than that cocking of 
 
The Pekkyville Campaign. 73 
 
 muskets behind us, knowing as we did, that they 
 were in the hands of friends who were not informed 
 of our presence in front of them. 
 
 The battle ended with the davHght, but we lay 
 on our arms in position all night and most of the 
 next day, going forward again in the afternoon to 
 the creek valle}- for water, and there spent the night. 
 
 Sheridan's and Mitchell's divisions of Gilbert's 
 corps had got into collision wnth the enemy's left 
 during the evening of the 7th, in getting into 
 position, and again pending McCook's battle; 
 though separated from him by the whole width of 
 the valley, they had quite a fight of their own, 
 without, however, having any orders from com- 
 petent authorit\^ conforming their operations to 
 McCook's. None of Crittenden's corps participated 
 in the engagement in any wa^^ 
 
 As to the battle of Perryville, it was at the 
 time understood that Gen. McCook had undertaken 
 to fight it out w4th his corps unaided, and failed 
 to accomplish what would have been an easy task 
 for our whole army had all been invited to share 
 in it. The spectacle of his single corps engaged for 
 four hours with the opposing army while our 
 division lay idly within sight of the field, and 
 Crittenden's corps within sound of the guns, is, 
 even at this distance, an astonishing one. It 
 appears from the official reports that neither Buell 
 nor Gilbert knew that a battle was going on until 
 it was too late to put in additional troops effect- 
 ively, and that Gen. Thomas, w^ho commanded on 
 the extreme right, knew nothing of it until it was 
 all over. 
 
74 Thp: Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 He had heard the firing at a distance, and, 
 sending for information about it, was told that 
 ''McCook was making a reconnoisance." 
 
 The opportunity^ to crush Bragg's army was 
 thus lost, and he withdrew it next day. 
 
 Our division, now^ commanded by Brig. Gen. A. 
 Schoepf included three brigades of five regiments 
 each; our (the third) brigade was now commanded 
 b\^ Brig. Gen. J. B. Steedman, and comprised the 
 87th Indiana (recenth^ joined), and the 18th U. 
 S., 2nd Minnesota, 9th Ohio and 35th Ohio 
 remaining in it from its first organization. 
 
 On the 10th we moved eastward about five 
 miles, passing through Perr^wille, where we found 
 ever\^ house filled with the enemy's wounded. On 
 the 12th we passed Danville and Lancaster, and 
 on the 13th camped on Dick's river at Crab 
 Orchard. Here we remained a week, while Critten- 
 den's corps pursued the enemy southward in a 
 fruitless chase. 
 
 During our vStay here an inspector general from 
 corps headquarters dropped in one day unan- 
 nounced, with an order from Maj. Gen. C. C. 
 Gilbert, commanding, to inspect the 2nd Minnesota 
 regiment. The regiment was always ready for 
 inspection, and in a few minutes the column w^as 
 formed, ranks opened and the ceremon\^ begun. 
 
 Each company- in turn and the band was critic- 
 ally examined, and notations made of all details. 
 As to the condition of men and equipments no 
 fault was found in any particular; the cartridge 
 boxes and haversacks were all filled, and the 
 regiment could have marched on ten minutes' 
 
The Pkrrvvillh Campaign. 75 
 
 notice for three days detached service; so the 
 inspector truthfully remarked. The captain of the 
 right company (G) was, however, sharply repri- 
 manded because his first lieutenant stood in front 
 of the center of his company and the second 
 lieutenant in front of the left files, the inspector 
 telling him that he ought to know that these 
 ofiftcers should stand in front of their places "in 
 order of battle." The captain replied that himself 
 and lieutenants were in the positions prescribed b}^ 
 the army regulations. The inspector then assumed 
 to place him under arrest "by command of Maj. 
 Gen. Gilbert" for insolence to an officer of the 
 staff. This proceeding was overruled by the regi- 
 mental commander then present, who instructed 
 the inspector that the captain's reply was not 
 an insolent, but a civil and correct one; that 
 had it been so grossly improper as to justify 
 arrest, Gen. Gilbert had not ordered it, and 
 the inspector himself had no authority to make it. 
 The inspector took his leave in hot anger, saying 
 that we should hear directly from Gen. Gilbert 
 himself. 
 
 A day or two later a written order came from 
 corps headquarters for the arrest of the captain to 
 await charges and trial as soon as the convenience 
 of the service w^ould permit. This order was 
 ignored, and next daA- the inspector, who had 
 made it his business to watch the regiment as it 
 passed on the road, informed the regimental com- 
 mander that it would be his painful duty to report 
 to Gen. Gilbert that the order had not been 
 obeyed. What might have come of all this, had 
 
76 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 not the corps commander been so soon relieved of 
 his high rank and command, can onty be con- 
 jectured. 
 
 On the 20th we commenced retracing our march, 
 and passing successively through Danville, Perry- 
 ville, Lebanon, Campbellsville, Green River and 
 Cave City, arrived at Bowling Green on the 2nd 
 of November. 
 
 Gen Rosecrans assumed command, vice Buell, on 
 the 30th of October. 
 
 We moved again on the 6th of November, and 
 next day encamped at Mitchell ville. The railroad 
 tunnel near and south of this place having been 
 obstructed by the retreating enemy, all army sup- 
 plies were unloaded from the trains here and for- 
 warded by wagons to Gallatin and Nashville. Our 
 brigade performed this work here until the 12th, 
 when we removed to the tunnel, and for a change 
 of employment spent ten days in guarding and 
 clearing it out. 
 
 On the 23rd our regiment, with the 35th Ohio 
 and the 18th U. S., marched for Cunningham's 
 ford, on the Cumberland river, southeast of and a 
 few miles from Gallatin, Tenn., where we arrived 
 and encamped on the 25th. We remained here 
 four weeks, guarding the ford and making oc- 
 casional reconnoisances about the vicinity. We did 
 not, however, come into any serious collision with 
 the enemy. On the 7th of December a Union 
 brigade of new regiments, commanded by Col. A. 
 B. Moore, was attacked and captured by the 
 enemy's forces, under John H. Morgan, at Harts- 
 ville, a few miles farther up the river. On the 22nd 
 
The Perryvillp: Campaign. 77 
 
 we were ordered back to Gallatin, and thence 
 about five miles southward toward Nashville. 
 Here we spent Christmas, and were ordered back 
 to Gallatin in great haste on the 26th. 
 
 Our brigade spent the next three weeks pleasantly 
 encamped near the village, occupying a good part of 
 our time in battalion drill and making an excursion 
 into the country now and then for forage and pro- 
 visions. All day on the 31st of December and on 
 the 1st of January, we heard the rumbling of the 
 cannonade at Stone's river, some thirty miles away, 
 and were glad to learn next day of the Union 
 victory there. 
 
 On the 13th our brigade, under orders to join the 
 division at Murfreesboro, marched b\' the pike some 
 thirteen miles and encamped midwa\^ between Galla- 
 tin and Nashville. Next day our regiment and the 
 87th Indiana were again ordered back to Gallatin, 
 and returned in a cold winter rain-storm to our 
 camp ground vacated the previous dav, and here we 
 remained two weeks more. This second recall to 
 Gallatin was due, as was the first, to the threatened 
 attack on the place b}^ the Confederate Gen. John 
 H. Morgan. Indeed, for more than two months, 
 we had been shuffled from place to place to meet 
 him, but he never granted us an interview. 
 
 During our stay at Gallatin the President's proc- 
 lamation of emancipation was promulgated, to take 
 eftect January 1st, 1863, and hastened the complete 
 desertion by the negroes in that vicinity, of their 
 old homes and masters. 
 
 One of these late "contrabands," now freed- 
 men, came to our regimental headquarters with 
 
78 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 information, that at a point on the vSouth side of 
 the Cumberland river, a few miles distant from our 
 camp, a good man}- thousand hogs had been killed 
 and cured in hams and bacon in the fall of 1861, 
 for account of the Confederate government ; that on 
 Buell's approach in the spring of 1862, the meat 
 had been transported to Nashville and thence to the 
 South, but that the lard in barrels had been buried ; 
 that he helped to do it and was willing to guide us 
 to the place. Next morning, Lieut. Col. Bishop, 
 with six companies of the 2nd Minnesota and a 
 section of artillery, went after the lard with wagons 
 to bring back the booty if successful. A march of 
 four or five miles brought us to the river, which 
 was too deep to ford, and the swift current had 
 destro3^ed the landing so that although we found a 
 flat scow, that had been used as a ferry boat, it 
 was impossible to cross the wagons or artillery. 
 Leaving these on the north bank with one company 
 to protect, if need be, our return crossing, five 
 companies went over in the scow, making several 
 trips with about thirty men at each load, and after 
 marching about a mile and a half our guide pointed 
 out a large field, and said "dar it is." A crop of 
 corn had been grown and harvested there in 
 1862, but on probing the ground near the 
 middle of the field with our ramrods, we 
 soon located the lard mine. We had brought 
 shovels, and the crowd of darkeys who had joined 
 us, some from camp and some from neighboring 
 farms, very willingly helped to resurrect the barrels 
 which were buried side by side about two feet 
 deep in long continuous graves. Squads were sent 
 
Thp: Perryville Campaign. 79 
 
 meantime to all the neighboring farms, who "bor- 
 rowed " all the wagons, carts, mules, horses and oxen 
 that could be found, and the lard barrels were con- 
 veyed to the river bank as expeditiously as possible. 
 
 About a hundred barrels were so delivered, when 
 the ground became so soft from the rain which was 
 copiously falling that further transportation out of 
 the corn field was impossible. Returning to the 
 river we recrossed with twent}' or thirt}^ barrels, 
 which were boosted up the north bank, loaded into 
 our wagons, taken to the camp and distributed to 
 the troops and hospitals. 
 
 Lieut. Waite was left at the river with a small 
 detachment to load the remainder of the barrels into 
 the scow, navigate it down the river to Nashville 
 and deliver the lard to the depot quartermaster 
 there, which he successfully accomplished. 
 
 This excursion served to break the monotony of 
 waiting for Morgan, and as we had plenty of flour 
 the old time doughnuts displaced the hard tack for 
 a day or two. 
 
 On the 29th we were again ordered to join our 
 division, and, boarding a railroad train at Gallatin, 
 succeeded in getting to Nashville without recall or 
 interruption. 
 
 Our wagons, with our baggage, tents, etc., did 
 not reach us until noon on the 30th. On the 31st 
 we encamped eleven miles south of Nashville, on 
 the Nolensville pike, and under the orders of Brig. 
 Gen. James B. Steedman, now commanding the 
 division, were ready for a new and we hoped more 
 active campaign. 
 
80 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 CHAPTER YII. 
 TRIUNE AND TULLAHOMA. 
 
 On the 1st of February our brigade marched in 
 hot haste ten or twelve miles, over the rough, 
 narrow, dirt roads towards Franklin, to encounter 
 Wheeler's brigade of Confederate cavalry, which was 
 reported to be in the vicinity, btit we failed to find 
 any enemy, and after a day of hard marching we 
 spent a cold night without tents or shelter. Next 
 day we retraced our path to the Nolensville pike and 
 encamped on the farm of Col. Battle of the 20th 
 Confederate Tennessee regiment, near Concord 
 church, and about twelve miles from Nashville. 
 
 This 20th Tennessee was the regiment opposed to 
 ours in the fight across the fence at Mill Springs, 
 and we occupied their camp and tents at Beech 
 Grove the two da^^s succeeding that battle. Col. 
 Battle was now with his regiment in Bragg's army. 
 His wife and daughters and the widow of his son 
 (who was killed, a Lieutenant in his father's regi- 
 ment, at Shiloh) were at home. We encamped our 
 regiment in the ample lawn, which, shaded with 
 fine large trees and sloping from the house towards 
 the south, was as pleasant a site as could be desired. 
 
 Our headquarter tents were set quite near the 
 house and we soon became acquainted with the 
 ladies. They urgently objected to our encamping 
 on the ground we had selected, they deeming any of 
 the flat wet fields farther away quite good enough 
 for us, but being informed of oiu' interview with Col. 
 
TKirXE AND TULLAHOMA. 81 
 
 Battle and of his kind hospitality towards us a 
 year before, and being reminded that if we did not 
 occupy that lovely lawn some other, and no doubt 
 worse regiment would, they did not further oppose 
 us, though they graciously expressed the hope that 
 our staA' w^ould be short. We remained here a 
 month, however, employing otn' time in various 
 reconnoitering and foraging expeditions towards 
 the front, which always developed an active enemv 
 within a few miles. 
 
 Two or three days after our arrival here, Capt. 
 Curtis, of Gen. Rosecrans' staff, made a thorough 
 and critical inspection of the regiment, and soon 
 afterwards a complimentary letter was received 
 from Department Headquarters which referred to 
 the inspection and greatly pleased the men, who 
 well deserved it. {See appendix No. 13.) 
 
 Col. George, who had been for several weeks 
 physicalh' unfit for active duty and exposure to the 
 severe winter weather, was obliged to leave us here 
 on the 2nd of February, going to Minnesota for 
 rest and treatment, on sixty days "sick leave." 
 
 On the 15th a foraging party ot two corporals 
 and twelve men, under First Sergt. L. N. Holmes, 
 all of Company "H," went out to the front three 
 or four miles for corn. They w^ere loading their 
 wao^ons from a larj^e and well filled crib when thev 
 were suddenly surrounded b}- two companies of 
 Confederate cavalry, numbering about 125 men. 
 The cavalrv charged down upon them firing their 
 
 carbines and yelling "surrender 3-011 d d yanks." 
 
 Our boys in the crib did not think it necessary to 
 surrender, Init commenced firing in return with 
 
82 The Story op the Second Regiment. 
 
 deliberate aim, emptying a saddle with almost every 
 shot, and the astonished cavalry soon quit yelling 
 and withdrew out of range for consultation ; then 
 
 decided that they had had enough of the "d d 
 
 yanks" and disappeared altogether. Our boys filled 
 their wagons, picked up three of the wounded 
 rebels and seven riderless horses which the enemy 
 had left in the field, and returned safely to camp. 
 Two of the wounded died next day. Several others, 
 slightly wounded, got away by the help of their 
 companions. 
 
 Col. Van Derveer, commanding the brigade, was 
 much elated by the brave conduct of the 2nd 
 Minnesota boys, and issued a special order compli- 
 menting them by name. {See appendix No. 14 ) 
 
 General Steedman, commanding the division, 
 thought the aftair sufi&ciently creditable to "my 
 command" to justify a special report by telegraph 
 to department headquarters, describing the fight ; 
 refraining, however, from any mention of the 
 names or regiment of the men engaged, [See 
 appendix No. 15.) 
 
 Another of these details from our regiment 
 brought in one da\^ eight army wagon loads of 
 fine potatoes, which were a very welcome addition 
 to our somewhat too regular bill of fare. 
 
 On the 2nd of March we said "good-b}^" to 
 our friends, the ladies of the Battle family, express- 
 ing our willingness to take any message they 
 might wish to send to the Colonel, and to deliver 
 it, if he would wait somewhere long enough to get 
 it, "as he probably wouldn't," and in return we 
 
Triune and Tullahoma. 83 
 
 were invited to stop and see them as we returned 
 northward, if we had time, "as we probably 
 wouldn't." 
 
 We marched southward about 15 miles to 
 Triune, where the brigade bivouacked for the night 
 and remained most of the next day. 
 
 At 4 p. M., on the 3rd, Lieut. Col. Bishop was 
 ordered with the 2nd Minnesota regiment, a section 
 of artillery and two battalions of the 1st East 
 Tennessee cavalry to move southward to the Har- 
 peth river and take and hold the ford where the 
 Nolens ville-Eagleville pike crossed it, and to there 
 await the coming of the brigade, which would follow 
 next morning. The place was reached about 
 sunset; the rebel pickets were driven away, the 
 infantry and artillery were posted to command the 
 ford, and one battalion of the cavalry was sent 
 across the river to reconnoiter the neighboring 
 territory. They soon found some rebel cavalry in 
 small parties, and after a running fight returned 
 towards morning with some prisoners. General 
 Steedman came up in the morning with the other 
 regiments of the brigade, and, crossing the river, 
 we found and attacked a party of the enemy, cap- 
 turing 60 prisoners and 300 horses and mules. 
 Next day we made a quick march of eighteen 
 miles to Chapel Hill, where we had another brush 
 with the enemy, routing him at the first attack, 
 then returned by another road six or seven miles 
 and bivouacked, marching next day back to 
 Triune, with our booty and prisoners. 
 
 On the 7th we made a permanent camp about 
 two miles north of Triune, in a good defensible 
 position with plenty of wood and water. 
 
84 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 Triune was a small hamlet about midway 
 between Murfreesboro and Franklin. Here our 
 division was assembled and the first regiment 
 of East Tennessee cavalry was attached to it, 
 and here we remained more than three months. 
 Considerable work was done in fortifying the 
 position, large details being made from the regi- 
 ments in turn for the purpose. The detail of a 
 hundred men from our regiment quite astonished 
 the Captain of Engineers who had charge of the 
 work, by doing about twice as much as had been 
 done by any previous one. He profusely com- 
 plimented the officers and men for their efficiency, 
 and to further show his appreciation of their 
 work, he invited the entire detail to division head- 
 quarters to receive a ration of whiskey. Arriving 
 there he was embarrassed to find that the commis- 
 sary had none to issue, and he was trying to 
 frame a suitable expression of his regret, when it 
 occurred to him that Gen. Steedman, who was 
 absent at the time, had a keg of the juice in his 
 tent. Relieved by the happy thought, he got out 
 the keg and a little tin cup, and the bo\^s formed 
 in single file around the headquarters tents; as 
 they passed the keg each one received his ration, and 
 passing around the tents took his place again at 
 the foot of the line. When the keg was emptied 
 some fifteen or twenty of the boys were still in line 
 ready for their third ration; most of them, how- 
 ever, had been satisfied with the second. The 
 Captain, who had taken a ration or two himself, 
 was very sorry there was not enough to go 
 around, but had done the best he could to give 
 
TkUWE and TlLLAHOMA. 85 
 
 each one a drink, and could do no more. The 
 detachment made a somewhat boisterous and dis- 
 orderly march back to our camp, and their unusual 
 hilarity had to be explained by the officer in 
 charge. It was said that the Engineer Officer was 
 prudently absent himself when Gen. Steedman 
 returned to find the keg empty. 
 
 On the 25th and 26th of March our brigade 
 made another excursion into the enem\^'s territory 
 south of Harpeth river, and after a successful skirm- 
 ish loaded our train wath forage and returned to 
 camp. On the 29th of March we received Enfield 
 rifles to replace the guns of various kinds and 
 calibers which we had thus far used. The Enfields 
 were not satisfactory^ but the change was some 
 improvement. 
 
 Gen. J. M. Scofield here superseded Steedman, 
 as division commander, and gave us several wrecks 
 of prett}^ active exercise in brigade maneuvers and 
 drill, the first we had ever had. 
 
 Gen. J. M. Brannan relieved Scofield May 10th, 
 and continued as our division commander until the 
 reorganization of the army after Chicamauga. 
 
 Our bugle band had, as opportunity was afforded 
 for practice, so improved their time that we had 
 become quite proud of them, and having some 
 money in the regimental fund, a complete set of 
 brass instruments w^as ordered from Cincinnati 
 and arrived on the 8th of April. Principal musician 
 R. G. Rhodes was announced as band master, and 
 for the next few weeks the woods about the camp 
 were full of practicing musicians. The\^ made rapid 
 
86 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 progress, and before we left Triune, June 23rcl, our 
 band compared well with any in the division. 
 
 Col. George returned on the 31st of March, not 
 physically in good condition, but able to do duty 
 not requiring active exercise. 
 
 Brigade exercises were continued under Gen. 
 Brannan, and a grand review of the troops was held 
 on the 5th of April. 
 
 On the 1st of MaA^ we were supplied with the 
 new ''shelter tents" or "pup tents," as they were 
 called by the men, and all the wall and bell tents 
 were sent back to Nashville, except those required 
 by the brigade and regimental headquarters and for 
 the field hospitals. These pup tents were simple 
 pieces of light canvass, each about the size of an 
 army blanket, and so fitted that two comrades by 
 buttoning their two pieces together and improvising 
 some simple support, could have a comfortable 
 shelter from rain or sun. Thcvse tents were to be 
 carried by the men, and so the wagon trains were 
 reduced from thirteen wagons to three for each 
 regiment; the officers of each company- being allowed 
 one pack mule to carry their baggage. 
 
 On the 4th of June Gen. Gordon Granger came to 
 Triune to inspect the position and the troops which 
 had come under his command as part of the "right 
 wing." The day was spent in brigade and division 
 maneuvers in the hot sun, with little rest and no 
 food or water. It closed with a grand review, after 
 which the troops were marched back to their camps. 
 
 Artillery firing had been heard during the after- 
 noon in the direction of Franklin, and when our 
 brigade was divsmissed from the review, at 5 
 
Triune and Tullahoma. 87 
 
 o'clock, it was ordered to march immediately to 
 Franklin. Col. Van Derveer, commanding it, gave 
 us thirty minutes in camp after arriving there for 
 supper. During this interval the officers of the 
 2nd Minnesota called in a body at headquarters 
 and presented a spirited and beautiful bay mare to 
 Lieut. Col. Bishop, who had recently lost his horse 
 by overheating in the field exercises. This presenta- 
 tion was a grateful surprise to him at the time, and 
 and will be gratefully remembered as long as 
 he lives. She proved to be a most valuable and 
 intelligent animal and became a great pet in the 
 regiment. She was twice shot under her rider, but 
 served until the final muster out of the regiment and 
 died in the Colonel's care some fifteen years thereafter. 
 
 We marched at 6 o'clock for Franklin, fifteen 
 miles distant. The day had been excessively hot 
 and sultr\^ but now the sky grew black, and, 
 after a severe thunder storm, it settled down for a 
 stead}^ heavy, all-night rain. That night's march 
 will never be forgotten by the men of Van Derveer's 
 brigade. The darkness was intense, the road soft, 
 slippery and so uneven that some of the men were 
 down or falling all the time. We were ten hours 
 in making the march, arriving before daybreak 
 utterly exhausted, and physically and mentally 
 exasperated. The garrison seemed to be all asleep. 
 No enemy was in the neighborhood, and we lay 
 down in a lawn in the village to wait for dawn. 
 Our field officers stretched themselves on the floor 
 of the front porch of the spacious mansion. 
 
 A little before sunrise the front door opened and 
 a staff officer came out, and waking Col. George 
 
88 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 with his foot, told him that the presence of the 
 regiment on the premises was not agreeable to the 
 lady owner, and requested him to move on and 
 out. The Colonel had a talent for vigorous and 
 emphatic profanit}^ upon occasion, and he did his 
 best here; but, as he afterwards acknowledged, no 
 man could do justice to such hospitality as that. 
 The officer who had aroused him slunk back into 
 the house, withered and abashed, and did not 
 appear again during the forenoon. In the after- 
 noon we made a reconnoisance in search of the 
 enem}^, but found none. On the 6th we returned 
 to our camp at Triune. 
 
 The usual round of guard and picket duty, bat- 
 talion and brigade exercises, was resumed, varied 
 by an occasional march to Nashville or to the front 
 for supplies. 
 
 On the 23rd we broke camp on an hour's notice, 
 and commenced the "TuUahoma Campaign"; 
 marching southward and then eastward, in all 
 about fifteen miles, over a rough and rocky road, 
 to a camp near Salem. Here it commenced raining, 
 and of the next seventeen days, fourteen were 
 rainy. Of course the roads and country- soon 
 became almost impassable, and the soldiers seldom 
 had dry clothes or rations. 
 
 On the 24th our trains moving eastward were 
 threatened from the south by the enemy's cavalry, 
 and Lieut. Col. Bishop, with four companies of the 
 regiment, was detailed to keep them back. We 
 had a skirmish fight in the rain, lasting nearly all 
 day, bivouacked on the disputed field at night, and 
 rejoined the regiment next day. Lieut. Col. Bishop 
 
Triune and Tullahuma. 89 
 
 and several of his men got bullet holes in their 
 clothing, but no more serious casualties; the 
 enemy, firing mostly from horseback, did not aim 
 with much precision. On the 29th our regiment 
 had another all day skirmish light, killing several 
 and wounding others of the enemy. Among the 
 killed was Col. Starnes, and an aid to Gen. 
 Wheeler, who was shot while carrying a dispatch 
 from his chief. After he fell from his horse he was 
 seen to tear in pieces the message, but it was 
 recovered, put together and read. Only one man 
 of our regiment was w^ounded. 
 
 At times, w^hen w^e had forced back the enemy's 
 line more rapidly than the}^ approved, they opened 
 on us with artillery to check our advance. The 
 surgeon of the regiment on our right, who was 
 riding behind the advancing line, was very suddenly 
 let down by a shell from the enemy's battery, 
 which entered the breast and exploded in the body 
 of the horse without hurting the doctor. The boys 
 unmercifully guyed him as he gathered up his 
 saddle and went to the rear. 
 
 On the 26th we had a rattling skirmish for the 
 possession of Hoover's Gap. The enemy gave way 
 for us as we advanced rapidly through the gap, 
 and although they did a good deal of wild firing, 
 no men were hurt in our regiment. 
 
 On the 1st of JuK^ we drove the enemy's picket 
 line into and through Tullahoma, to find that his 
 army had evacuated the place during the previous 
 night, leaving a good many of their tents standing, 
 several big guns, and a considerable c[uantity of 
 stores. On the 2nd we reached Elk river, finding 
 
90 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 it at flood height and the bridge gone. Our regi- 
 ment captured one party of eleven prisoners, and 
 another of four. 
 
 On the 3rd of July the flood had subsided a 
 little and it was found practicable to ford the stream 
 by the aid of a rope stretched across to keep the 
 men from being carried down by the current. Our 
 brigade stripped to the skin ; the knapsacks, clothes, 
 rations, cartridge boxes, etc., making a bundle of 
 twenty-five or thirty pounds, were carried on the 
 bayonet, the gun supported by one hand while the 
 other kept a grasp on the rope, as the men in single 
 file waded the stream in the rushing waters up to 
 their necks. None of the men in our brigade were 
 drowned, but some of them lost their bundles in the 
 passage and landed destitute and naked. As the 
 flood subsided the artillery and trains began to 
 cross and a bridge was improvised. On the 4th we 
 heard of the battle of Gettysburg and next day of 
 the surrender of Vicksburg, both events being 
 announced in general orders, and honored by 
 national salutes b}'- the artillery. 
 
 The enemy had now disappeared from our 
 vicinity, and as it was nearly impossible to move 
 artillery or trains we rested here nine days, and on 
 the 18th moved to Winchester, where we remained 
 four weeks, the time being occupied in rebuilding 
 the railroads behind us and refitting and equipping 
 for the next advance. Just a year ago we were 
 encamped here for several days, and we now felt 
 quite at home and acquainted. 
 
^\.>-\ V 
 
 JAMES GEORGE, Colonel. 
 March 21 1862 to June 29, 1S64. 
 
ThH CAiMTAIGN and BaTTLH of CllICAMAlCA. 91 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE OF 
 CHICAMAUGA. 
 
 On the 16th of August our pleasant camp at 
 Winchester was broken up and we marched east- 
 ward about a mile, under a blazing sun, and two 
 miles farther in a terrific thunderstorm ; then finding 
 the road full of troops and trains entitled to pre- 
 cedence we encamped. Next day we marched three 
 miles farther, reaching the foot of the Cumberland 
 mountain range, over which our route lav to reach 
 the Tennessee river. 
 
 Here we found the heavy w^agon trains toiling 
 up the steep, narroAv, tortuous road, ascending the 
 western slope of che mountain, and the slow prog- 
 ress of the last two days was explained. 
 
 On the 18th we found the road clear, and marched 
 up the mountain side to University Place, on the 
 summit, where we spent the night. Here the corner- 
 stone of a magnificent "to be" universitv had been 
 laid b\' Rt. Rev. Bishop Polk, now a general in the 
 Confederate army. An endowment of three million 
 dollars had been pledged, and the foundations of 
 the vseveral buildings had been constructed, when 
 the war interrupted the enterprise with an adjourn- 
 ment ''sine die/' 
 
 On the 19th we marched down the eastern slope 
 of the mountain range, and encamped at the foot 
 in Sweden's Cove, remaining there the 20th. 
 
92 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 Since leaving our Winchester camp we had found 
 plenty of green corn, and the "roasting ears" had 
 made a considerable item in our subsistence. 
 
 On the 21st we moved to the north bank of the 
 Tennessee river, at the mouth of Battle Creek, about 
 six miles above Bridgeport, where the railroad 
 bridge had been destroyed, and was being rebuilt 
 by our engineer forces. 
 
 The river here was broad and deep, and the 
 enemy's pickets lined the south bank. They, for the 
 first few days, kept popping their guns at our men 
 whenever they approached the river, and occasion- 
 ally the bullets would reach our camps, but we 
 picketed the north bank with better rifles, and 
 after a conipetitive trial of marksmanship, the men 
 on duty came to an agreement to save their ammu- 
 nition, and thereafter amused themselves in guying 
 each other '^viva voce.^' The men of both armies, 
 not on duty, came down freely to bathe on their 
 respective sides of the river, and soon it got to be 
 a common practice for a good swimmer or two 
 from each side to meet in mid river and swap lies, 
 newspapers, etc., while the pickets kept watch to 
 see there should be no foul pla^- or breach of 
 confidence. 
 
 Col. George rejoined us here on the 24th, from a 
 long absence on sick leave, and left us again on the 
 27th, promising to be back, if alive, in time for the 
 expected battle. He kept his promise, returning to 
 the regiment on the 18th of September, the day 
 before the battle of Chicamauga. Meanwhile 
 Compan}^ '<p" of our regiment, composed mostly of 
 river men and raftsmen from the Lake St. Croix 
 
TnK Campaign and Battlp: of Chicamauga. 93 
 
 lumber regions, had been quietly at work in Battle 
 Creek, out of the enemy's sight, constructing rafts 
 and rude scows, on which four of our companies 
 effected a crossing in the evening of the 29th, and 
 got possession of the south shore. The enemy, not 
 expecting an effort to cross here, had left only a 
 few men to watch the river, not enough to make 
 any serious opposition. By noon next da\' our 
 entire brigade was over, and the two other bri- 
 gades of our division (Brannan's) completed the 
 crossing on the 31st. 
 
 Meantime the other divisions of the army were 
 crossing simultaneously at several points above 
 and below us, and our trains and artillery were 
 sent down to Bridgeport, to cross on the new bridge 
 when it should be read^^ 
 
 On the first day of September we moved out 
 about three miles to Graham's Spring, near the foot 
 of Raccoon mountain, and near the monument 
 marking the corner of the three states, Alabama, 
 Georgia and Tennessee. 
 
 Near this camp was the celebrated "Nick a Jack" 
 or Salt-petre cave, which was visited and explored 
 by hundreds of ovir men during our four days' en- 
 campment here. A large stream of pure water 
 issued from the mouth of the cave, which was 
 about twenty feet high and vSeventy feet wide. 
 The cave had been explored, it was said, for a 
 distance of several miles; some of our men, in 
 trying to verify this, got lost, and with consider- 
 able difficult}' were found and rescued, after spend- 
 ing a very long night, as they said, "in the bowels 
 of the Confederacv." 
 
94 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 Here the Confederate government had made an 
 attempt, with some success, to obtain salt-petre for 
 the manufacture of gunpowder. On the 5th, our 
 train and artillery having arrived, we marched up 
 the "Nick a Jack trace," as the ravine is called b\' 
 which the road ascends the western slope of 
 Raccoon mountain. After making four or five 
 miles it was found that the road needed so much 
 repair and the wagons so much help that it would 
 be impossible to get the trains to the summit that 
 night, and we were obliged to go back two miles 
 to find water for a camp. On the 6th we com- 
 pleted the ascent and encamped on the summit, 
 and on the 7th descended the eastern slope into 
 Lookout, or Will's valley, and encamped at Boiling 
 Springs, about five miles below Trenton. 
 
 Here we remained two days, learning on the 
 9th that Bragg had evacuated Chattanooga on 
 the 8th and was retiring southward. 
 
 On the 10th we marched through Trenton and 
 up the Lookout valley about thirteen miles. On 
 the 11th we started in the morning, but having 
 the road ahead of us full of artillery and trains 
 toiling up the mountain, we only made three miles 
 and halted at the foot of a long steep grade. 
 Orders reached us at 7 p. m. to start at once and 
 pass the trains, as the enemy had been encountered 
 on the opposite side of the mountain, but these 
 orders were soon countermanded, and we bivouacked 
 again. 
 
 Next morning we started at 5 o'clock, crossed 
 the mountain and halted in Chattanooga vallc}' 
 at 10 A. M. At 2 p. M. made a reconnoisance, 
 
The Campaign and Battle of Chicamauga. 95 
 
 returning to our position at 7 o'clock. Here we 
 remained the 13th and 14th, while troops and 
 trains were moving around and behind us in a 
 way that then seemed mysterious and without any 
 definite or intelligible purpose. On the 15th our 
 brigade moved to Lee's Mill, on or near the 
 Chicamauga creek, and bivouacked in line of battle 
 in apparent preparatiou for a fight right there. 
 We remained there the 16th, "standing to arms" 
 at four o'clock on the mornings of the 16th and 
 17th, in expectation of an early attack. 
 
 On the r7th the heavy clouds of dust extending 
 along the eastern slope of the Chicamauga valley 
 showed us the enemy's columns were in motion 
 northward, and about 8 o'clock we "took arms" 
 and commenced our march "by the left flank" 
 abreast of, and less than a mile distant from, the 
 enemy's parallel march by his "right flank." 
 
 Our progress was slow, the da}- hot and the 
 road ankle deep with fine dust, with which the 
 tramping feet filled the air as the column moved 
 along. At ten o'clock we had got about three 
 miles from our starting point, when some scatter- 
 ing musket shots \vere heard in our rear, and 
 presently an order was received from Col. Van 
 Derveer, commanding our brigade, for the 2nd 
 Minnesota to return as' far as Pond Springs, see 
 what was the matter and rejoin the brigade. We 
 unslung and piled our knapsacks, leaving a few 
 men with them, and in less than an hour retraced 
 nearly the whole forenoon's march. As we came 
 in sight of the springs the two leading companies 
 were deployed forward, and men were detailed from 
 
96 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 each company to take all the canteens and fill 
 them at the springs as promptly as possible upon 
 our arrival there. Approaching the place we found 
 the springs in possession of a detachment of the 
 enemy's cavalry, who were resting in unsuspicious 
 comfort, many of them dismounted. They had 
 been worr34ng our trains, and being repulsed by 
 the guards, had halted here for reinforcements. 
 They were promptly attacked and routed by our 
 advance skirmishers, and while we halted, main- 
 taining ranks, the canteens were filled and dis- 
 tributed. Then we reversed our march, returning 
 by the left flank to our brigade, which had not 
 moved during our absence, and soon bivouacked 
 for the night. 
 
 The light from the enemy's camp fires was 
 visible all night to the eastward, and we slept 
 **on our arms," ready to be attacked if he so 
 pleased. 
 
 All day a feverish, mysterious, nervous forebod- 
 ing had seemed to pervade the camp; every one 
 w^as conscious of it and apprehensive that every- 
 thing was not in order as it should be. The con- 
 fused and halting marches, of which the purpose 
 or destination was not apparent, were not un- 
 observed by the men, and regimental and brigade 
 officers had little, if any, better knowledge of the 
 situation than their men had. 
 
 We remained here all day on the 18th, while 
 troops and artillery and trains were moving behind 
 us to the left or northward, and about 5 p. m. we 
 joined in the procession. Old soldiers will remem- 
 ber that a night march of unusual fatigue generally 
 
The Campaign and Battle of Chicamauga. 97 
 
 commenced just before supper. On this occasion 
 we moved about a quarter of a mile per hour 
 through the whole night, halting every few rods 
 just long enough to get stiff and cold, but 
 never long enough to build fires and get warm. 
 Many of the men would fall asleep, sinking down 
 in the road and some standing on their feet, but 
 strict orders were given not to leave the column, 
 and to follow closely those leading us. As the day 
 began to dawn we could see the brigades and 
 batteries leaving the road from time to time and 
 moving off in line of battle into the woods to the 
 eastward towards the Chicamauga creek, and we 
 knew that the army was taking position for the 
 great contest so long anticipated. We could now 
 understand how this had been going on during 
 the night, and how slow and difficult had been the 
 construction of the grand line of battle in the 
 darkness, and our tedious and halting progress 
 was so accounted for. 
 
 As we began to understand the situation our 
 vague apprehensions gave place to an active 
 and intelligent interest in the preparations 
 being made, and we braced up and awaited our 
 time for assignment to position. We had been all 
 night in moving less than five miles, were now on 
 the Lafayette-Chattanooga road, and had passed 
 in the darkness near Gen. Rosecrans' headquarters 
 at the Widow Glenn's house. At 8 o'clock our 
 brigade halted, filed out of the road near Kelly's 
 house and stacked arms, while the word was 
 passed down the line "twenty minutes for break- 
 fast." In five minutes hundreds of little fires were 
 
 7 
 
98 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 kindled and hundreds of little coffee cans were filled 
 with water from the canteens and set to boil by 
 one of each pair of chums, while the other sliced 
 and broiled the bacon; in ten minutes the boiling 
 coffee was lifted off, the luscious bacon was nicely 
 browned, and the ever toothsome hardtack had 
 been moistened and toasted, and — here comes an 
 aid at a furious gallop down the dusty road; a 
 brief order delivered by him to Col. Van Derveer, 
 our brigade commander, and each regiment gets 
 orders to ''take arms" and march immediately. 
 Of course some urgent and peremptory necessity 
 was supposed, but how could we leave that break- 
 fast untasted, even for love of country or of glory. 
 The bugle call to "attention" was drowned in a 
 tempest of curses, but the order was promptly 
 obeyed nevertheless, arms were taken, and we filed 
 out into the road, now clear, and briskly moved 
 off northward in a cloud of choking dust. ''Dread- 
 ful! dreadful!" exclaimed our venerable chaplain, 
 as the air grew sulphurous with profanity. "But 
 think," said one near him, "how dreadfuller it 
 would be to go into battle and get killed with all 
 those curses in 'em." "Colonel," said one of these 
 men a quarter of a century later, "d'ye moind 
 that breakfast we didn't ate at Chicamauga? 
 Be jabers, oi can taste it yet." 
 
 After making about a mile we halted near 
 McDaniel's house, whence a road, or rather a 
 narrow wagon track, leads through the open oak 
 woods eastward to Reed's bridge and ford on the 
 Chicamauga creek. 
 
The Campaign and Battle of Chicamauga. 99 
 
 It may be here explained that the extreme left of 
 our general line of battle rested in the woods, about 
 opposite the midway point between Kelly's and 
 McDaniel's houses, and the position of the line, 
 extending southward and facing eastward, was 
 about midway between and parallel to the road 
 and the creek. So as we faced the eastward and 
 marched in brigade order of battle along the Reed's 
 bridge road, we were detached from and nearly half 
 a mile to the left of the left division (Baird's) of 
 our established line. Our orders were said to have 
 been given on information by Col. McCook, com- 
 manding a cavalr^^ brigade on the left, that onh' 
 one Confederate brigade had crossed to the w^est 
 side of the Chicamauga, that he (McCook) had 
 destroyed the bridge (Reed's) behind it, and we were 
 to take and hold the ford, preventing further cross- 
 ing by the enemy, while our first and second 
 brigades were to find, attack and capture the 
 enemy's supposed isolated brigade. This informa- 
 tion, if given, proved entirely erroneous, nearly the 
 whole Confederate arm^^ being in position between 
 our lines and the creek, and their brigades were not 
 hard to find when we came to look for them. 
 
 Our brigade was formed with the 2nd Minnesota 
 on the left and the 35th Ohio on the right of the 
 front line, with Smith's battery in the road between 
 them. The 87th Indiana in a second line, behind 
 the 35th Ohio; the 9th Ohio w^as detached with 
 the division ammunition train. So we commenced 
 our march, a few skirmishers preceding our front 
 line. After proceeding along the road, which seemed 
 to follow a ridge of small elevation, and while yet 
 
loo The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 to the left and rear of Baird's division, of whose 
 position we had no knowledge, we heard musketry 
 to our right and front. Changing our direction to 
 face it, to the southward, we moved off the ridge 
 and down an easy slope, and soon met the enemy 
 in force, now supposed to be Echol's and Wilson's 
 brigades, and the firing began at once. In a few 
 minutes the enemy retired, then rallied and attacked 
 again, and were again repulsed, this time retiring 
 out of our sight. We gathered up our wounded 
 men and carried them back over the ridge to the 
 northern slope in our rear (the band performing 
 this service), replenished the cartridge boxes and 
 readjusted our line, the 87th Indiana meantime 
 changing places with the 35th Ohio, on our right. 
 In a few minutes the firing again broke out in our 
 front, but while bullets dropped in among us, we 
 were, on account of the trees and under brush, 
 unable to see any men for a time. Then the firing 
 approached and the big guns joined in for a few 
 rounds, then a burst of cheers, ''the rebel yell," the 
 artillery ceased and the rattling musketry came 
 nearer and the bullets thicker. Our men were get- 
 ting nervous and were ordered to lie down and hold 
 their fire until they could see the enemy. Presently, 
 to our astonishment, a straggling line of men in 
 our own uniform appeared, then more of them, 
 running directly toward us, their speed accelerated 
 every moment by the yelling and firing of the 
 exultant enemy behind them. Our men got ready 
 and waited while the stampeded brigade, officers 
 and men, passed over our lines to the rear, and 
 then as the pursuing enemy came in view, gave them 
 
The Campaign and Battl?: of Chicamauga. 101 
 
 a volley that extinguished their yelling and stopped 
 their advance. They rallied, however, and stood for 
 a few minutes receiving and returning our fire, then 
 wavered, broke and ran out of sight. Just now the 
 9th Ohio arrived, having abandoned the ammuni- 
 tion train when the firing broke out, and followed 
 our trail to the front. The firing had ceased when 
 Col. Kammerling rode up and vociferously demanded 
 "where them Got tarn rebels gone;" some one 
 pointed in the direction they were last seen, and 
 away went the 9th Ohio over our front line, disre- 
 garding Van Derveer's orders to come back, and we 
 could hear them yell and cheer in both languages 
 long after they disappeared from sight. About a 
 quarter of a mile distant they found and recaptured 
 the batter}' (Guenther's), which the enemy had 
 taken half an hour before. The enemy's troops 
 about the battery made a fight for it, and Kam- 
 merling lost a good many men in getting it, and 
 was even then obliged to leave it, when recalled by 
 a peremptory order to rejoin the brigade, which he 
 did not receive or obey too soon. 
 
 During the first fighting our band men, as they 
 had been previously instructed, were busy with the 
 stretchers, picking up the wounded and carrying 
 them back up the slope of the ridge and over to the 
 north side, where our surgeon, Dr. Otis Ayer, had 
 established a temporary hospital, and was giving 
 them such attention as circumstances permitted. It 
 soon happened, however, that some of these men 
 were shot the second time while being carried back, 
 and the carrying was suspended until the firing 
 should cease. 
 
102 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 Our skirmishers soon reported the enemy moving 
 around our left flank, and our regiment by facing 
 left and fihng left, changed front to face the east. 
 The enemy made an attack upon us in this 
 position, which was repulsed bj^ our regiment 
 alone, and then by the same maneuver we changed 
 front again to face the north, the enemy having 
 passed a large force around our left flank during 
 the last attack, which was probably made to 
 cover their movement. 
 
 We were now in the road again, and on the 
 right of our brigade, on a line nearly parallel to 
 our first position, but facing the opposite direction, 
 and the movement had brought our left company 
 next to the battery, which, without changing 
 position much, had exchanged the places of its 
 guns and caissons, and now faced the north; the 
 other regiments of our brigade had formed on the 
 left of the battery, and for a moment of silence 
 we awaited the onset. Here on the ground, now 
 before us, lay our wounded men, who had been 
 carried back from the first line of fight, and were 
 now between the opposing lines. But — here they 
 come— ranks after ranks — emerging from the shelter- 
 ing trees and underbrush, and approaching us with 
 steady tramp and desperate silence. Our men were 
 cautioned now to shoot to kill, and we opened 
 with file firing that soon broke up the orderly 
 march of the first line, whose men hesitated and 
 commenced firing wildly; their second lines were 
 now promptly moved up, and all together pressed 
 on in the charge. Our big guns were loaded with 
 canister, which opened great gaps in the enemy's 
 
The Campaign and Battle of Chicamauga. 103 
 
 columns at every discharge, while the withering 
 fire of our infantr}^ was thinning their ranks at 
 every step of their advance. Thej^ greatly out- 
 numbered us, and it seemed a question for a time 
 whether we could so reduce their numbers and 
 their nerve as to prevent an actual collision in 
 which they would have the majority; but they 
 began to waver at sixty yards, and at forty they 
 broke, and then ran, every man for himself, leav- 
 ing, alas ! hundreds of brave fellows prostrate in 
 helpless suffering before us, some of them inter- 
 mingling with our own wounded men who had 
 been carried there from the first fight of the morning. 
 
 We supposed this attacking force to have been 
 the division which had earlier in the day success- 
 fully assaulted the brigades of King and Scribner, 
 capturing their two batteries. This assault and 
 repulse ended our part of the battle for the day; 
 we now refilled our cartridge boxes, gathered our 
 wounded men and sent them to the field hospital 
 at Cloud's house, and collected our dead for burial. 
 
 Our regiment had commenced the battle with 
 three hundred and eighty-four men and officers, of 
 whom eight had been killed and forty-one wounded ; 
 none missing: 
 
 While v^aiting orders here we heard from time 
 to time the roar of battle along the line to the 
 southward, but saw nothing more of the enemy in 
 our vicinity. 
 
 In the afternoon we were moved southward to 
 a field southwest of Kelly's house, where we 
 bivouacked for the night. We had had no rest and 
 but little food since noon of the 18th. The night 
 
104 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 was clear and cold, and many of the men in the 
 excitement and changing positions in the battle, 
 had lost their knapsacks and blankets. No fires 
 were permitted until after sunrise next morning, 
 and we passed a cheerless and uncomfortable night. 
 Yet when we remembered the thousands of poor 
 fellows who, maimed and suffering, lay scattered 
 all over the fields and woods, without food, water 
 or care, we forgot our own discomfort in pity for 
 the wounded and dying. 
 
 We all knew that the issue had not been decided, 
 aud that the battle must be renewed next day, 
 with probably better preparation and more des- 
 perate fighting, and no one could predict what 
 would be his own fate when the contest should be 
 over. 
 
 Sunday morning, the 20th, the sun rose peace- 
 fully over the misty landscape; all was quiet as 
 the grave; the stillness was in fact oppressive for 
 a time. The tired soldiers, stiff with cold, got up 
 from their hard beds on the ground, stamped the 
 kinks out of their legs and answered the roll call, 
 and then, kindling their little fires, cooked their 
 bacon and coffee. Our brigade, not being in line, 
 was then formed as a reserve in an open field near 
 Kelly's house, and west of the Lafayette road, 
 perhaps a quarter of a mile in rear of the line of 
 battle which, located in the woods, was invisible 
 to us. 
 
 About nine o'clock a scattering fire of musketry 
 ran along the line in our front, increasing rapidly 
 until within a few minutes the terrific roar of file 
 firing was in full volume, and the enemy's bullets 
 
The Campaign and Battle of Chicamauga. 105 
 
 were passing over our line of battle, chipping 
 through the leaves and branches of the trees, and 
 dropping into, among and around us in a ver\' 
 disquieting manner. Directly the artillery opened 
 also, and v^hile the big shells were not so numerous 
 as the little bullets, they commanded more deference 
 and respect individualh^ when they did come. This 
 did not appear to be a nice quiet place for a reserve 
 brigade, but there was none more sheltered in the 
 vicinity, so we had to sta\" there and take it ; the 
 men meanwhile bracing each other up with jokes 
 and facetious comments on everything in sight or 
 that might happen. 
 
 Presentl}^ the stragglers appeared coming out of 
 the woods and crossing the road and field, passing 
 us to the rear. Some few of them were wounded, 
 but the most of them were cowardly skulkers who 
 had sneaked out of the line of battle, and were 
 getting out of personal danger as fast as they could. 
 Their number increased rapidly, until it seemed to 
 us that our experience of the previous day was 
 about to be repeated. Some efforts were made to 
 stop and reform the demoralized fugitives, but most 
 of them had thrown away their guns and all of 
 them their courage, and in their then condition they 
 were not worth stopping. One party of six emerged 
 from the woods, carrying a blanket in which lay a 
 man with face covered. These men all carried their 
 guns also, and we set them down as a guard 
 detailed to carry back some general officer, desper- 
 ately wounded no doubt; who could he be? Pos- 
 sibly our own Van Cleve, whose division we knew 
 was somewhere in the front line. Directlv a shell 
 
106 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 came howling through the woods and burst on the 
 ground near them, when they dropped the blanket 
 and their guns and took the double quick to the 
 rear, and the man in the blanket got up and ran 
 after them. Out of this and other incidents we got 
 some diversion, yet the situation was a trying one 
 and we were much relieved when orders came to 
 go to the left of the line to repel a threatened attack 
 there. We moved northward along the west side of 
 and parallel to the Lafayette road some distance, 
 and then changing direction to the right approached 
 the road with our front facing eastward, parallel 
 to it. At this point we passed through a thicket 
 of small pines and other trees, which had obstructed 
 our view to the north and east. Emerging from 
 this we crossed the road in line of battle, to take 
 position on the left of a battery already there. Our 
 brigade was in two lines, the 2nd Minnesota being 
 on the right of the front line, nearest the battery, 
 the 87th Indiana on its left, and the 35th and 9th 
 Ohio in the second line. Before us lay a large open 
 field, bounded on the north by a strip of woods, 
 perhaps twenty rods distant from the left of our 
 brigade. As we halted on the east side of the road 
 and began looking about for the enemy, whose 
 appearance we expected in our front (eastward), 
 the air was suddenly filled with bullets and a line 
 of gray smoke appeared along the edge of the 
 woods on our left and at right angles with our 
 lines. A change of front to the left was instantly 
 ordered, and executed by the left wheel of the 
 brigade. Pending this movement, which was made 
 on the run, we could not return the enemy's fire, 
 
CORRECTION. 
 
 The sentence commencing ^Yith the fifth lineof i)aKe 107, should rcarl 
 as follows: 
 
 "The wheel completed, our line commenced firinfr 
 at once, but finding ourselves at disadvantage in 
 the open field we charged up to the edge of the 
 woods, driving the enemy back and then again 
 opened fire on them at short range. " 
 
The Campaign and Battle of Chicamauga. 107 
 
 and we lost a good mam^ men. The mounted 
 officers seemed to be especially selected, several of 
 them and all of the horses in the brigade but two, 
 were shot before the affair was over. 
 
 The wheel completed, our first line charged at 
 once up to the edge of the woods, driving the enemy 
 back, and then opened fire on them at short range. 
 They were stubborn and slow to give way, and 
 after a few minutes firing b}^ our front line, Col. 
 Van Derveer ordered the second line to pass the 
 first and charge them again. This was done, the 
 first line joining in the charge, and the enemy's 
 front was thus broken up and soon they retired, 
 leaving the field and their wounded in our posses- 
 sion. Among these was their brigade commander, 
 Gen. Adams, of Breckinridge's division. It appeared 
 that this division had passed entirely around the 
 left of our line, and was about to attack our left 
 division in the rear, when we arrived and encount- 
 ered it as above described. 
 
 The fighting over for a time, our wounded men 
 were being gathered up and made as comfortable as 
 possible, until thc}^ should be removed to the hos- 
 pital. In the gallop around with the right wing of 
 his regiment in the open field, the horse bearing the 
 writer was shot in the breast, and dropping to her 
 knees dismounted her rider by a flying somersault 
 over her head. She was abandoned there but was 
 found after the fight by one of our wounded men, 
 and the\^ helped each other over the road to Ross- 
 ville, rejoining the regiment about midnight. After 
 several weeks in hospital both recovered and served 
 to the end of the war. 
 
108 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 Presently the crash of musketry was heard again 
 to our right, and as we listened it seemed to be veer- 
 ing around to our rear. As the enemy then had dis- 
 appeared from our own front, a few men were 
 detailed to care for the wounded until the ambu- 
 lances should arrive, and we marched away towards 
 the sound of the guns. The enemy soon reoccupied 
 the field we had won and left, and the twelve 
 detailed men with our assistant surgeon. Dr. Otis 
 Ayerj and many of our wounded were made 
 prisoners. As we got into the open field, where we 
 had been "in reserve" in the morning, we were met 
 by an aid from Gen. Thomas, who conducted us to 
 Horseshoe Ridge, so called, near the Snodgrass house. 
 The battle seemed to be trending to that position 
 from all directions and we could see that we were 
 needed there. Gen. Thomas rode down to meet us, 
 and after giving some directions to Col. Van Derveer, 
 sat upon his horse and looked the men over as we 
 marched past him and up the slope of the ridge. 
 Undoubtedly he was glad to see, in this emergency, 
 the regiments, that under his eye, had fought and 
 won "Mill Springs," and he said to the writer that 
 he "was glad to see us in such good order." We 
 did not then know how many troops he had seen 
 in disorder during the day, nor did he know that 
 within an hour's fighting we had just lost more 
 than one-third of our regiment in killed and wotinded, 
 yet we greatly appreciated the compliment at the 
 time. 
 
 Arriving on the ridge, our regiment took the 
 place of one already there (the 21st Ohio), which 
 had exhausted its cartridge boxes, and immediately 
 
The Campaign and Battle of Chicamauga. lOO 
 
 had a view of the assaulting columns of the enemy, 
 just commencing the ascent of the southern slope 
 in our front. Ranks followed ranks in close order, 
 moving briskly and bravely towards us. It was 
 theirs to advance, ours, now, to stand and repel. 
 Again the order was passed to aim carefully and 
 make every shot count, and the deadly work 
 began. The front ranks melted awa\" under the 
 rapid fire of our men, but those following bowed 
 their heads to the storm of bullets and pressed on, 
 some of them falling at every step, until, the sup- 
 porting touch of elbows being lost, the sur- 
 vivors hesitate, halt, then turning, start back 
 with a rush that carries everything with them to 
 the rear — all who escape the bullets, as deadly in 
 the wild retreat as in the desperate and orderly 
 advance. This was all repeated again and again, 
 until the slope was so covered with dead and 
 wounded men that looking from our position we 
 could hardly see the ground. Never was any 
 position more gallantly assaulted or more des- 
 perately defended. Meanwhile General Steedman 
 had arrived with two brigades of fresh troops, 
 who came up on our right with enthusiastic 
 cheers and ^' forty rounds" in their boxes, just in 
 time to meet the enemy's advance on the crest. 
 Our brigade had so far been the right of our line 
 at this place (except three detached regiments), 
 and being furiously assaulted in front, could not 
 have prevented the enemy from enveloping our 
 right flank, as they seemed to have plenty of 
 troops and had discovered that the ridge to our 
 right was vacant. Steedman's arrival and prompt 
 
110 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 attack regained and secured that ground, and he 
 
 brought a spare wagon load of cartridges — more 
 
 precious than diamonds — as many of our men had 
 
 placed the last one in the gun. The cartridges 
 
 were quickly brought to the line and distributed, 
 
 just in time to meet the next attack. This was 
 
 made by fresh troops, and their adyance was only 
 
 broken up when their foremost men were within 
 
 ten paces of our line. Some of them came on and 
 
 surrendered; most of them who ran back were 
 
 killed or wounded before they got out of range. 
 
 From fiye to six o'clock an ominous quietude 
 
 preyailed. Our cartridges were again exhausted, 
 
 and the boxes of our own and the enemy's dead 
 
 and wounded y^ere searched and emptied, and 
 
 bayonets y^ere fixed when it was found that we 
 
 had less than two rounds to the man. Another 
 
 attack was made just before dark, and was 
 
 repulsed in our front as the others had been, but 
 
 there seemed to be no contest on the right, where 
 
 Steedman's line had been, and presently we found 
 
 that his troops had been withdrawn and that the 
 
 enemy were groping their way around to our 
 
 right and rear, and had already captured the 
 
 detached regiments which had been between us and 
 
 Steedman. The 35th Ohio was promptly placed to 
 
 protect that flank, and after receiying a few shots 
 
 the enemy retired, no doubt in the darkening 
 
 woods uncertain of the situation, and disconcerted 
 
 by the loss of their commanding officer, who fell 
 
 there . 
 
 After another hour of waiting we were ordered 
 to moye to Rossyille by the Dry Valley road. 
 
The Campaign and Battle of Chicamauga. Ill 
 
 which we did, with empty guns, but without 
 opposition or adventure, our brigade being, as we 
 supposed, the last Union troops to leave the 
 bloody field. Our division commander, however, 
 says as to this in his official reports (just pub- 
 lished) that the 68th and 101st Indiana covered 
 the retirement of our brigade, they "being the 
 only troops that had any ammunition whatever." 
 About midnight we arrived at Rossville gap, and 
 forming line, stacked arms and laid down to rest. 
 Next morning at Rossville, a muster and roll call 
 was had, and every man of the 2nd Minnesota 
 regiment of the 384, who commenced the battle of 
 the 19th, was accounted for; 35 had been killed, 
 113 wounded, 14 captured and 222 were present 
 for duty unhurt. This report attracted the atten- 
 tion of the brigade commander, who, after verifying 
 its correctness, said in his official report of the 
 battle, "It is a notable fact that the 2nd Minnesota 
 regiment had not a single man among the missing, 
 or a straggler during the two da^^s engagement." 
 
 It appears from the "official records" just pub- 
 lished b}^ the War Department that our (Van 
 Derveer's) brigade was the last organized brigade 
 to leave the field, being followed only by the two 
 detached regiments as mentioned above. Also, that 
 but one (Whitaker's) of the thirty-six brigades of 
 the Army of the Cumberland engaged in these 
 battles, lost so man}^ men in proportion to the men 
 engaged as did ours. This, considered with the 
 fact that at no time during either day did we vacate 
 any position in presence of the enem3% shows that 
 
112 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 the quality and discipline of the regiments were to 
 be relied on in any emergency. 
 
 The bravery and persistence with which the 
 enemy assaulted our line on the Horseshoe Ridge 
 may be estimated when we know that his two 
 divisions (Hindman's and Preston's) lost more than 
 three thousand killed and wounded in their vain 
 efforts to capture it. 
 
 No serious demonstration was made by the 
 enem\^ on the 21st, though our division remained 
 in position at Rossville gap. That day was 
 occupied by Gen. Rosecrans in placing the troops 
 about Chattanooga as they were collected, and in 
 restoring order and supplying ammunition, and 
 otherwise preparing for defence. 
 
 Our brigade was ordered in about midnight, 
 and at daybreak on the 22nd was in line at and 
 in front of Chattanooga. [See official reports, 
 appendix Nos. 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20.) 
 
Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. 113 
 
 9 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 CHATTANOOGA AND MISSION RIDGE. 
 
 As the troops arrived at Chattanooga from the 
 Chicamauga battle field, they were formed in a 
 defensive line extending from the Tennessee river 
 above (north of) the town, around by the east in 
 a grand semi-circle, enclosing it, to the river bank 
 below (south of) it, the line being about two miles 
 long. The river sweeping around the town by the 
 west, in a corresponding curve enclosed it on that 
 side. 
 
 Our division, being the last to arrive, at day- 
 break of the 22nd, was placed in position near the 
 center of the line and on and across the Rossville 
 road, by which we had come. 
 
 A chain of pickets being established about half a 
 mile in front of the general line, the troops began 
 at once to protect themselves in position, by exca- 
 vating a simple ditch, throwing the earth in a ridge 
 on the outer side of it, and by the middle of the 
 forenoon a continuous intrenched line had been 
 completed. This was from day to day improved 
 and strengthened, and at intervals quite pretentious 
 works were constructed of earth, and supplied with 
 artillery. The enemy appeared about noon of the 
 22nd, and as they located our picket line, established 
 theirs conforming to it and from forty to eighty 
 rods distant, and then formed their lines and estab- 
 lished their camps nearh' parallel and about a mile 
 and a half from ours ; occupying also the point of 
 
114 ■ The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 Lobkout mountain and the crest of Mission Ridge, 
 and fortifying them. 
 
 Here for two months the two armies faced each 
 other ; the enemy having its line of communication 
 by rail from Atlanta open and unobstructed, was 
 well supplied with food, while our army, dependent 
 on a difficult and tortuous route from Bridgeport 
 over the mountains, was for several weeks reduced 
 to half rations of food and forage, while clothing 
 and other supplies could not be got through at all. 
 Most of the men had lost or thrown away, in the 
 two days battle, their tents and blankets, and now 
 these v^ere mtich needed as the cold weather came 
 on. The exposure to the weather and the poor and 
 scanty food, with the confinement in the line of 
 battle camps, rapidly increased our sick roll and 
 filled the hospitals, while for want of forage the 
 horses and mules generally became unfit for any 
 service and many of them perished. 
 
 The operations by which the "river line" was 
 opened and the situation improved cannot be and 
 need not be detailed in this narrative, which does 
 not pretend to be a history of armies or of cam- 
 paigns. Our men bore the want of proper shelter, 
 clothing and food with brave and uncomplaining 
 patience, and with no thought of giving up the 
 position so dearly won and so important to hold. 
 
 Meantime we had some diversions, such as they 
 were. For a while the fences and spare houses 
 supplied us with fuel, but these were soon exhausted 
 and all the shade and fruit trees within the lines 
 were next consumed, the ground being cleared 
 
Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. 115 
 
 quite out to our picket line of everything that 
 would burn. Then it got to be the habit about 
 once a week to force back the enemy's picket line 
 sixty or eighty rods to take in some more trees. 
 This was usually done at the hour when our 
 pickets were relieved by fresh details, the old and 
 new guards joining in the enterprise. The opposing 
 picket lines got to be on habitually good terms 
 with each other, and although the enemy always 
 resisted vigorously any advance upon them, yet, 
 after the brush was over and the new line estab- 
 lished, they seemed to bear no resentment, and 
 would permit our choppers and wagons to work 
 quite up to our line of sentinels and within easy 
 musket range without molestation. 
 
 The enemy had planted some heavy guns on the 
 nose of Lookout mountain, and would occasionally 
 admonish us of their presence by heaving a big 
 shell into our camps. One of these shells descended 
 through the roof and two floors of a hospital 
 building filled with sick and wounded men, but 
 without harming an\^ one, as it did not explode. 
 Another one burst over our regiment, mortally 
 wounding Sergt. Caviezel, of Company "F," and 
 injuring several others. Soon, however, our camp 
 sentinels were instructed to watch for the smoke 
 or flash of the gun and give warning, and as the 
 shell in its flight was usually visible against the 
 sky, the men could find shelter if necessary. But, 
 for want of ammunition, probably, the enemy did 
 not thus annoy us ver^^ often, and we gradually 
 ceased to expect or watch for the "big kettles," as 
 the bovs called them. 
 
116 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 Here the army was reorganized, and when this 
 was completed we found that the 101st Indiana, 
 75th Indiana and the 105th Ohio had been added 
 to the brigade, Col. Van Derveer, of the 35th 
 Ohio, still commanding it. In the seven regiments 
 now^ composing it, he had in the aggregate less 
 men than in the four with which he commenced 
 the battle of Chicamauga, four weeks ago. We 
 are now known as the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 
 14th Army Corps, Brig. Gen. A. Baird commanding 
 the division and Maj, Gen, Geo. H. Thomas the 
 corps. 
 
 On the 19th of October Gen. Rosecrans vacated 
 and Gen. Thomas assumed command of the Army 
 of the Cumberland, and Gen. John H. Palmer of 
 the 14th Corps. On the 20th our reorganized 
 brigade was assembled and re-encamped in a new 
 position, our regiment occupying what was then 
 known as Hospital Hill, about half a mile in rear 
 of our former position, and a much more desirable 
 location. Here we constructed huts, and with the 
 scanty materials available made them as comfort- 
 able as we could. 
 
 On the 4th of October Maj. Davis, who had 
 been wounded at Chicamauga, left us on sick leave, 
 and on the 16th of November Col. George also 
 started for Minnesota with a surgeon's certificate 
 of disability and sixty days' leave of absence. 
 About the 1st of November the new line of supplies 
 by the Tennessee river from Bridgeport was secured 
 and opened, and soon afterwards full rations and 
 issues of clothing and camp equipage were realized, 
 to our great comfort and relief 
 
Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. 117 
 
 The topography about Chattanooga is peculiar 
 and picturesque at all times. It was especially 
 interesting when occupied by the opposing armies. 
 In the day time the enemy could look down upon 
 us in and about the city from the surrounding and 
 commanding heights of Mission Ridge, Orchard 
 Knob and Lookout mountain, and doubtless 
 amused themselves in their idle hours in watching 
 our movements and speculating when the\' should 
 close in upon us and capture us. We in turn could 
 with the naked eye trace their intrenched lines and 
 note the location of their big guns and field bat- 
 teries, and with field glasses could see their men 
 whenever they appeared in or in front of their lines. 
 
 But at night, when the grand semi-circle was 
 lighted up with the enemy's little camp fires, whose 
 light \vas continually intermitted b}^ the squads of 
 shivering, half clothed rebels standing and moving 
 around them, the spectacle was one we never tired 
 of watching. Nearly every evening the signal 
 torches on Lookout mountain and on Mission Ridge 
 were flashing messages to each other over our 
 heads and across the valley. Our signal officers 
 soon picked up their code, and so Bragg's messages 
 were given to Thomas and Grant as promptly as 
 to Hardee and Breckinridge. Occasionally a big 
 gun on Lookout mountain would open out in a 
 flash like the full moon, and then we suddenl}^ 
 became interested in locating the fall of the shell, 
 though the chances were a million to one that it 
 would not strike anyone's particular position. But 
 as soon as the supply problem was solved the 
 preparations for another battle were energetically 
 
118 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 pushed, until on the 22nd of November all was 
 ready. On the 23rd the Army of the Cumberland 
 moved out by divisions, in battle array, in the 
 open space betw^een the opposing intrenched lines 
 east of the cit}^ the men carrying three days' 
 rations and one hundred cartridges each. 
 
 This movement was in plain sight of the enemy 
 of course, but no special preparations seem to have 
 been made to oppose it. Some of the prisoners said 
 afterwards that they supposed a grand review was 
 to take place and others that the "Yanks" were 
 out of wood again and were going to take in a 
 fresh supply. By a quick rush in the afternoon our 
 lines vsrere advanced, capturing the enemy's in- 
 trenched lines on Orchard Knob and along the range 
 of hills connected with it. During the night Sher- 
 man's army crossed the river above Chattanooga, 
 and next morning got into position for attacking 
 the north end of Mission Ridge, while Hooker's 
 army got ready for an assault on the north end of 
 Lookout mountain. 
 
 Hooker's attack was made on the morning of 
 the 24th, and was so successful that about noon 
 his troops appeared coming around the nose of the 
 mountain into plain view from Chattanooga, driv- 
 ing the enemy before them. 
 
 Rain and mist soon hid the contending forces 
 from our sight, but we could distinctly hear the 
 musketry and so trace the advance of our troops 
 as the "battle above the clouds" went on. By 
 night fall the mist had cleared away and the two 
 opposing lines could be located and observed by the 
 flashes of the muskets, which lighted the slopes of 
 
Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. 119 
 
 the mountain like swarms of fire flies. The contest 
 ended about 9 o'clock p. m., and in the night the 
 enemy abandoned the mountain altogether, crossing 
 the valley and reinforcing their lines on Mission 
 Ridge. 
 
 Sherman's attack was made about noon and 
 was obstinately resisted. He did not make much 
 progress though he kept at the enemy all day, 
 compelling him to reinforce that part of his line 
 heavily. 
 
 On the 25th Sherman renewed his attack on the 
 enemy's extreme right, at the north end of the ridge, 
 while Hooker descended into the Chattanooga 
 valley and directed his march towards the enemy's 
 left, at the Rossville Gap. The enemy in his hasty 
 retreat had destroyed the bridge over the Chatta- 
 nooga creek and Hooker had to replace it, which 
 delayed his arrival at Rossville until about 3 
 o'clock p. M. 
 
 Meantime the enemy was marching troops north- 
 ward along the narrow roadway on the crest of 
 Mission Ridge, to strengthen his right against 
 Sherman, and about noon our division was ordered 
 to our left to report to him. After marching about 
 two miles to reach his position it appeared that he 
 had all the troops that he could use, and we were 
 ordered back to form as the left division of the 
 army of the Cumberland, then in position facing 
 Mission Ridge. 
 
 Here our brigade occupied the center of the 
 division, the first (Turchin's) being on our right, 
 and the third (Phelps') on our left. Our own 
 brigade was formed for battle in two lines, of three 
 
120 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 regiments each, with the 2nd Minnesota regiment 
 about three hundred yards in advance and covering 
 the entire brigade front, w^ith two companies 
 deployed as skirmishers and six companies as 
 reserve (companies ''E" and "G" being on detached 
 service). 
 
 The official report of the regimental commander, 
 written on the 30th of November, 1863, describes 
 the further movements of the regiment as follows, 
 the entire report being quoted here: 
 
 "Headquarters 2nd Regt., Minn. Vols., 
 
 Chattanooga, Tenn., Nov. 30th, 1863. 
 Capt. J. R. Beatty, A. A. A. G. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 
 14th A. C. 
 
 Captain : In response to circular instructions of this 
 date from brigade headquarters, I have the honor to submit 
 the foil owing report of the part taken by the 2nd Minnesota 
 Infy. Vols, in the operations against the enemy during the 
 week commencing November 23rd, 1863. 
 
 On Monday the 23rd inst. at 3 o'clock p. M.,the regiment 
 marched from its encampment in Chattanooga with the 
 other regiments comprising the 2nd brigade, with three 
 days rations and one hundred rounds of ammunition per 
 man, and was placed in line of battle about half a mile 
 distant from and in front or south of Fort Negley. 
 
 The regiment remained in position here until noon of 
 Wednesday the 25th, when with the brigade it marched to 
 the left, taking a position to the east of, and about a mile 
 distant from Fort Wood, and facing the enemy's positions 
 at the foot of and on the crest of Mission Ridge. 
 
 Here the regiment was advanced with two companies 
 deployed, for the purpose of covering the brigade in its for- 
 mation and movement towards the enemy's works. 
 
 The brigade being formed, a general advance was com- 
 menced at 3 o'clock p. M. and continued for a distance of 
 about three-fourths of a mile without opposition, when the 
 deployed companies reached the eastern or further edge of a 
 
Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. 121 
 
 strip of woods and came in full view of the enemy's works; 
 the remaining companies being about 150 yards in rear of 
 the deplo\'ed line and the remainmg six regiments of the 
 brigade about 300 3^ards still further back and partially 
 concealed from the enemy's view by the woods in front of 
 them. 
 
 Immediately in front of the deployed line lay an open field, 
 the ground descending for a short distance to a small creek, 
 and be^'ond it rising gradually for a distance of about a 
 quarter of a mile to the crest of a low secondary' ridge run- 
 ning parallel to, and about a quarter of a mile distant from 
 the foot of Mission Ridge. Along the crest of this secondary 
 ridge was a breastwork of logs, occupied as the front line 
 of the enemy's defences by two regiments or battalions of 
 infantry. Beyond it the ground descended with an easy 
 slope, for a distance of three or four hundred yards to the 
 foot of the main or Mission Ridge, which rises thence with 
 a slope, gradual at first, but increasing in abruptness 
 towards the top, to a height of five or six hundred feet. 
 Along the crest of Mission Ridge were the main defences of 
 the enemA'', consisting of a breastwork of logs, full}' manned 
 with infantry, and with artiller}- posted on the more com- 
 manding points in sections of two guns each at intervals of 
 from one to two hundred 3^ards. 
 
 The artillery thus placed swept with direct and crossfire 
 the whole space between the ridges mentioned, and also the 
 open field across which we had to advance upon the first 
 breastwork. 
 
 In the valley between the main and secondary ridges were 
 the enemy's encampments, the huts mostly hidden from our 
 view by the smaller ridge and the breastworks in front of 
 them. 
 
 The space between the ridges had been covered with 
 woods, but, except the steepest and highest parts of the 
 main ridge, where the smaller trees had been felled and 
 "entangled" as an obstacle, the timber had been recenth'- 
 cut away and used in the construction of huts and breast- 
 works. 
 
122 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 After remaining in front of this part of the enemj^'s line 
 for some twenty minutes, I received an order from Col. Van 
 Derveer commanding the brigade, to deploy m\" entire com- 
 mand and advance upon the first line of breastworks, to 
 seize and occupy it if possible ; if repulsed to fall back on 
 the brigade. 
 
 The men were briefly informed of the desperate service 
 required of them, and instructed to withhold their fire, and 
 to move steadily forward until the work was gained, and 
 then defend it to the utmost. 
 
 The reserve companies were then deployed and with 
 bayonets fixed the whole line commenced the advance. The 
 enem\^ opened fire w4th musketry from the breastworks and 
 artillery from the main ridge as soon as our line emerged 
 from the w^oods, but in the face of both the men moved 
 silently and steadily forward, across the creek, and up the 
 slope, until within about one hundred paces of the breast- 
 work, when, as the pace was quickened, the enemy broke 
 from behind the work and ran in some confusion down the 
 slope into and beyond their camps, where taking cover 
 behind the stumps and among the huts they opened a brisk 
 fire on us again as soon as we gained and occupied the 
 breastwork. 
 
 Our line, now partialh^ sheltered by the work, returned 
 the fire with such effect as soon to drive the enemy out of 
 the valley and up the slope of the main ridge, beyond the 
 range of our rifles. 
 
 Our loss in this attack was severe, though probably 
 much less than would have been suffered by troops advanc- 
 ing upon the work in regular order of battle. Fourteen 
 prisoners were taken in this breastwork. 
 
 About twenty minutes after the capture of the first work, 
 the brigade advanced from the woods, and on arriving at 
 the work halted for a few minutes, when the order was 
 given for a general assault upon the enemy's defences on 
 Mission Ridge. 
 
 My regiment moved forward with the others of the 
 brigade, assembling on the colors as far as it was possible 
 on the way, until in ascending the steepest part of the slope, 
 
Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. 123 
 
 where every man had to find or clear his own way through 
 the entanglement, in the face of a terrible fire of musketry 
 and artiller3% the men of the different regiments of the 
 brigade became generally intermingled, and when the 
 brigade finall_v crowned the enemy's works at the crest of 
 the ridge, the regimental and even the company organiza- 
 tions had become completely merged in a crowd of gallant 
 and enthusiastic men, who swarmed over the breastworks 
 and charged the defenders with such promptness and vigor 
 that the enemy broke and fled, leaving their artillery "in 
 battery," and bareh^ getting away a portion of the caissons 
 and limbers. Six twelve-potmder Napoleon guns were thus 
 captured by our brigade, two of them by the men of m}^ 
 regiment. 
 
 Hardl}' had a lodgment been gained in the works when 
 the enemy's reserves made a furious counter-attack upon 
 our men, yet in confusion. This attack was promptly met 
 by a charge en masse by the crowd, which, after a few 
 minutes of desperate hand-to-hand fighting, cleared the 
 ridge, leaving the place in our undisputed possession, with 
 between two and three hundred prisoners captured in the 
 melee. 
 
 The captured artillery was turned upon the retreating 
 enemy and manned b^' volunteers from the different regi- 
 ments, but darkness soon closed over the field and the firing 
 ceased. 
 
 The regiments were assembled, and after collecting and 
 caring for the dead and wounded, we bivouacked for the 
 night. 
 
 During the operations here recounted, about 150 men of 
 my regiment, including two entire companies, "F" and 
 "G," were on detached service, leaving but fifteen officers 
 and 170 men, 185 in all, present for duty. Of these, one 
 commissioned officer was killed and three wounded, and 
 four enlisted men were killed, and thirty-one wounded; 
 total of casualties, thirty-nine, or a fraction more than 
 twenty-one per cent of the number engaged. Three of 
 the wounded have since died. 
 
124 The Story oe the Second Regiment. 
 
 The ammunition expended averaged fift^^-two rounds 
 per man. Of seven non-commissioned officers in the color 
 guard, all but one were killed or wounded, the color lance 
 was cut off by a fragment of shell, and the field torn out of 
 the colors by another. 
 
 On the morning of the 26th we drew rations for four 
 days, and at noon marched in pursuit of the retiring enemy, 
 a distance of about eight miles, to the crossing of Chica- 
 mauga creek by the Rossville and Graysville road, where 
 we bivouacked for the night. 
 
 On the 27th, at 4 o'clock a. m., we marched again, pass- 
 ing through Graysvilleand arriving at Ringgold, Ga., about 
 10 o'clock A. M., a distance of about eleven miles. 
 
 Here an engagement with the rear guard of the enemy 
 was in progress, and we were formed in line of battle in 
 readiness to act as occasion might require. 
 
 At noon the enemy retired, and at night v^^e bivouacked, 
 remaining in the same position until noon of the 29th, when 
 we marched for Chattanooga, arriving at 6 p. m., a distance 
 of eighteen miles. 
 
 Of the conduct of the officers and men of the regiment, 
 under the hardships and privations of the week's campaign 
 in severe and inclement weather, and with insufficient 
 clothing, and scanty rations, and especially of their gallant 
 bearing under fire in the operations of Wednesday, I am 
 incompetent to speak in terms that would do them justice. 
 
 The regiment being brought into action, deplo3'ed as 
 skirmishers, there was better scope for individual acts of 
 heroism or of cowardice, than would otherwise have been 
 afforded ; while I witnessed manj^of the former, 1 am proud 
 to say that none of the latter have come to my knowledge. 
 
 A list of casualties is herewith transmitted. 
 
 I am. Captain, very respectfully. 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 J. W. Bishop, 
 Leiut. Col., Com'd'g 2nd Minn. Vols." 
 
 The brigade commander, Col. Ferdinand Van 
 Derveer, in his official report states his total force 
 
Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. 125 
 
 engaged at 1,679 officers and men, and his total 
 casualties at 161 killed and wounded. 
 
 Separating the 2nd Minnesota force and casualty 
 reports from those of the Brigade, we find that the 
 average loss of the other six regiments was a little 
 more than eight per cent, while that of the 2nd 
 was, as before stated, over twenty-one per cent. This 
 disparity followed naturally from the brigade com- 
 mander's judicious plan for the attack, which assigned 
 to our regiment the duty of carrying the first line 
 of breast works ''if we could" before exposing the 
 other six regiments to the enemy's fire. Doubtless 
 the aggregate loss in the brigade would have been 
 much greater had the attack been made b}^ the 
 whole force, and doubtless, also, the loss in our own 
 regiment would have been greater and our attack 
 would have failed, had not our men kept their nerve 
 and their wind and their cartridges throughout 
 their steady advance across the open field, reserving 
 all for the final rush and contest. 
 
 The brigade commander acknowledged the gal- 
 lant service of the regiment in the following 
 language, which is quoted from his official report : 
 ''Especial credit is due Lieut. Col. Bishop for the 
 "management of his regiment when skirmishing in 
 "front of the brigade, and the gallant manner in 
 "which his command carried the rifle pits at the 
 "foot of the ridge." 
 
 There has been a great deal of discussion as to 
 w^ho, if any one, ordered the advance from the 
 first line of breast works, up the main ridge. Gen. 
 Grant is said to have ordered the advance to the 
 first line. It is further said that he was surprised 
 
126 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 and angry to see the general line of battle climbing 
 over the first line of breastworks and moving 
 toward and up the slope, and that he sharply 
 notified Gen. Thomas that somebody w^onld be held 
 to account for it; evidently he did not think the 
 assault could possibly succeed. 
 
 When we got possession of the first line we found 
 that while to the enemy, standing in a ditch on 
 their side of the work, it was a breast high pro- 
 tection, to us on the other side, it was only knee 
 high and no protection at all against the musketry 
 and canister that rained down upon us from the 
 crest of the ridge. We could not go back and we 
 could not stay there, and without any definite 
 orders our men began to scatter out toward the 
 front, taking such casual shelter as the stumps and 
 old huts afforded, while working up towards the 
 foot of the main ridge. 
 
 While this was going on, and when every one 
 could see that we ought to move at least to the 
 actual foot of the slope, where the enemy's artillery 
 could not reach us except by crossfire. Gen. 
 Baird, commanding our division, said: "Let the 
 men go on up the ridge," and they went; the field 
 officers dismounted, as the slope was there im- 
 practicable for horses, and presently the whole 
 Army of the Cumberland hung at the foot of that 
 ridge like a blue fringe a mile and a half long. 
 With what expectancy must Grant and Thomas 
 have watched that slow and toilsome, but sure 
 and steady moving up of that line of battle until 
 they could see the colors planted on the log 
 breastworks along the crest, the boys in blue 
 
Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. 127 
 
 tumbling over it, and the guns turned upon the 
 routed enemy. The enemy appeared to be astonished 
 and disconcerted at our movement up the main 
 ridge, and they fired wildly, both infantry and 
 artillery, so that after we reached the foot of the 
 slope we had but few casualties. If the defenders 
 had done their duty with coolness and courage, 
 ever}^ man of us would have been shot on the 
 slope or driven back to the foot of it. 
 
 It seldom happens, however, that two lines of 
 battle face each other with equal nerve and 
 determination ; when one line insists on staying or 
 advancing, the other gives way. In this case we 
 wanted that ridge and believed that we could and 
 would take it, and did; while the enemy, having 
 just seen us take the first line, and knowing 
 Hooker's troops were approaching on their left 
 and Sherman's on their right, seemed to be con- 
 vinced that we would take the crest also, and they 
 lost their courage and gave it up without half 
 defending it. (See Appendix Nos. 21, 22 mid 23.) 
 
128 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 ''VETERANIZING." 
 
 Having returned to our camp on Hospital Hill 
 in Chattanooga on the evening of the 29th of 
 of November, we enjoyed a comfortable night's 
 rest under shelter, after the week of bivouacking, 
 marching and fighting. On the 30th, Companies 
 "F" and "G," having been on detached service 
 cutting timber for and aiding in construction of 
 bridges and pontoons, rejoined the regiment. 
 
 The weather was getting cold and wintry, but 
 with fair supplies of clothing, blankets and food, 
 and with comfortable huts and plenty of fuel, 
 the situation was quite tolerable. The enemy, 
 some twenty miles away, seemed quite willing to 
 let and be let alone. About the 10th of December 
 large details were sent out to the field of Chica- 
 mauga to gather and bury the dead, who had thus 
 far been neglected. Major Davis returned from 
 sick leave on the 15th, bringing a well filled chest 
 of provisions for the field and staff mess, and 
 various other luxuries and comforts, which were 
 much appreciated. The ''F. and S." of the 9th 
 Ohio were invited in, and we made a jolly night 
 of it. 
 
 About this date the announcement was received 
 from the war department that regiments having 
 been in service two years or more were invited to 
 re-enlist for three years, and upon so re-enlisting 
 would be sent home on thirty days' furlough. This 
 
"Veteranizing." 129 
 
 announcement was eminently wise and timely under 
 the circumstances. 
 
 The three \^ears' term of many of the regiments 
 would expire in the summer of 1864, and it had 
 become evident that the war would not be ended 
 within that term. New recruits and new regiments 
 were coming out slowly, and it had moreover come 
 to be understood that a veteran regiment was, in 
 efficiency, much more than equal to a new and 
 inexperienced one. The proposition was read to 
 the regiment at dress parade, and the men were 
 briefly informed by the Lieutenant Colonel com- 
 manding that for himself he intended to continue 
 in service to the end of the war, if he should live 
 that long; that the question of re-enlistment was 
 a personal one, that every man should, with due 
 consideration, decide for himself, and that having 
 so decided, his position should be respected what- 
 ever his decision might be, and that there should 
 be no distinction or discrimination made or per- 
 mitted in the regiment between the men who did 
 and those who did not re-enlist, everv man being 
 expected to do his own duty faithfully to the end 
 of his engagement. 
 
 The question was taken up by the men, and a 
 good deal of earnest discussion was had among 
 them during the next ten daA^s. They were, after 
 two and a half years of service, perfectly familiar 
 with the restraints and hardships and dangers of 
 w^ar, and were not to be enticed into re-enlistment 
 ignorantly. They longed to return to their homes 
 in peace, but thev were as loyal and patriotic as 
 when they first responded to the Call to Arms, and 
 
130 The Story of the Second Regiment 
 
 they well knew that their services were as much 
 needed and more efficient and valuable than the^^ 
 were in '61. 
 
 While the enlisted men were considering the 
 matter, a question arose as to the intention of the 
 War Department with regard to the commissioned 
 officers, they having been mustered anew for three 
 years at each promotion, many of them within a 
 few months. ("Officers in service whose regiments 
 "or companies may re-enlist in accordance with the 
 ''provisions of this order before the expiration of 
 ''their present term, shall have their commissions 
 "continued, so as to preserve their date of rank as 
 "fixed by their original muster into the United 
 "States Service." Par. ix, A. G. 0., Gen. Ord. No. 
 191 — 1863.) The proposition of the government 
 (see quotation above) was silent or at least 
 obscure as to this, and on the 19th the regimental 
 commander visited Gen. Thomas' headquarters to 
 get an explanation. After some discussion he was 
 instructed that no re-enlistment was expected of 
 the officers whose companies or regiments might 
 veteranize, each officer having to serve three years 
 from date of his last muster unless sooner dis- 
 charged, and he was instructed, in case his regiment 
 re-enlisted, to assign such officers as he might select 
 to remain with the non-veterans and to take the 
 others home with the regiment to be furloughed. 
 Later on, it was held that officers must re-enlist 
 for three years like the men, to entitle them to go 
 home with their regiments on "veteran furlough," 
 and those declining the re-enlistment and furlough 
 would be entitled to discharge, as the enlisted men 
 
'Veteranizing." 131 
 
 were, at the expiration of three years from their 
 original enlistment. This ruling, however, was not 
 arrived at until after our departure for the North, 
 and was not made known to us until after our 
 return from ''veteran furlough." It made trouble 
 for some of our officers, as will appear in the next 
 chapter. 
 
 On the 25th of December the regiment was 
 reported at headquarters as re-enlisted ; eighty per 
 per cent (about 300 men) having so decided. This 
 was one of the first regiments in the army of the 
 Cumberland to so re»enlist, but several days elapsed 
 before the proper rolls could be obtained and made 
 ready for the muster out and in, which took place 
 on the 29th of December. Meantime, as the writer 
 was informed, two other regiments were got ready 
 and mustered ahead of it. 
 
 The payment of the troops and procuring trans- 
 portation and other preparations for going home 
 consumed several days. The non-veterans, number- 
 ing about seventy-five men, were formed into a 
 temporary company, and Capt. John Moulton, of 
 Company "D," Lieut. H. V. Rumohr, of Company 
 "G," and Lieut. M. Thoeny, of Company "C," 
 were detailed to remain with them. This detach- 
 ment was assigned to duty, during the absence 
 of the regiment, as provost guard at division 
 headquarters. 
 
 On the 8th of January, 1804, the regiment 
 embarked at 3 o'clock in the morning, on the small 
 steamers Dunbar and Kingston, and arrived at 
 Bridgeport in the afternoon, distance about forty 
 miles by river. Here six companies were loaded into 
 
132 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 box cars of a train supposed to be read}^ to start 
 for Nashville, and the other four companies were 
 assigned to follow on another train with like 
 accommodations. After a leisurely wait, without any 
 apparent reason for it, the first train started at 11 
 o'clock p. M., and arrived at Nashville at noon next 
 day ; while the next train started at 4:30 next 
 morning, and arrived at Nashville in the evening. 
 This trip without exercise or fire or warm food, in 
 the mid-winter, was a pretty severe one, but we 
 were yet in the war country and going home, 
 and there was little grumbling or complaint. 
 
 At Nashville we were quartered in a vacant 
 female seminary building, and subjected to another 
 tedious wait of four days for transportation north- 
 ward. The boys were, however, comfortably housed 
 and fed, and had liberty to go about the cit}" as 
 they pleased within certain hours. At 7 p. m., on 
 the 14th, a train of empty box cars was assigned 
 to us, in which w^e had another cold and uncom- 
 fortable journey of eighteen hours, arriving at 
 Louisville about noon on the ISth^ and were 
 assigned quarters in the militar\^ barracks. Here 
 was fire and shelter and food, and the boys were 
 just getting to feel warm and happy again when a 
 detachment of the provost guard appeared, with 
 orders to permit none of our men to go out until 
 we were ready to leave the city. These orders, it 
 appeared, were given by the post commander, in the 
 fear, no doubt, that a regiment of veteran soldiers, 
 just arrived from the field of war, would sack the 
 city if not put under restraint. From our point of 
 view, the proceeding was an outrage not to be 
 
" Veteranizing." 133 
 
 submitted to for a moment, and a vigorous protest 
 was entered by the regimental commander, who in 
 reporting at post headquarters, announced himself 
 as responsible for the conduct of his men in Louis- 
 ville as elsewhere, and demanded for them the 
 absolute freedom of the city with all the liberty 
 that any citizen could have; that none of them 
 should be molested or restrained by the provost 
 guard except for crime or disorderly conduct; that 
 the uniform of a veteran soldier should entitle him 
 to the respect and gratitude of all loyal people every- 
 where and especially of other soldiers, including post 
 commanders and provost guards. These demands 
 were all fully conceded, after a brief argument, and 
 it is now a pleasant reflection that the conduct of 
 the men was such as to fully justify all that was 
 claimed and obtained for them. 
 
 Here all needed clothing was supplied for our 
 midwinter trip to Minnesota, and we took advan- 
 tage of this opportunity^ to "turn in" our old 
 Enfield muskets, which we had been obliged to 
 carr}^ since our second equipment. Arrangements 
 having been made for this, we had a parade march 
 on the 17th from the barracks to the ordnance 
 building, carrying for the last time the arms and 
 equipments with which we had fought Tullahoma 
 and Chicamauga and Mission Ridge. Many of the 
 men were loth to part with them, but generally 
 the expectation of getting new and better arms on 
 our return, was agreeably entertained. The arms 
 were stacked, the cartridge boxes unslung and 
 hung on the bayonets, and we returned to the 
 barracks "40 rounds" lighter and feeling perhaps 
 
134 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 more like ''furloughed " men than before. Our 
 orders for transportation to Chicago were here 
 obtained over the Louisville, New Albam^ & Chicago 
 Railroad upon the assurance of the superintendent 
 that we should have comfortable coaches and a 
 quick passage. He at first thought box cars were 
 good enough for soldiers, but we had had enough 
 of that sort when no better could be had, and now 
 insisted upon proper transportation, as it was paid 
 for and we had a right to it. Finally, we were 
 notified that on Monday morning, the 18th of 
 January, our train would be ready and crossed the 
 Ohio river to the New Albany depot to find a train 
 of box and cattle cars, some of them bedded six 
 inches deep with frozen dung, backed down to the 
 platform for our accommodation. The superin- 
 tendent was conveniently absent, but he was in- 
 formed by telegraph that the cattle train would 
 not answer our purpose and that we would return 
 to Louisville and ask for transportation by some 
 other line if passenger coaches were not promptly 
 provided as promised. 
 
 The weather was intensely cold, with wind and 
 driving snow, and it was a shameful thing to pro- 
 pose to transport human beings in such weather 
 and in such cars as were offered us. 
 
 Some hustling was done for an hour or two and 
 then a message came that the cattle cars were all 
 a mistake and that coaches would be ready in the 
 afternoon, and so we waited. About 5 o'clock the 
 train was made ready and we started in warm, 
 comfortable cars for Chicago, expecting to arrive 
 there next morning. Such transportation as that 
 
"Veteranizing." 135 
 
 would, however, have been too good for soldiers, 
 and we found ourselves at 7 o'clock next morninp: 
 within fifty or sixt}^ miles of the Ohio river. The 
 railroad company seemed to have no wood, no 
 water, no competent employees or superintendence, 
 and we spent all that day and all the next night 
 in alternately waiting in the sidings and in rushing 
 over the main line at six or eight miles per hour. 
 On Wednesday morning, thirty-eight hours from 
 New Alban}", our weary train arrived at Crawfords- 
 ville, Indiana. We had outlived our going home 
 enthusiasm and jollit\% and now onl\' hoped that 
 we might reach Chicago perhaps before we 
 should perish of starvation or old age. Expecting 
 here the customary w^ait of an hour or two at 
 stations we began to climb out of the cars to shake 
 the aches out of our benumbed legs and help wood 
 up the engine as usual. But, — had we broken into 
 heaven, or what ? Here were a hundred genial 
 faces glowing with welcome, a hundred voices 
 cheering the veterans, the air filled with hats and 
 fluttering handkerchiefs. The commander was in- 
 formed that breakfast was ready in the dej^ot ; 
 would he please bring in his men. The bugle called 
 "attention," the ranks were quickly formed, and 
 the regiment marched in and down either side of 
 the long tables loaded with "a feast fit for the 
 gods." The ladies filled the cups with hot coffee, 
 with cream, and smiles and pleasant words, while 
 the gentlemen urged us to "eat hearty, boys, you are 
 more than w^elcome." These generous and hospitable 
 people had, it seemed, spent the small hours of the 
 cold winter morning in preparing this breakfast 
 
136 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 and in tracing b}^ telegraph our uncertain approach, 
 so as to have it hot and read}^ on our arrival. 
 
 Nothing could have been more opportune or more 
 acceptable, as since the morning of the 18th we 
 had lived on hardtack and raw bacon, with tank 
 water. Breakfast over, our band played some of 
 the popular army music, while the officers and men 
 said all the gracious things they could think of 
 in acknowledgement of the kind and profuse hos- 
 pitality; then the commander formally tendered the 
 thanks of himself and his regiment, the boys gave 
 three hearty cheers for the ladies of Crawfordsville, 
 and they in turn assembled on the platform and 
 sang "Rally 'round the Flag, Boys," as we 
 resumed our places in the cars. That Crawfords- 
 ville breakfast always has been and always will 
 be gratefully remembered by the old boys of the 
 2nd regiment as long as they shall remember any- 
 thing. Our progress thence to Chicago was some- 
 w^hat more speedy, only 24 hours being consumed 
 in the 150 miles, arriving there on the morning of 
 the 21st. After breakfast at the Soldiers' Home, 
 we started again by rail for La Crosse, arriving 
 there at 3 p. m. on the 22nd, where we were again 
 hospitabh^ entertained. Hence forward our trans- 
 portation was to be in sleighs b}^ the stage 
 company, but only conveyances for half the regi- 
 ment were ready; Major Davis, with the band and 
 four companies were forwarded the same evening, 
 and arrived at St. Paul early Sunday morning, the 
 24th of January, 140 miles in 28 hours, which was 
 considerably better time than we had made on the 
 New Albany Railroad. 
 
"Veteranizing." 137 
 
 The Lieutenant Colonel commanding, with the 
 remaining six companies, left La Crosse twelve 
 hours later and, except three companies, "A," "B" 
 and "C," furloughed at Winona, arrived at St. 
 Paul Sunday evening. 
 
 The ladies of Winona gave a hot breakfast to 
 the first detachment and a supper to the second, 
 and the people of all the river towns along the 
 route improved every opportunity to show the 
 boys they were welcome. 
 
 On Monday, the 25th, the men dispersed for 
 their homes, each with thirty days' leave of 
 absence, which time they doubtless enjo\'ed as they 
 deserved to. Most of the companies had formal 
 public receptions by their friends on or soon after 
 arrival home. Among these was Company "A," 
 originally commanded by the writer, who was a 
 guest at their reception at Chatfield on the 5th of 
 February, 1864. His reply to a formal address of 
 welcome by Hon. R. A. Jones, is here given as then 
 reported by the "Chatfield Democrat" as an exprCvS- 
 sion made at the time of the spirit that had moved 
 the veterans to re-enlistment: 
 
 ADDRESS. 
 Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : 
 
 In behalf of the Chatfield Guards, I thank you for the 
 kind words of welcome with which a'ou have greeted us 
 here to-day. We prize them as expressions of your personal 
 good will as old friends and fellow citizens, and we value 
 them as they indicate your sympathy with our hardships 
 and your approval of our conduct as soldiers, but more 
 than all we cherish and treasure them up as they assure us 
 that you recognize the justice of the cause and the sacred- 
 ness of the principles in the defense in which we are engaged. 
 
138 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 When traitors in arms menaced and at last openh'- and 
 wantonly assailed the government and the flag, which from 
 childhood we had been taught to respect and revere, and 
 under which we, as a people, had become great and glorious 
 and prosperous and happy beyond all precedent in history, 
 we could have done no less than to pledge, as we did, our 
 best efi'orts and if need be our lives in their defense. 
 
 After some thirty months of service in the field, a few of 
 the one hundred men whom you sent out with your fervent 
 blessing in the summer of 1861 have returned to you on 
 furlough. 
 
 Emancipated for a brief season from the stern restraints 
 and discipline of war, they are to-day enjoying for the first 
 time in all those months, the absolute personal freedom of 
 American citizens. 
 
 They have exchanged the privations and hardships and 
 dangers of a soldier's life for the plent}^ and comfort and 
 peace and safety of life at home; they come from a country 
 whose fields are laid waste, and whose society is disorgan- 
 ized and well nigh destroyed by the blighting breath of war, 
 to their own loved homes, where industr3' finds employment 
 in all the avocations of civilized life, and where all the 
 virtues and graces that make society a blessing to mankind, 
 are in full and healthy play. While you welcome the 
 returned, honor the absent and revere the memory of those 
 who will return no more, may we who enjoy this brief 
 respite from the arduous duties of the field, find ourselves 
 at its close, encouraged in spirit and strengthened in num- 
 bers for the work ^'•et unfinished, b^^ our intercourse and 
 association with you here at home. 
 
 Having signified our own faith in the righteousness and 
 ultimate and speedy success of our cause by renewing our 
 enlistment in the service, we appeal to a^ou, to every man 
 and woman who has an interest in society or in the perpetu- 
 ation of the blessings of good government, to aid us in 
 recruiting our ranks from those who have thus far been 
 spared the privations and hardships of the field. You can- 
 not love your homes better, you cannot value the blessings 
 of peace higher than do we, so long exiled from them. 
 
** VETERAXIZIXCi." 139 
 
 Gladly would we put off the harness of war and return to 
 our homes and to our farms and workshops. Life in the 
 tented field has not, for us, any such attraction as could 
 induce us to accept it of choice. No, far from this. We 
 have re-enlisted not that we love war, or that we are 
 enamored with the roving, adventurous life of a soldier, but 
 rather because we love peace and would aid in its speedj^ 
 restoration. 
 
 We have seen of war all we desire to see, except the end. 
 
 Come, join with us then in the final struggle, which shall, 
 with the blessing of God, crush the last semblance of vitality 
 from the already almost prostrate rebellion. 
 
 The rebel authorities are making no provision for any 
 campaign beyond the present one. Ever3' able bodied man 
 within their reach is now by the conscript law a soldier. 
 They are marshaling in the field for the last great effort, all 
 their available forces in the full knowledge that to fail now 
 is to fail completeh^ and finally. 
 
 Let us meet them with a like appreciation of the occa- 
 sion, and before another winter shall close upon us, the 
 military power of the rebellion must be destroyed. 
 
 This done, it dies, for it has no longer an\' sympathy or 
 respect in the hearts of the people it has so fearfully cursed. 
 
 This done, and the people emanci])ated from the cruel and 
 odious tyranny which has so long fettered them, will them- 
 selves establish the authority of law and order and give the 
 old flag to the breeze in every state from Virginia to Texas. 
 
 While we all say "God speed the day," let each of us 
 acquit himself of his own personal duty in the great work 
 of restoration, remembering that through sacrifice and 
 suffering lies the onh' road to the blessings we so earnestly 
 seek. 
 
 The officers, instead of receiving furloughs, had 
 been ordered to recruiting service, and were aided 
 ever^^where by the enlisted men, who all felt inter- 
 CvSted in filling up the regiment, then reduced to 
 less than half the standard strength. 
 
 Headquarters were reopened at Fort Snelling on 
 
140 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 the 25th of February, and as the men came in rapidly 
 the regiment was mustered for inspection and pay 
 on the 29th, showing besides the 300 veterans about 
 150 recruits. 
 
 In the afternoon of this day, on the invitation of 
 the ladies of St. Anthony, prominent among whom 
 were Mrs. and Miss Van Cleve, the wife and 
 daughter of our first Colonel, the regiment marched 
 from the fort to that place, where a grand supper, 
 reception and ball were given in its honor at the 
 then vacant Winslow Hotel building. The ball 
 lasted all night and ended with a hot breakfast at 
 7 o'clock next morning, after which the boys 
 marched back to the fort, eight miles, arriving 
 quite rested and refreshed. That St. Anthony enter- 
 tainment was another event that still warms the 
 hearts of the old boys whenever they meet and talk 
 of old war times. 
 
 Two or three days now came of busy prepara- 
 tion for returning to the front. Aided by the active 
 influence of Gov. Stephen Miller, a complete outfit 
 of new Springfield rifles, of uniform pattern and 
 caliber with equipments complete, was obtained, 
 clothing was issued and transportation ordered. 
 On the 3rd of March the first detachment of 150 
 men was started in coaches for La Crosse, another 
 detachment followed on the 4th, and the remainder, 
 exce])t the band, on the 5th, all with orders to 
 rendezvous at La Crosse. 
 
 After a busy day on the Gth, the Lieutenant 
 Colonel, stafl" and band, left St. Paul on the morn- 
 ing of the 7th, arrived at Winona at noon on the 
 8th, where the ladies, who had been entertaining 
 
" Vetkkanizing." 141 
 
 all our men as they passed down, had a warm 
 dinner ready for us. They now requested that the 
 band might remahi over night and play for them 
 at a concert to be given in aid of their association 
 relief fund. This request, the\^ were told, under 
 the circumstances could not be refused, even if we 
 had to stop the war to grant it, and the field and 
 staff went on, leaving* the band to follow next 
 morning. Arriving at La Crosse, the ice was 
 breaking up, and the crossing was a tedious work 
 of considerable danger and difficulty. It was 
 accomplished, however, without accident on the 
 9th and 10th, and at 3 a. m. on the 11th we 
 started by railroad for Chicago. 
 
 Col. George, who had left us at Chattanooga 
 four months ago, rejoined the regiment here and 
 assumed command. After breakfast in the Chicago 
 Soldiers' Home, on the 12tli, the regiment was 
 forwarded in detachments to Louisville, the last 
 arriving there early on the 16th, and after a day's 
 delay proceeded to Nashville, arriving Saturday 
 morning, the 19th. The railroads were crowded 
 with returning veteran regiments and supplies for 
 the armv at the front, and after waiting three 
 days we got orders to march through to Chatta- 
 nooga, and moving out of the city four miles, 
 encamped in the afternoon of the 23rd. 
 
 The march was uneventful — an easy one for the 
 veterans, but a new^ and tough experience for the 
 recruits. We arrived at Stevenson on the 5th of 
 April, and climbing on top of a train of loaded box 
 cars, proceeded thence by rail to Chattanooga, 
 where w^e encamped on the 6th on Chattanooga 
 
142 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 creek, and reported our arrival to division head- 
 quarters, then at Ringgold. On the 9th we resumed 
 our march, and on the 10th rejoined our old 
 brigade and division at Ringgold, Ga. Here we 
 received a most hearty welcome from our non- 
 veterans, who now rejoined us, and from our old 
 comrades of the other regiments. The 9th Ohio, 
 informed of our approach,* and knowing that all 
 the unoccupied buildings in the town had already 
 been demolished to build camps for the troops 
 there, kindly went out the da}-^ before our arrival 
 and pulled down a country church, that we might 
 have lumber and brick on our camp ground on 
 arrival. 
 
 And here ended our veteran furlough. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 
 
 At Ringgold we found the army comfortably in 
 camp. Trains were running prett\^ regularly bring- 
 ing rations, forage, clothing, camp equipage and 
 ammunition from Louisville and Nashville, but the 
 daily consumption of so large an arm^^ was enorm- 
 ous and the supplies accumulated slowdy. Nearly 
 every train brought also, on the roofs of the loaded 
 cars, a veteran regiment returning from furlough. 
 
 For us the next four weeks were full of business ; 
 we had about 450 men present "for duty," one- 
 third of them being new recruits without anv real 
 
The Atlanta Campaign. 143 
 
 experience as soldiers except that gained in the 
 march through from Nashville, which was of con- 
 siderable value in putting them on their soldier legs. 
 These men had to be taught to handle their arms 
 and equipments, and instructed in guard and picket 
 duty and in the vSchool of the soldier, the company 
 and the battalion. They were distributed to the 
 several companies and paired off with veterans as 
 much as could be. Daily drill and exercise, forenoon 
 and afternoon, with dress parade at "retreat" was 
 the regular order, varied once a week by a regi- 
 mental tour of picket duty in front of the enemy. 
 
 On the 29th of April our brigade made a recon- 
 noisance to the front, on which we found and 
 developed the enemy's line, returning, however, 
 without casualties, after giving our recruits their 
 first view of the men in grey. This was repeated 
 on the 2nd of May, the brigade going seven miles 
 to Tunnel Hill. 
 
 On the 6th of May the regiments got ready for 
 active work b}^ a careful inspection of men and 
 arms and equipage. The sick and lame were sorted 
 out and with all surplus baggage sent back to 
 Chattanooga, the cartridge boxes alwa^^s filled to 
 ''40 rounds," were carefulh- examined and the 
 havresacks supplied with three days' rations, and 
 the ammunition and supply wagons loaded and 
 packed ready to follow the troops. 
 
 On the 7th the Atlanta campaign began — the 
 famous hundred da^^s of maneuvering and fighting, 
 without an hour, by day or night, of absolute quiet, 
 all over the field of operations. We broke camp at 
 4 o'clock A. M. and the troops were soon in motion, 
 
144 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 arriving at Tunnel Hill (driving the enemy's skirm- 
 ishers before us) at noon. Here the enemy was 
 strongly intrenched and some hard fighting was 
 done without dislodging him, our own regiment 
 not being seriously engaged. Next day commenced 
 the movement of McPherson's corps to the right 
 and through Snake Creek gap to the enemy's left 
 and rear, resulting in his evacuation of Dalton on 
 the night of the 12th. Another three daj^s of 
 skirmishing and a flank movement to the right 
 forced the evacuation of Resaca by the enemy on 
 the night of the 15th. 
 
 On the 16th we bivouacked at Resaca, on the 
 17th at Calhoun and on the 18th passed through 
 Adairsville, on the 19th we marched through Kings- 
 ton and bivouacked beside the railroad near Cass- 
 ville, where we remained three daj^s. Here, on the 
 21st, our long-time comrades of the Ninth Ohio 
 were ordered to Cincinnati for muster-out, their 
 three years' term having expired. Our men had 
 spent most of the day in visiting and saying ''good 
 by" to them, and when they were ready to leave 
 our regiment was formed to give them a parting 
 "present arms" as they marched past our front, 
 followed by three rousing cheers for the heroes and 
 comrades of Mill Springs, Chicamauga and Mission 
 Ridge. 
 
 On the 23rd we marched four miles, forded the 
 Etowa river, and six miles farther on bivouacked 
 at Euharlie creek. For the next eight days we were 
 in charge of trains in the rear of our general line 
 of battle. On the 2nd of June we were ordered to 
 the front, and coming up to the enemy's fortified 
 
The Atlanta Campaign. 145 
 
 lines our brigade intrenched a parallel line in his 
 presence and held it until the 5th, when he evacu- 
 ated his position. It would be tedious to detail 
 here the alternate moves, waits and lights of the 
 next four weeks. Some part of our army was under 
 fire all the time. So continuous was the uproar of 
 musketr}^ and cannon, near or remote, and so 
 accustomed to it did we become, that we came to 
 ignore it altogether unless actually engaged in it. 
 Our men ate, slept, wrote letters, played cards and 
 chuck-a-luck, washed and mended their clothes and 
 polished their rifles in careless indifference until we 
 ourselves were called out to make or repel an 
 attack. If at any hour of the night the din of war 
 would absolutely cease the unwonted silence would 
 awaken the sleeping soldiers to wonder what had 
 happened. 
 
 On the 18th of June it was our turn at the 
 front. We moved at 9 a. m., in the rain, and our 
 skirmishers soon came to the crest of a low ridge 
 in full view of the enemy's intrenchment, about 
 300 or 400 yards away. It was well filled with 
 infantry and artillery, and they were evidently 
 quite ready to receive us, their skirmish line having 
 been withdrawn to their breastworks. Our ridge 
 commanded the enemy's line, and it seemed im- 
 portant to occupy it. Presently, indeed, instruc- 
 tions came from corps headquarters to our division 
 to estabHsh our line of battle on that ridge if 
 possible, and in due time the order came to the 
 2nd Minnesota to mark and entrench a line there 
 for our brigade front. A skirmish line was detailed, 
 and the men being carefully instructed by the 
 
146 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 Lieutenant Colonel, each one carrying a spade 
 besides his gun, knapsack, etc., moved briskly up 
 to and were hastily aligned along the crest. Then 
 each man lying down flat with his gun by his side 
 and his knapsack at his head, commenced excavat- 
 ing a shallow ditch, throwing the earth up in 
 front and working towards his neighbor. After 
 ten or fifteen minutes of lively work a second 
 detail went out, and, taking the spades, continued 
 the work while the first resumed their guns and 
 rested. The enemy kept up a scattering infantr^^ 
 fire on us, but we were making good progress with 
 no casualties, and would soon have had a contin- 
 uous line intrenched. Suddenly a six-gun battery 
 came rushing up from behind us, and went into 
 action on the ground we had been intrenching, 
 nearly running over some of our men v\rho were 
 working there. It was a showy, but an unfortun- 
 ate and unnecessary exploit; did no good, and 
 cost some valuable lives. The enemy's artillery 
 immediately opened on it and on us every gun 
 within range, and, they being well protected while 
 this battery stood exposed, it got much the worst 
 of the fight, and soon withdrew, having lost a 
 good many men and horses and being generally 
 knocked to pieces. Meantime Lieut. Jones was 
 killed and eleven others of our regiment were 
 wounded during the few minutes of artillery fight- 
 ing, and the work of intrenching was necessarily 
 suspended, the line being close under the muzzles 
 of our battery while in action. It was resumed 
 immediatel}^ after the battery withdrew, and the 
 line was completed, but as the enemy continued 
 
The Atlanta Campaign. 147 
 
 and increased his infantry firing, we were obliged 
 to deploy a line to reply to it, which was done 
 with such effect as to keep the ene^ny's heads down 
 and prevent good aiming, so we had but few men 
 hurt b}^ their wild firing. 
 
 Gen. 0. 0. Howard, in the "Century" for June, 
 1887 (page 454), speaks of this affair as follows, 
 being a witness of the concluding part of it : 
 "Here I saw a feat the like of which never else- 
 " where fell under my observation. Baird's division, 
 "in a comparatively open field, put forth a heavy 
 "skirmish line, which continued under a heav}^ fire 
 "such a rapid fire of rifles as to keep dowm a 
 "corresponding hostile line behind its well con- 
 "structed trenches, while the picks and shovels 
 "behind the skirmishers fairly flew until a good 
 "set of works was made four hundred yards ofl" 
 "and parallel to the enemy's." 
 
 Our line established, we made it so uncomfort- 
 able for the enemy that at night they abandoned 
 their position, drawing back to a new fortified 
 line, with Kenesaw mountain as the centre and 
 key point, and extending from it east and south- 
 east, west and southwest, covering Marietta and 
 the railroad from there to Atlanta. Our army 
 was immediately put in motion and closed up 
 again to w^ithin easy musket range of the enemy's 
 new position, our division being located in front 
 of the mountain, on which several batteries had 
 been posted. Our line was intrenched, the usual 
 ditch and embankment being supplemented by a 
 breastwork of heavy logs, which, covered and 
 protected by the earth in front, proved a good 
 
148 The Story of the Second Regiment 
 
 protection from artillery fire. All the ground in 
 our vicinity was covered by the guns on the 
 mountain, and for a day or two thc}^ kept it so 
 warm with shot and shell as to confine us closely 
 to the breastworks ; but, when the enemy got 
 tired wasting ammunition and ceased firing, our 
 little tents were set and the space in the rear and 
 near the breastworks was occupied by our men in 
 comparative comfort, a watch being stationed to 
 give warning whenever a puff of smoke appeared 
 on the mountain. 
 
 The enemy amused themselves two or three times 
 a day by shelling our camps vigorously for a few 
 minutes to see the ' ' Yanks ' ' run for the breast 
 works. Here the muster out rolls were prepared and 
 orders obtained for the discharge of our non- 
 veterans, whose three years term was nearly 
 expired. Col. George announced his intention to 
 retire also at the end of his term, and received 
 orders on the 22nd to go to Chattanooga on the 
 23rd with the non-veterans, there to be mustered 
 out. The Colonel's age and physical infirmity dis- 
 qualified him for a hard campaign like this, but 
 he persisted to the completion of his term and left 
 us at last much to our regret and his own. 
 
 About midnight on the 22nd our regiment was 
 ordered to move about half a mile to the right to 
 relieve another regiment there which was ordered 
 elsewhere. It was a bright, still, moonlight night, 
 and the enemy on the mountain was vigilant and 
 in the habit of investigating with his artillery 
 every suspicious movement, so the men were in- 
 structed to move quietly, keeping their gun barrels 
 
The Atlanta Campaign. 149 
 
 covered, all verbal orders and conversation to be 
 omitted. Our movement was thus safely made, 
 but, on our arrival, the commander of the regiment 
 to be relieved woke up his men at long range by 
 shouting the regulation commands in a voice that 
 could be easil}^ heard by the enemy, who could 
 also see the glimmer of their muskets in the moon- 
 light, and before his men were ready to move a 
 big round flash was seen on the mountain — a few 
 seconds later another, right in our faces, with a 
 deafening explosion, and six men at the head of 
 our regiment lay mangled on the earth. The going 
 regiment took to the woods without any more 
 formal orders, and our men took their places in the 
 breastworks without any further casualties, though 
 a furious cannonade was kept up for half an hour 
 or more. One of the men killed was our Sergi:. Maj. 
 P. G. Wheeler, who a few hours later would have 
 gone to the rear to be discharged. It seemed ver^^ 
 sad that after three years' faithful service without 
 injury, he should fall in the last hours of his term. 
 
 Next morning at daybreak Col. George and the 
 one hundred and three non-veterans present with 
 the regiment got ready to take leave of us, and 
 with hearty good wishes and good-byes we parted 
 with them "for three years or during the war." 
 
 On the 27th our division was placed in reserve 
 to Davis' division, which was ordered to assault 
 the enemy's intrenched line. The attack was most 
 gallantly made, but failed, because the line was too 
 strong and too well defended, and could not be 
 carried. The loss in the attacking division was 
 
150 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 heavy, but in our division, not seriously under fire, 
 there were but few casualties. 
 
 On the 2nd of July a detachment of sevent^^-eight 
 drafted men joined us from Minnesota, and were 
 distributed among the companies. 
 
 The enem^^ evacuated Kenesaw during the night, 
 retiring south of Marietta. 
 
 On the 4th our brigade was ordered to garrison 
 duty at Marietta, where we remained eight days. 
 This was now the grand supply depot for the 
 army, and we had not only to protect the place 
 from probable cavalry raids, but unload several 
 trains a day of army supplies and reload them into 
 w^agons for the front. Our regiment was encamped 
 on the beautiful lawn of ex-Go v. McDonald's home- 
 stead, and with a comfortable camp, sufficient 
 rations, and no marching or fighting to do, we 
 enjoyed the week here notwithstanding the hard 
 work and picket duty. The new men were mean- 
 time kept busy learning the duty of soldiers. 
 
 On the 13th our brigade marched nine miles to 
 the front, rejoining the division, and next day 
 another detachment of ninety-eight drafted men 
 joined us. Here recommendations for promotions 
 to fill vacant offices in the regiment were made 
 and forwarded to the Governor of Minnesota. 
 (See appendix No. 24.) On the 15th our regiment 
 was ordered back to Marietta to relieve the 20th 
 Connecticut regiment as provost and depot guard. 
 We continued on duty here for five weeks, our time 
 busily occupied in guard and picket duty, in 
 handling commissary and quartermasters' stores 
 
The Atlanta Campaign. 151 
 
 and in instructing our 176 new men, who, being 
 mingled in squads with the veterans, made rapid 
 progress. 
 
 On the 19th of August we marched again to the 
 front and rejoined our brigade before Atlanta on 
 the 20th. 
 
 Now w^e were again in the enemy's immediate 
 presence and our old experience of marching, fight- 
 ing, intrenching and maneuvering was renewed and 
 kept up until on the 30th, the final movement 
 around the enemy's left flank began, culminating 
 on the 1st of September in the battle of Jonesboro, 
 fought and w^on by our 14th corps. Our brigade 
 happened to be in the second line during the fight- 
 ing, and had but three men wounded, none killed. 
 The enemy was badly beaten and broken up in the 
 battle, and about 3 o'clock next morning the Con- 
 federate army evacuated Atlanta, setting fire to the 
 vStorehouses containing their surplus ammunition 
 and stores which, as we had broken the railroad, 
 they could not move. The racket of exploding 
 shells, distincth' heard at our bivouac, reminded us 
 of the evacuation of Corinth, of which we had like 
 audible notice, and we knew that at last Atlanta 
 v^as ours. 
 
 After remaining near Jonesboro two days we 
 leisureh^ marched back toward Atlanta, and en- 
 camped near the city on the 8th of September. We 
 had left Ringgold on the 7th of May with 451 
 officers and men present. This number had been 
 increased by recruits 176, returned from hospital 
 or detached service, 67, and had been diminished by 
 killed in battle, 4 ; wounded and sent to the hospital, 
 
152 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 16 ; sick and sent to the hospital, 113 ; discharged 
 at expiration of service, 103; deserted, 3 ; transferred, 
 2; dismissed, 7, leaving present for duty Sept. 7th 
 446 officers and men. Not all the wounded went 
 to the hospital. (See list of casualties Appendix 
 No. 25.) 
 
 While the regiment rests comfortably a few days 
 at Atlanta a bit of unpleasant history ma^^ be 
 briefly given. Reference was made in the preceding 
 chapter to the absence of any definite understand- 
 ing at the time the regiment re-enlisted, as to what 
 was to be done with, or by, the commissioned 
 officers of companies or regiments whose enlisted 
 men might "veteranize," and the instructions given 
 to the regimental commander in our case, under 
 which three officers were by him detailed to remain 
 with the non-veterans and the others, except several 
 sick and absent, were taken to Minnesota with the 
 regiment, and some of them placed on recruiting 
 service during the furlough, on the theory that they 
 would not be held to have re-enlisted. After our 
 return to the front we found that a ruling had 
 been made that officers of veteran regiments who 
 accompanied their regiments home on furlough 
 would be held as re-enlisted from the date of the 
 veteranizing, and officers declining the furlough 
 would be entitled to discharge at the end of three 
 years from the time of original entry into service. 
 On the 16th of June Col. James George applied for 
 the discharge of himself and eleven other officers 
 and one hundred and one enlisted men, non-veterans, 
 then with the regiment (or in the division) whose 
 time of service woidd expire within the next month. 
 
The Atlanta Campaign. 153 
 
 On the 18th one of these officers was killed in battle. 
 On the 22nd of June orders were • received for Col. 
 George with the enlisted men, non-veterans, to go 
 to Chatanooga for muster out. On the 29th, no 
 orders as to the other officers who had applied with 
 Col. George for their discharge, having been received, 
 six of them renewed their request for discharge at 
 the expiration of their original terms (June 26th 
 to July 8th), "or as soon thereafter as the exigen- 
 cies of the service will permit." One of these men 
 w^as a few days later wounded in action. Their 
 second request was approved as the hrst had been, 
 by the regimental and brigade commanders, on the 
 ground that these officers accompanied the regiment 
 to Minnesota on veteran furlough in January last 
 before the order requiring officers to re-enlist, or 
 retaining in the field those who declined to re-enlist, 
 had been received, and upon the further ground 
 that the regiment had been so much reduced by the 
 discharge of n on- veterans that the officers desiring 
 discharge after having served their three years, 
 could be now spared. 
 
 The response was made to this request that the 
 Department Commander had recommended the dis- 
 missal of these officers. A full explanation and 
 protesl was immediately made, and forwarded 
 through intermediate headquarters to the War 
 Department by the regimental commander. The 
 officer's continued in the service, doing their duty 
 gallantly and efficiently, until just after the smoke 
 had lifted from the battle field of Jonesboro, an 
 order was received from the War Department dis- 
 honorably dismissing the six officers for "having, 
 
154 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 "whilst their commands were in front of the enemy 
 "applied to be mustered out, after having availed 
 "themselves of the furlough granted their regiment 
 "as veteran volunteers." This order dated back to 
 July 12th, thus covering with disgrace two months 
 of faithful service in the enemy's presence, after 
 their terms had expired. This order had to be, and 
 was revoked afterwards, and the victims of it 
 were honorabW discharged as of such later dates as 
 included the whole time actuall}^ served ; but it 
 was a cruel outrage that it ever should have been 
 issued, even under misapprehension of the facts, for 
 which they were in no wise responsible. 
 
 The remainder of the month of October was 
 occupied with the usual routine of camp life and 
 duty, a great deal of attention being given to our 
 recruits, who were rapidly becoming soldiers. 
 Meantime man}^ of the older regiments were, like 
 ours, becoming reduced by the discharge of non- 
 veterans at expiration of their original terms of 
 three years; and while all the loyal states were 
 raising and equipping additional troops to fill the 
 quotas called for by the President, most of the 
 governors were organizing them into new regiments, 
 which were sent to the front, in many cases, under 
 field and compan\^ officers of little or no actual 
 military experience. Such regiments were of little 
 use in active service in the enemy's presence, 
 while if the recruits had been distributed to the 
 companies of the veteran regiments the new men 
 would, by association with the veterans and under 
 the instruction and care of veteran officers, have 
 soon become efficient and reliable. Gen. Geo. H. 
 
Thk Atlanta Campaign, 155 
 
 Thomas, who had known our regiment, having it 
 under his command for three years, especially 
 desired to have it filled up to standard strength, 
 and about the 1st of October the writer, the 
 Lieutenant Colonel, then commanding the regi- 
 ment, received a special written request from him 
 to the Governor (Stephen Miller) for the assignment 
 of two hundred recruits with an order to present 
 the requisition in person. Leaving the regiment in 
 charge of Maj. C. S. Uline, he started immediate!}' 
 for Minnesota. 
 
 Next day commenced the northward movement 
 of Hood's army, and on the 4th the regiment, with 
 its division, began the tiresome tramp over the 
 familiar ground of the last summer's campaign. 
 
 The march was uneventful so far as our regi- 
 ment was concerned ; it arrived at Gaylesville on 
 the 21st, and moved thence to Rome on the 30th, 
 and thence to Kingston on the 2nd of November. 
 
 On the 4th our band master, R. G. Rhodes, 
 arrived with a complete outfit of silver horns from 
 Cincinnati. He had been sent from Atlanta for 
 them, with our regimental fund, liberally supple- 
 mented by private subscriptions b}^ the officers of 
 the regiment. We were all very proud of our band 
 who had by faithful use of their old instruments 
 well earned the better ones. 
 
 Meantime the Lieutenant Colonel, after a tedious 
 trip with many breaks and delays, had been to 
 Minnesota, procured the assignment of eight\;-eight 
 men, all that there were then at Fort Snelling 
 unassigned, and had got back to Chattanooga with 
 them, just in time to take the last train thence to 
 
156 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 the front, arriving at Kingston at eleven o'clock in 
 the evening of November 11th. The train v^as 
 immediately unloaded and returned northward, and 
 at daybreak next morning the railroad and tele- 
 graph lines were broken behind us and the troops 
 started for Atlanta. 
 
 Our regiment delayed a little to distribute our 
 recruits and provide them with rations and ammu- 
 nition, but marched at nine o'clock and rejoined 
 our brigade at Altoona in the evening. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 THE MARCH TO THE SEA. 
 
 Our communications northward by railroad and 
 by telegraph had been severed behind us, and leav- 
 ing our old commander. Gen. George H. Thomas, to 
 take care of Tennessee and of Hood's army, we 
 turned our faces southward and retraced the now 
 familiar way to Atlanta. 
 
 On the 14th of November we halted an hour or 
 two at Marietta, where we had been on garrison 
 duty five v^^eeks in the preceding summer. The 
 once beautiful village had been sadly devastated 
 by the passing hostile armies, and our old camps 
 in the shaded lawns were hardly to be recognized. 
 
 On, the 15th we marched into and through 
 Atlanta, encamping about two miles east of the 
 city. Here we filled our cartridge boxes and 
 haversacks, put on new shoes and clothing, loaded 
 
The March to the Sea. 157 
 
 our wagon trains with ammunition and rationvS of 
 coffee, sugar and hard tack, and disencumbered 
 ourselves of all unnecessary baggage and equipage 
 in preparation for the campaign ; of which the 
 direction and the duration were not then definitely 
 known even to the commander himself. The great 
 buildings in Atlanta that had been used bj' the 
 enemy for manufacturing and storing militar}' 
 supplies, had been set on fire and the conflagration 
 had spread over a great part of the town, there 
 being neither men nor means to confine it. All 
 that night the burning city lit up the sky, and the 
 exploding shells and cartridges kept up a noivSy 
 but harmless cannonade. 
 
 Next morning, the 16th, the 14th corps, with 
 colors unfolded to the mild autumn breeze, and 
 bands playing the inspiring martial music, filed 
 out into the road and commenced the now historic 
 ''March to the Sea." Never marched an army 
 more confident of success or more competent to 
 achieve it. The men were mostly veterans of three 
 3^ears' service, accustomed to everything that 
 happens to men in war, acquainted and satisfied 
 with their commanders, and well supplied with 
 those essentials not to be gathered in the country. 
 
 In our own regiment the veterans and the recruits 
 v\rere about equal in number, but they had been so 
 mingled in the companies and squads, and the new 
 men so well instructed by the veterans, that the}' 
 were quite competent to take care of themselves 
 and do any dut}^ of the soldier. 
 
 Our course was eastward, parallel and near to 
 the track of the Georgia railroad ; passing through 
 
158 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 Decatur and near Stone mountain, we encamped 
 early, after an easy march of 15 miles. In the next 
 da3^'s march we passed through Lithionia and 
 Conyers. We halted at noon for lunch, and then 
 our brigade wrecked two miles of the railroad 
 track before resuming the march. 
 
 This railroad unbuilding was thoroughly and 
 rapidly done, about as follows: Our regiment, 
 having stacked arms and unslung knapsacks near 
 the road, is formed in a single rank outside the 
 track, facing inwards. The rail joints at each end 
 of the line being opened, the men all seize the rail 
 with their hands, and at the '' Yo heave" command 
 they all lift together, raising the rails and ties 
 gradually up and higher and finally overturning 
 the entire track. The rails are joined only with 
 the old style cast iron chairs, and in falling on its 
 back the track is shaken up and loosened. The 
 ties are now knocked off and piled upon the road- 
 bed, cobhouse-wise, a few dry fence rails mixed in 
 for kindling, the fire is started and the iron rails 
 being laid across the piles are in a short time red 
 hot at the centre. A lever and hook is now put 
 on each end of each rail, and both ends are so 
 turned in opposite directions and brought down 
 to the ground as to give the rail at once a spiral 
 twist and a Grecian bend along its middle third. 
 Sometimes the boys would give them an extra 
 heating and wind them around the trees by the 
 roadside, and at every mile-post the letters "U. S." 
 in sixty-pound rails were set up to encourage the 
 loyalty of those who might see and read. Our 
 cavalry having broken a bridge some miles ahead 
 
The March to the Sea. 159 
 
 of us, we found a locomotive and train of cars at 
 Conyers; they were unable to get away before our 
 arrival — or afterwards. 
 
 On the 18th we passed through Covington, a 
 pretty village, and crossed Yellow river; halted at 
 noon for lunch and disintegrated our usual two 
 miles of railroad track. 
 
 Resuming the march w^e halted to rest by the 
 roadside about 3 o'clock, near a spring, where 
 several of our brigades had refreshed themselves in 
 advance of us. Close by v^as a comfortable farm- 
 house w4th several ladies in the wide veranda who 
 watched the pranks of the soldiers with much 
 apparent interest. Presently one of the men in our 
 leading company' noticed that the sods and earth 
 upon which he was lying had apparently been 
 recently disturbed. Drawing his ramrod he probed 
 the soft spot with the air of an expert and called 
 for a spade. A few minutes of lively work disclosed 
 a pine box while his comrades crowded around him 
 speculating as to what valuables it might contain. 
 The ladies, too, seemed to be excited and anxious 
 about it — perhaps their money or their silver spoons 
 were in peril. The box being carefully uncovered 
 the top was pried off and there exposed to view 
 w^ere the remains of a spaniel dog, rebuking his 
 disturbers with an odoriferous protest that reached 
 their consciences by the most direct route. The lid 
 was replaced, the pit refilled and the earth and sods 
 carefully replaced and dressed over ready for the 
 next brigade. Now the lady of the hoUvSC graciously 
 remarked that poor Fido was not resting in ])eace 
 
160 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 very much that day ; this was the fourth time he 
 had been resurrected since morning. 
 
 On the 19th we turned southward and left the 
 railroad, directing our march towards Milledgeville. 
 The enemy had destroyed the bridge over Little 
 river and we had to lay a pontoon bridge, which 
 delayed our march an hour or two. The da^^ was 
 rainy and the road slippery, and the marching 
 tiresome and uncomfortable. Next day we passed 
 through Shady Dale, and on the 21st the weather was 
 fine and we made good progress; on the 22nd we 
 encamped on a plantation, owned by Howell Cobb, 
 who had been United States Senator and Secretarj^ 
 of the Treasury, and was then a general in the 
 Confederate army. Here we loaded a spare wagon 
 with peanuts, fresh from the ground on which w^e 
 had carnped; on the 24th we entered Milledgeville, 
 the capital of Georgia, and remained there encamped 
 over the next da}-, which was "Thanksgiving Day," 
 and was duly celebrated as such. 
 
 We had been eight days on the road from 
 Atlanta, and thus far had drawn no rations from 
 our wagon trains except coffee. There had been, 
 however, no lack of provisions ; it was in that 
 countr^^ the season of plenty ; there had been culti- 
 vated by negro labor a most bountiful crop of 
 corn, sweet potatoes and various vegetables, and 
 on every plantation were fat cattle, pigs and 
 poultry in abundance, while the smokehouses were 
 filled with hams and bacon just cured. 
 
 Butter, honey, sorghum, syrup, apples, home made 
 jelly and preserves and pickles had been also pro- 
 vided and stored for us, and it wasn't even necessary 
 
ThK MAKCMi TO THE SEA. 161 
 
 to ask for them. Every morning an officer with 
 a sergeant and ten men (one from each com- 
 pan\^) were sent out to provide a day's subsistence 
 for the regiment. These details were called foragers 
 and later "bummers." They were of course armed 
 and kept together, and were thus enabled to whip 
 or at least "stand off" any party of the enemv's 
 cavalrv thev might meet. Details from other resfi- 
 ments, which scattered and straggled, lost a good 
 many men by capture, but not a single man of 
 ours was so lost, either from the foragers or the 
 column during the entire march to Savannah. 
 
 These foragers would get as far ahead as thev 
 could in the first hour or two, then leave the road 
 and visit the plantations, find a wagon or cart or 
 perhaps a carriage and a single, or pair of, mules or 
 horses or oxen or cows to haul it, load it with 
 corn meal, potatoes, ham, poultry and everything 
 else they could find that was edible, and leading a 
 fat steer or two would return to the roadvside, and 
 "join in" the column as the regiment came along. 
 The quantity and quality of supplies thus collected 
 b}' these foragers was more than sufficient, and the 
 grotesque appearance of the bummers as they lined 
 the roadside in the afternoon waiting to join their 
 regiments, was a never failing source of amuvse- 
 ment. They usually went out on foot, but returned 
 mounted or in carriages, in all stvles, from a 
 creaking, rickety cart with a single mule or steer in 
 rope traces, to a grand coupe with a blooded pair 
 in silver mounted harness. The officer in charge 
 was always instructed to permit no wanton de- 
 struction of property, nor firing of buildings, nor 
 
162 The Stokv of the Second Regiment. 
 
 abuse of people at their homes, and as far as is 
 known to the writer these instructions were 
 observed by oar details, but in many cases, no 
 doubt, soldiers who were unrestrained by instruc- 
 tions or discipline were guilty of plundering and 
 cruelty, not to be justified even in war, though 
 such acts could not always be prevented by those 
 in authority. 
 
 During this march it was the rule, as it was in 
 all other marches, that every man should keep his 
 place in the column, straggling being in our regi- 
 ment absoluteh^ forbidden ; this for three reasons ; 
 first, for his own safety, for the straggler was 
 liable to be captured or killed, as many were, by 
 the enemy's cavalry, which always followed and 
 hung around our rear and flanks ; second, for his 
 own good, that he might arrive in camp and get 
 his supper and rest with his comrades, rather than 
 to fall out, get behind and then have to travel 
 alone far into the night, perhaps, -to find his regi- 
 ment; and third and chiefly, for the sake of good 
 order and discipline — that in any emergency, always 
 to be expected and prepared for in war, the regi- 
 ment should be ready in full strength, every man 
 in his place. 
 
 It was a custom of the regimental commander 
 to look personally to the observance of this rule, 
 and in the performance of this dut}^ he noticed 
 one day one of the recruits who, loaded with his 
 gun and fort\^ rounds, his canteen, haversack, 
 blankets and a big knapsack, was bravely tip- 
 toeing along on his sore feet with his company. 
 A word of encouragement to him brought forth 
 
Thk March to the Sea. 163 
 
 the response **the spirit indeed is willing but the 
 flesh is weak," yet he hoped to keep his place, for 
 he well knew it was easier and better to keep up 
 than to fall out and get behind and then have to 
 catch up. This prompted an inquiry of his captain, 
 who said that the man was ])rivate Levi Gleason, 
 a Methodist minister, a drafted man, a good 
 soldier and a pleasant good fellow and comrade. 
 
 He w^as called to headquarters one evening soon 
 afterwards, and invited, the regiment having no 
 chaplain, to preach to us at the next convenient 
 opportunity. He excused himself for want of 
 preparation, but finally consented, and on the first 
 Sabbath of rest in cam]) the regiment assembled at 
 the "church call" at the Colonel's tent. The 
 opening exercises were in the usual form, many of 
 the men joining in singing the familiar hymns ; 
 then private Gleason announced his text, "See that 
 ye fall not out b\' the way," and gave us an 
 earnest, practical discourse, so appropriate and so 
 illustrated b\' the common experience of his hearers 
 that it "warmed the boys up for good," as one of 
 them expressed it. 
 
 Milledgeville, then the capital city of Georgia, 
 was an ancient, aristocratic place with handsomely 
 shaded streets and dwellings, but it wore an air 
 of quiet decadence and lack of enterprise. The 
 legislature had hastih' adjourned the day before 
 our arrival, and the Governor had departed with 
 the members. Gen. Sherman occupied the executive 
 mansion with army headquarters, while some of 
 our officers assembled at the capitol and reorgan- 
 ized the legislature, repealed the ordinance of 
 
164 The Stokv of thk Skcond Rkgimkxt. 
 
 secession and adopted a preamble and resolution 
 declaring the loyalty of the State of Georgia to 
 the Union. All these proceedings being approved 
 by the provisional governor and duly spread upon 
 the journals of the two houses, the improvised 
 legislature adjourned, to meet successively in the 
 capitals of South Carolina, Xorth Carolina and 
 Virginia. 
 
 On the 25th of November we crossed the Oconee 
 river, and next day reached Sandersville. On the 
 27th we crossed the Ogeechee river, and on the 
 28th arrived at Louisville, where we remained two 
 days awaiting some movements by the other corps. 
 The enemy's cavalry, under Gen. Wheeler, had been 
 very active of late, burning all the bridges ahead 
 of our column and annoying and capturing our 
 foragers whenever they could be taken by surprise. 
 We could pontoon the streams without much 
 delay, Vjut did not want our foraging interfered 
 with; so Kilpatrick was ordered to punish and 
 drive away the offenders, and our (Baird'sj division 
 was sent along to support him. Some lively 
 skirmishing occurred during the next three or four 
 days between the opposing cavalry forces, but 
 the}^ kept out of the way of our infantry, generally, 
 and we didn't get much fun out of the campaign. 
 On the 4th we drove the enemy through and 
 beyond Waynesboro, and then turned southeasterly, 
 and on the 5th encamped at Alexander. Now 
 followed several days of unpleasant weather, 
 obstructed roads and slow progress, with continued 
 annoyance and skirmishing with the enemy's 
 cavalry. On the 8th we had (juite a brush with 
 
Till-; March to tiiF' Si:a. 165 
 
 them, in which private George Boyson, of Company 
 "K," was mortally wounded. This day we crossed 
 the Ebenezer creek as rear guard, and were closely 
 pressed by the enemy while our l)ridge was being 
 taken up. On the 10th we destroyed a section of 
 the Charleston and Savannah railroad, including a 
 portion of the trestle bridge at the west bank of the 
 Savannah river. Now we had left behind us the fine 
 agricultural country of central (k'orgia, abounding 
 in corn, hogs, cattle and sweet potatoes; had also 
 passed through a level section of sandy ])inc lands, 
 almOvSt destitute of population, improvements or 
 provisions, and found ourselves among the rice 
 plantations of the Savannah river and coast region. 
 The rice cro]:) had been harvested and the thresh- 
 ing and hulling mills were in o])eration. ThCvSe 
 were fired by the enemy at our a|)proach, but bur 
 cavalry saved one of the threshing mills in the 
 vicinity of our division, the hulling machinery 
 being destroyed. So for six or seven days we had 
 rice in abundance, issued to the troo])s "with the 
 bark on." We had rice for breakfast, rice for 
 dinner, rice for su])pcr and rice the next day 
 and the next. Rice for the soldiers, for the horses, 
 for the negroes and for the mules, and for every- 
 body. The boys exhausted their ingenuity in con- 
 triving various ways of hulling and cooking it, l)ut 
 it was always rice, and we got so sick of it that 
 some of us have never eaten any of the stuff since. 
 We were very glad when our regiment was ordered 
 out on the IGth on a foraging expedition, which 
 promised at least a temporary change of diet. We 
 went out in a southwesterly direction and loaded 
 
166 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 our train with forage; got a few cattle and some 
 miscellaneous provisions, all there was in the 
 country, and returned on the 19th ; Avere shelled 
 by one of the enemy's batteries at a distance on 
 our return, and private Stevens, of Company "H," 
 was w^ounded. A wnde flooded rice held between 
 us and the battery made it inaccessible to us, so 
 we had to leave it behind, much to our regret. 
 
 Meanwhile, Fort McAlhster had been captured 
 by Hazen's division on the 12th, opening communi- 
 cation with our fleet, and on our return we found 
 40 days' accumulated mail in our camp and 
 two or three days later, provisions and supplies 
 came in from the fleet by transports ; among these 
 supplies nothing was so w^elcome as the Irish pota- 
 toes, of which we had seen none in the past six 
 weeks. On the night of the 20th the enem^^ evacu- 
 ated Savannah and some of our forces entered it at 
 daybreak on the 21st. Our brigade, however, en- 
 camped in a pleasant field about a mile from the 
 line of defences constructed by the enem^^ about the 
 city, and our officers and men were permitted to 
 visit the city and explore the country- about it. 
 Some of them discovered that the oyster beds below 
 the city had been between the guns of the blockad- 
 ing fleet and the enemy's shore batteries for two 
 years and thus had not been fished. A detail of 
 men with vsix big army wagons were sent dowm 
 there and returned on Christmas Eve with several 
 hundred bushels of the big and luscious oysters 
 to enrich our Christmas dinner. 
 
 Christmas came on Sunda\^ and Private Gleason 
 preached for us again. About this time a request 
 
The March to the Sea. 167 
 
 for his discharge, signed by the Presiding Elder and 
 other clerg\^men of the Minnesota Conference, ad- 
 dressed to the Secretary of War, was by that 
 authority referred to his regimental commander for 
 his opinion and report thereon. Now, it was refered 
 to Private Gleason for his remarks. They were to 
 the effect that he believed that in his conscription 
 his place and field of duty had been by the Divine 
 Ruler indicated to him, that he had found ample 
 opportunity in it to serve Him and do good to his 
 fellows, and that grateful to his friends for their 
 kind efforts in his behalf, he did not desire his dis- 
 charge until the war should end. Then the paper 
 was returned to the Secretary of War and, quite 
 unexpectedly to him. Private Gleason was appointed 
 Chaplain of the regiment, an office he filled most 
 acceptably to the final discharge of the regiment. 
 
 On the 27th of December the 14th corps passed 
 in review before Gen. Sherman in the city of Savan- 
 nah. Our regiment was especially complimented by 
 him as it well deserved, and a few days later was 
 ordered into the city, and put in charge of the yard 
 and shops and other property of the Central Rail- 
 road. The officers occupied the general office build- 
 ing and the regiment was housed in the great freight 
 warehouse adjoining the yards. 
 
 Here, with daily drills and dress parades in the 
 park-like streets, and with guard and patrol duty, 
 we had a pleasant though busy tour of service. 
 
 Information was here received of the assignment 
 of two detachments of recruits from P'ort Snelling 
 to our regiment, one of which had been forwarded 
 as far as Nashville, and there detained by Gen. 
 
168 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 Thomas until after the battles of the 15th and 16th 
 of December, in which our recruits participated, and 
 Maj. C. S. Uline was sent to find and bring them 
 to the regiment. This he did with all possible ex- 
 pedition, but we left Savannah before his return 
 and he joined us later at Goldsboro, N. C. (See 
 Appendix No. 26.) 
 
 CHAPTER XIIL 
 SAVANNAH TO RALEIGH. 
 
 On the 23rd of January, 1865, we commenced 
 the ''Campaign of the Carolinas," no less famous 
 in history than "The March to the Sea." 
 
 Of these campaigns the following general re- 
 marks, by way of comparison, may be permitted. 
 The march through Georgia was made in the fortv 
 days commencing the 12th of November at Kings- 
 ton and ending with the evacuation of Savannah 
 on the 21st of December. This was, in that countrv, 
 the most agreeable and every way the most favor- 
 able season of the year for such a campaign. The 
 weather was generally delightful, the roads in good 
 condition, the streams running parallel with our 
 course, were always within their banks and easilv 
 forded or bridged, and the bountiful harvest, being 
 just over, there was abundance of provisions and 
 forage on every plantation. The march was more- 
 over a surprise to the enem^^ from which he did 
 not recover in time to give us any serious opposition. 
 
Savannah to Raleigh. 169 
 
 The Carolina campaign comprised the sixty-three 
 clays ending with the arrival at Goldsboro, March 
 23rd, including the battle of Bentonville, on the 
 20th. This was the winter season of cold rains, 
 with occasional snows, and the roads were usually 
 bad ; sometimes impassable for lo^ided wagons and 
 artillery until they had been corduroyed by the 
 troops. The streams were full, often overflowing 
 their banks, and as they crossed our course at right 
 angles, much time and labor had to be spent in 
 bridging them. The enemy had meantime collected, 
 under active commanders, quite a formidable and 
 well organized force, and disputed our crossing at 
 every stream, and harrassed and captured our for- 
 agers at every opportunity. The surplus provisions 
 and forage had, moreover, during the winter, been 
 gathered and sent to Lee's army in Virginia or had 
 been consumed on the plantations, and it required 
 active work for a detail of thirty men to gather 
 daily the supplies of food for the regiment. In the 
 Georgia campaign there had been but little bitter- 
 ness of feeling toward us displayed by the people 
 at home there and but little wanton destruction or 
 waste of property- by the soldiers ; in the Carolinas, 
 and especially in South Carolina, the bummers had 
 to hunt and fight for everything they got, and they 
 left nothing behind them that they could burn 
 or carry off. In the interest of discipline as well as 
 of humanity the ofiicer in charge of the detail, made 
 daily from our regiment, was always instructed not 
 to burn buildings or abuse the resident i)eople or to 
 take or destroy property not needed for our own 
 use, -and it is the writer's belief that his men had 
 
170 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 but small part in the cruel and wanton devastation 
 that marked the pathway of the arm}^ across that 
 state. 
 
 But to resume our narrative within its proper 
 limits, our regiment marched out of their comfort- 
 able quarters at the Central Railroad depot at 7a.m. 
 on the 20th, and at 10 o'clock encamped at Chero- 
 kee Hill, eight miles out on the Augusta road, by 
 which we had approached the city a month earlier. 
 We left this camp on the 25th, and bridging and 
 crossing one branch of Ebenezer Creek on the 26th 
 and another on the 27th, passing that day through 
 the pretty village of Springfield, we encamped on 
 the 28th near Sister's Ferry on the Savannah river, 
 about forty miles above the city. Here we remained 
 a week while a pontoon bridge was being thrown 
 across the river and a corduro}^ road built across 
 the wide and overflowed bottom lands on the South 
 Carolina side, and while trains and artillery were 
 being crossed. On the 5th of Februar3^ we marched 
 over and, encamping three miles from the bridge, 
 waited there while it was being taken up on the 
 6th; next day we passed through the smouldering 
 ruins of Robertsville and Brighton, which had been 
 burned the day before by our own troops ahead 
 of us. Our course now lay west of north, parallel 
 to and a few miles distant from the Savannah 
 River until the 10th, when we turned a little to the 
 right and, crossing the Salkehatchie River, arrived 
 at Barnwell Court House. Our brigade had the 
 advance to-day, and as we came in sight of the 
 village an order was received from corps head- 
 quarters for our regiment to encamp therein- and 
 
Savannah to Raleigh. 171 
 
 prevent any firing of buildings or any molestation 
 of the inhabitants. As ever^- house in sight of our 
 march from Sister's Ferry had been burned, with 
 no attempt to restrain or prevent the lawless de- 
 struction, it seemed that a difficult duty had been 
 assigned to us. Our pace was quickened, and as 
 we entered the village in advance of all other troops, 
 guards were stationed at all the houses and the 
 bummers and stragglers were admonished as they 
 came up to keep in the streets and move on. They 
 were greatly surprised at this unexpected restraint, 
 and some of them were not disposed to submit to 
 it, but no serious resistance was made, and by sunset 
 the village was as quiet and peaceful as could be 
 desired. One commissioned officer who had joined 
 the bummers announced his purpose to burn the 
 town anyhow and "he would like to see the guards 
 that would vStop him." He thought better of it, 
 however, and halted and sneaked off before a 
 guard's levelled musket, just in time to save his life. 
 We remained here until noon next day, when,* our 
 corps having passed on, we were ordered to follow. 
 Before we were half a mile away the village was 
 on fire in a dozen places, and was no doubt totally 
 destroyed . 
 
 On the 12th we reached the Augusta & Charles- 
 town Railroad, twenty-four miles east of Augusta. 
 Here we turned eastward, and spent most of the 
 afternoon in destroying the track and bridges. This 
 work was resumed next morning. In the afternoon 
 we marched about ten miles northerly, to Davis' 
 Mills, on the South Edisto river, our brigade being 
 rear guard of the 14th corps. Next morning, the 
 
172 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 14th, we crossed the river and burned the bridge 
 behind us. Then marched seventeen miles to the 
 North Edisto. On the 15th we crossed Congaree 
 creek, at Clark's Mills. The roads were bad and 
 we had considerable work in corduroying the soft 
 places and helping the heavy wagons out of the 
 mud. Next day we crossed Twelve Mile Creek, and 
 pass'ed through the smoking ruins of Lexington 
 Court House. On the 17th we waited in camp all 
 the forenoon, while the troops and trains ahead of 
 us, crossed the Saluda river, which was a wide, 
 swift and muddy stream, and had been bridged b}' 
 our pontoniers. We marched about 5 p. m. over 
 the swaying bridge and on into the night. The 
 wind was blowing hard and the whole countr\^ 
 seemed on lire. Columbia, six miles away, lighted 
 up the eastern sk}^ and the woods and the fences 
 and buildings and the stacks of straw and forage 
 were ever\^ where ablaze. Along the road were 
 some '* deadening" fields in which the pine trees 
 had 'been killed by girdling and left to decay stand- 
 ing, while the ground was tilled beneath them. The 
 fire would climb these dead trees, following streaks 
 of turpentine or pitch and running out the great 
 bare limbs, would find the fat pitchy knots and 
 there burst out in flaming torches that seemed to 
 be suspended in the sk}^ with no vivsible support. In 
 some of the regiments that had encamped in one of 
 these deadenings, some of the men were seriousW 
 hurt b}^ the falling of limbs that had been burned 
 off the trees over them Columbia was occupied 
 to-day by the 15th corps, and we hear they made 
 a livel}^ night of it there. On the 18th our march 
 
Savannah to Ralkigh. 173 
 
 was resumed but was slow and tedious, most of 
 the time being spent in corduroying the bottomless 
 roads and extricating the wagons from the mud 
 holes. At night we encamped near the Broad river, 
 opposite Alston, which was an important railroad 
 junction, about twent^^-five miles north-west of 
 Columbia. Next morning, Sunda3% we crossed the 
 river and destroyed several miles of railroad track 
 and burned a train of cars and a depot; then 
 attended divine service in camp in the afternoon. 
 On Monday we marched northward to Monticello, 
 and on Tuesday eastward to Winnsboro, on the 
 Columbia & Chester railroad. Wednesday, the 
 22nd. we tackled the railroad again and dissected 
 four or five miles of it. 
 
 Our course for a few days had l^ecn through a 
 fine productive country, and forage and provisions 
 had been plentiful. On the 28rd we moved east- 
 ward about fifteen miles to the Catawba River at 
 Rocky Mount, where our pontoniers were laying a 
 bridge. The stream was wide and full from the 
 recent rains, and the current rapid and swirly. It 
 required all the available bridge equipment, and 
 moreover was a work of great difficulty to span the 
 river with a safe and adequate structure. The 20th 
 corps had hardly crossed ahead of us when the 
 bridge was broken by driftwood floating down the 
 river. The next three days were spent in replacing 
 it and making and keeping it as secure as possi- 
 ble, while a crew of men in boats were ])ut in the 
 river above it to intercept the drift wood and tow 
 it to the shore. Meantime it rained nearly all the 
 time, and the roads as well as the streams were 
 
174 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 getting worse. Our troops and trains had, how- 
 ever, been crossing at such times as the bridge 
 seemed safe, and at 7 o'clock on the evening of the 
 27th our turn as the rear brigade came to cross. 
 We lighted our precarious way with pitch pine 
 torches as we moved down the narrow, winding 
 bottomless road to the west bank, and gingerly 
 walked over the slender, swaying chain of canvass 
 boats, and then up the slipper}- hill on the eastern 
 shore, where we halted and waited for daylight. 
 We had been delayed here several days, and Sher- 
 man, who was ahead with the 20th corps, was 
 getting impatient. The rains continued, but noth- 
 ing could now make the roads any worse than 
 the 23rd corps had left them after the passage of 
 its trains and artillery. We commenced at day- 
 break, now cutting a new parallel road through 
 the woods and now corduroying the old one, as 
 one or the other seemed best, and by working hard 
 all day forwarded our train three or four miles 
 while the pontoniers were taking up the bridge. 
 Next day, March 1st, we made 15 miles, encamping 
 near Hanging Rock battleground, where Sumpter 
 and Tar let on met in the Revolutionary War. On 
 the 4th we crossed the line into North Carolina, 
 and on the 5th encamped near the Great Pedee 
 river at Sneadsboro The six days' march between 
 the two rivers, with continuous rain and mud, had 
 been the most uncomfortable and fatiguing of the 
 whole campaign, and we were not sorry to have 
 one pleasant day in camp while the bridge was 
 being thrown across the stream. At intervals we 
 heard explosions down the river, and wondered 
 
Savannah to Ralp:igh. 175 
 
 whether the 15th and 17th corpvS were having a 
 battle at Cheraw, or, as we afterwards learned, 
 were burning some captured ordnance stores. 
 
 On the 17th, the bridge having been completed, 
 we crossed the river at noon, and then the rain 
 commenced again and continued for three days 
 more. Our route lay through the piney country of 
 North Carolina, whose products, as our child's 
 geographies had told us, were pitch, tar, rosin, 
 turpentine and lumber. The bummers, as usual, 
 set fire to everything that would burn, and our 
 division arriving one day at a stream swollen 
 bank full, found its surface covered with flames 
 and the bridge burning. A turpentine factory a 
 little way up the stream was on fire, and several 
 hundred barrels of burning tar and melted rosin 
 had flowed into the water and spread over the full 
 ^'idth of the stream, making it impossible to cross 
 or even to approach it. So we bivouacked until 
 the burning stream cooled ofl" enough to permit 
 our reconstruction of the bridge. This incident 
 delayed the division five or six hours, and we had 
 to make it up after we got started again. On the 
 10th our brigade had the lead of the army, and, 
 as we came in sight of Fayetteville, found the 
 enemy in our front. Our progress was disputed 
 for several miles, without, however, much delaying 
 us, and we entered the city about 11 a. m., driving 
 the enemy's rear guard into and through and 
 be^^ond it, saving the bridge over Cape Fear river 
 by a lively skirmish and a race for it. 
 
 Next day a boat arrived from Wilmington with 
 dispatches for Sherman. Our regiment was detailed 
 
176 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 for provost guard and made responsible for good 
 order and protection of persons and property of the 
 residents during our occupation of the place. We 
 had a pleasant tour of dut}- here with good 
 weather and some rest. The old U. S. arsenal 
 which had been in operation for the past four 
 years making ordinance stores for the Confederate 
 arm}^ was, by Gen. Sherman's order, destroyed ; 
 the buildings razed and the expensive machiner\^ 
 broken up. 
 
 On the 15th our regimental commander received 
 orders to burn a large cotton factory and ware- 
 house in the city w^hich had been manufacturing 
 goods for the C. S. army, and this was done, to 
 the infinite sorrow of the throng of girls and other 
 operatives who witnessed it. On the 16th the 
 movement of the army towards Goldsboro com- 
 menced, and the laborious mending of roads and' 
 boosting of wagons was resumed and continued 
 until we encountered the enemy in force at Benton- 
 ville on the 20th. Our brigade was but lightly 
 engaged here, but behaved gallantly, our regiment 
 losing two men wounded. Remaining on the battle- 
 field one day, our march was resumed on the 22nd, 
 and next day we crossed the Neuse river and 
 encamped at Goldsboro. Here we found Gens. 
 Terry and Scofield with the 10th and 23rd corps, 
 all resplendent in new uniforms and well supplied 
 with camp equipage and regulation army rations. 
 Our army, in the sixty-three days of hard cam- 
 paigning, with no opportunity^ to draw new cloth- 
 ing or even mend what we wore, had come to 
 that condition when a general change of dress and 
 
Savannah to Ralfkhi. 177 
 
 a chance to wash off the tar smoke was eminently 
 desirable. Moreover, understanding that we were 
 to rest a few days at Goldsboro, onr foraging 
 details had been instructed that day to provide as 
 large a supply of miscellaneous ])rovisions as 
 possible, and they had been unusuallv successful, 
 every regiment having at its head the motley 
 cavalcade of bummers and their equipage well 
 laden with assorted plunder. As we a])proached 
 the city, orders came to close up the column and 
 prepare to pass in review before (icns. Scofield and 
 Terry, to whom Sherman, Slocum and Howard 
 proposed to exhibit the armv of which they were so 
 justly proud. It may be supposed that our own 
 commanders, in thinking of the splendid achieve- 
 ments of the army, had cpiite forgotten the 
 condition it was now in, and that its appearance 
 as the column passed the reviewing stand was a 
 surprise to them as well as to the distinguished 
 officers invited to review us. At all events the "re- 
 view" was abruptly discontinued after the first two 
 or three brigades had passed, and we went on to 
 our camps without further ceremony. After a day's 
 rest in camp our regiment was ordered out six miles 
 from Goldsboro to guard and operate a grist mill, in 
 which vocation we acquitted ourselves creditably, as 
 usual. Next day we received a mail, the first since 
 the 5th of February, and supplies of clothing, ammu- 
 nition and army rations of food were issued to the 
 men. On the 31st a military execution took place 
 in another division of our corps, the troops being 
 paraded under arms to witness the sad ceremony. 
 Without any previous notice, our regiment was 
 
 12 
 
178 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 carefull]^ and thoroughly inspected on the 1st day 
 of April, by an officer from corps headquarters. 
 He commended everything but the band. He com- 
 mended this also ; with their silver horns and 
 magnificent music, but he reminded the command- 
 ing officer that regimental bands had long since 
 been abolished, and he would have to report this 
 one to the corps commander 'as unauthorized. It 
 had to be explained to him that these men w^ere 
 only the authorized company musicians, and not a 
 band at all, though the appearance might be to the 
 contrary, and he duly verified the explanation b}^ 
 examination of the muster rolls. Then he said that 
 the corps commander (Gen. J. C. Davis) had often 
 observed those men and mistaken them for a band, 
 and suggested that to undeceive him thej^ should 
 play at corps headquarters that afternoon, which 
 they did, and were highly complimented as "com- 
 pany musicians." Let it be here said that this 
 band, since its first organization at Tuscumbia, 
 Ala., in the summer of 1862, had been under the 
 same discipHne as the companies had been, alwa3\s 
 having equal hours of drill and practice, always 
 marching in their places at the head of the regi- 
 ment, and always ready to play the regiment out 
 of camp and from a halt, and when in camp the 
 dress parade and the concert at retreat were never 
 omitted in good weather. 
 
 On the 3rd of April, Maj. Uline rejoined the 
 regiment with 80 recruits from Minnesota, whose 
 names filled up our rolls to the number required to 
 entitle the regiment to a Colonel, so on the same 
 day Lieut. Col. J. W. Bishop, who, nine months 
 
Savannah to Ralkk;h. 179 
 
 before, had been commissioned Colonel, was must- 
 ered as such, and Maj. Uline was mustered as 
 Lieutenant Colonel, and Capt. John Moulton as 
 Major. Next day our division was reviewed by 
 Gen. Scofield, who had for a time commanded the 
 division in which it was included at Triune, Tenn., 
 in the spring of 1863. He personally congratu- 
 lated the Colonel on his new rank and on the 
 splendid appearance of his regiment. On the 9th 
 Sergt. Kelsey reported with 59 more recruits which 
 had been forwarded from Minnesota in November, 
 '64, and had spent the winter in Gen. Thomas' 
 command at Nashville, Tenn. On the 10th of 
 April our army was again in motion, towards 
 Raleigh, our brigade leading the army of Georgia 
 twelve miles to Springfield, driving the enemy be- 
 fore us all day. They fired the bridge over Neuse 
 river as they crossed it, and as it had been well 
 prepared with tar and pitch for burning, we w^ere 
 unable to save it. Next morning we received the 
 news of the surrender of Lee's ami}-, and the 
 camps resounded with cheers. Johnston's army 
 was, however, yet before us, and we went for him 
 again, moving him back towards Raleigh twelve 
 miles more, to Clayton. Next day we had a skir- 
 mish fight all the way to Raleigh, fifteen miles, ' 
 arriving there at noon. Our regiment was at once 
 placed in charge of the state insane asylum there, 
 and encamped in the ample grounds, placing a 
 chain of guards about it to keep away tlie bum- 
 mers, who were ready to turn out the in- 
 mates, sane or insane, without discrimination or 
 formality. 
 
180 The Stoky of the Second Regiment. 
 
 After a day's rCvSt here we marched again on the 
 15th six miles to Holly Springs and next day six 
 miles further toward Durham Station. We remained 
 in this vicinity during the ten days occupied in the 
 first, and the final negotiations for the surrender 
 of Johnston's army, which took place at Durham 
 on the 26th, and of which we were formally in- 
 formed on the 27th. 
 
 We cannot here discuss the terms of capitulation 
 first offered to Sherman and accepted by Johnston 
 and disapproved at Washington, nor the trouble 
 among high officers that grew out of them. It may 
 perhaps be said that Sherman with his splendid 
 army at his back and his old enemy before him, 
 starved, demoralized and at his mercy, was too 
 generous, but what can be said in extenuation of 
 the treatment accorded to Sherman by the Secretary 
 of War and by Halleck, whose puerile attempt to 
 belittle Sherman and magnify himself is an illustra- 
 tion of' mean selfishness in high authority that, 
 were it not in the authentic record over his own 
 signature, would hardly be credited. 
 
 But now the campaign was over without serious 
 bloodshed and our rejoicing was unbounded. The 
 paroling of the surrendered men was assigned to 
 Gen. Schofield and we returned b}^ easy marches to 
 the vicinity of Raleigh, encamping Saturday, the 
 29th, at Page's Station, a short distance west of 
 the city. 
 
Richmond, Washington and Homb. 181 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 RICHMOND, WASHINGTON AND HOME. 
 
 With the surrender of Johnston's army the war, 
 so far as we were concerned, was substantial!}^ over, 
 and we all Ivnew that a few weeks, more or less, 
 would emancipate us from the restraints of militar^^ 
 service and restore us to the peaceful avocations of 
 civil life. 
 
 Orders were received on Sunday, the 30th of 
 April, to "prepare for a comfortable and leisureW 
 march to Richmond." The troops were to carr}- 
 only ten rounds of cartridges, all surplus stores, 
 ammunition and supplies being turned in for storage 
 and we were notified that we would be expected at 
 Richmond about the 10th of May, which would 
 make our march about 16 miles a day. This, for a 
 veteran army homeward bound, with good roads, 
 good weather and no enemy in the wav, was easy 
 enough. The march was to commence on Monday, 
 the 1st of May, but on Sunday morning, under 
 the pretence of changing the troops to more eligible 
 camps, the Fourteenth corps was led out about 16 
 miles and encamped at 3 p. m. The remainder 
 of the afternoon was spent in mustering the men 
 and preparing the pav rolls (which had to be done 
 on the last day of every second month ) to the ca'- 
 clusion of divine .service. The Fourteenth and 
 Twentieth corps were to march on parallel roads 
 and there were suggestions that a racing match 
 had been arranged between the corps commanders, 
 
182 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 which, if true, was foolish, cruel and unjustifiable, 
 and if it was not true, the hard marching of the 
 next six days has never been reasonably explained 
 to our knowledge. 
 
 On the 1st of May the revielle sounded long- 
 before daAdight, and we marched at 5 o'clock, 
 crossing Neuse and Tar rivers and encamping at 6 
 p. M., after a march of twenty-four miles. On the 
 2nd we made twenty-two miles, and on the 3rd, 
 with a delay of five hours in bridging and crossing 
 Roanoke river at Taylor's Ferry, we marched six- 
 teen miles and encamped near Boydton, Virginia. 
 On the 4th we marched again at 5 o'clock a. m., 
 making twenty-two miles. On the 5th the march 
 was urged all day long and twenty-eight miles were 
 covered, and on Saturday, the 6th, twenty-four 
 miles. On Sunday, the 7th, twenty miles brought 
 our division within a mile of the James river at 
 Richmond, and here orders were received from Maj. 
 Gen. H. W. Halleck, commanding the department of 
 the James, directing the approaching troops to 
 encamp at least six miles south of the city and for- 
 bidding any officer or soldier from Sherman's army 
 to enter it unless he had a written pass from his 
 corps commander. Gen. Sherman, not expecting our 
 arrival so soon, was absent, and in partial and re- 
 luctant compliance with these orders, the weary 
 troops retraced their steps some two or three miles 
 and went into camp. 
 
 In the next two da^^s a good many of Sherman's 
 officers and soldiers did visit the cit}^ without the 
 required written pass, greath^ to the vexation of 
 the provost guards, who were expected to prevent 
 
Richmond, \Vasiiin(.T().\ and IIomi;. 183 
 
 their crossing the river and to arrest and imprison 
 all who might be found in the city without proper 
 authority'. 
 
 On the 9th, Sherman still being absent, orders 
 from "Headquarters Department of the James" 
 were received and published to our army announcing 
 a grand review of the F'ourtecnth army corps in 
 Richmond on the 10th by the "Major General com- 
 manding the Department." This order prescribed 
 with infinite detail the line of march by which the 
 corps was to be brought into the august presence 
 of the department commander, the formation of the 
 troops in the column and the position in which the 
 arms were to be carried in passing the several 
 streets, and especially the honors to be paid the 
 reviewing officer. All baggage wagons and camp 
 followers and irregulars of every sort were to be 
 rigorously excluded from the column, and the 
 soldiers and their arms and equipments were to be 
 in the highest degree in military order and condition. 
 Gen. Sherman arrived late that night, but in time 
 to announce to the troops before daybreak that the 
 proposed review would not take place as arranged. 
 
 Our arrival had been several days earlier than 
 had been expected, and he now ordered the quarter- 
 masters and paymasters, who were on the way to 
 meet us, back to Washington and decided to march 
 his army through to the Potomac at once. He 
 seemed to think that we had been sufficiently enter- 
 tained and refreshed already in the "Department of 
 the James." 
 
 On the 10th our marching orders were received 
 and next dav the Fourteenth and Twentieth army 
 
184 Thk Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 corps marched through the city in their free-and-eas\^ 
 "route step," paying no honors to anybod\^ 
 
 Since Johnston's surrender no foraging on the 
 country had been done, and the bummers had been 
 gradually reduced to the ranks and to discipline and 
 order, but on this day's march the\' were revived 
 and displa\^ed in unusual exuberance of style, spirit 
 and equipment. The provost guards who lined the 
 streets looked on them in wondering amazement, 
 but the Commander of the Department of the James 
 was nowhere visible to the naked eye. We marched 
 twentj^-three miles that day, crossing Chickahominy 
 river, and in the thirteen miles next day passed 
 through Hanover Court House and crossed 
 Panumkey river. On the 13th we crossed the Rich- 
 mond & Gordonville Railroad at Chesterfield and 
 after a morning's march of twelve miles halted at 
 noon at Childsburg, then we marched four miles 
 north westerh^ and encamped. 
 
 On the 14th we marched twenty miles, encamping 
 near Daniels ville, and on the 15th, after passing 
 through Verdiersville we crossed the Rapidan at 
 Racoon Ford, nineteen miles. On the 16th we made 
 eighteen miles, crossing the Rappahannock at Kelly's 
 Ford and next day marched eighteen miles and 
 encamped at Bristoe Station on the Orange & 
 Alexandria Railroad. We were now traversing his- 
 toric ground and were much interested in noting 
 places whose names were so familiar in association 
 with the movements of the army of the Potomac. 
 On the 18th we passed Manassas Junction, the Bull 
 Run battle field, and Centreville in a march of 
 twenty miles, and on the 19th moved our camp 
 
Richmond, W.vshington and IIo.mk. 185 
 
 about six miles to Alexandria. Here, on the 2()th, 
 seventy-two more recruits from Minnesota joined 
 the regiment and were distributed to companies, 
 and the commissaries, quartermasters and pay- 
 masters supplied our needs in tlieir rcsj^ective 
 departments. 
 
 Orders were received announcing the Grand Final 
 Review in Washington of the two great represent- 
 ative armies, that of the Army of the Potomac on 
 the 23rd and of Sherman's Army on the 24-th of 
 May, and a day or two was given for rest and 
 preparation. Our regiment was in splendid con- 
 dition and well armed and equipped in every par- 
 ticular. We numbered about 300 veterans of nearly 
 four years' service, and 400 recruits of one year or 
 less, but these had been so well mingled with and 
 instructed by the veterans that there was little 
 apparent difference in appearance or efficiency. 
 There were few, if any, other regiments in our corps 
 so strong as ours — many of them numbered less than 
 300 men, the policy in most of the states having 
 been to organize new regiments rather than to fill 
 up the old ones. Our ten companies, under arms, 
 averaered about thirtv-two files front and to con- 
 
 c? 
 
 dense the marching column for the review the 
 smaller regiments were formed into eight or six and 
 some of them into four companies of about that size. 
 The Fifteenth, Seventeenth and Twentieth corps 
 crossed Long Bridge during the night of the 23rd 
 and bivouacked in the streets about the Capitol to 
 be in readiness to commence the march at the ap- 
 pointed hour. The morning of Wednesday, the 24th, 
 was clear and sunny, taking an early breakfast in 
 
186 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 Qur own camp, our Fourteenth corps was in motion 
 at 7 o'clock and after a march of eight miles stacked 
 arms in the vicinity of the Capitol at 10 o'clock. 
 The review march had already commenced, but 
 there were sixt\^-five thousand men in the column, 
 which marching briskly consumed six and a half 
 hours in passing the reviewing stand, so our time 
 to march out into Pennsylvania avenue did not 
 come until afternoon. 
 
 Probably no more magnificent military display 
 was ever seen than the one that greeted our eyes 
 as we marched around the Capitol and looked 
 down the long, straight, broad avenue, filled from 
 curb to curb with marching troops, the gay 
 uniforms and glistening muskets and the unfolded 
 colors all swaying with the rythm of the music as 
 the regiments with regular, stead}^ step, moved 
 on. At the great Treasury building the column 
 wheeled by companies to the right and then 
 presently to the left, and then the arms were 
 smartly brought to the ^'carr^^" for the ''march 
 past" the President and the high oflBcers of the 
 army and of the government standing vv^itli him. 
 Oflficers saluted respectfully as they passed the 
 stand, and when the rear company of a regiment 
 had cleared the White House grounds, the arms 
 were "right shouldered" and the route step 
 resumed. No halt for rest was permitted, as the 
 march of the column in the avenue must not be 
 checked or obstructed by the troops ahead of it, 
 so we tramped on through Georgetown and across 
 the Acqueduct bridge into Virginia before we 
 had an opportunity to file out of the road and 
 
Richmond, WAvSHington and Homk. 187 
 
 stack arms and take breath. When we got back 
 to our camps at 7 o'clock we had marched twenty 
 miles, and were pretty thoroughly tired. Probabl}^ 
 the reviewing officers, who stood for several con- 
 vSeciitive hours looking at the passing troops, were 
 also tired, but they did not, as we did, have to 
 march with a soldier's load ten miles to get there 
 and then ten miles to supper. 
 
 On the day after the review our corjDs left the 
 old bivouac at Alexandria and moved about ten 
 miles to find a fresher and cleaner camping ground, 
 about three miles north of Washington. Here the 
 officers and men were freely given opportunity to 
 visit the city, and, with pleasant weather and 
 plentiful rations, the time passed rapidly and with- 
 out many events worthy of notation here. Our 
 old commander, George H. Thomas, visited our 
 camp on the 23rd of June, and was enthusiastically 
 received by our regiment and others that had 
 served with him and under him, in the West. 
 
 On the 3rd he reviewed our division, which had 
 been his original command in 1861, and under his 
 direction had fought and won the battle of Mill 
 Springs. 
 
 On the 6th of June our (third) division (14th 
 arm\' corps) was reorganized ; and Col. J. W. Bishop 
 was formally assigned to command the first 
 brigade, now consisting of the 2nd Minnesota, 18th 
 Kentucky, 31st Ohio, 101st Indiana and 23rd 
 Missouri regiments, and on the 9th he assumed 
 command of the division. Gen. Baird having taken 
 leave of absence. On the 13th of June his com- 
 mission as Brigadier General by Brevet, dated 
 
188 Thk Stoky of the SkcoxNd Regiment. 
 
 April 9th, 1865, was received and was duh^ 
 announced to the regiment. (See appendix No. 28.) 
 In the evening the officers and men of the regiment, 
 with the band, came to division headquarters 
 en masse to present their congratulations. Some 
 twenty-five years later the writer learned that this 
 appointment had been recommended by his corps 
 and army commanders from Savannah in January, 
 1865, and, the commission not having arrived, the 
 recommendation was renewed in May. {See ap- 
 pendix No. 29.) 
 
 On the 14th orders were received to move the 
 division by rail to Parkersburg, on the Ohio river, 
 and thence b}^ steamers to Louisville, Ky., and the 
 first brigade was forwarded in the afternoon of 
 the same day, the remainder of the division follow- 
 ing next morning. The troops travelled in open 
 coal cars, which at the time were the onl}- cars to 
 be had for them, and they would have been com- 
 fortable enough in fine weather, but it rained all 
 the first night on the road, drenching the men, and 
 with the coal dust making their beds decidedly 
 dirty and uncomfortable. Division headquarters 
 left Washington b}^ passenger train in the evening 
 of the 15th, and, passing the troops on the road, 
 arrived at Cumberland in time next morning to 
 have hot coffee supplied to all the troop trains as 
 they came along, which was gratefully appreciated 
 by the tired and hungry men. The division arrived 
 at Parkersburg on the 17th, and next day, Sunday 
 the 18th, embarked on a fleet of steamers for the 
 trip down the Ohio river. We had a most delight- 
 ful voyage, passing Cincinnati at 6 p. m. of 
 
Richmond, Washington and Home. 189 
 
 Monday, arrived at Louisville Tttesday morning, 
 the 20tli, and, marching out on the Bardstown 
 pike, encamped about four miles south of the city. 
 Here the next twenty days were passed in waiting 
 the decision of the war department as to our final 
 discharge. Some of the troops were being sent to 
 Texas and to other Southern states, and while we 
 knew that the larger part of the arm}^ would be 
 soon discharged, we could not know that we 
 miffht not be elected to remain in the service in- 
 definitely. But orders came at last for our muster 
 out, and on the 10th of July the rolls were all 
 read}^ and the final inspection, muster and parade 
 was made. Orders relieving all detached duty men 
 had been received, and our camp and garrison 
 equipage were turned over to the Quartermaster. 
 
 The corps commander issued his farewell orders, 
 directing the regiment to proceed to Fort Snelling, 
 Minnesota, for final discharge, and accompanied 
 them wdth a complimentary letter. (Appendix Nos. 
 30, 31 and 32.) 
 
 The ofiicers of the regiment called on Gen. 
 Baird, our division commander, in the evening, 
 and received his parting congratulations and com- 
 mendations. He had, as our division commander 
 since October, 1863, won the hearty respect and 
 good will of all under his command, and, with all 
 our eagerness to be released from military dut}^ 
 there was mingled much of regret at the breaking 
 up of all our well established and agreeable 
 relations as soldiers. 
 
 Next morning, the 11th, we marched out of our 
 camps at 6 o'clock, leaving the tents all vStanding, 
 
190 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 and a few minutes later halted at corps head- 
 quarters, where Gen. J. C. Davis, the corps com- 
 ■ mander, made us a brief but feeling address, and 
 said good-by; then the march was resumed to 
 Louisville; there we crossed the Ohio river, and at 
 10 o'clock we left Jeffersonville by train for Chicago, 
 where on arrival at 6 p. m. next day the regiment 
 was quartered in the Soldiers' Rest. Early on the 
 13th we marched through the city and took the 
 train for La Crosse by way of Watertown, Wis. 
 Reaching La Crosse at 2 a. m. on the 14th, we 
 immediately went on board the vSteamer McLellan 
 for St. Paul. 
 
 At Winona at 8 o'clock a crowd of people were 
 at the levee to greet us, and the captain kindly 
 consented to hold the boat there long enough to 
 permit us to go ashore for a parade march. The 
 men were in high spirits, and with our splendid 
 band and full ranks the regiment marched through 
 the broad, level streets for an hour or more and 
 then stacked arms to enable the men to exchange 
 greetings and congratulations with the citizens 
 and with their friends, many of whom had come from 
 interior counties to see us. Winona had hospitably 
 entertained us on several occasions, and we all 
 gratefully remembered it. 
 
 Next morning, the 15th, we landed at the lower 
 levee at St. Paul. The city seemed to be having a 
 general holiday, and crowds of people were on the 
 bank to welcome us, with bands of music and 
 salvos of artillery, and a parade of the fire de- 
 partment and other organizations. Col. John T. 
 Averill, of the 6th Minnesota regiment, marshided 
 
Richmond Washington and Homk. 191 
 
 the grand procession, and under its escort we 
 marched in columns of platoons up Third street to 
 Wabasha, and by that street to the Capitol 
 grounds, where we were received by Hon. John S. 
 Prince, then Mayor of the city, and Hon. Stephen 
 Miller, then Governor of the state, in appropriate 
 addresses of welcome. Then we were invited to a 
 bountiful collation which the ladies had spread for 
 us in the Capitol building and which they person- 
 ally served to the hungry soldiers with gracious 
 words and kind attentions. 
 
 All this over, our march was resumed to the 
 upper levee, where we re-embarked for Port vSnell- 
 ing. About 5 o'clock p. m. we were encamped on 
 the parade ground at that historic post, where 
 four years before we had been mustered into the 
 service. Here we were obliged to wait several 
 days for our final payment. Our camp was en- 
 livened with visiting friends during the dav, and 
 throngs of peo])le came out every evening from St. 
 Paul and from Minneapolis to attend our dress 
 parades. At the close of the last parade of the 
 regiment, Wednesday evening, July 19th, a brief 
 farewell address was made to the regiment by the 
 Colonel. The next day, July 20th, the final pay- 
 ment was made, the men received their individual 
 discharges, and the "Second Regiment of Minnesota 
 Veteran Volunteer Infantry" ceased to exist. The 
 men dispersed to their homes with a loyal pride in 
 the record made by the regiment, with a warm 
 and steadfast friendship for each other as comrades, 
 and with the satisfaction that comes onlv from 
 dut\^ well performed. '*Ma3'CTod bless and prosper 
 
192 Thk Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 them, every one!" was the sincere prayer of the 
 Commander as the men afifectionately bade him 
 good-by on that bright summer afternoon, and 
 now, after twenty-five years have intervened with 
 varied experiences of sadness and of happiness to 
 us all, he closes the record with the same "God 
 bless and prosper you, comrades, every one!" 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 CONCLUDING REMARKS. 
 
 The war through which this narrative has taken 
 us ended nearly twenty-five years ago. 
 
 A generation of young men born since our muster 
 out, are now voters and of full age for military 
 service. Many of them are enrolled as members of 
 the National Guard in the several states and doubt- 
 less would be as prompt and ready as their fathers 
 were, to take the field for the National defense if 
 the country required their services. And probably 
 in any future war of 'like duration the deplorable 
 waste and sacrifice of soldiers' lives and health 
 through ignorance and incompetence of officers and 
 men under unaccustomed circumstances, would be 
 repeated. Some things in war have to be personally 
 learned by experience, and a brief relation of some 
 of these things will interest old comrades as a 
 reminiscence, if it does not meet the notice of any 
 who might derive instruction from it. 
 
Concluding Remarks. 193 
 
 At the President's call our companies were 
 assembled and recruited at their several local sta- 
 tions, and when ready were ordered to the general 
 rendezvous at Fort Snelling to be mustered into 
 the United States service and to be organized into 
 regiments. The men and officers of each compan\' 
 were mutual accjuaintances and friends, while they 
 were strangers to those of other companies, and 
 this with other obvious causes begot and ])romoted 
 a spirit of company ])ridc, which, if they had been 
 brought together for a few days' encampment and 
 exercise, or for a short period of service within the 
 state, would not be objectionable, ])erhaps indeed 
 would be desirable as a stimulus for each to do its 
 best. The rules of promotion were established on 
 this line at the beginning, under which all vacant 
 commissions occurring in any company were to be 
 filled by ])roni()ti()n from its own ranks. 
 
 When, however, the regiment Iclt the state and 
 took its place among the hundreds of other regi- 
 ments in the (irnnd Army of the United vStates this 
 company feeling gave |)lacc in great degree to the 
 larger one of pride and comradeshij) in the regiment, 
 and the propriety of the regimental rule of i)romo- 
 tion, which was ado])ted and announced by the 
 Governor in 18(k'i, became manifest. Under this rule 
 the vacant commission in any com pan v was to be 
 filled by the senior of the next lower grade in the 
 regiment, promotions to the grade of Second Lieu- 
 tenant being made within the comjjanv. 
 
 Details of entire comj)anics lor guard and picket 
 and fatigue duty, which were at first the rule, 
 gradually were su])erseded hy details of officers and 
 
194 Thk Story of thh Second Rp:giment. 
 
 men from all the companies, which promoted better 
 acquaintance and better discipline, and better dis- 
 tributed the duty with its casualties and hardships 
 throughout the regiment. 
 
 So the regiment came to be in large degree the 
 unit of command and administration and maneuver, 
 in which all the officers and men were personally 
 known to and interested as comrades in each other, 
 while the company was the family of more intimate 
 and brotherly relations among the men and more 
 immediate and personal care and command b}- the 
 officers ; and the regiment and the company were 
 thus better and more efficiently handled. 
 
 At the beginning it was a favorite scheme to 
 brigade together regiments from the same state, to 
 be called the Vermont brigade or the Wisconsin 
 brigade, etc.. but this was soon discontinued as 
 unwise and the better plan of mingling the regiments 
 from the various states together was adopted, 
 thus, in organizing a National Army, ignoring state 
 lines. Certain influences effected and maintained 
 the isolation of the Regular troops in separate 
 brigades and when practicable in separate divisions, 
 but this practice was even more objectionable than 
 the separate brigading of state regiments. If a 
 regular regiment was in any way superior to the 
 volunteers, wh\' should not the latter have the 
 advantage of association with it. If it be suggested 
 that the regulars might learn of volunteers, why 
 should they not have the opportunity? 
 
 One of the first things the new soldier had to 
 learn was how intelligently and properly to take 
 care of himself. Manv of them were mere children 
 
Concluding Remarks. 19") 
 
 in this respect. Accustomed to the comforts and 
 conveniences of Hfe under different conditions, he 
 lacked the provident forethought, and the knack of 
 getting the best out of present circumstances, which 
 became a habit with the veteran, and was therefore 
 continually suffering for want of something which 
 he might have had. Ordered out suddenly on a 
 hard march his alread}^ worn out shoes gave out 
 the first da}^ When night came on cold or stormy 
 his overcoat or blanket had been thrown away to 
 lighten his load on the march. If the trains were 
 mired several miles back in the road our recruit 
 had no food or cooking uteuvsils, though he had 
 received three days rations that very morning. If 
 he got overheated on the march or at drill he would 
 drink a pint of cold spring water at a gulp and 
 become a candidate for hospital treatment directly. 
 If he could sneak out of the column on the road he 
 laid down in the fence corner and took a nap, then 
 if he were not picked up by the enemy he had to 
 march alone and weary far into the night to rejoin 
 his compan}'. If he got sick he got homesick also 
 and lost his heart and hope and died. 
 
 Then the officers from General to Ca[)tain were 
 often as inexperienced as the men, and indifferent 
 to the comfort and care of their troo])s. Few of 
 them knew the weight of a knapsack, haversack, 
 canteen, gun and "fortv rounds," and the marches 
 were conducted without any intelligent judgment 
 as to economizing the strength of the troops, and 
 the camps were not selected with due regard to 
 convenience and rest. All these things were greatly 
 improved with experience. Within the first year of 
 
196 Thk Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 vservice in the South our regiment lost from deaths 
 and discharges resulting from wounds in action 
 less than two per cent, but in the same time lost 
 from deaths and discharges for disability resulting 
 from diseases and hardships, over twenty per cent. 
 
 Yet the same regiment made the "Campaign of 
 the Carolinas " three years later, in mid-winter, 
 marching 480 miles, foraging on the country chiefly 
 for its rations, with no tents except those carried 
 on the men's backs, and with one half of its men 
 recruits of only a few months' service (well 
 mingled with and instructed by the veterans, how- 
 ever) and arrived at Goldsboro with a total tem- 
 porary loss from its effective present force of only 
 three per cent. Such a record was noc, in this 
 campaign, reached by many regiments, but any- 
 thing approaching it in the first year of the w^ar 
 would have been quite impossible for an\% in the 
 then inexperience of officers and men. 
 
 As the war went on, officers learned to require 
 and men to conform to many things in the ways 
 of regulation and discipline that could not be 
 applied and enforced with new troops It came to 
 be understood that somewhere in all the months 
 of weary marching, maneuvering and campaigning, 
 there was to come an hour of actual battle, when 
 the victory must be won by the army that could 
 outfight the other. Failing in this emergency, all 
 else was failure. 
 
 To bring a regiment properly and effectively 
 into battle it must have several qualities, only to 
 be developed b^^ long and persistent attention to 
 
Concluding Remarks. 197 
 
 details, which at times grow tiresome and seem to 
 be arbitrary and unnecessar3^ 
 
 At the crucial hour the regiment must be present 
 in full strength and must have its cartridge boxes 
 full — it must be coherent, not to be broken up and 
 scattered by something or anything that may 
 happen to it — and it must be manageable under 
 all circumstances. Wanting any of these qualities, 
 it is simply a crowd of men of which nothing can 
 be predicted with certainty except confusion and 
 defeat. 
 
 As these things came to be realized, some rules 
 were adopted and persistently enforced in our regi- 
 ment, through a season of reluctance and grumb- 
 ling, until they came to be habitually and cheer- 
 full}^ observed. One of these was that there should 
 be no straggling on the march, and no wandering 
 from camp without permission. To this end, while 
 in camp the men must be accounted for by the 
 company commanders at the several roll calls, and, 
 if the camp was for more than a day or two, 
 exercises were had, both to require the presence of 
 officers and men, and to promote the efficiency, steadi- 
 ness and manageability of the regiment. While on 
 the march, men were forbidden to leave the column 
 except with permission in case of necessity. At 
 every halt for rest arms were stacked and absentees, 
 if any, w^ere noted and accounted for, or reported. 
 Relieved of his musket, the tired soldier got his 
 rest with his comrades, and the march was always 
 resumed with music by the band, whose members 
 were also required to keep their places at the head 
 of the regiment. When we encamped for the night 
 
198 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 our men were always on hand for supper and a 
 lull night's rest, or for any duty required. 
 
 In the "March to the Sea" we lost not a single 
 man from straggling or capture, w^hile a good 
 many were so lost from other regiments. 
 
 Our cartridge boxes were frequenth^ inspected 
 and kept full. Forty rounds of .58 calibre is no 
 light load, but the regiments whose men were 
 allowed to w^aste or throw^ them aw^ay at their 
 pleasure, often got into disgrace when suddenly 
 called on for duty wath empty boxes. 
 
 The men themselves came to take pride in being 
 always present and ready, and the records made 
 by the regiment successively at Chicamauga, 
 Mission Ridge, the Veteran Furlough, the March 
 to the Sea and the Carolina Campaign, abundantly 
 justifies the preparation and discipline through 
 which they were achieved. 
 
 At the beginning thirteen six-mule wagons were 
 allowed for the transportation of each regiment, 
 one for headquarters' tents, office and baggage, 
 one for quartermaster stores, one for the hospital 
 outfit, and one for the tents and baggage of each 
 company. At this rate the w^agons occupied as 
 much space in the road as the regiment did, and 
 when an army corps marched with its brigade, divis- 
 ion and corps supplies and ammunition trains, in 
 addition to the regimental wagons, the trains 
 quite overwhelmed the troops. 
 
 So in the spring of 1863, when the *'pup tents" 
 were issued, the regimental trains were reduced to 
 three w^agons, and the other trains were also 
 reduced, though in a less proportion. 
 
Co.NCU'Dixc, I\i:m.\kks. 109 
 
 This, in anticipation, seemed to be a great 
 hardship, but it proved a positive advantage to 
 the troops. The men now carried what they 
 needed and, arriving at camp, their comfort did 
 not depend on the wagons coming in (as they 
 often did not), and the roads being less encumbered 
 with trains, the troops made their marches easier 
 and quicker. 
 
 Most of the regimental bands that went out 
 with the troops disappeared during the first year; 
 they were usualh^ good musicians, but poor soldiers, 
 and, discouraged b\' the rough wa\'s of war, 
 neglected by the officers who should have looked 
 after them, and despised b\' the men generally, 
 they were mustered out as expensive super- 
 numararies. 
 
 Later on, in our regiment, the compan\' musicians 
 were organized into a band, of which we were 
 justly very proud, and similar action was perhaps 
 taken in other regiments. A good band, always 
 present for duty, even in battle, where they should 
 care for the wounded, is a very important part of 
 a regiment, worth all it costs the government in 
 money or the Commander in care for its discipline 
 and instruction. 
 
 Earlv in the war issues were made to the 
 regiments of axes and shovels for repairing roads, 
 constructing rifle pits and other works of fortifica- 
 tion, etc. They were habitually carried in the trains 
 until the company wagons were taken away, but 
 as the trains were usualK' in the rear and the tools 
 in the bottoms of the wagons, they were seldom 
 available when most needed, and seldom in order for 
 
200 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 use when within reach. Later the orders were that 
 the men should carry these tools in addition to their 
 regular loads. Under these orders the tools were 
 invariabh^ "lost" within the first two or three 
 days, and when suddenl}^ they were wanted in some 
 emergency, the temper of the general officer was 
 also lost, to the great discomfort of gubordinates. 
 
 In our regiment, after some experience of this 
 kind, a Lieutenant, Sergeant and Corporal, and two 
 privates from each company were selected and 
 called the ''pioneers." They were all strong, active 
 and skillful men, were armed only with army 
 revolvers in the belt, and each of the twenty men 
 carried an ax and two shovels. They camped and 
 messed with their companies, but marched at the 
 head of the regiment, always ready for any job in 
 their line. They w^ere inspected as carefully as v^^ere 
 their comrades, and their axes were as keen and 
 their shovels as bright as good care could keep 
 them. On the march or in camp the "pioneer call" 
 by the bugler brought this corps promptly to head- 
 quarters duly equipped, and at a vSecond call four 
 more men from each company, leaving their guns 
 with their comrades, joined the pioneers, and it was 
 a tough job that was not soon disposed of by the 
 sixty men. 
 
 This corps and their effective work attracted con- 
 siderable attention, and the commander of the 14th 
 corps, in more than one important emergency, wit- 
 nessed and warmU^ commended their skill and 
 prompt readiness. 
 
 The matter of recruiting and keeping full the 
 regiments in the field has been already alluded to 
 
CoNCLi'DixG Remarks. 201 
 
 in the narrative, but it deserves perhaps further 
 notice. 
 
 The continued call for men in the later years of 
 the war no doubt fully taxed the Governors of the 
 several states. To fill the existing regiments 
 required only individual enlistments, but they had 
 ceased to be spontaneous as they had been in the 
 beginning, and it was much easier to raise a new 
 regiment, with the active' assistance of men who 
 expected to be commissioned in it, than to enlist 
 the same number of men for the regiments already 
 at the front. 
 
 Experienced officers could not usually be called 
 home from the field to recruit new companies or 
 regiments, and so it often happened that a new 
 regiment of a thousand men, with officers of little 
 or no experience, arrived at the front. The War 
 Department had decreed that, when an old regiment 
 had less than the standard strength, a vacant 
 Colonelcy should not be filled, and so in some of 
 the brigades there were no Colonels in any of the 
 regiments, and the brigade itself was commanded 
 by a Lieutenant Colonel, fully competent after three 
 years experience, to command it. 
 
 To assign the new regiment to such a brigade 
 would not onh' weaken it b}- the large addition of 
 raw and unwieldy material, but would place the 
 new Colonel at once in command of it, which 
 might in the presence of the enemy result in disaster. 
 
 So the new regiment was detached to some post 
 or other duty, where, as in several instances hap- 
 pened, John Morgan or some other enterprising 
 
202 The Story of the Second Regiment. 
 
 Confederate commander would capture the post, 
 regiment, new guns and all. 
 
 In Minnesota the practice was to appoint offi- 
 cers from the older regiments to command the later 
 ones, and more effort was made to recruit the old 
 ones than in some other states. 
 
 .It is a common mistake to think and speak of 
 the old soldiers as a pitiable lot of physical wrecks 
 whose disability originated in the military service. 
 This is far from the truth. A good many men 
 undoubtedly suffer from such disabilities so incurred, 
 but many of the survivors of the war are indebted 
 to their military service not only for improved 
 physical condition, but for such regulation, educa- 
 tion and development of mind and character as have 
 largely contributed to their success in civil life, and 
 no class of men have in the past twenty-five years 
 been more generall}^ successful than the old soldiers. 
 The four years training in habits of patience, courage, 
 self reliance and persistence have given them qualities 
 which count in their whole after life as no small 
 recompense for the hardships and exposure of their 
 army service. 
 
 The veterans who survived the war are now old 
 men, yet they are generally, I think, in better phy- 
 sical condition than the average of other men of 
 equal age. A soldier's life is, or should be, temper- 
 ate, and restrained in respect to many vicious 
 practices and with due care of himself in later years 
 as in the service, the old soldier should be entitled 
 to a comfortable passage down the evening tide of 
 his life as he approaches and enters the Great 
 Bevond. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 [No. 1.] 
 
 Adjutant General's Office. 
 
 St. Paul, A])ril 17th, 1861. 
 
 Capt. J. W. Bishop, Chatfield. 
 
 Sir: — With this find three copies of Governor's proclama- 
 tion and order relative thereto. Will you please get your 
 company together upon receipt of this and report to me as 
 to what course they will take as soon thereafter as possible. 
 I hope to hear from j-ou soon. 
 
 Yours res])ectfully, 
 Wm. H. Acker, Adjutant (jcneral. 
 
 [No. 2.] 
 
 TELEGRAM. 
 
 St. Paul, April 22nd, 1861. 
 
 J. W. Bishop, Chatfield, Minn., 
 
 (Care of John Ball, Winona. ) 
 
 Fill up at once and drill. Your company is accepted and 
 under state pay. Await marching orders. I write by mail. 
 Ignatius Donnelly, Governor, ad interim. 
 
 [No. 3.] 
 
 Executive Office, 
 
 St. Paul, April 22nd, 1861. 
 
 Capt. J. W. Bishop, Chatfield, Minn. 
 
 Your company is accepted. I have telegraphed you to- 
 day. You must fill up your ranks at once and be ready to 
 march to St. Paul upon receipt of order from Adjutant Gen- 
 eral which will ])robably be delivered by a special agent. 
 
 Very truly and resi)ectfully, 
 
 Ignatius Donnelly. 
 
204 Appendix. 
 
 [No. 4.] 
 
 Adjutant General\s Office, 
 
 St. Paul, Minn., April 26th, 1861. 
 Capt. J. W. Bishop. 
 
 Sir: — You are hereby ordered and required to deliver to 
 the bearer, Wm. H. Shell3% Esq., fifty-nine rifle muskets, de- 
 livered to Company "A," 3rd regiment, M. V. M. at the date 
 of its organization, and the accoutrements accompanying 
 the same, for the equipment of the regiment now forming. 
 John B. Sanborn, Adjutant General. 
 
 Chatfield, April 29th, 1861. 
 I have this morning received from Capt. J. W. Bishop the 
 above orders except swords. 
 
 Wm. H. Shelly. 
 
 [No. 5.] 
 
 Chatfield, May 4th, 1861. 
 
 To John B. Sanborn, Adjutant General, etc. 
 
 Sir: — I am authorized to tender to you the "Chatfield 
 Guards," eighty men, as unconditional volunteers in the 
 service of the State or of the Federal government, to notify 
 you that thej^ are ready for immediate service and will hold 
 themselves thus in readiness, and to request that this tender 
 be placed on file in your oflfice, and that the "Chatfield 
 Guards" may retain their position at the head of the list of 
 companies already tendered and which were not accepted for 
 the first regiment mustered in response to the call of the 
 President. Very respectfully yours, etc., 
 
 J. W. Bishop, Captain Chatfield Guards. 
 
 [No. 6.] 
 
 Chatfield, June 7th, 1861. 
 John B. Sanborn, Adjutant General. 
 
 Sir: — Hearing that the arms and equipments, ordered 
 by Governor Ramsey for the State, have been received at St. 
 Paul, I venture to express the hope that my requisition for 
 sixty stand of arms, with equipments and ammunition, for 
 the" Chatfield (juards" maybefilled and forwarded at once. 
 
 The "Guards" have sent for uniforms at their own ex- 
 pense and all of the members who reside in this immediate 
 
Al'lMvNDlX. '^Or^ 
 
 vicinity meet for ilrill everv eveniiii; at liioD o'eloek and on 
 Satnnlay afternoons. It wonld add materially to the in 
 terest and jiroiit of onr tlrill to have the arms and ammuni- 
 tion and the hoys are ijettini; n little impatient at the lon,!^ 
 delay in sending them. 
 
 A lender of onr eompany for any lu)noral)le serviee is on 
 file in your ofViee and the "(luards" will, until the close o( 
 the war. hold themselves always at the "ready." 
 
 Yours truly, 
 j. \V. Hisnoi". L^iptain " «.Mia t held Cuanls." 
 
 [No. 7.] 
 
 (.\d)ulaiil (KMU'ial's report foi 1 SI) 1 , pai;e L^>T.) 
 
 ('. i-:\i;k.\i. 1 1 1 a nor. vwri: us, 
 
 SiATK oi<" MiNNi:sor.\. 
 .\i)p i.wr (iJ<:.ni:kai.'s Oi-imcm:, 
 
 vSr. PAii.. June l.M'»th. ISC.l . 
 Capt. i^isiiop, Second Kciiimcnt Minnesota X'olnnleers. 
 
 N'ou will take command of the post of I'ort Siulliiii; 
 fort h with and so continue until furt her orders ; and you ai c 
 hereby announced as such commander aiid will he obeyed 
 and icspi'ctcd accordingly. 
 
 \\\ order of the C'ommandcr in L'hicf, 
 
 |oiiN H. Sa.nuokn, .Xdjulant (Uncial. 
 
 [No. S.1 
 
 CArrrkivD I'L.\(;s. 
 
 (VVai-ol the Kcbelliou, t)lhcial i(C()rds, Siiics 1. \'ol. 7. pa^t 
 S2.) 
 
 1 1 I'Ahoi'ak ri'Ks 1 s r Hivision, 
 Di'I'au r.MiiN r or riii-: Ohio. 
 SoMi'K'Si: r, Kv., l\'bruai\ 'bd, 1S(»1. 
 
 \U<n\. ('. I'M . I>. C. lbii;i.r. 
 
 I'ommandiu^ Oepart men! of the Ohio. Louisville. Ky. 
 
 (iICNICKAl: — 1 have the honoi' to forward to you by C:\\} 
 
 tain Davidson, 10th Kentucky volunteers, six l<ebel lla^s; 
 
206 Appendix. 
 
 one captured on the battle field by the 2nd Minnesota reg- 
 iment, the others taken in the intrenchments b\^officers and 
 men of the other regiments. Col. Kise reports that his men 
 captured three stands of colors, btit none have been sent to 
 these headquarters. I have ordered him to turn them in, 
 and will forward them as soon as received. In the box with 
 the colors is the regimental order book of the 15th Missis- 
 sippi rifles, and abookof copies of all Gen. Zollicoffer's orders 
 from the organization of the brigade until a fewdavs before 
 the battle. I am, General, ver\' respectfulh'. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 Geo. H. Thomas, 
 Brigadier General, I^ S. Volunteers, commanding. 
 
 [No. 9.] 
 
 Report of Col. H. P. Van Cleve, commanding reg't. 
 
 (War of the Rebellion, official reports, Series 1, Vol. 7, page 
 95.) 
 
 Headquarters 2nd Regiment, 
 
 Minnesota Volunteers. 
 
 Camp Hamilton, Ky., January 22nd, 1862. 
 
 Sir : — I have the honor herewith to submit m3^ report of 
 the part taken by the 2nd Minnesota regiment in the action 
 of the Cumberland on the 19th insf : 
 
 About seven o'clock on the morning of that day, and before 
 breakfast I was informed b^- Col. Manson, of the 10th Indiana 
 commanding the2nd brigadeof our division, that the enem}- 
 was advancing in force and that he was holding them in 
 check, and that it was the order of Gen. Thomas that I 
 should form m}^ regiment and march immediateU' to the 
 scene of action. Within ten minutes we had left our camp 
 and were marching toward the enemy. Arriving at Logan's 
 field, by 3^our order, we halted in line of battle, supporting 
 Standart's battery, which was returning the fire of the en- 
 emy's guns, whose balls and shells were falling near us. As 
 soon as the 9th Ohio came up and had taken its position on 
 our right we continued our march, and after proceeding 
 about half a mile we came upon the enemy, who were posted 
 behind a fence along the road, beyond which there was an 
 open field broken by ravines. The enemj-, openingupon us, a 
 
Appendix. 207 
 
 galling fire fought desperately, and a hand-to-hand fight 
 ensued, which lasted about thirty minutes. 
 
 The enemy having met with so warm a reception in front, 
 and also having been flanked on their left by the 9th Ohio, 
 and ontheirright by a portion of our left, who, by their well 
 directed fire drove them from behind their hiding places, gave 
 way, leaving a large number of their dead and wounded on 
 the field. We joined in the pursuit which continued till near 
 sunset, when we arrived within a mile of their intrench- 
 ments, where we rested on our arms during the night. The 
 next morning we marched into their works which we found 
 deserted. The enemy had crossed the Cumberland. 
 
 Six hundred of my regiment were in the engagement, 
 twelve of whom were killed and thirty-three wounded. 
 
 I am well satisfied with the conduct of m^^ entire com- 
 mand during the severe and close engagement in which they 
 took part. Where all behaved so well I have no desire to 
 make individual distinction. 
 
 Verv respectfull3% vour obedient servant, 
 
 H, P. VanCleve, 
 Colonel commanding 2nd Minnesota Volunteers. 
 
 [No. 10.] 
 
 BATTLE OF MILL SPRINGS. 
 
 List of killed and wounded in 2nd Minn. 
 (Ofllicial files. Adjutant General's office, state of Minnesota.) 
 
 KILLED. WOUNDED — CONTINUED. 
 
 Names. Rank and Co. Names. Rank and Co. 
 
 H. C. Reynolds Private B O. P. Renne Private E 
 
 Milo Crumb Private B Anton Morgenstern Serg'nt G 
 
 Wm. H. H. Morrow Private D Frank Kiefer Private G 
 
 Fred Bohmbach Private G Chas. Schultz Private G 
 
 John B. Cooper Private B Chas. Yanke Private G 
 
 Andrew Dresco Private B Henrj- H. Hammen Private G 
 
 H. R. ThOTnpson Private E Wm. Kemper Private G 
 
 Gustave Rommel Private G Geo. Dehnning Private G 
 
 Fred Stomshorn Private G Henry Clinton Private I 
 
 Jacob Warner Private G Thos. McDonough 1st Sgt. K 
 
 Sam. H. Parker Private I F. V. Hotchkiss Corp'l K 
 
 Frank Schneider Private I Alex. Grant Corp'l K 
 
 WOUNDED. J. B. Pomeroj' Corp'l K 
 
 Wm. Markham Capt. B John Benson Private K 
 
 Tenbroek Stout 2nd Lieut. I Henry F.Cook PrivateK 
 
 Ed. Cooper Corp'l B Alex. Partman PrivateK 
 
 W. C. Smith Private B W. K. Haskins PrivateK 
 
 Ira G. Walden Private B John Smith PrivateK 
 
 John Etzel Private B P. S. Barnett PrivateK 
 
 Cornelius White Private B Thos Johnson PrivateK 
 
 J. B. Chamber Private B G. Plowman PrivateK 
 
 John Mabold Private E C. F. Westland PrivateK 
 
 J. R. Brown Private E 
 
208 Appendix. 
 
 (No. 11.) 
 
 Report of Col. Robert L. McCook, Commanding Brigade. 
 
 (War of Rebellion, Official Records, Series 1, Vol. 7, 
 
 page 93). 
 
 Headquarters 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 
 
 Department oe the Ohio. 
 Somerset, January 27th, 1862. 
 
 Sir : — I have the honor respectfulh^ to submit the follow- 
 ing report of the part which my Brigade took in the battle 
 of the Cumberland, on the 9th inst. 
 
 Shortly after seven a. m., Col. Manson informed me that 
 the enemy had driven in his pickets and were approaching in 
 force. That portion of the brigade with me, the 9th Ohio 
 and 2nd Minnesota Regiments, were formed and marched 
 to a point near the junction of the Mill Springs and Cum- 
 berland roads, and immediately in the rear of Wetmore's 
 battery, the 9th Ohio on the right and the 2nd Minnesota 
 on the left of the Mill Springs road. From this point I 
 ordered a compan^^ of the 9th Ohio to skirmish the woods 
 on the right to prevent any flank movement of the enemy. 
 Shortl3^ after this. Col. Manson, commanding the 2nd brig- 
 ade, informed me in person that the enemy were in force 
 and in position on the top of the next hill beyond the 
 woods, and that they forced him to retire. I ordered my 
 brigade forward through the woods in line of battle skirt- 
 ing the Mill Springs road. The march of the 2nd Minne- 
 sota was soon obvStructed by the 10th Indiana, which was 
 scattered through the woods waiting for ammunition. In 
 front of them I saw the 4th Kentucky engaging the enemy, 
 but evidently retiring. At this moment the enemy with 
 shouts advanced on them about 100 yards and took posi- 
 tion within the held on the hilltop near the second fence 
 from the woods. At this time I received your order to 
 advance as rapidly as possible to the hilltop. I ordered 
 the 2nd Minnesota Regiment to move by the flank until it 
 passed the 10th Indiana and 4th Kentuckv and then de- 
 ploy to the left of the road. I ordered the 9th Ohio to 
 move through the first corn field to the right of the road 
 and take position at the farther fence, selecting the best 
 cover possible. The position of the 2nd Minnesota Regi- 
 ment covered the ground formerly occupied by the 4th Ken- 
 tucky and 10th Indiana, which brought their right flank 
 within about ten feet of the enem}^ where he had advanced 
 
Appendix. 209 
 
 upon the 4th Kentucky. The 9th Ohio position checked an 
 attempt on the part of the enemy to fiank the position 
 taken Ija- the 2nd Minnesota and consequently brought the 
 left wing almost against the enem^-, where he was sta- 
 tioned behind straw stacks and piles of fence rails. An- 
 other regiment was stationed immediately in front of the 
 9th Ohio, well covered by a fence and some woods, a small 
 field not more than sixty yards wide, intervening between 
 the positions. The enemy also had possession of a small 
 log house, stable and corn-crib, about fifty yards in front of 
 the 9th Ohio. 
 
 Along the lines of each of the regiments, and from the 
 enemy's front a hot and deadly fire opened. On the 
 right wing of the 2nd Minnesota regiment the contest w^as 
 at first almost hand-to-hand ; the enemy and the 2nd Min- 
 nesota were poking their guns through the same fence. 
 How^ever, before the fight continued long in this wa\', that 
 part of the enemy contending wnth the 2nd Minnesota regi- 
 ment, retired in good order to some rail piles hastih^ thrown 
 together, the point from which they had advanced upon 
 the 4th Kentucky. This portion of the enemy obstinateW 
 maintaining their position and the balance remaining as 
 before described, a desperate fire was continued for about 
 thirty minutes, with seemingly doubtful results. The im- 
 portance of possessing the log house, stable and corn-crib 
 soon became apparent and companies A, B, C and D, of the 
 9th Ohio were ordered to flank the enemy upon the extreme 
 left and obtain possession of the house. This done, still the 
 enemy stood firm to his position and cover. During this 
 time the artillery of the enemy constantly overshot my 
 brigade. Seeing the superior number of the enemy and 
 their bravery, I concluded the best mode of settling the con- 
 test was to order the 9th Ohio regiment to charge the 
 enemy's position with the bayonet and turn his left flank. 
 The order w^as given the regiment to empty their guns and 
 fix bayonets; this done, it w^as ordered to charge. Every 
 man sprang to it with alacrit\' and vociferous cheering, the 
 enemj^ seemingly prepared to resist it, but before the regi- 
 ment reached him the lines began to give way. But few of 
 them stood, possibly ten or twelve. 
 
 This broke the enemy's flank and the whole line gave 
 wa3^ in great confusion, and the whole turned into a perfect 
 rout. As soon as I could form the regiments of rny brigade 
 I pursued the enemy to the hospital, wdiere you joined the 
 advance. T then moved my command forward imder orders 
 
 14 
 
210 Appendix. 
 
 in line of battle to the foot of Moulden's Hill, passing on 
 the way one abandoned cannon. 
 
 The next morning we marched into the deserted works 
 of the enemy, and on the following daj- returned to our 
 camp. At tiie time of the first advance of the 9th Ohio, I 
 was shot through the right leg below the knee. Three 
 other balls passed through my horse and another through 
 my overcoat. After this I was compelled to go on foot till 
 I got to the hospital of the enemy. About the time I was 
 shot in the leg aid-de-camp Andrew S. Burt was shot in 
 the side. 
 
 Too much praise cannot be awarded to the compan3^ 
 officers, non-commissioned officers and the soldiers of the 
 two regiments. Notwithstanding they had been called out 
 before breakfast and had not tasted food all da3^, they con- 
 ducted themselves throughout like veterans, obeying each 
 command and executing every movement as though they 
 were on parade. Although all the officers of the command 
 evinced the greatest courage and deported themselves under 
 fire in a proper soldierly manner, were I to fail to specify 
 some of them, it would be great injustice. Lieut. Andrew 
 S. Burt, aid-de-camp, of the 18th U. S. infantry; Hunter 
 Brooke, private of the 2nd Minnesota regiment and volun- 
 teer aid-de-camp, Maj. Gustave Kammerling commanding 
 the 9th Ohio ; Capt. Charles Joseph, Co. A ; Capt. Fred- 
 rick Shroder, Co. D; Geo. H. Harries, Adjutant, of the 9th 
 Ohio regiment; Col. H. P. Van Cleve, James George, Lieut. 
 Col. Alex. Wilkin, Major of 2nd Minnnesota, each displayed 
 great valor and judgment in the discharge of their respec- 
 tive duties, so much so, in my judgment, as to place the 
 country and ever}' honest friend thereof under obligations 
 to them. 
 
 In conclusion, permit me, sir, to congratulate j^ou upon 
 the victory achieved and allow me to express the hope that 
 your future efforts will be crowned with the same success. 
 
 Attached you will find the number of the force of my 
 brigade engaged, and also a list of the killed and wounded. 
 
 I am respectfully yours, 
 
 • Rob't. L. McCook, 
 
 Col. 9th Ohio Regiment. 
 
 Commanding 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Dept. of Ohio. 
 Brig. Gen. Geo. H. Thomas, commanding 1st Division. 
 
Appendix. 211 
 
 [No. 12.] 
 
 Report of Gen. Geo. H. Thomas, commanding division. 
 ( War of Rebellion, Official Records, Series 1, Vol. 7, page 79. ) 
 
 Headquarters 1st Division, 
 Department of the Ohio. 
 Somerset, Ky., January 31st, 1862. 
 Captain: — I have the honor to report that in carrying 
 out the instructions of the general commanding the depart- 
 ment, contained in his communication of the 29th of 
 December, I reached Logan's cross roads, about ten miles 
 north of the entrenched camp of the enemy on the Cumber- 
 land river, on the 17th inst., with a portion of the 2nd 
 and 3rd brigades, Kenny's battery of artillery, and a 
 
 battalion of Wolford's cavalry. 
 
 ********* 
 
 About 6:30 o'clock on the morning of the 19th the 
 pickets from Wolford's cavalr^^ encountered the enemy 
 advancing on our camp, retired slowh' and reported their 
 advance to Col. M. D. Manson, commanding the 2nd brigade 
 He immediately formed his regiment, the 10th Indiana, and 
 took a position on the road to await the attack,, ordering 
 the 4th Kentucky (Col. S. S. Fry) to support him, and then 
 informed me in person that the enemy were advancing in 
 force, and what disposition he had made to resist him. I 
 directed him to join the brigade immediately and hold the 
 enemy in check until I could order up the other troops, 
 which were ordered to form immediately and were marching 
 towards the field in ten minutes afterwards. The battalion 
 of Michigan engineers and Company '' A," 38th Ohio (Capt. 
 Greenwood), were ordered to remain as guards to the 
 camp. 
 
 Upon my arrival on the field soon afterwards I found the 
 10th Indiana formed in front of their encampment, appar- 
 ently awaiting orders, and ordered them forward to the 
 support of the 4th Kentucky, which was the only entire 
 regiment then engaged. I then rode forward myself to see 
 the enem3^'s position, so that I could determine what dis- 
 position to make of my troops as they arrived. On reach- 
 ing the position held by the 4th Kentucky, 10th Indiana 
 and Wolford's cavalry, at a point where the roads fork 
 leading to Somerset, I found the enemy advancing through 
 a cornfield and evidently endeavoring to gain the left of the 
 4th Kentucky regiment, which was maintaining its position 
 
212 Appendix. 
 
 in a most determined manner. I directed one of my aides 
 to ride back and order up a section of artillery and the 
 Tennessee brigade to advance upon the enem^^'s right, and 
 sent orders for Col. McCook to advance with his two 
 regiments, 9th Ohio and 2nd Minnesota, to support the 4th 
 KentuckA' and 10th Indiana. 
 
 A section of Capt. Kenny's battery took position on the 
 edge of the field to the left of the 4th Kentucky, and opened 
 an efficient fire on a regiment of Alabamians which were 
 advancing on the 4th Kentuck3\ Soon afterwards the 
 2nd Minnesota (Col. H. P. Van Cleve) arrived, the Colonel 
 reporting to me for instructions. I directed him to take 
 the position of the 4th Kentucky and 10th Indiana, which 
 regiments were nearly out of ammunition. The 9th Ohio, 
 under the immediate command of Maj. Kammerling, came 
 into position on the right of the road at the same time. 
 
 ImmediateU^ after these regiments had gained their 
 positions the enemy opened a most determined and galling 
 fire, which was returned by our troops in the same spirit, 
 and for nearly half an hour the contest was maintained on 
 both sides in the most obstinate manner. At this time the 
 12th Kentucky (Col. W. A. Hoskins) and the Tennessee 
 brigade reached the field, to the left of the Minnesota regi- 
 ment, and opened fire on the right flank of the enemy, who 
 then began to fall back. The 2nd Minnesota kept up a 
 most galling fire in front and the 9th Ohio charged the 
 enemy on the right with bayonets fixed, turned their flank 
 and drove them from the field, the whole line giving aw^ay 
 and retreating in the utmost disorder and confusion. As 
 soon as the regiments could be formed and refill their 
 cartridge boxes, I ordered the whole force to advance. A 
 few miles in the rear of the battlefield a small force of 
 cavalry was drawn up near the road, but a few shots from 
 our artiller3^ (a section of Standart's battery) dispersed 
 them, and none of the enemy were seen again until we 
 arrived in front of their intrenchments. As we approached 
 their intrenchments the division was deplo^'^ed in line of 
 battle and steadily advanced to the summit of the hill at 
 Moulden's. From this point I directed their intrenchments 
 to be cannonaded, which was done until dark by Standart's 
 and Wetmore's batteries. Kenny's battery was placed in 
 position on the extreme left, near Russell's house, from 
 which point he was directed to fire on their ferr_y, to deter 
 them from attempting to cross. On the following morn- 
 ing Capt. Wetmore's battery was ordered to Russell's 
 
Appendix. 213 
 
 house, and assisted with his Parrot guns in firing upon the 
 ferry. Col. Manson's brigade took position on the left, 
 near Kenny's battery, and every preparation was made to 
 assault their intrenehments on the following morning. 
 The 14th Ohio (Cohjnel Steedman) and the 10th Kentueky 
 (Colonel Harlan) having joined from detached service soon 
 after the repulse of the enemy, continued with their brigade 
 in the pursuit, although they could not get u]) in time to 
 join in the fight. These two regiments were placed in front 
 in my advance on the intrenchment the next morning, and 
 entered first. General Schoepf also joined me the evening of 
 the 19th with the 17th, 31st and 38th Ohio. His entire 
 brigade entered with the other troops. 
 
 On reaching the intrenehments we found that the enemy 
 had abandoned everything and retired during the night. 
 Twelve pieces of artillery with their caissons packed with 
 ammunition, one battery wagon and two forges, a large 
 amount of ammunition, a large number of small arms, 
 mostly the old flint-lock muskets; 150 or IGO wagons, and 
 upwards of 1,000 horses and mules; a large amount of 
 commissary stores, intrenching tools and camp and garrison 
 c(|uipage, fell into our hands. A correct list of all the 
 captured propcrtv will be forwarded as soon as it can be 
 made up and the projjcrty secured. 
 
 The steam and ferry boats having been burned by the 
 enemy in their retreat, it was found impossible to cross the 
 river and ])ursue them; besides, their command was com- 
 pletely demoralizcfl, and retreated in great haste and in all 
 directions, making the capture in any numbers (juite doubt- 
 ful if pursued. There is no doubt but what the moral effect 
 ])roduced l)y their com])lete dispersion will have a mcjre 
 decided effect in re-establishing Union sentiments than 
 though they had been cajUured. It affords me much 
 pleasure to be able to testify to the uniform steadiness and 
 good conduct of both officers and men during the battle, 
 and I resi)ectfully refer to the accompanying reports of the 
 different commanders for the names of those officers and 
 men whose good conduct was particularly noticed by them. 
 
 I regret to have to report that Col. K. L. McCook. com- 
 manding the 3rd brigade, and his aide, A. S. P>urt, 18th U. S. 
 Infantry, were both severely wounded in the first advance 
 of the Oth Ohio regiment, but continued on duty until the 
 brigade returned to camp at Logan's cross roads. 
 
 Col. S. S. Fry, 4th Kentucky, was slightly wounded, 
 whilst his regiment was gallantly resisting the advance of 
 
214 
 
 Appendix. 
 
 the enemy, during which time Gen Zollicoffer fell from a 
 shot from his (Col. Fry's) pistol, which no doubt con- 
 tributed materially to the discomfiture of the enem3^ 
 
 The enemy's loss as far as known is as follows: Brigadier 
 General Zollicoffer, Lieut. Bailie Pe^^ton and 190 officers, 
 non-commissioned officers and privates killed; Lieut. Col. 
 M. B. Carter, Twentieth Tennessee; Lieut. J. W. Allen, Fif- 
 teenth Mississippi; Lieut. Allen Morse, Sixteenth Alabama, 
 and five officers of the medical staff and 81 non-commissioned 
 officers and privates taken prisoners; Lieut. J. E. Patterson, 
 Twentieth Tennessee, and A.J. Knapp, Fifteenth Mississippi, 
 and 66 non-commissioned officers and privates, wounded, 
 making 192 killed, 89 prisoners not wounded and 68 
 w^ounded ; total of killed, wounded and prisoners, 349. 
 
 (Note — Crittenden reports 408 wounded and missing, 
 which with the 192 dead, buried by Thomas, makes the 
 enemy's loss 600.) 
 
 Our loss as follows : 
 
 
 Killed. 
 
 Wounded. 
 
 Troops. 
 
 Officers. 
 
 Men. 
 
 Officers. 
 
 Men. 
 
 lOth Indiana 
 
 
 10 
 o 
 
 8 
 
 12 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 7«;> 
 
 
 1 
 
 19 
 
 
 4 
 2 
 4 
 
 48 
 
 2nd Minnesota 
 
 
 31 
 
 9th Ohio 
 
 
 24 
 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 1 
 
 38 
 
 13 
 
 194 
 
 
 
 A complete list of the names of our killed and wounded 
 and of the prisoners is herewith attached. 
 
 I am, sir, verA- respectfulU% \^our obedient servant, 
 
 Geo. H. Thomas, 
 
 Brigadier General U. S. Volunteers, Commanding. 
 
 Capt.J. B. Fry, A. A. G., 
 Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Dept. of Ohio, Louisville, Ky. 
 
Al'l'BNDIX. 215 
 
 (No. 13.) 
 
 iNvSpp:ction report. 
 
 ( Official Files, Adjutant GenernVs Office, State of Minnesota.) 
 
 HKADf^l'AKTHKS DlCI'AKTMF^NT Ob' TIIH CrMHKKLANI), 
 
 MuRFREESBORO, Tenn., February 7th, 186v3. 
 Sir : — The General commanding desires me to state that' 
 he is extremely ;^ratifie(i to learn, that your regiment is 
 among the number, who may be held up as an exam])lc 
 worthy of imitation. Men who submit to disei])line cheer- 
 fully, and take soldier's pride in their " ])ers()nnel," he feels 
 confident can be relied upon in an emergency. 
 
 The General desires you to read this letter on ])arade. 
 I am, sir, very respectfully your obedient servant, 
 (Signed) James Ci'RTIS, 
 Captain 15th U. S. Infantry and A. A. Ins])ectingGeneral. 
 To CoL. George, 
 
 Commanding 2nd Minnesota Volutitcers. 
 
 [No. 14.] 
 
 COMPLI.Mr:.\TARV ORDIvRS. 
 
 (Published in St. Paid Pioneer, Fehrunry 2Sth iSC'i.) 
 
 llEADf^UARTERS 8RI) BrIOADE, 
 
 Near Nolinsviele, Tenn., February, 1863. 
 
 The Colonel commanding the brigade, takes pleasure in 
 commending the conduct and sturdy valor of Lovilo N. 
 Holmes Mn(l fourteen non-commissioned oflicers and ])rivates 
 of Com])any H, 2nd Regiment Minnesota Volunteers, for 
 the heroic defense made by tlicm near Nolinsville on the 
 ir)th inst., ngainst the attack of two companies ot rebel 
 cavalry numbering c)ne hundred and twenty-five men, and 
 repulsing them with loss. 
 
 This little affair is one of the most creditable of the cam- 
 l)aign and deserves to be remembered rind cited us worthy 
 the emulntion of all. 
 
 The Colonel desires that the names of these worthy men 
 and brave soldiers may be i)reserved. 
 
 First Sergeant Lovilo N. Holmes. 
 
 Corporals Samuel Wright and William A. Clark. 
 
216 Appendix. 
 
 Privates Nelson Crandall, James Flannigan, Samuel Les- 
 lie, Louis Loiidrash, Charles Liscomb, Joseph Burger, By- 
 ron E. Pa3^ Charles Kranse, John Yale, Samuel Loudon, 
 Milton Hanna and Homer Barnard, have his thanks. 
 B3^ order of F. Van Derveer, 
 
 Colonel commanding 3rd Brigade. 
 John R. Beatty, 
 
 A. A. Adjutant General. 
 
 [No. 15.] 
 
 GENERAL STEEDMAN'S REPORT. 
 
 (Refers to No. 14.) 
 
 (War of Rebellion, Official Records, Vol. 22, Part 1, page 
 49, Series 1.) 
 
 Report of Brig. Gen'l James B. Steedman. 
 
 Concord Church, February 15th, 1863. 
 Colonel: — A forage train often wagons from m\' com- 
 mand, v^nth escort of two companies of infantry ; and while 
 four of the wagons guarded by 13 privates under the com- 
 mand of a Sergeant, were being loaded one and a half miles 
 from Nolinsville, were attacked b3' one hundred and fiftj' 
 rebel cavalr3^ The Sergeant immediateh^ formed his men, 
 took shelter in a cabin near the wagons and repulsed them, 
 wounding five, three of whom I have prisoners, killing four 
 horses, capturing three horses, seven saddles and three guns. 
 Two of our men w^ere slightlv wounded. 
 
 Very respectfulh', 
 
 James B. Steedman, 
 Brigadier General Third Division. 
 Colonel. C. Goddard, 
 
 Assistant Adjutant General and Chief of Staff. 
 
 [No. 16.] 
 
 BATTLES OF CHICAMAUGA. 
 
 Report of Col. James George, commanding regiment. 
 
 ( Official Files, Adjutant GeneraVs Office, State of Minnesota. ) 
 
 Headquarters 2nd Regiment, 
 
 Minnesota Volunteers. 
 Chattanooga, Tenn. Sept. 25, 1863. 
 General: — I have the honor to transmit the following 
 report of the part taken by the 2nd regiment of Minnesota 
 
Appendix. 1?17 
 
 volunteers in the battles ot the 19th and 20th inst. near 
 
 Crawtish Spring. Georgia : 
 
 The regiment was placed in position at ten o'clock a.m. 
 on the 19th on the extreme left of the brigade and next 
 battery "I" 4th U. S. artillery, facing the south. A few 
 minutes later the enemy approacheil infn.>ntin line to about 
 300 yards and o^^Knied a heavy hre of musketry, which was 
 returned with such effect as to repulse the attack: in about 
 ten minutes another attack was soon after made and met 
 with a like repulse, the enemy falling back in disorvler. 
 entirely out of sight. 
 
 .\bout half-past ten o'cKvk shar|> tiring of musketry was 
 suddenly oi^KMied at some distan«.v in our left and front which 
 soon began to approach us. The cartridge boxes had been 
 replenished, and the regiment was laid down in line to await 
 its time; the men having Ihvu admonisheil to withhold their 
 tire until the enemy should be within close ninge. 
 
 There soon api^H.\ired approaching in disorvler from the 
 left tVont a line of our trv>ops in tull retreat and closely pur- 
 sued by the enemy who was cheering and tiring turivnisly in 
 their rear. It pn>ved to be the rcgidar brigade, the men of 
 which passed over our line and werx* atterwanis partially 
 rallied in our rear and on our lett. 
 
 As soon as these troops had passed us. the further ad- 
 vance of the enemy was checkal by a volley trv>m our line. 
 .\ sharp contest with musketry followed w\iich n.*sultt.\l in 
 a few mituites in the complete rx^puls^* v>f the late exultant 
 enemy, who tied triMU our tVv^nt in confusion. 
 
 About eleven o'clock a largv forvv was vliscoveiwl advauv^ 
 ing on us tVom the east and sinudtaneously frvMU the north, 
 (hir tVi>nt was immediately changcvl to the left to UKVt this 
 attack, anil after a few minutes tighting the enemy stvmiug 
 to be tncnedarvnind to the uvnthwanl: our frv>nt wjis again 
 changed to the left, under a hot tire. sv> that the rvgimeni 
 faceii the nv>rtheast. and again tiiially to tjKX' the north as 
 the enemy massed his trv>ops for an assault frvMU that ditev^ 
 lion. Th.e cnen»y chargevl vles^K^rately and were tinally v.\mu- 
 pletely i\ pulsed and rvrnt^nl after a brief but bloody contest. 
 
 The tighting ended with us at about 11:30 .v. M. Our loss 
 was eiglit killed and t'orty-onewound«.Hl. including two cv>Tt»- 
 missivMud otVuvrs. None n\issing. The rxximent ^\Mumen«.xHl 
 the battle with 3S4- othv.vrs and enlist<.Hl men. 
 
 On the -0th the ixgiment tov>k place in the brigade wiih 
 J9v» otUwfs ami n»en. t\>»ty men having Ihvu detachal tor 
 
218 Appendix. 
 
 picket duty the previous evening and not relieved when the 
 regiment marched. 
 
 At ten A. M. the regiment, on the right of the brigade was 
 advanced into an open field to the support of a battery 
 which was in action immediately on our right, the line fac- 
 ing the east. Scarcely had the line been halted in its assigned 
 place when a furious fire of musketry and artillery was 
 opened on it from the edge of woods bordering the field on 
 the north and 300 or 400 yards distant. The brigade front 
 was instantly changed to the left, the movement being made 
 in good order, though under fire, and our line at once opened 
 on the enemy. After a few minutes firing a charge was 
 ordered, and we advanced on the double-quick across the 
 field and into the woods, driving the enemy back upon their 
 supports. Here the engagement was continued for fifteen or 
 twenty minutes, when the enemy moved off by their right 
 flank, clearing our front and getting out of our range, even 
 when firing left oblique. The regiment was then withdrawn, 
 and the brigade reformed facing north. 
 
 Presentlj^an artillery fire was opened on us from the east, 
 and our front was changed to face it. A'fter remaining here 
 in position for about half an hour, we were moved off a dis- 
 tance of a mile or more to a hill on the right of our general 
 line of battle, where at 2:30 p. m. we again became hotly 
 engaged with musketry. The enemy charged repeatedly and 
 desperately on our position here, but were repulsed by the 
 cool and deadly fire of our rifles ; the firing here continued 
 without intermission until 4:45 p. m., when the enemy tem- 
 porarily withdrew from the contest. Two other attacks 
 were afterwards made on "us here, but both were repulsed 
 and darkness ended the fight at about 6:30 p. m. 
 
 Our loss on this day was twentj^-seven killed and seventy- 
 two wounded, being more than one-third of our entire num- 
 ber. None missing. Some eight or ten men of other com- 
 mands who joined us temporarily were killed while bravely 
 fighting in our ranks. I regret that I cannot give their 
 names and regiments. 
 
 The conduct of the oflicers and men of my regiment was 
 on both days uniformly gallant and soldier-like beyond 
 praise. If any one of them failed in doing his whole duty I 
 do not know it. 
 
 Assistant Surgeon Otis Ayer, and Hospital Steward A. 
 Buckingham, were captured from field hospital Sept. 20, 
 
ArPENPix -10 
 
 and are prisoners in the hands of the enemv. A ^od por- 
 tion of our wounded men were left lying on the field and are 
 now prisoners in hands of the enemy. 
 
 I am General, very respectftilly. 
 Your most obedient servant. 
 
 JAS. Georoe. 
 Commanding 2nd Minn. Vols. 
 
 [No. 1 
 
 RATTl.KS OF CHICAMAVGA. 
 
 List ot" the killed and woundeii in the Second Kegiment. 
 Minnesota Vols., during the late battles near Chvitta- 
 nooga. Tcnti.. Sept. 19th and 20th. ISOo. 
 
 ( OtHcial Files, Adjatunt GeaerHts OHice, State otXlimtesotn. ) 
 
 Name. Rank and Co. Nature ot Wound. 
 
 John Iv Pavis Major Flesh wound, temple. 
 
 Tetcr G. \Vht^*ler...Sergt. Maj. Flesh wound, chin. 
 
 Ahratn Kalder Scrgt. .\ Slight, in arm. 
 
 Thos. Fitch Corpl. \ S<.*\crvlY.innose and ann. 
 
 M. l\ K. Kunals... .Private \ S^vervly. in left lung. 
 
 Ozias M. Work '* A Severely, in body and leg 
 
 Kbcn IC. Corliss " A Slight, in head. 
 
 Chas. .\. Fdwanls. '* A Slight, in hand. 
 
 Mauley S. Harris.. "" A Slight, in hand. 
 
 P. M. Morse " .\ Severely, in favx and arm. 
 
 Chas. .\. Kouse *' A Sevctvly. in head. 
 
 iM-ed. II. Russell.... '* A S< vcjvly. in arm. 
 
 Robt. Sniallev '' A Severely, in body. 
 
 Abran\ Harkins Captain F^ Couip. fracture. right arm 
 
 M. V. Picltv Corv>l- F> Scveix^ly. in leg. 
 
 A. V. Ooty IVivatc l^ l^actuVe. left leg. 
 
 John F. Kennev '' F Severely, in leg. 
 
 tMauvillc I'arrier... '' F Scven.'ly. in leg. 
 
 Wn>. Swan '' F^ Scvetvlv. in ann. 
 
 Manning Failey '' F> Slight, ui hand. 
 
 IC. \\ Couistock. '' F^ Slight, in hand. 
 
 h\ Kelsey F> Slight, in shoulder. 
 
 Chas. Fane F» Slight, itv shoulder. 
 
 C. F l-HUge F» Slight, in head. 
 
 J. C. Kitchell F» Slight, in ann. 
 
 Favid Fmsh " F Slight, in shoulder. 
 
 IF C.. Smith '' F* Slight, in head. . 
 
220 
 
 Appendix. 
 
 Name. 
 
 Rank and Co. 
 
 Nature of Wound. 
 
 M. Thoenv 
 
 ..2nd Lieut. 
 
 C 
 
 Slight, in wrist. 
 
 Wm. Mills 
 
 ..1st Lieut. 
 
 C 
 
 Slight, in arm. 
 
 M. L. Devereaux. 
 
 ..Sergt. 
 
 c 
 
 Slight, in shoulder. 
 
 J.J. Casseclay 
 
 ..Corpl. 
 
 c 
 
 Slight, in hip. 
 
 A. Hochstetter.... 
 
 a 
 
 c 
 
 Slight, in head. 
 
 P. Grunenwald.... 
 
 " 
 
 c 
 
 Slight, in left side, 
 
 C. Matti 
 
 " 
 
 c 
 
 Severely, in leg. 
 
 M. Rowhati 
 
 " 
 
 c 
 
 vSlight, in foot. 
 
 T. D. Orcutt 
 
 " 
 
 c 
 
 Slight, in leg. 
 
 G. H. Ames 
 
 ..Private 
 
 c 
 
 Slight, in leg. 
 
 J. B. Gere 
 
 (( 
 
 c 
 
 Mortal, in iDoth knees. 
 
 John Fern 
 
 " 
 
 c 
 
 Slight, in arm. 
 
 C. Alden 
 
 li 
 
 c 
 
 Slight, in leg. 
 
 D. C. Morgan 
 
 '' 
 
 c 
 
 Slight, in leg. 
 
 A. R. Hall 
 
 ..Sergt. 
 
 D 
 
 Severely, in breast. 
 
 S. B. Holship 
 
 
 D 
 
 Slight, in head. 
 
 E. B. Nettleton.... 
 
 ..Corpl. 
 
 D 
 
 Slight, in arm. 
 
 G. M. Gilchrist.... 
 
 ..Private 
 
 D 
 
 Severely, in body. 
 
 W. H.Wiley 
 
 t( 
 
 D 
 
 Severely, in head. 
 
 G.W. Fowler 
 
 .. 
 
 D 
 
 Severely, in hand. 
 
 John Spring 
 
 '< 
 
 D 
 
 Severely, in hip. 
 Severely, in hands. 
 
 Felix Carriveati... 
 
 '.'. 
 
 D 
 
 Henry Vessey 
 
 " 
 
 D 
 
 Severely, in leg. 
 
 Chas. Clewett 
 
 .'. 
 
 D 
 
 Severely, in arm. 
 
 Ben Sylvester 
 
 ..1st Sergt. 
 
 E 
 
 Severely, in left arm. 
 
 A. A. Stone 
 
 ..Sergt. 
 
 E 
 
 Severely, in leg and hip. 
 
 Solon Cheadle 
 
 ..Corpl. 
 
 E 
 
 Slightly, in foot. 
 
 Nicholas Sons 
 
 it, 
 
 E 
 
 Slightly, m leg. 
 
 Eli Huggins 
 
 .. 
 
 E 
 
 Severely, in wrist. 
 
 I. W. French 
 
 .Private 
 
 E 
 
 Severely, in shoulder. 
 
 James Flora 
 
 " 
 
 E 
 
 Severely, in side. 
 
 James Spencer 
 
 11 
 
 t 
 
 Severely, in both legs. 
 
 Lewis Swenson... 
 
 " 
 
 E 
 
 Slightly, in shoulder. 
 
 James Smith 
 
 " 
 
 E 
 
 Slightly, in arm. 
 
 Joseph Smith 
 
 a 
 
 E 
 
 Slightly, in side. 
 Severely, in hand. 
 
 Peter M. Freteuff 
 
 .'. 
 
 E 
 
 Samuel Bowler.... 
 
 ., 
 
 E 
 
 Severel^^ in leg. 
 
 W.L.Jones 
 
 11 
 
 E 
 
 Severel3% in shoulder. 
 
 Edwin Knudson.. 
 
 " 
 
 E 
 
 Slightly, in head. 
 
 Benj. Warrant 
 
 " 
 
 E 
 
 Severely, in hips. 
 
 G.W. Wallace 
 
 ..1st Sergt. 
 
 F 
 
 Severelv, in right shoulder 
 
 Paul Caviezell 
 
 ..Sergt. 
 
 F 
 
 Slightly, in thigh. 
 
 Henry Oaks 
 
 ..Private 
 
 F 
 
 Severely, in head. 
 
 Thos. A. Tiernan. 
 
 (( 
 
 F 
 
 Severely, in foot. 
 
Appendix. 
 
 221 
 
 Name. Rank and Co. 
 
 Jas. M. Thornton.. Private F 
 
 Joseph Bird " F 
 
 Michael McCarthy " F 
 
 H. V. Rumohr 1st Sergt. G 
 
 J. A. Smilh Corpl. G 
 
 Henrv Bush '* G 
 
 Peter Douthiel Private G 
 
 Peter Freyman " G 
 
 Chas.Janke " G 
 
 Geo. Reed " G 
 
 Batens Weber " G 
 
 Thos. G. Qua\de....2nd Lieut. H 
 
 Josiah Keene Sergt. H 
 
 Milton Hanna Corp. H 
 
 John S. Hilliard " H 
 
 A.B.Rose " H 
 
 Saml. Loudon Private H 
 
 S.A.Mitchell " H 
 
 Chas. Krause " H 
 
 Bvron E. Pav " H 
 
 Cyrus W. Smith.... " H 
 
 Lewis Londrosh.... " H 
 
 E. T. Cressev " H 
 
 Albert GeseL " H 
 
 Albert Parker Corpl. I 
 
 Adam Wickert " I 
 
 H. T. Whipple Private I 
 
 W. S. Wells " I 
 
 C.C. Handy " I 
 
 Isaac Lavman " I 
 
 D. S. Coverdale 2nd Lieut. K 
 
 John R. Barber Corpl. K 
 
 Robt. McClellan.. ..Private K 
 
 Edvvnn Baird " K 
 
 V. R. Barton " K 
 
 Lyman S. Martin.. " K 
 
 John AIcAlpin " K 
 
 Henry Roberts " K 
 
 John Shouts " K 
 
 Wm. Hamilton " K 
 
 John C.Smith " K 
 
 Samuel Fleming " K 
 
 Chas. Fewster 1st Sergt. A 
 
 Norman E. Case.... Corpl. A 
 
 Nature of Wound. 
 Severely, in foot. 
 Slightly, in thigh. 
 Slightly, in leg. 
 Severely, in nose. 
 Severelv, in arm. 
 Slightly, in 
 Severely, in shoulder. 
 Severely, in head. 
 Severely, in hands and leg. 
 Slightly, in thigh. 
 Severelj^ in side. 
 Slightly, in left hip. 
 Severely, in left arm. 
 Severeh^, in leg. 
 SevereK^ in leg. 
 Mortally, in hip. 
 Slighth', in leg. 
 Severely, in leg. 
 Mortalh', in body. 
 Severel\% in shoulder. 
 Severely, in arm and foot. 
 Slightly, in hand. 
 Slightly, in shoulder. 
 Slightly, in foot. 
 Severely, in thigh. 
 Slighth', in side. 
 Severeh', in foot. 
 Severeh', in thigh. 
 Slightly, in finger. 
 Severeh', in arm. 
 Slightly, in left hip. 
 Slightly, in finger. 
 Mortally, in bod}-. 
 Severely, in arm. 
 Severely, in hand and leg. 
 Severely, in arm. 
 Severely, in body and leg. 
 Severeh', in side. 
 Severely, in side. 
 Severeh', in wrist. 
 Severeh% in shoulder. 
 Slightlv, in knee. 
 Killed.' 
 
222 Appendix. 
 
 Name. Rank and Co. Nature of Wound 
 
 C. S. Cutting Corpl. 
 
 B Killed. 
 
 S. D. Calvert Private 
 
 B 
 
 A. H. Palmer 
 
 B 
 
 S. Tavlor " 
 
 B 
 
 F. I. Crabb " 
 
 B " 
 
 J. McAuliff Sergt. 
 
 C 
 
 Jacob Martig Private 
 
 C 
 
 C. Schilt " 
 
 C 
 
 S. B. Neros 
 
 c 
 
 Wm. Dudley Sergt. 
 
 D 
 
 John Sherburne Corp. 
 
 D 
 
 Alfonso Bogan Private 
 
 D 
 
 Geo. H. Frv 1st Sergt. 
 
 F 
 
 D B. Griffin Corpl. 
 
 F 
 
 Cornelius Holland. Private 
 
 F 
 
 Herman Raduentz. " 
 
 G 
 
 Charles Schuele '* 
 
 G 
 
 Jacob Seibert......... 
 
 G 
 
 Francis T.Sutorius " 
 
 G 
 
 John M. Foster Sergt. 
 
 H 
 
 Nicholas Weiss Corpl. 
 
 H " (wounded on 
 
 John B. Hopew^ell.. Private 
 
 H 
 
 Alfred W.Bigelow.. " 
 
 H 
 
 Wm. H. Weagunt.. " 
 
 H 
 
 Arnold Cochrane... Corpl. 
 
 
 Ward well Mathers. Private 
 
 
 Wm. McCurdy 
 
 
 Joseph Shonmaker. " 
 
 
 Freeman Schneider. " 
 
 
 I. B. Pomeroy Sergt. 
 
 K 
 
 Alex. Metzger Corpl. 
 
 K 
 
 John A. Cutting Private 
 
 K 
 
 Jas. A. Bigelow " 
 
 K 
 
 Total commissioned officers wounded 6 
 
 Total enlisted men wounded 107 
 
 Total enlisted men killed 35 
 
 Total loss 148 
 
 Assistant Surgeon Otis Ayer and Hospital 
 Steward, F. Buckingham captured at field 
 hospital 2 
 
 The above is as complete a list of the casualities of the 2nd 
 Minnesota regiment as can be obtained at the present time; 
 
Appendix. 223 
 
 manj^ of those wounded in the second day's fight were left 
 in the enem3^'s hands. The regiment behaved most gal- 
 lantly', not a man left the ranks but that was known to be 
 either killed or wounded. The wounded at this place are 
 doing well, and are as comfortable as could be expected. 
 
 Lt. Albert Woodbury, 2nd Minnesota Battery, is here, 
 severely wounded in the left arm above the elbow joint. 
 I remain, vours trulv, 
 
 M. C. To L MAN, 
 
 Surgeon 2nd Minnesota Volunteers; 
 Medical Director 3rd Division, 14th A. C, D. C. 
 
 These men were detailed to care for our wounded men 
 and v^'^ere captured in performing that duty : 
 George A. Baker, private, Co. B. 
 Jediah Furman, " " B. 
 
 Hiram A. Stewart. " " B. 
 
 Ashley W. Wood, " " B. 
 
 John Stuekey, " " C. 
 
 Charles Sweenev, " " C. 
 
 Peter Walrick, ' " " C. 
 
 W^ashington Maguire, " " D. 
 
 Henry Oaks, " " F. 
 
 tlriah S. Karmanv. " " H. 
 
 John S. Bertrand* " " I. 
 
 William B. Haskin, " " K. 
 
 12 captured. 
 
 Total loss 162, 42 2-10 per cent of 384 men engaged. 
 
 (No. 18.) 
 
 BATTLE OF CHICAMAUGA. 
 
 Supplementary report b}' Col. J.\mes George. 
 
 {Adjutant GeneraVs Report for 1863, State of Minnesota). 
 
 Headquarters Second Minnesota 
 
 Regiment Volunteers, 
 Chattanooga, Tennessee, September 30, 1863. 
 General: — For the purpose of placing on record the 
 names of those officers and men, who for gallant and meri- 
 torious conduct on the battlefield of the Chicamauga are 
 entitled to special mention, I respectfully submit the fol- 
 lowing list as supplementary to the general report of the 
 operations of my regiment, a cop}^ of which has already 
 been transmitted to vour office. 
 
224 
 
 Appendix. 
 
 I am under special obligations to my staff and field offi- 
 cers. More praiseworthy exhibitions of coolness and cour- 
 age under fire were never made upon any field of battle. 
 They each deserve much of their countr^^ not only for their 
 gallant conduct in these battles, but for their uniform 
 industry and ability in the faithful discharge of ever3^ duty. 
 Such officers are a credit to the State and to the service. 
 
 Lieut. Col. J. W. Bishop had his horse shot under him in 
 the second day's battle, but kept his place on foot, it being 
 impossible at the time to get a re-mount. 
 
 Major John B. Davis also had his horse shot under him, 
 and was soon after wounded in the forehead with a frag- 
 ment of shell, but kept his post during the battle, which 
 la,sted several hours afterwards. 
 
 Adjutant James W. Wood had his horse shot under him, 
 but continued in the active discharge of his duty on foot. 
 
 Assistant Surgeon William Brown was engaged in dress- 
 ing the wounded on the field, and frequently under fire 
 both days. 
 
 Assistant Surgeon Otis Ayer remained at his post attend- 
 ing to our wounded, and while thus in the discharge of his 
 duty became a prisoner. He was afterwards exchanged 
 and has re-joined his regiment. 
 
 Of the company officers, there were present with their 
 respective companies, and each in the energetic, faithful and 
 fearless discharge of his duty, the following: 
 
 Capt. Abraham Harkins, Co. B, severely wounded 2nd day. 
 
 Capt. John Moulton, Co. 
 
 Capt. J. C. Donahower, 
 
 Capt. D. B. Loomis 
 
 Capt. C. F. Meyer, 
 
 Capt. C. S. Uline, 
 
 Capt. W. W. Woodbury, 
 
 1st Lieut. Levi Ober, 
 
 1st Lieut. W. W. Wilson, 
 
 1st Lieut. H. K. Couse, 
 
 1st Lieut. S. G. Trimble, 
 
 1st Lieut. J. S. Livingston, 
 
 1st Lieut. H. V. Rumohr, 
 
 1st Lieut. L. N. Holmes, 
 
 1st Lieut. Tenbroek Stout, 
 
 2nd Lieut. E. L. Kenny, 
 
 2nd Lieut. M. Thoeny, 
 
 2nd Lieut. H. Lobdell, 
 
 2nd Lieut. T. G. Scott, 
 
 2nd Lieut. T. G. Quale, 
 
 2nd Lieut. D. S. Coverdale, 
 
 D. 
 E. 
 F. 
 G. 
 
 I. 
 K. 
 
 A, commanding his companv. 
 B. 
 
 C, commanding his companv. 
 D. 
 F. 
 G, 
 H. 
 
 I. 
 A. 
 C, 
 D. 
 E. 
 
 H, wounded in hip 2nd da}'. 
 K, wounded in thigh 1st day. 
 
 wotmdcd in face 2nd day. 
 commanding his company 
 
 wounded in hand 1st dav 
 
Appendix. 225 
 
 Sergt. Maj. P. C. Wheeler was slightly wounded in the 
 chin the first daj^ 
 
 Orderly M. D. E. Runals and bugler Albert Gsell are 
 entitled to special mention for their gallant and prompt 
 discharge of their duties, under fire. Both were severely 
 wounded. 
 
 The following named men are also reported to me b\^ 
 their company commanders as having specially distin- 
 guished themselves in the line of duty, on the battlefield, 
 while without exception, all present are credited with gal- 
 lant and soldier-like conduct : 
 
 Sergeant Alonzo Worden, Corporal A. McCorkle, and 
 Private James W. Stewart, of Companj^ A. 
 
 Sergeants John McAulift' and Robert S. Hutchinson and 
 Private James B. Gere, of Company C. 
 
 Sergeants Albert R. Hall and Rollin A. Lampher and 
 Private Gideon M. Gilchrist, of Company D. 
 
 Sergeant Benjamin S\4vester, Corporal O. P. Renne and 
 Private Michael Horrigan, of Company E. 
 
 Corporal John A. Smith and Privates Janke and Weber, 
 of Company G. 
 
 Private William S. Wells, of Company I. 
 
 Sergeants A. H. Reed and John D. Burr and Private 
 William B. C. Evans, of Compan\' K. 
 
 Very respectfully j^ours, etc., 
 Oscar Malmros, J. George, 
 
 Adjutant General. Colonel Commanding 
 
 State of Minnesota. 2nd Minnesota Volunteers. 
 
 (No. 19.) 
 
 BATTLE OF CHICAMAUGA. 
 
 Report of CoL. F. Van Derveer, commanding Brigade: 
 
 {Official Files, Adjutant GeneraVs Office, State of Minne- 
 sota.) 
 
 Headquarters 3rd Brigade, 
 
 3rd Division, 14th A. C, 
 Chattanooga, Tenn., Sept. 25th, 1863. 
 Capt. Louis J. Lambert, A. A. G.: 
 
 Captain: — I have the honor to report the part taken by 
 the 3rd Brigade in the actions of the 19th and 20tli inst., 
 near the Chicamauga. My command consisted of the 2nd 
 Minnesota, Col. George; the 9th Ohio, Col. Kammerling; 
 the 35th Ohio. Lt Col. Boynton; the 87th Indiana, Col. 
 
 15 
 
226 Appendix. 
 
 Gleason; and Battery ''I," 4th Artillery, 1st Lt. F. G. 
 Smith. Our effective strength on the morning of the 19th 
 inst., was 1,788 officers and men. 
 
 After a fatiguing march during the night of the 18th, 
 and without an3' sleep or rest, whilst halting near Kelly's 
 house on the Rossville and Lafaj^ette road, I received an 
 order from Brig. Gen. Brannan, commanding the 3rd Divis- 
 ion, to move with haste along the road to Reed's bridge 
 over the Chicamauga, take possession of a ford near that 
 point and hold it. I immediately moved southward to 
 McDaniel's house, and thence at right angles eastwardly 
 toward the bridge. A short distance from McDaniel's I 
 formed the brigade into two lines, sent skirmishers to the 
 front and advanced cautiously, though without losing time, 
 one and one-half miles. In the meantime brisk firing was 
 progressing on my right, understood to be maintained by 
 the 1st and 2nd Brigades of this Division, 
 
 Being without a guide and entireh' unacquainted with 
 the country, I am unable to state how near I went to 
 Reed's bridge, but perceiving from the firing on my right 
 that I was passing the enemy's flank, I wheeled my line in 
 that direction and began feeling his position with m\' 
 skirmishers. About this time I received an order, stating 
 that the 2nd brigade was gradually giving back, and that 
 it was necessary I should at once make an attack. This 
 we did with a will ; the first line, composed of the 35th 
 Ohio on the right, and the 2nd Minnesota on the left, 
 moving down a gentle slope, leaving the 87th Indiana in 
 reserve on the crest of the hill. 
 
 At this time the 9th Ohio, which had charge of the 
 ammunition train of the division, had not arrived. Smith's 
 battery, composed of four twelve-pound Napoleons, were 
 placed in position in the centre and on the right of the line. 
 The enem\' having discovered our position opened a furious 
 fire of artillery and musketry, which was replied to 
 promptly and apparenth' with considerable effect, for in 
 half an hour the enemy slackened his fire and his advance 
 line was compelled to fall back. I took advantage of this 
 movement to bring forward the 87th Indiana, and by a 
 passage of lines to the front carried them to the relief of the 
 35th Ohio, which had already' suffered severed in the 
 engagement. This movement was executed with as much 
 coolness and accuracy as if on drill. Scarcely was the 87th 
 Indiana in line before fresh forces of the enemy were brought 
 
Appendix. 227 
 
 up, in time to receive from us a terrible volley which made 
 his ranks stagger and held him some time at bay. 
 
 The 9th Ohio, which I had previoush' sent for, arrived at 
 this moment. I placed it on the right of m\' line. Still fur- 
 ther to the right a section of Church's batterv and the 17th 
 Ohio, which had been ordered to report to me, were in 
 position as the enemy slackened their lire. Col. Kammerling, 
 chafing like a w^ounded tiger that he had been behind at the 
 opening, ordered his men to charge; awa\' the\^ went, 
 closely followed by the 87th Indiana and 17th Ohio, the 
 enemy falling back precipitately. The 9th in this charge 
 recaptured the guns in Guenther's battery, 5th artillery, 
 and held them. 
 
 In the meantime the enemy, massing his forces suddenly, 
 appeared upon my left and rear ; he came forward several 
 lines deep at a double-quick, and opened a brisk fire, but 
 not before I had changed m3^ front to resist him. M3' new 
 line consisted of the 2nd Minnesota on the right, next one 
 section of Smith's batter}^, commanded b\' Lieut. Rodney, 
 then the 87th Indiana, flanked by Church's and the other 
 .sections of Smith's battery, and on the extreme left the 
 35th Ohio. The two extremities of the line formed an 
 obtuse angle, the vertex on the left of the 87th Indiana, 
 and the opening tow^ard the enemy. The 2nd Minnesota 
 and 87th Indiana la\' on the ground and were apparently' 
 unobserved b\^ the enemy, who moved upon the left of m3^ 
 lines, delivering and receiving a direct fire. Church opened 
 with all his guns, and Smith with one section. He advanced 
 rapidl3% mj^ left giving wa3' slowh^ until his flank was 
 brought opposite m\' right wing, when a murderous and 
 enfilading fire was poured into his ranks b3'- the infantr3' 
 and b3' Rodne3''s section shotted with canister. Notwith- 
 standing this, he moved stead iU^ up his second and third 
 lines. 
 
 Having observed his great force as well as the persist- 
 enc3' of his attack, I had sent messenger after messenger to 
 bring up the 9th Ohio, which had not 3'et returned from its 
 charge made from m3' original site. At last, however, and 
 when it seemed impossible for my brave men to longer 
 withstand the impetuous advance of the enem3% the 9th 
 came gallantly up in time to take part in the final struggle, 
 which resulted in his sudden withdrawal. In this last at- 
 tack his loss must have been ver3' severe. In addition to 
 the heav3^fire of the infantry, our guns were pouring double 
 
228 Appendix. 
 
 charges of canister in front and on his flanks, at one time 
 delivered at a distance of not exceeding forty (40) yards. 
 
 During the latter part ot the contest reinforcements had 
 arrived, and were by Gen. Brannan, then present, formed 
 in line for the purpose of supporting my brigade, but were 
 not actively engaged at this time. Our dead and wounded 
 were gathered up and a new line, under the supervision of 
 Gen. Brannan, was formed. The enemy, however, made no 
 further demonstration, and quietly withdrew. A small 
 number of prisoners were taken, who reported that the 
 force opposed to us was two divisions of Longstreet's 
 corps, one commanded by Gen. Hood. They fought with 
 great obstinacy and determination, only retreating when 
 fairly swept aw^ay by our overwhelming hre. After the 
 second withdrawal by the enemy our empty cartridge boxes 
 were replenished bj' wagons sent into the field by the 
 General commanding the division. 
 
 After resting my command for an hour or more, I was 
 ordered to report to Maj. Gen. Reynolds. Immediateh- 
 moving towards his position, we arrived near Kelly's house 
 just before sundown, and there, by direction of Gen. 
 Brannan, went into bivouac. 
 
 At 8 o'clock the next morning, Sunda}^ the 20th Sept., 
 1863, my brigade was posted as a reserve in the rear of the 
 1st and 2nd brigades of the division, formed in two lines of 
 columns closed in mass, where we remained for about an 
 hour, slowly moving over towards the left for the purpose 
 of occupying the space between the 3rd and Reynold's 
 division. ' There I received an order to move quickl^^over to 
 the left and support Gen. Baird who, it was said, was being 
 hard pressed by the enemy. I wheeled my battalions to the 
 left, deployed both lines and moved through the woods 
 parallel to the Chattanooga road, gradually swinging 
 round my left until, when in rear of Reynold's position, I 
 struck the road perpendicularly at a point just north of 
 Kelly's house, near and back of his lines. 
 
 On approaching the road, riding in advance of the 
 brigade, my attention was called to a large force of the 
 enemy moving southward in four lines, just then emerging 
 from the woods at a run, evidentl^^ intending to attack 
 Reynolds and Baird, who were both hotly engaged, in the 
 rear, and apparently unseen by those officers, limmediateh^ 
 wheeled my lines to the left, facing the approaching force, 
 and ordered them to lie down. This movement was not 
 executed until we received a galling fire, delivered from a 
 
Appp:ni)ix. 229 
 
 distance of two hundred (200) yards. At the same time a 
 rebel battery placed in the road about five (5) or six (6) 
 hundred yards in our front, opened upon us with two (2) 
 guns. My command continued to lie down until the enemy 
 approached within seventy-five (75) feet, and the front line, 
 composed of the 2nd Minnesota and 87th Indiana, delivered 
 a murderous fire almost in their faces, and the 35th and 9th 
 Ohio, passing- lines quickly to the front, the whole brigade 
 charged and drove the enemy at a full run, over the open 
 ground, for over a quarter of a mile, and several hun- 
 dred yards into the woods; my men keeping in good 
 order and delivering their fire as they advanced. The rebels 
 fled hastih^ to cover, leaving the ground strewn with their 
 dead and wounded. 
 
 We took position in the woods, and maintained a de- 
 termined combat for more than an hour. At this time I 
 greatly needed my battery, which had been taken from the 
 brigade early in the da^- by command of Maj. Gen. Negley. 
 Finding a force moving on our right to support us. and the 
 eneni}' being almost silenced, I ordered return to the open 
 grounds south of the woods; this movement was executed 
 by passing lines to the rear, each line firing as it retired. 
 I learned from prisoners that the force we fought and put 
 to flight this day was the division of the rebel Gen. Rrccken- 
 ridgc. That we punished them severely was proved by 
 their many dead and wounded, among the former of which 
 were several field ofiicers, and among the latter one general 
 oflicer of high rank. 
 
 I thence moved to a position on the road near Gen. 
 Reynold's centre, and there remained resting my men and 
 caring for my wqunded for an hour or more. Although T 
 had not reported to either Generals Reynolds or Baird, as 
 ordered in the morning, I believe I rendered them very sub- 
 stantial assistance, and at a time when it was greatly 
 needed. 
 
 About two o'clock, hearing heav^^ firing to the right of 
 the line, and learning that the high ground in that direction 
 was being held b^^Gen. Brannan with a part of our division, 
 I moved cautiously through the woods, and at 2:30 p. M. 
 reported iny brigade to him for duty. We were immediately 
 placed in the front, relieving his troops, then almost ex- 
 hausted. The position was well selected and capable of 
 being defended against a heavy force, the line being a crest 
 of a hill, for the possession of which the enemy made most 
 desperate and renewed attempts. From this time until dark 
 
230 Appendix. 
 
 we were hotl\^ engaged. The ammunition failing and no 
 supph' on hand except a small quantity furnished by Maj. 
 Gen. Gordon Granger, our men gathered their cartridges 
 from the boxes of the dead, wounded and prisoners, and 
 finally fixed ba\^onets, determined to hold the position. 
 Here again the 9th Ohio made a gallant charge down the 
 hill into the midst of the enemy, scattering them like chaif, 
 and then returning to their position on the hill. For an 
 hour and one-half before dark the attack was one of unex- 
 ampled fury, line after line of fresh troops being hurled 
 against our position with a heroism and persistency which 
 almost dignified their cause. At length night ended the 
 struggle and the enemy having suffered a terrible loss, re- 
 tired from our immediate front. 
 
 During the latter part of the day the position directly'- on 
 our right had been held by Brig. Gen. Steedman, but which, 
 early in the evening had been withdrawn wnthout our 
 knowledge, thus leaving our flank exposed. From the silence 
 at that point. Brig. Gen. Brannan suspected that all might 
 not be right, and ordered me to place the 35th Ohio across 
 that flank to prevent a surprise. This had scarcely been 
 done before a rebel force appeared in the gloom directly in 
 their front. A moimted officer rode to within a few paces of 
 the 35th and asked " What regiment is that ? " To this some 
 one replied "The 35th Ohio." The officer turned suddenly 
 and attempted to run away, but our regiment delivered a 
 volley that brought horse and rider to the ground, and put 
 to flight the force. Prisoners said this officer was the rebel 
 Gen. Gregg. 
 
 At seven (7) o'clock p. m. an order came from Maj. Gen. 
 Thomas that the forces tinder Gen. Brannan should move 
 quietly to Rossville. This was carried into execution under 
 the direction of Capt. Cilley, of my staff, in excellent order. 
 
 During the whole of the two days' fighting my brigade 
 kept well together, at all times obeying orders promptly and 
 moving with regularity and precision as if on drill. They 
 were subjected to a ver}^ severe test on the 19th, when being 
 actively engaged with the enemy, another brigade (not of 
 our division) ran panic-stricken through and over us, some 
 of the officers of which shouted to our men to retreat, or 
 they would certainly be overwhelmed, but not a man left 
 the ranks and the approaching enemy found before him a 
 wall of steel. Private Savage, of Smith's battery struck 
 one of the retreating officers with his sponge and damned 
 him for running against his gun. 
 
Appendix. 231 
 
 Our loss in the engagement of both days amounts to 13 
 officers and 132 men killed, and 25 officers and 581 men 
 wounded and 51 missing. The total loss being 802 men and 
 officers. Doubtless many of those enumerated among the 
 missing will be found either wounded or killed. There was 
 no straggling £j,nd I have no doubt those not wounded or 
 killed will be found prisoners in the hands of the enemy. It 
 is a noticeable fact that the 2nd Minnesota had not a single ^ 
 man among the missing or a straggler, during the two days' ' 
 engagement. 
 
 I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of m3' officers 
 and men; without exception they performed all that was 
 required, much more than could have been expected. 
 
 Where all did so well, it seems almost unjust to make 
 distinctions ; more gallantrj^ and indomitable courage was 
 never displayed upon the field of battle. 
 
 The attention of the General commanding the division is 
 particularly called to the conduct of Col. James George, 
 commanding 2nd Minn, vols.; Col. Gustavus Kammerling, 
 commanding 9th Ohio vols.; Col. N. Gleason, 87th Indiana 
 vols.; Lt. Col. H. V. N. Boynton, commanding 35th Ohio 
 vols.; and 1st Lieut. F.G. Smith, commanding battery "I," 
 4th U. S. artillery. These officers performed every dut^^ re- 
 quired of them with coolness and great promptness, and by 
 their energy and gallantry contributed much to the favor- 
 able result which attended every collision with the enemv. 
 
 Such officers are a credit to the service and our country. 
 Smith's battery rendered great help in the action of the 19th 
 inst., and was ably and gallanth' served, Lieut. Rodney 
 being conspicuous in the management of his section. 
 
 Capt. Church of the 1st brigade, with one section of his 
 batter V, fought well and is entitled to credit he rendered me 
 on the'l9th. 
 
 I cannot refrain from alluding to the reckless courage and 
 dash of Adjt. Harris, of the 9th Ohio vols. 
 
 My staff upon the field consisted of Capt. J. R. Beatty, 
 2nd Minnesota vols.; A. A. A. G., Captains P. H. Parshall, 
 35th Ohio, and B. E. Thoenssen, 9th Ohio ; acting aids, 
 Capt. C. A. Cilley, 2nd Minn, vols., Brig. Topographical 
 Engineer, and 1st Lt. A. E. Alden, 2nd Minn, vols., Brig. 
 Inspector. For efficienc3', personal bravery and energy, their 
 conduct deserves more than praise. They exposed them- 
 selves at all times watching the movements of the enemy, 
 carr3nng orders, rallying the men, and by every means in 
 their power contributing to the success of the brigade. 
 
232 Appendix. 
 
 Capt. Parshall was killed earlyinthe action of the first da\'. 
 He was a brave, noble soldier, an upright gentleman, and 
 carries with him to the grave the love and regret of many 
 friends. 
 
 Capt. Thoenssen was missing the evening of the second 
 day, and I believe was captured. Captajns Beatt_v and 
 Cilley had each tvv^o horses shot under them. 
 
 There are many names particularly commended for cour- 
 age and good behaviour, for which I respectfully refer to the 
 reports of the regiments and the battery. 
 
 We have lost many gallant officers and men, a list of 
 whom is herewith furnished you. 
 
 In the charge made by the 9th Ohio on the 19th which 
 recaptured the battery of the regular brigade, their loss in 
 killed and wounded was over fiftA'. 
 
 I am, Captain, very respectfully. 
 Your obedient servant, 
 Official copy: (Signed) F. VanDeryeer, 
 
 James W. Wood, Col. com'd'g 3rd brigade. 
 
 1st Lt. and Adjutant, 2d Minnesota vols. 
 
 [No. 20.] 
 
 COLONEL JAMES GEORGE RECOMMENDED FOR 
 PROMOTION. 
 
 {Official Files, Adjutant GeneraFs Office, State of Minnesota.) 
 
 Headquarters 3d Brigade, 3d Division, 14th A. C. 
 Chattanooga, Tenn., Oct. 9th, 1863. 
 To the President of the United States : 
 
 Sir: — I respectfully recommend to your favorable con- 
 sideration the name of Col. James George, commanding 
 2nd Minnesota Volunteers, for a commission as Brigadier 
 General of Volunteers. 
 
 "Col. George is the senior Colonel in the service from his 
 State, and has by his conduct in the late battles proved 
 that he is worthy of promotion. His regiment is remark- 
 able for its steadiness, reliability and efficiency in action, 
 which is attributable to his own coolness and intrepidity. 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 (Signed) F. Van Dervker, 
 
 Col. Com'd'g Brigade. 
 
Appendix. 233 
 
 ( Endorsements. ) 
 
 Headquarters 3d Division, 14th A. C, D. C. 
 Chattanooga, Tenn., Oct. 9, 1863. 
 I cordially endorse the recommendation of Col. Van 
 Derveer in this case. Col. George's conduct in command of 
 his regiment came under my personal observation in the 
 battles*of the 19th and 20th September, at "Chattanooga," 
 in which he displayed great bravery and coolness, and kept 
 his regiment in admirable order during the fight of both 
 days. 
 
 (Signed) J. M. Brannan, 
 
 Brig. Gen. Com'd'g Division. 
 
 Headquarters 14th Army Corps. 
 Chattanooga, Tenn., Oct. 10, 1863. 
 Col. James George has commanded the 2nd Minnesota 
 Volunteers for more than eighteen months, this regiment 
 has always been regarded as one of the best in the service, 
 and has alwa\'s been commanded b\' him with abilit}-, 
 shows that he is worthy of promotion. I therefore cor- 
 dially unite in the above recommendation. 
 
 (Signed) Geo. H. Thomas, 
 
 Maj. Gen. U. S. V. 
 Headquarters Department of the Cumberland, 
 Oct. 12, 1863. 
 Col. George deserves the promotion asked, and I hope 
 he will receive it. 
 
 (Signed) W. S. Rosecrans, 
 
 Maj. Genl. 
 
 [No. 21.] 
 
 (See regimental report of Mission Ridge in chapter ix of 
 narrative.) 
 
 BATTLE OF MISSION RIDGE. 
 
 List of the killed and wounded. Second Regiment, Minne- 
 sota Volunteers. 
 ( Official Files, Adjutant General's Office, State of Minnesota.) 
 
 COMPANY "a." 
 
 1st Lieut. Levi Ober Wounded slightly. 
 
 Corpl. A.J. Bolsinger " " 
 
 Private Chas B. Rouse " severely. 
 
 Richard Rice " slightly. 
 
 " Adam Mann " " 
 
234« Appendix. 
 
 COMPANY "b." 
 
 Sergt. John Westerman Killed. 
 
 " Benjamin P.Talbot Wounded mortally, since died. 
 
 COMPANY " C." 
 
 Private Rincis DeGrave Wounded mortally, since died. 
 
 " Samuel S. Kline " severely. 
 
 Riley Barnhaus " slightly. 
 
 COMPANY "d." 
 
 1st Lieut. Samuel G. Trimble.. Killed. 
 
 Corpl. John S. Mullen Wounded severely. 
 
 Private Joseph E. LeBlond 
 
 " Jesse M. Williams " slightly. 
 
 " Alexander Landrie " " 
 
 COMPANY "E." 
 
 2nd Lieut. Thos. G. Scott Wounded slightly. 
 
 Sergt. Holder Jacobus " " 
 
 " Thomas Harney " " 
 
 Corpl. N. C. Rukkee " severely. 
 
 Thomas Fov^ble " slightly. 
 
 O. P. Renne 
 
 Private J. L. Henningson " " 
 
 " Ole Hendrickson " 
 
 COMPANY "h." 
 
 Private Samuel Loudon Killed. 
 
 2nd Lieut. Thos. G. Qua^de Wounded severely. 
 
 Private James Pelkey....." " mortally, since died. 
 
 William Gleason " severely. 
 
 Isaac Sherman... " slightly. 
 
 COMPANY "l." 
 
 Corpl. J. Ira Tillotson Wounded severely. 
 
 Private Stephen W. Miller " slightly. 
 
 Henry White 
 
 Ethan A. Hitchcock.... 
 
 COMPANY " K." 
 
 Corpl. Henry F. Koch Killed. 
 
 Private George F. Lamphear.. " 
 
 1st Sergt. A. H. Reed Wounded severely. 
 
 Sergt. T. H. Pendergast " slightly. 
 
 Private Philetus S. Barnett.... " severely. 
 
 Wm. B.C.Evans 
 
 " Christian Kasmier '' *' 
 
Appendix. 235 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 Officers killed 1 Officers wounded 3 
 
 Enlisted men killed 4 Enlisted men wounded 31 
 
 Total killed 5 Total wounded 34 
 
 Total killed and wounded 39 
 
 Total No. of officers and men engaged 185 
 
 J. W. Bishop, 
 
 Lt. Col. Com'd'g. 
 
 Paul Caviezel, Sergt. Company "F," wounded Oct. 5, 
 died Oct. 22, '63. 
 
 Peter Peterson, private Company "E," wounded Oct. 
 12, died Oct. 13, '63. 
 
 [No. 22.] 
 
 BATTLE OF MISSION RIDGE. 
 
 Supplementary report by Lt. Col. J. W. Bishop. 
 
 ( Official FileSy Adjutant GeneraVs Office, State of Minnesota.) 
 
 Headquarters Second Regiment Minn. Vols. 
 Chattanooga, Tenn., Dec. 10, 1863. 
 Capt. John R. Beatty, A. A. A. G. 2nd Brig., 3rd Div., 
 14th A. C: 
 
 Captain: — For the purpose of placing on record the 
 names of the officers and men of m3' command who b^^ 
 gallant and meritorious conduct under fire, during the 
 assault on Mission Ridge on the 25th ult., have entitled 
 themselves to special mention, I respectfully- submit the 
 following report as supplementary to the general report 
 already on file in your office. 
 
 There were present and engaged on that occasion one 
 hundred and seventy enlisted men of the regiment and the 
 following named officers, everj^ one of whom is entitled to 
 creditable mention. 
 
 Adjutant James W. Wood. 
 
 Assistant Surgeon Wm. Brown. 
 
 Captains C. S. Uline, 
 
 " J. C. Donahower, 
 
 " John Moulton, 
 
 '* Levi Ober. 
 
236 Appendix. 
 
 1st Lieutenants Tenbroeck Stout, 
 
 " H. K. Couse,com'd'g his Co., 
 
 S.G.Trimble, 
 
 " W.W. Wilson, com'd'g hisCo., 
 
 " L. A. Holmes, com'd'g his Co. 
 
 2d Lieutenants T. G. Scott, 
 
 " John C. Jones, 
 
 Edw. L. Kennj', 
 
 Thos. G. Qua\de. 
 
 To Capt. C. S. Uline, the senior of his grade in the 
 regiment, was assigned the command of the two companies 
 deployed to cover the formation and advance of the 
 brigade in taking position for the assault; this duty was 
 skilfully discharged, and in the furious assault and in the 
 melee on the ridge he especialh^ distinguished himself b}'- his 
 gallant example and by his coolness and promptitude in 
 directing the enthusiasm of those who followed him. 
 
 1st Lieutenant Samuel G. Trimble, a gallant and faithful 
 officer, was shot dead in the extremp front of the fight on 
 the ridge. Beloved and respected by his comrades in life, 
 his death in the very moment of victory cast a cloud over 
 our thanksgiving for the triumph for which he gave his life. 
 
 2nd Lieut. Thomas G. Ouayle fell at the head of his men 
 in the melee on the ridge, severeh^ wounded in the right 
 knee. 
 
 Color Sergeant Holder Jacobus of Companj^ "E" 
 crossed lances with a rebel color sergeant over a Napoleon 
 gun on the ridge, and for a moment the two disputed its 
 possession. Onh^ for a moment, however, and the gun with 
 its mate was ours. Sergeant Jacobus was soon afterward 
 wounded, and all of his guard save one were either killed 
 or wounded. 
 
 1st Sergeant Alex. H. Reed commanded his company 
 ("K") during the engagement, behaving with marked 
 coolness and courage. He was severely wounded near the 
 close of the fight on the ridge. 
 
 1st Sergeant George W. Shuman, of Company "I," dis- 
 tinguished himself by gallant conduct during the engage- 
 ment, especially by taking" the colors of the regiment from 
 Cor])oral Mullen who had fallen wounded, and keeping 
 them aloft and in front through the hottest of the fight. 
 
 Sergeant Lafayette Hadley of Company "B," Thos. 
 Harney of Company "E," and A. B. White of Company 
 "K," are all entitled to special notice for gallantry, as are 
 also privates Cox, Marsh and McNeal and many otherg^ 
 
Appendix. 237 
 
 whose gallant deeds, though telling in the hght, were not 
 especially observed and reported. 
 
 I am, Captain, very respectfully. 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 (Signed) J. W. Bishop, Lt. Col., 
 
 Com'd'g 2nd Minn. Vols. 
 
 [No. 23.] 
 
 BATTLE OF MISSION RIDGE. 
 
 Report of Col. F. Van Derveer, commanding Brigade. 
 
 {Official Files, Adjutant GeneraVs Office, State of Minnesota.) 
 
 Headquarters 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 14th A. C. 
 Chattanooga, Tenn. 
 Capt. a. C. McClurg, a. A. A. Gen'l, etc. : 
 
 Captain: — I have the honor to report the part taken by 
 the 2d Brigade in the late engagements in front of Chat- 
 tanooga. 
 
 My command consisted of the 9th Ohio Vols., Col. G. 
 Kammerling; the 75tli Indiana, Col. M. S. Robinson ; the 
 87th Indiana, Col. Newell Gleason ; the 105th Ohio, Lt. 
 Col. W. B. Tolles; 101st Indiana, Lt. Col. Thos. Doan ; 2d 
 Minnesota, Lt. Col. J. W. Bishop: and the 35th Ohio, Lt. 
 Col. H. V. N. Boynton ; numbering in all 102 commissioned 
 officers and 1,577 enlisted men. 
 
 Having been supplied with one hundred rounds of 
 ammunition to the man, on the afternoon of the 2v3d of 
 November I moved to a position three-quarters of a mile 
 in front of Fort Phelps with my brigade formed in two 
 lines, the left resting upon the Moore road and the right 
 near General Turchin's Brigade. Here we remained in 
 line with a strong picket in front until 8 o'clock a. m. ; on 
 the 25th, when in pursuance to orders from the General 
 commanding the division, I deployed one regiment (35th 
 Ohio) along my front and advanced it near without 
 opposition — the enemy's pickets having been withdrawn 
 about daybreak that morning, and several small parties 
 left for observation retiring in haste on our approach. 
 Afterwards this regiment was ordered to join the brigade, 
 when the division was moved to the left to and beyond 
 Calico Creek, crossing it near its mouth. Passing but a 
 
238 Appendix. 
 
 short distance from this creek an order came to counter- 
 march, and we returned and took position about half a 
 mile north of Bald Hill, facing, and twelve hundred yards 
 distant from Missionary Ridge. 
 
 At this point I formed my brigade in two lines : The first 
 composed of the 87th Indiana on the right; the 101st In- 
 diana on the left, and the 35th Ohio in the centre. The 
 second line was formed b}^ the 75th Indiana, and 105th 
 and 9th Ohio regiments. The 2nd Minnesota was placed 
 in front of the brigade, with two companies under Capt. 
 Uline, deployed as skirmishers, and the residue of the regi- 
 ment behind them as a reserve. 
 
 I ordered m3^ skirmishers to advance to the edge of the 
 woods, examine the position of the enemy and report their 
 apparent strength in and about the rifle pits at the foot of 
 the ridge. 
 
 After remaining in this place for an hour, I was 
 ordered to move forward and take the rifle pits; this was 
 about 4 o'clock p. m. 
 
 I sent word to Lt. Col. Bishop to move at once with his 
 skirmishers and reserve, and pushed up the brigade to keep 
 within supporting distance. The rifle pits in our front 
 appeared to be occupied b\' two battalions of the enemy, 
 two stands of colors being visible upon their works. The 
 skirmishers advanced gallantl3^ into the open field, and 
 under a heavy fire from the enem\''s artillery on the ridge 
 and musketry from the lower works, dashed forward at a 
 double-quick without firing a shot. As the^' approached 
 within one hundred and fifty 3^ards of the enemy, great 
 uneasiness was apparent among the men in the rifle pits, 
 and by the time our skirmishers were at a distance of one 
 hundred yards, they were retreating precipitately up the 
 ridge to their rear. Lt. Col. Bishop immediately got his 
 command under cover of the enemy's works, and within five 
 minutes of this time my first line, having passed the open 
 space under a very heavy, direct and enfilading fire from 
 the enem3''s batteries on the ridge, were also under cover of 
 the same works. In the meantime my second line w^as 
 brought forward into the open ground and the men ordered 
 to lie down. 
 
 Fifteen minutes after the rifle pits were taken the General 
 commanding the division ordered a charge upon the crest 
 of the ridge. My brigade moved at once with cheers and a 
 heart3^ good will, the 2nd Minnesota occup3'ing a position 
 
Appendix. 239 
 
 in the first line. The precipitous ascent, the enemy's sharp- 
 shooters in front and the terrific enfilading artillery fire 
 upon each flank, were forgotten in their eager haste to 
 storm the heights. My second line came forward at a run, 
 and after a few moment's rest at the foot of the ridge, 
 followed closely the advance. In fifteen minutes more our 
 colors were upon the summit, and in twent\' minutes the 
 rebels had been driven out of their works on the crest, and 
 we occupied the ground in front of the brigade. 
 
 As my men sprang over the works, the enemy's cannon- 
 iers were caught in the act of loading, and were bayonetted 
 or driven off before they could fire their pieces. Five guns 
 w^ere found here in position and captured by the brigade, 
 two (2) by the 2nd Minnesota and three (3') by the 35th 
 Ohio. The larger part of the enemy retired along the ridge 
 towards the left, vigorously pursued and driven near half a 
 mile. 
 
 For thirty minutes a very determined resistance was 
 made hj the enem3^ Man3^ of the troops of my command 
 having in the charge up the ridge lost their regimental 
 organization, were in some disorder for a short time, but all 
 pressed towards the enemy. The 9th Ohio and 75th In- 
 diana came up in good order and were placed in line per- 
 pendicular to the ridge and fronting the'rebels. Darkness 
 coming on, firing ceased on both sides, and my brigade 
 bivouacked on the crest of Missionarj' Ridge. 
 
 After the action one other piece of artillery abandoned 
 by the enem\' was found by the 75th Indiana and taken 
 charge of. 
 
 The guns that were captured by my command were left 
 where found while our men pursued the enemy along the 
 ridge towards Tunnel Hill. While the^' were thus absent 
 the pieces were hauled ofi'to our rear by men said to belong- 
 to Brig. Gen. Wood's division, w^hich was upon our right. 
 I saw these guns being taken towards the ground occupied 
 by that division, and upon inquiry- I was informed that 
 they were being taken to a position where the\' could be 
 used against the enemy. My brigade at the same time 
 captured one caisson with six horses attached, and a limber 
 with one pair of horses ; these two were taken to the rear 
 with the guns. 
 
 No other troops were near this batter\' when taken, — 
 the enemj' were driven from it by my own men and we thus 
 lost possession whilst gallantly engaging the retreating 
 rebel force. The next dav I moved with the rest of the 
 
240 Appendix. 
 
 division to McAffee's Church and the succeeding to Ring- 
 gold. We were not, however, activel^^ engaged ; and on the 
 29th marched back to our camp at Chattanooga. 
 
 My loss upon the 25th was 2 officers killed and 13 
 wounded ; 20 enlisted men killed and 126 wounded. 
 
 In this action my brigade fully sustained the reputation 
 it had won at Chickamauga. None flinched from their 
 duty. 
 
 I particularly commend the conduct of Col.Kammerling, 
 9th Ohio, Col. Robinson, 75th Indiana, Col. Gleason, 87th 
 Indiana, Lt. Col. Doan, 101st Ilidiana, Lt. Col. Bishop, 
 2nd Minnesota, and Lt. Col. Boynton, 35th Ohio. These 
 officers discharged their duties coolly and abl3^ Lt. Col. 
 Boynton was severely wounded early in this engagement, 
 when the command of his regiment devolved upon Maj. 
 Budd, who is entitled to much praise, for the energy and 
 skill he exhibited in leading his men up the ridge. 
 
 Especial credit is due Lt. Col. Bishop for the manage- 
 ment of his regiment when skirmishing in front of the 
 brigade, and the gallant manner in which his command car- 
 ried the rifle pits at the foot of the ridge. 
 
 There were man^^ line officers and enlisted men who 
 deserve commendation for their gallantry ; for their names 
 I respectfully refer you to the reports of regimental com- 
 manders. 
 
 The members of my staft' with me on the field were 
 Capt. J. R. Beatty, A. \. A. Gen'l, Capt. C. A. Cilley, Brig. 
 Inspector, Capt. W. R. Tuttle, Brig. Engineer, 1st Lieut. S. 
 Fortner, Provost Marshall, 1st. Lt. S. D, Parsons, A. A. 
 Quartermaster, and 1st Lt. C. B. Williams, A. D. C. They 
 rendered me great service, and entitled themselves to praise 
 for their gallant conduct. 
 I am, Captain, 
 
 Very respectfully, &c., 
 (Signed) ' F. Van Derveer, 
 
 Col. 35th O. V. L, 
 
 Com'd'g 2nd Brigade. 
 
Appendix. 241 
 
 [No. 24.] 
 
 PROMOTIONS RECOMMENDED. 
 
 Head(2Uarters 2d Brigade. 3d Division, 14th A. C. 
 
 ViNiNGS Station, Ga., July 14th, 1864. 
 
 Brig. Gen. Oscar MALMRos,Adjt. Gen. State of Minnesota: 
 
 General: — I have the honor to recommend the following 
 
 promotions in the 2nd Regiment IMinnesota Volunteers 
 
 now under mv command and forming part of the brigade, 
 
 I. Lt. Col. J. W. Bishop to be Colonel. 
 
 II. Major Calvin S. Uline to be Lt. Colonel. 
 
 III. Capt. Clinton A. Cilley to be Major. 
 
 The regiment now having received two detachments of 
 recruits, numbers six hundred and ninetj^-tive (695) men 
 aggregate, which, with two hundred recruits, which I am 
 informed are now on the way to join it, will entitle the 
 officers so promoted to be mustered accordingly-. 
 
 I take this opportunity to state that the 2nd Minnesota 
 Veteran Volunteer Infantr\' is regarded as one of the very 
 best organizations in the service, and that the above 
 named officers are especialU' deserving of promotion for 
 their efficiency and strict attention to duty. The good of 
 the service and justice to these officers require that the 
 regiment be filled to the minimum, in order that a full quota 
 of field officers may be mustered. 
 I am, ver\^ respectfulh-. 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 N. Gleason, 
 Col. Com'd'g 2d Brig., 3d Div., 14th A. C. 
 
 (Endorsements. ) 
 
 Headquarters 3d, Division, 14th A. C. 
 July 14th, 1864. 
 The within recommendations for promotion in the 2nd 
 Minn. Vols, are fuU}^ concurred in, and speedy action in the 
 several cases urged. For nearly a year these officers have 
 served in my commands, and I know them to be competent 
 and in every way worthy of promotion. 
 
 Respectfully forwarded, 
 
 A. Baird, 
 Brig. Gen. Com'd'g Division. 
 
 16 
 
242 
 
 Appendi:?^. 
 
 Headquarters 14th A. C. 
 July 14th, 1864.^ 
 Respectfully' forwarded. The propriety of these. promo- 
 tions is unquestionable, and they are earnestly recom- 
 mended. 
 
 John M. Palmer, 
 
 Maj. Gen. Com'd'g 14th A. C. 
 
 Headquarters Department of the Cumberland. 
 
 July 15th, 1864. 
 
 Respectfully forwarded to his excellency the Governor of 
 
 Minnesota, recommending that the promotion be made as 
 
 requested of Lt. Col. Bishop, Major Uline and Capt. Cilley. 
 
 Geo. H. Thomas, Maj. Gen. Com'd'g, 
 
 Dept. of the Cumberland. 
 
 [No. 25.] 
 
 ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 
 
 ( Official Files, Adjutant GeneraVs Office, State of Minnesota.) 
 
 List of casualties in the Second Regiment Minnesota 
 Volunteer Infantry during the three months ending Aug- 
 6, 1864: 
 
 Name. Rank and Co. Date. 
 
 John C.Jones 2d Lieut B June 18,1864 Killed. 
 
 Peter G. Wheeler Sergt.Maj.N.C.S. " 22, " 
 
 Spencer La vicount.. Private 
 Nicholas Roppert . . . .Corporal 
 Charles F. Meyer. ...Captain 
 
 Samuel A. Field Private 
 
 Joseph Orcutt Corporal 
 
 DavidJ. BumgarnerPrivate 
 
 Roswcll Ingalls 
 
 Nelson Shelafoo 
 
 Isaac Sherman 
 
 Geo. Hetherington.. 
 
 Henry Clinton 
 
 Ira Holliday 
 
 Francis Waldron 
 
 James Whiting 
 
 Squire Hoff. 
 
 F 
 
 '' 22, 
 
 li 
 
 ' 
 
 G 
 
 " 18, 
 
 " " 
 
 G 
 
 May 14, 
 
 " Wounded. 
 
 D 
 
 June 1, 
 
 " " 
 
 C 
 
 " 5, 
 
 "W'dandc'd. 
 
 A 
 
 " 14, 
 
 " Wounded. 
 
 K 
 
 " 18, 
 
 " ' 
 
 
 H 
 
 " 18, 
 
 " 
 
 
 H 
 
 '' 18, 
 
 <t ( 
 
 
 H 
 
 " 18, 
 
 "■ ' 
 
 
 I 
 
 " 18, 
 
 it ' 
 
 
 I 
 
 " 18, 
 
 " ' 
 
 
 B 
 
 . " 18, 
 
 " ' 
 
 
 B 
 
 '' 18, 
 
 i 
 
 
 F 
 
 " 18, 
 
 <i i 
 
 
Appendix. 
 
 
 
 ^4^ 
 
 Name. Rank and Co. 
 
 Date. 
 
 
 Wm. Bingham Private 
 
 C 
 
 June 18,1864Wounded 
 
 Martin V.Barber.... " 
 
 K- 
 
 " 19, ' 
 
 ' Mortally. 
 
 Geo. Rutherford Sergt. 
 
 F 
 
 " 19, ' 
 
 ' Wounded 
 
 Thomas Rutherford " 
 
 D 
 
 " 20, ' 
 
 
 
 Nicholas Sons Corporal 
 
 E 
 
 " 20, ' 
 
 
 
 Geo. Ainsworth Sergt. 
 
 F 
 
 " 22, 
 
 
 
 Wm. Madden Corporal 
 
 F 
 
 '♦ 22, 
 
 
 
 James Thornton Private 
 
 F 
 
 " 22, 
 
 
 
 Frank Harris " 
 
 F 
 
 " 22, 
 
 
 
 Chas. F. Heyward.. " 
 
 F 
 
 '' 22, 
 
 
 
 John E. Colburn " 
 
 A 
 
 " 22, 
 
 
 
 LewisHorst " 
 
 E 
 E 
 
 " 26, 
 May 20, 
 
 
 
 Thaddeus O'Kibben '* 
 
 
 Joseph Burger " 
 
 H 
 
 Julv 9, 
 
 
 
 Station — near Atlanta, Ga. 
 Date— Aug. 26th, 1864. 
 
 (Signed) J. W. Bishop, 
 
 Lt. Col. Com'd'g 2nd Minn. 
 
 Charles Jung, private Co. G, Sept. 1, wounded (Jones- 
 boro). 
 
 George Adams, private Co. C, Sept. 1, wounded, ( Jones- 
 boro). 
 
 W.J.Johnson, private Co. C, Sept. 1, wounded, ( Jones- 
 boro). 
 
 [No. 26.] 
 
 Complimentary^ Letter from Brig. Gen. A. Baird, Com'd'g 
 Division, to Gov. Miller. 
 
 (Certified copy in possession of J, W. B.) 
 
 Headquarters 3d Division, 14th A. C. 
 Savannah, Ga., January 6, 1865. 
 His ExcelIvEncy, S. Miller, Governor of Minnesota : 
 
 Sir,— In consequence of a letter addressed by you to 
 Maj. Gen. Thomas, commanding the Army of the Cumber- 
 land, in which 3'ou promise to fill up the 2nd Reg. Minn. 
 Vols, from the supplementary draft to be made in your 
 state in November past, and ask that an officer be sent to 
 receive the men, I have detailed Major Fline for that duty, 
 with orders to report to you at St. Paul. 
 
244- Appendix. 
 
 I trust that the condition of afifairs may be such as to 
 enable you to carry out the design which you expressed in 
 your letter, and that Maj. Uline may soon return with the 
 number of men required to fill up his ranks. 
 
 This regiment has been under m\^ command for more 
 than a year, and has won for itself, and for the soldiers of 
 yovir state, a high reputation. It is one of the very best 
 regiments in an}^ of our armies, and I am sure that your 
 "men now entering the service cannot do more for the honor 
 of their state, or serve with greater profit to themselves, 
 than by becoming attached to it. 
 
 The^ three officers holding your commissions for the 
 highest positions in the regiment are all men of remarkable 
 merit, yet the^^ are still serving in subordinate grades for 
 want of the number of men required to muster them. Thc}^ 
 are Lt. Col. Bishop, Maj. Uline and Capt. Moulton, and 
 all of them have earned their promotion many times since 
 they have been under my command. 
 
 I am, sir, most respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 A. Baird, 
 Brig. Gen. Com'd'g Div. 
 
 [No. 27.] 
 
 SAVANNAH TO GOLDSBORO. 
 
 Report of Casualties, &c., to March 23d, 1865. 
 
 (Official Files, Adjutant GeneraVs Office, State oi Minnesota.) 
 
 Hp:adquarters 2u Minnesota Volunteers, 
 GoLDSBORO, N. C, March 23, 1865. 
 Col. Oscar Malmros, Adjt. Gen'l, State of Minnesota: 
 
 Colonel, — I have the honor to report the 2d Minnesota 
 Vol. Inf. at this place on the 23d inst. Having just received 
 our back mail for sixty days we are overwhelmed with 
 business, and a formal or detailed account now is out of 
 the question. 
 
 Our monthly returns for January, February and March 
 will be made and forwarded as soon as we can procure the 
 blanks. 
 
 Our casualty list is hereto appended, and the following 
 items mav interest those who are interested in the regiment. 
 
Ai'im:ni)1x. 245 
 
 The number of miles marehed from S.'ivannali, (ia., Jan- 
 uary 20th, to Goldsboro, Alarch 23d, not ineluding forag- 
 ing or work on wagon roads, or in the destruetion of 
 railroads, was four hundred and eighty. Mueh of it was 
 done in bad weather and on bad roads, and not a little of 
 it by night. 
 
 The number of serviceable horses and mules captured 
 and turned in by the regiment was thirt\'. 
 
 During the campaign we drew from the trains one third 
 rations of hard bread, coffee and sugar; all other sujjplies 
 were foraged from the country along the line of march. 
 Our aggregate number present when we marched from 
 Savannah on the 20th of January was 526. Decrease dur- 
 ing the campaign of 63 da^^s was: 
 
 Men sent to general field hospital 11 
 
 Missing, supposed to be captured 5 
 
 • 
 Total decrease being about three per cent. 
 Aggregate present on arriving at Goldsboro, March 23, 
 510. 
 
 When I remember that about one-half of the men of the 
 regiment are recruits of but a few months' service, and that 
 the campaign has l^een one of the severest on record, the 
 very small percentage of loss from the effective force is 
 more than satisfactory to me. 
 
 I am equally grateful to the recruits (they may well drop 
 that name now) for their patient and heroic endurance of 
 ])rivations and hardships to which they were little accus- 
 tomed, and to the veterans who have so uniformly given a 
 soldierly example to those of less experience in the rough 
 ways of war. 
 
 We hope now to have a few days rest to obtain clothing 
 and other much needed supplies, and having seven months' 
 pay due us, a paymaster would find himself welcome here, 
 too. 
 
 I am, very respectfully. 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 J. W. Bishop, Lt. Col. 
 Com'd'g 2d Minn. Vol. Inf 'y. 
 
246 Appendix. 
 
 CASUALTY REPORT. 
 
 DIED. 
 
 Owen Lewis, Corporal Co. B... Feb. 25, '65, of disease. 
 
 WOUNDED. 
 
 William S. Lyman, private Co. B...In action, March 20. 
 
 Christian Sanders, Sergt Co. G...In action, March 20. 
 
 MISSING, SUPPOSED TO BE CAPTURED. 
 
 Isaac A. Peterson, private Co. C. .March 2d. 
 
 Mars Oleson, private Co. C. .March 23d. 
 
 Sylvanus Stone, private Co. C. ..March 3d. 
 
 Ferdinand Birck, private Co. F.. .February 12. 
 
 Thos. H. Garretson, private. ..Co. F.. .February 12. 
 
 J. W. Bishop, Lt. Col. 
 Com'd'g 2d Minn. Vol. Inf 'y. 
 
 [No. 28.] 
 
 PROMOTION ANNOUNCED. 
 
 Headquarters 3d Div., 14th A. C. 
 June 13th, 1865. 
 Lt. Col. C. S. Uline, Com'd'g 2d Reg. Minn. Vols.: 
 
 Colonel, — I have the honor to inform you that I have 
 this day received from the Honorable Secretary of War, a 
 letter of appointment as "Brigadier General of Volunteers 
 by Brevet." (Commission dated April 9, 1865). 
 
 As I have never had permanently any other command 
 than that of the regiment of which I have been for nearly 
 four years a member, I desire to say through you that I 
 attribute this complimentary promotion entirely to the 
 gallant and soldierly conduct of the officers and men of 
 that regiment, and that I tender to them my sincere thanks 
 for the honor they have won for themselves and for me. 
 I am, very respectfully, 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 J. W. Bkshop, Col. 2d Minn. Vols. 
 
 Brevt. Brig. Gen'l U. S. V. 
 
Appendix. 247 
 
 [No. 29.] 
 
 PROMOTION RECOMMENDED. 
 
 Headquarters 14th A. C. 
 Savannah, Ga., January 12, 1865. 
 Adjutant General U. S. A. : 
 
 Sir, — I have the honor to apply for the promotion b}'^ 
 Brevet of the following named officers who have served 
 with distinction in the campaign against Atlanta and 
 Savannah : 
 
 ******** 
 
 Lt. Col. J. W. Bishop, 2d Minn. Vol. Inf'y- 
 These officers have not only commanded their troops 
 with uniform gallantry, but by their constant devotion to 
 duty and attention to all the details and necessities of their 
 commands, have brought them to a state of efficiency which 
 entitles them to some recognition of their services. 
 I have the honor to be, 
 
 Very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, &c., 
 
 JEF. C. Davis, 
 Brevt. Maj. Gen. Com'd'g. 
 
 Headquarters Left Wing, Army of Georgia. 
 Savannah, Ga., Jan'y 12, '65. 
 Respectfully forwarded, approved. 
 
 H. W. Slocum, 
 
 Maj. Gen. Com'd'g. 
 
 SECOND RECOMMENDATION. 
 
 Headquarters 14th A. C. 
 Washington, D. C, May 29, 1865. 
 Brig. Gen. L. Thomas, Adjt. Gen. U, S. Army, Wash- 
 ington, D. C. : 
 
 I have the honor to report that on the 12th of January 
 last I recommended Lt. Col. Bishop, of the 2d Minn. Vet. 
 Vols., to the Department for promotion to the grade of 
 Brigadier General by Brevet. Since that time this officer 
 has been commissioned by the Governor of his state. 
 Colonel of his regiment, and as such mustered. I desire 
 
248 Appendix. 
 
 respectfully to again ask the attention of the Department 
 to the merits and claims of Col. Bishop and to renew the 
 recommendation. 
 
 I am, very respectfull3^ 
 
 Jef. C. Davis, 
 Brvt. Maj. Gen. Com'd'g. 
 
 Head(^uarters Armv of Georgia. 
 Near Washington, D. C, May 30, 1865. 
 Respectfully forwarded to the Adjutant General of the 
 ArmA^ approved. 
 
 H. W. Slocum, 
 
 Maj. Gen'l Com'd'g. 
 
 [No. 30.] 
 
 Regiment Reported Ready for Discharge by Gen. J. W. 
 Bishop, Commanding Brigade. 
 
 (Original document in possession of J. W. B. ) 
 
 Headquarters 1st Brig., 3d Div., 14th Army Corps. 
 Louisville, Ky., July 8th, 1865. 
 Brev't Col. A. C. McClurg, A. A. G. and Chief of vStafif, 
 14th A. C: 
 
 Colonel,— Lt. Col. C. S. Uline, commanding 2d Regt. 
 Minn. Vet. Vol. Inf 'y, reports that regiment read3% and to 
 be mustered for discharge tomorrow — the 9th. 
 
 I have therefore the honor to request that I may be 
 ordered to assume command of and to report it to chief 
 mustering officer at Fort Snelling, Minn., for discharge and 
 final payment. 
 
 In making this application, permit me to sa^^' that as the 
 time draws near when we are to leave the comrades we 
 have so long served with, there are few, if an\', who do not 
 find that the joy and pride that we feel in the knov^ledge 
 that our redeemed country- no longer needs our service in 
 the field, is mingled with a sadness that always attends 
 the breaking up of long wonted associations. 
 
 Identified with the fortunes of the 14th Corps from its 
 organization, and in it the only representative of the State 
 that sent us to the field, it has been equally our care and 
 .our pride as a regiment, that Minnesota should never 
 
Appendix. 249 
 
 blush for the 14th Corps, and that the 14th Corps should 
 never droop its laurels with shame at the name of Min- 
 nesota. 
 
 With the most grateful remembrance of the soldierly 
 courtesy with which we have been uniformly treated by 
 our comrades in arms from other states of the same, our 
 own, country, I desire especially to acknowledge the kindly 
 interest in the regiment which has been so often manifested 
 by the Generals commanding the Division and the Corps. 
 I am. Colonel, very respectfully, 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 J. W. Bishop, 
 Col. 2d Minn. Vols., 
 and Brv't. Brig. Gen. Com'd'g Brigade. 
 
 [No. 31.] 
 
 Farewell Letter from Headquarters of 14th Army Corps, 
 Gen. Jeff. C. Davis, Com'd'g. 
 
 (Official document in possession of J. W. B.) 
 
 Headquarters 14th Army Corps, 
 Louisville, Ky., July 9, 1865. 
 
 General, — I have the honor to enclose to you a copy of 
 the order relieving A^our regiment from the Corps and 
 directing you to report it at Fort Snelling. 
 
 Until the time of separation came, none knew how 
 strong were the attachments formed during the months 
 and years of association in hardships and dangers as 
 soldiers. His relations to the officers and men of the 2d 
 Minnesota have always been a matter of pride and satis- 
 faction to the Corps Commander, and from no regiment in 
 the corps will he part with a deeper regret. He thanks one 
 and all of the members of the organization for the con- 
 stancy and devotion which have always marked their 
 attention to the duties and requirements of soldiers in 
 camp and on the march as well as on the field of action. 
 
 He congratulates you that your labors, hardships and 
 dangers are over, and that with a country restored to peace 
 and prosperity— partly through your exertions and sacri- 
 fices, you return once more to your homes. 
 
250 Appendix. 
 
 None have a better record for discipline and drill and all 
 the minutiae of soldierly conduct as well as uniform gal- 
 lantry on every field of action in which they have been 
 engaged than the 2d Minnesota, and your state owes you 
 thanks for the uniformly faithful manner in which you 
 have performed your share of the task allotted to the 
 soldiers of the Union. 
 
 Very respectfulh'^ your obedient servant, &c., 
 
 A. C. McClurg, Brvt. Col., 
 
 A. A. G. and Chief of Staff. 
 
 Brvt. Brig. Gen. J. W. Bishop, 
 Com'd'g 2d Minn. Vols. 
 
 [No. 32.] 
 
 Final Order to Report at Fort Snelling for Muster-Out. 
 (Original document in possession of J. W. B.) 
 
 Special Orders, 
 No. 5. 
 
 Headquarters 14th Army Corps, 
 Louisville, Ky., July 9, 1865. 
 
 ( Extract. ) 
 
 II. The 2d Minnesota V. V. Infantry having been mus- 
 tered on muster-out rolls, in accordance with existing 
 orders, Brvt. Brig. Genl. J. W. Bishop. Colonel of the 
 regiment, is hereby at his own request relieved from 
 command of the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 14th A. C, and 
 will proceed forthwith with his regiment to Fort Snelling, 
 Minn., and there report it in accordance with provisions of 
 General Orders, No. 94, (C. S.) A. G. 0., to the Chief Mus- 
 tering Officer of the State of Minnesota (or his assistant at 
 that point) for final discharge. 
 
 By command of Brevet Major Jeff. C. Davis. 
 A. C. McClurg, 
 Asst. Adjt. Genl. and Chief of Staff. 
 
 Brvt. Brig. Genl. J. W. Bishop, 
 
 Com'd'g 1st Brig., 3d Div., 14th A. C. 
 
Appendix. 251 
 
 [No. 33.] 
 
 ROSTER OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 
 
 In Service when the Regiment Departed for the South, 
 October, 1861. 
 
 FIELD AND STAFF. 
 
 Colonel, Horatio P. Van Cleve; Lieutenant Colonel, 
 James George; Major, Alexander Wilkin; Adjutant, Daniel 
 Heaney; Quartermaster, W. S. Grow; Quartermaster Ser- 
 geant, S. D. Parsons; Sergeant Major, C. A. Cilley; Sur- 
 geon, R. H. Bingham; Assistant Surgeon, M. C. Tolman ; 
 Chaplain, T. R. Cressey. 
 
 Company A— Captain, Judson W. Bishop; 1st Lieut., 
 Charles Haven; 2d Lieut., Charles H. Barnes. 
 
 Company B— Captain William Markham; 1st Lieut., 
 Daniel Heaney; 2d Lieut., Abram Harkins. 
 
 Company C— Captain, Peter Mantor; 1st Lieut., Henr}- 
 C. Simpson; 2d Lieut., David B. Bailey. 
 
 Company D— Captain, Horace H. Western; 1st Lieut., 
 Moses C. Tuttle; 2d Lieut., Samuel P. Jennison. 
 
 Company E— Captain, Asgrim K. Skaro; 1st Lieut., 
 E. St. Julian Cox; 2d Lieut., Jeremiah C. Donahower. 
 
 Company F— Captain, John B. Davis; 1st Lieut., David 
 B. Loomis ; 2d Lieut., John S. Livingston. 
 
 Company G— Captain, Andrew R. Kiefer; 1st Lieut., 
 Jacob Mainzer; 2d Lieut., Fred A. Brandt. 
 
 Company H— Captain, Nelson W. Dickinson: 1st Lieut., 
 John R. Beatty ; 2d Lieut., Jerome Dame. 
 
 Companv I— Captain, John Foote; 1st Lieut., William 
 S. Grow; 2d Lieut., Calvin S. Uline. 
 
 Company K— Captain, J. J. Noah ; 1st Lieut., Wm. W. 
 Woodbury; 2d Lieut., Ephraim A. Otis. 
 
 [No. 34.] 
 
 ROSTER OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS 
 At Re-Enlistment, Chattanooga, Tenn., January, 1864. 
 
 FIELD AND STAFF. 
 
 Colonel, James George, absent on sick leave; Lieut. Col., 
 J. W. Bishop, Com'd'g; Major, John B. Davis; Adjutant, J. 
 'W. Wood; Quartermaster, S. D. Parsons; Surgeon, M. C. 
 Tolman; Assistant Surgeon, Wm. Brown. 
 
252 Appendix. 
 
 Company A — Captain, Levi Ober; Lst Lieut., Ed. Kenny. 
 
 Company B — Captain, Abram Harkins ; 1st Lieut., W. 
 W. Wilson ; 2d Lieut., John C. Jones. 
 
 Company C — Captain, C. A. Cilley; 1st Lieut., H. K. 
 Couse; 2d Lieut., Matthias Thoen^^ 
 
 Company D — Captain, John Moulton; 1st Lieut., Hiram 
 Lobdell. 
 
 Company E — Captain, J. C. Donahower; 1st Lieut., 
 Augustus E. Alden ; 2d Lieut., Thomas G. Scott. 
 
 Company F — Captain, David B. Loomis; 1st Lieut., 
 John S. Livingston; 2d Lieut., Edv^ard Wait. 
 
 Company G — Captain, C. F. Meyer; 1st Lieut., Henning 
 V. Rumohr; 2d Lieut., Charles Rampe. 
 
 Company' H — Captain, John R. Beatty ; 1st Lieut., L. N. 
 Holmes; 2d Lieut., Thomas G. Quayle. 
 
 Company I— Captain, C. S. Uline; 1st Lieut., Tenbroeck 
 Stout. 
 
 Company K— Captain, W. W. Woodbury; 2d Lieut., D. 
 S. Coverdale. 
 
 [No. 35.] 
 
 FINAL ROSTER OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS 
 At Muster-out, July, 1865. 
 
 Colonel, Judson W. Bishop (Brvt. Brigadier General); 
 Lieutenant Colonel, C. S. Uline; Major, John Moulton; 
 Adjutant, F. S. Hoffstott; Surgeon, Wm. Brown; Chaplain, 
 Levi Gleason; Quartermaster, J. L. Kennj^; Sergeant 
 Major, W. C. W3mkoop; Quartermaster Sergeant, W. C. 
 Garrett; Commissary Sergeant, Samuel Bowler; Hospital 
 Steward, Robert Bailey; Musician, R. G. Rhodes (leader of 
 the band). 
 
 Companv A — Capt. Ed. L. Kenny; 1st Lieut., A. Kalder; 
 2d Lieut., A. McCorkle. 
 
 Companv B— Captain. J. W. Wood; 1st Lieut., ]. L. 
 Gaskill; 2d Lieut., F. Kelsey. 
 
 Company C— Captain M. Thoeny; 1st Lieut., W. H. 
 Mills ; 2d Lieut., J. P. Jackson. 
 
 Company D — Captain, G. W. Shuman; 1st Lieut., J. T. 
 McCoy; 2d Lieut., ]. W. Stuart. 
 
 Companv E— Captain, T. G. Scott; 1st Lieut., B. F. 
 Sylvester; 2d Lieut., T. D. Fowble. 
 
Appendix. 258 
 
 Company F— Captain, ]. S. Livingston; 1st Lieut., C. 
 H. Friend; 2d Lieut., F. R. Harris. 
 
 Company G— Captain, H. V. Rumolir; 1st Lieut., A. G. 
 Essen ; 2d Lieut., F. Lambrecht. 
 
 Company H— Captain, L. N. Holmes; 1st Lieut., E. K. 
 Wasser; 2d Lieut., Daniel Fagan. 
 
 Company I — Captain, T. Stout; 1st Lieut., E. V. Dicker ; 
 2d Lieut., H. H. Hills. 
 
 Compan^^ K — Captain, D. S. Coverdale; 1st Lieut., A. 
 H. Reed; 2d Lieut., A. B. White. 
 
 (Only three of these officers appear in the list of original 
 commissioned officers.) 
 
 [No. 36.] 
 
 MEMORANDA. 
 
 Date of mustering the first two companies June 26, 1861 
 
 Date of organization as a regiment JuU' 22, 1861 
 
 Date of re-muster in as veterans Dec. 29, 1863 
 
 Date of final payment and discharge July 20, 1865 
 
 Number of men mustered into the regiment 1,780 
 
 Number of men commissioned as officers 91 
 
 Number of men wounded in action 276 
 
 Of whom were killed or mortally wounded 68 
 
 Number of men died of diseases 167 
 
 Number of men discharged for disability 277 
 
 Number transferred or promoted out of the regiment.. 76 
 
 Number reported as deserted 61 
 
 Number of officers resigned 40 
 
 Number of men discharged at the end of three ^^ears' 
 
 time, or at end of war and away from regiment... 353 
 Number of men present at final discharge of regiment 699 
 Number of men on the rolls at the final muster out 821 
 
 It appears that of the whole number of men mustered 
 into the regiment from first to last, about 15 per cent were 
 wounded in battle, and about one fourth of these were 
 killed or mortall3^ wounded. 
 
 Nearly 9 per cent of the whole number died in the 
 service of disease, and 15 per cent were discharged for dis- 
 ability'; 4V2 per cent were transferred or promoted out of 
 the regiment, 3V2 per cent deserted the service, and 2^/4 per 
 cent (officers) resigned for various reasons during the four 
 years' service. Twenty per cent of the whole number were 
 
254 Appendix. 
 
 discharged at the expiration of the original years' enlist- 
 ment, and at the close of the war but awaj^ from the regi- 
 ment, and 40 per cent of the whole number were present in 
 the regiment at its final muster out. 
 
 Of the thirty-seven commissioned officers who were in 
 the regiment at the end of its service, onW three were com- 
 missioned officers at the beginning; all the others (except 
 the surgeon) had been promoted from the ranks. 
 
 While the regiment had various periods of encampment 
 or post duty, it had considerable exercise on foot. In 1862, 
 '63 and '64 it marched b^^ the record 5,153 miles; an 
 average of 4% miles a day, including Sundays, for the 
 whole time. No record was kept for 1861 or 1865. It is 
 believed, however, that the average daily marching in those 
 years would exceed that for the years given. 
 
 [No. 37.] 
 
 RE-UNION OF 1887. 
 
 Letter from Colonel H. V. N. Boynton. 
 
 Washington, Aug. 11, 1887. 
 
 My Dear General Bishop,— You may be sure I was 
 glad to receive your invitation for the re-union of the 
 Second Minnesota — of glorious deeds and memories. The 
 historical pamphlet you sent me was one of the most wel- 
 come documents I ever received. For, aside from all that 
 pertained to your own regiment, there was much which 
 was common to all the comrades in the brigade. In fact, 
 it is impossible to separate the history of the Second Min- 
 nesota, the Thirty-fifth Ohio, the Ninth Ohio and the 
 Eighty-seventh Indiana. I am sure each is proud of the 
 splendid record of the others. No doubt it has often 
 occurred to you, as it has to me, that while nian^^ other 
 brigades did all that could be done on mauN' fields, it hap- 
 pened to few to have the record of ours in one respect. We 
 had the peculiar good fortune to be never obliged either by 
 the enemy or by the contingencies of movements on any 
 field to give a foot of ground in the presence of the enemy. 
 That is a heritage which we all share. It would give me 
 keen pleasure to meet 3'ou again. Give an old comrade's 
 love to the living veterans of A^our regiment. They may 
 not remember me, but I have vividly and proudly in mind 
 their splendid bearing at Chicamauga and Mission Ridge 
 
Appendix. 255 
 
 and other fields of their renown. I am sorry that I cannot 
 attend the re-union; if it were possible, I would go. 
 Believe me, dear General, with a thrill of the old times. 
 
 Cordially yours, 
 
 H. Y. BOYNTON, 
 
 (Late Lt. Col. com'd'g 35th Ohio Vols. ) 
 
 Telegram from Colonel Ferdinand VanDerveer. 
 
 Hamilton, Ohio, Sept. 15, 1887. 
 To Gen. J. W. Bishop: 
 
 I wish I could meet with the old boys of the Second 
 Minnesota toda3^ Their soldierly qualities were unsur- 
 passed on the field of battle. I remember them as the 
 regiment without a straggler at Chicamauga. Convey to 
 them not only mv profound respect but say in addition 
 that my heart goes out to them. They deserve well of our 
 country. 
 
 Very truly, 
 
 F. VanDerveer, 
 (Late Col. 35th Ohio Vols., com'd'g Brigade.) 
 
 Letter from General A. Baird. 
 
 Hotel Chatham, Paris, Oct. 1st, 1887. 
 Gen. J. W. Bishop: 
 
 My Dear General,— Your kind letter of Sept. 3d, invit- 
 ing me to attend the re-union of the surviving meml3ers of 
 the Second Minnesota Regiment on Sept. 15th, has been 
 forwarded and has reached me here, where I have been^to 
 attend certain military maneuvers of French troops. It 
 reached my hand too late for a reply to be read at the 
 meeting, which I regret as well as not being able to be 
 there myself. 
 
 The word "surviving" which you use is a sad one. Most 
 of the men must have been younger than I, yet I survive, 
 but to retire from active service next year. Every man of 
 the Second Minnesota Regiment ought to feel proud that 
 he belonged to it. I have known your regiment well, as 
 you know. I have seen the soldiers of all countries, and I 
 can trvithfullv say that I have never seen men that I would 
 
256 Appendix. 
 
 more willingly trust myself with in an hour requiring the 
 highest strain on manhood and bravery, than those of the 
 Second Minnesota. 
 
 With the warmest friendship for yourself and for the 
 regiment, 
 
 Most truly yours, 
 
 A, Baikd, 
 ( Late Maj. Gen. com'd'g Division. ) 
 
 Letter from General W. S. Rosecrans. 
 
 Treasury Department, Register's Office. 
 
 Sept. 6th, 1887. 
 J. W. Bishop, Esq. : 
 
 Dear Comrade, — I remember the Second Minnesota 
 very well, and am a witness to their gallantry, patriotism 
 and courage. I have good reason to remember it grate- 
 fully. 
 
 Please present my best wishes to the assembled comrades 
 and tell them that, if dut^^ permitted, I should enjo^^ noth- 
 ing better than to be at the re-union in St. Paul on the 15th 
 inst. 
 
 Since dictating the above, the pamphlet "Official Records" 
 of the regiment has come to hand, and revives many liveh' 
 memories of the Second's fighting and staying qualities. 
 M3^ warmest good wishes to each comrade of that regi- 
 men L 
 
 Ver\' truly yours, 
 
 W. S. Rosecrans. 
 (Late Maj. Gen. com'd'g Army of the Cumberland.) 
 
 H 122 80 
 
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