.i'f? r-?!. ¦m .¦U'M;-. .¦1 v-'» ^ . J ( ( • _ i^^ -' 'h'i •i". :i^f lu: YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY -^ -C^ I ^o .^", { '-^3^ ) THE STAR CORPS, OE, NOTES OP AN ARMY CHAPLAIN, DURING SHERMAN'S FAMOUS !.(. MARCH TO THE SEA." REV. Gr. S. BR^DLE"^, CHAPLAIN 22d WISCONSIN. MILWAUKEE: JERMAIN & BEiaHTMAN, BOOK & JOE PRINTERS, SENTIKEL BTHLBI NOff. ¦ 1865. TO THE "Wives, Widows, Paeents, Beotiiees, Sisters, Childeen and Feii;nds or the BRAVE BOYS who Pateioiioallt iEPT the Endeaements OP Home and Loved Ones FOR THE Tented Field, the Weaet March, THE "Feaepul Charge, the Battle Roak, a Soldier's Grave, this TOLUME IS Respbctpully Dedicated, by PREFACE. In presenting this volume to the puhlic, we expect the critics wiU find plenty of fault, but we would say at once that we haye not written anything for them. We lay no ¦claim to literary merit, but wish simjily to present a plam, unvarnished story of our " tramp " through Georgia and the Carolinas. We propose to use " our journal and published letters," freely, and shall copy them for the most part as they first appeared in the public newspapers of the time. Much of the matter in the following pages was written by the roadside while on the march, or amid the noise and bustle of camp. Frequently while writing, we listened to the booming of cannon and rattle of musketry, and again we wrote amid the dead and dying in hospital, or on the battlefield. We write for the friends at, home,' who have watched " Sherman's March to the Sea " with such intense interest, .and we trust they will find something of interest here. Vl PEBFACB. Our purpose is to present a history of " Coburn's Brig ade"— the 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 20th A. C. Perhaps many will look over these pages and lay down the book with disappointment, owing to the fact, that some things of interest are omitted, or touched upon "with a passing remark, while others of comparatively no im portance stand out prominently. If the 22d Wisconsin ajjpears more frequently than any other of the Brigade, it is owing to the fact that we know more of that — ^being with it — than of any other one, — and not that it contains better men, braver commanders, or has performed harder work, or made longer marches. While we rejoice that so many of your loved ones have been permitted to return home, we remember that many,. very many, sleep far away m the Southland. " And perhaps it is well, for some one must fall For tMs bleeding country's sake, And our old flag be saved thougb our brave boys die, And motbers' hearts should break. Our starry flag waves in triumph to-day. For the victory at last is won. Though many bright homes are filled with grief For a noble fallen son. " And the cries of the stricken-hearted Are still borne on the balmy air; For scarcely a home in our sorrowing land' That has not a vacant chair. But, thank God ! no more'weeping Rachels Shall mourn for a brave fallen son; But, 0 God 1 help those who are mourning To say, ' Thy will be done ! ' PEEFACE. VII " There are homes to-day bright and happy, And mothers' hearts filled with joy. As they wait on their own pleasant thresholds To welcome their long absent boy. 0, there'll be many a happy fireside, When the gallant boys come home, But onrs will still be desolate, For TiiY BOY will never come." G. S. Beadley. Racine, Wis., July 3d, 1865. INTRODUCTORY. In order to have a clear conception of things at the •time«the 2d Brigade entered the field, it wiU be necessary to review matters somewhat. <- On the 25th of May, 1862, Gen. Banks' forces retreated lEi-om "Winchester to Martinsburg, Va., fighting all the way. On the 31st, occurred the battle of Fair Oaks, in which -the Union forces were driven back with great loss. The next day our side gained some advantage. June 9th, occurred the battle of Port Republic, Va., be tween Shields and Jackson's forces, where after a severe fight, the federals were forced to retire, with the loss of two guns, and a large number of killed and wounded. On the 14th, there was very heavy fighting on James' Island, S. C, about .five miles from Charleston, in which the Union forces were repulsed with heavy loss. On the 26th, the battle of Mechanic svUle, Va., was fought. The rebels, 60,000, under Jackson, succeeded in getting to the rear of McCleUan's right wing, and the Union forces were compelled to fall back. The battle was renewed the next day — the fighting tei-- •rible — the union forces falling back to Gaines' Mill. X INTEODUCTOET. During the night our right wing fell back across the ¦ Chickahominy. On the 28th, eighteen loyal states petitioned the Presi dent to call out additional troops to suppress the rebellion, for everything was at this time looking very bad. On this day, also the 29th and 30th, there was hard fighting, our forces in the meantime having fallen back to James River. On the 12th of July, the battle of Malvern Hill took place, the last of the seven day's fighting before Rich mond. After very severe fighting, the rebels were re pulsed, but our loss was severe ; McCleUan was in no con dition to foUow up any advantage secured. His great Peninsular Campaign had proved a failure. About this time. Gen. Pope was assigned to the com mand of the Army of Virginia. On the same day that the rear of McCleUan's army crossed the Chickahominy, Pope's retreat commenced, and the rebels pressed him back towards Washington in the most hm-ried manner. On the 26th, a large rebel force had appeared almost within cannon shot of Washington. On the 30th, Pope, after severe fighting on the old bat tle ground of Bull Run, was compelled, with heavy loss, to fall back to Centeiwille. On the same day also, occurred the battle of RichtQond," , Ky., in which thfe Federal forces under Gen. Nelson were overpowered and forced to retreat — the rebel forces num bering 15,000, under Gen. Ku-by Smith. . Our forces had to fall back to Lexington. On the first of September, the Legislature of Kentucky, from fear of rebel raids, adjourned from, Fi-ankfort to Lou isville. INTRODUCTOEY. XI Kirby Smith was now supposed to be advancmg uj)on Cincinnati, and there was a terrible excitement all along the border. About this time, a large portion of the rebel army crossed into Maryland, and things were certainly looking very gloomy. Perhaps at no period of the war had affairs seemed more discouraging. Meetings were held all over the North, and men were called upon to enlist. It was felt that the critical moment had arrived wben every one who could go must go. Under this state of aifau-s, the Second Brigade entered the field ; with the exception of the 33d Indiana, that had already seen hard service near Cumberland Gap. Without speaking further of matters in general, let us trace the history of the several regiments separately, tUl we find them in Lookout Valley, preparatory to entering on the Atlanta Campaign. For the history of the 33d Indiana, I am indebted to Joseph R. Shelton, and that of the 85th, to Lt. Col. J. E. Brant. Capt. Henry A. Ford furnished me with a part of that of the 19th Michigan. THE STAR CORPS. THE THIRTY-THIRD INDIANA. The 33d Inaiaiia Avas organized at Indianapolis, Ind., Sept. 16th, 1861, by Col. John Coburri. Left Indianapo lis on the the 29th of September. Passed over the Jeffer- sonviUe R. R. to Louisville, Ky., the same day, and ar rived there at night. Next day (30th) the regiment lay in the city, and on the 1st of October took the cars for Lexington, Ky., arriving there in the evening — staid there all night, and next morn ing started for Nicholassville, where the regiment staid that night. On the 3d, marched 17 miles to Camp Dick Robinson. Lay ten days at this place. An incident occurred here which niay be related : Our ' regiment' was encircled by a strong guard line, some 10 men on a relief — and on the 6th, the guards were satisfied that the enemy were aiming to get into our camp and poison our stock. The guards were ordered to load their guns and be very vigilant. At 14 THE STAE COEPS. a late hour of the night, two of the guards heard a noise which they imagined might come from some one trying to enter the guard line. They whispered together as they met at the end of their beat, and detennined if they heard any more noise to fire. In a few minutes the noise was heard again, and the crack of the sentinel's musket was heard, arousing the whole camp, when lo ! it was nothing but a loose horse that had caused all the excitement. On the 13th, the regiment marched for Dick's River, where we went into camp at Crab Orchard. Next day at noon, went into camp 3 miles south-east of this place. — Called the place Camp Coburn. Lay here 3 days, then marched to Wild Cat — distant 25 mUes — to meet the in vading army of ZoUicoffer. Arrived there on the 20th and found only one regiment. Col. Garrard's 3d Ky., wait ing to dispute the progress of ZoUicciffer. The next morn ing, we were roused by the " long roU," and in a few minutes all were ready for the coming battle, which com menced at 8 o'clock. Four companies of the regiment were marched hastily to the top of Hosier HiU, and four were sent on the right to guard a pass on Rock Castle River hiU. We were soon engaged in a desperate strug gle with the enemy, which resulted in driving the invader. We lost in this engagement 2 kUled and 1 1 wounded. Marched to London in pursuit of the flying rebels. Lay at this place tiU the 13th of October, when we marched to Crah^Orchard in order to meet the enemy at Mill Springs. Went into camp at Crab Orchard on the I7th. Here began a scene of suffering which cannot be described. — Many times there were scarcely enough men in health to get wood for the camp, and nearly every house in the town was used as a hospital. AU that the citizens could THE STAE COEPS. ' L5 ¦do for US was done, but 45 men died in a few weeks, and altogether we here lost some 70 men from sickness. jOn the Vth of January, the 33d left their encampment for the city of Lexington, where they arrived on the 10th. Went into camp 3 miles north of the City. Here the reg iment enjoyed good health and quiet for the yest of the winter. At Lexington, the regiment enjoyed the full con fidence of the citizens, and they would here record their gratitude to them, and especiaUy for then- uniform kind ness. The Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society deserves es pecial mention, as it was the means of restoring, many of ¦ our brave men to health. ' On the 11th of AprU, we left Lexington for Cumberland Ford by way of Crab Orchard. After 13 days march, we went into camp at the Ford with the army of Gen. George W. Morgan. After lying at the Ford for over a month, we marched for the Gap by way of Roger's Gap. After marching and counter-marching several times in the mountains, we proceeded up the VaUey to the Gap, which was evacuated the day before, (June 18, 1862). Six guns were captured, together with some other valuables. We lay here in a quiet manner for a few weeks, and then participated in the fight. at TazeweU. The regiment with the balance of the command was soon cut off by Bragg's invading Kentucky. We Uved very poorly till the' evacuation ofthe Gap,' which took place Sept. 18th. After we were surroimded, we were immediately put on half rations, which were afterwards reduced to one-fourth rations, and the only chance then to live was by trading -with the citizeng, who came as near the Gap as our pickets would aUow. 16 thW STAE COEFS; We skirmished with the enemy every day, and sent out; foraging parties, which sometimes foraged in the same- field with the rebels — we on one side and they oti the other. When the Gap was evacuated, oiir regiment marche'cJ out in advance of the column. On the 20th, we encamped at Goose Creek Saltworks, near Manchester.' On the 22d, the regiment and the whole army moved north through the hiUs towards BoonviUe. Passed this place and Proctor the same day, and lay on the rocks of the river bed at night close to the town. Water was quite an object, and some days there was none to be had. The- regiment rested one day at West Liberty, wher^ Marshal had just left. Here we had plenty of water and all en joyed it very much. On the 29th, occurred the skirmish of Crocker's Neck, in which, the rebels -were driven away in confusion. After 1 7 days of severe suffering for want of water and supplies, as weU as from hard marching, we arrived at , Ky., (Oct. 3d), and were pleased with a place to rest. Here we crossed the Ohio River — some wading the stream, while others went over in boats. We moTed down the ¦ river on the Ohio side to Sciota-viUe. As we passed the towir of Wheelersburg, we were met with an excellent dinner by the citizens of the place, for which we were very grateful. From Sciotaville, we took the ti-ain ' for Portland, and from this place we marched to Oak Hill — distant 3 mUes. Lay here tiU the 14th, when we took the train for Cin cinnati. THE STAJB COEPS. 17 On the 15th, we passed through the city and went into camp at Co-vington, Ky. During our first campaign, including the marching and fighting to London, and back to MiU' Springs, we were under the command of Brig. Gen. Scheopff. The second campaign from Lexington to the Ford, Gap, and the retreat, we were under the command of Col. Co- burn and Brig. Gen. Baird, as Brigade Commanders. At Covington we got an outfit and prepared for another campaign. At this place we were put into a brigade of new troops, the 14th and 19th Ky. being separated from us and put into other brigades. Col. Cobm-n took command of the brigade, now composed of the 33d Ind., 85th Ind., 19th Mich, and 22d Wis. Left Covington on the 26th of October, and arrived at Georgetown Nov. 1st. On the 12th marched to NicholassviUe, where wear- rived on the 16th and went into camp. Lay here tUl Dec. — , when we marched for DanviUe, where we arrived, on the 12th, went into camp and remained a short time. Here we commenced, as a brigade, to run after John Morgan, which was our regular business for the winter. Left DanvUle on the 26th of January, and arrived at Lonis-vUIe on the 30th. Left Louisville, on transports, on the 2d of Feb. for Nash-viUe, where we arrived Feb. 9th. Lay in camp at this place tiU Feb 21st. Then marched to Brentwood, distant 12 mUes. Lay at this place tUl the 2d of Marohy when we went to Franklin. On the 4th we were ordered out to Spring HiU, where the desperate bat tle of Thompson's Station occurred. On the 4th we met the rebels, and after fightiitg for a 18 THE STAE COEPS. short time they feU back. We pressed them for a short distance and then went into camp for the night. ' The Col. commanding found that the rebels were too strong for us, and so reported, but his Orders were positive and he must obey. The foUo-wing is a copy : " Special Oedbe, ) /T?„+,.„„i\ No.. 15. [ , (Extract) VI. . . . Col. Coburn, with his Brigade and Battery, with 600 CaVah-y, wiU, to-morrow, at 8 o'clock, proceed along the Colunlbia Pike as :far as Spring HUl, arid send out a party from there on toward Columbia, and on through to Raleigh Springs on the Lewisburg PikCj where a cavalry force from Murfreesboro wUl communicate with it on the ensuing day. VII Col. CampbeU wUl be furnished from the three regiments. Col. Payne of the 124th Ohio Vols. wiU re port to Col. Coburn to accompany this cdmmand. Four (4) days rations wUl be taken ; 2 in the haversack and 2 in the -wagons. A forage train of 80 wagons -wiU accompany the expedition. ' Only 4 wagons to the regi ment and 2 to the battery wiU be aUowed. By order of . ¦ Beig. Gbn. C. C. Gilbeet. Geoegb R. Speed, Lt. and A. A. A. G." Col. Coburn moved out at the time appointed in the above order, and proceeded about four mUes, when we met and dispersed the rebels, they losing II men kUled, whUe we had only one wounded. the STAE COEPS. 19 On- the morning of the 5th at 7 o'clock, the brigade moved out, and at 8 the skirmishing began. At 9 we #e]'fe in Brie' of battle and offered the enemy fight. We did not wait long but sent out a ^kirinish line to' the R. R., and sooii' fdund plenty' of the enemy. We fell back to the hill we first occupied as a mainline, and ^oon the thlmder of artillery and musketry told us that the whole line ^as engaged. The fight lasted for six' (6) hours, arid, being surrounded by four lines of bat tle it 'was easy to see oiir doom. ' When the brigade 'Surrendered, thei'^ was not an ave- i^ge of one found of amhliinitiori to the man. ' ' Our loss was quite heavy. The' regiment, after a hard day's fight, had to witness the humUiating sight of the old flag, they so mubh loved, trailed ill the dust. ¦ Oiir efaptofs did not jeer us, but when told our number, they sai'd they had lost mote men than our -whole number in the fight. We surrendered at 4 o'clock, arid had fought nearly aU day in hearing of a force which could have re lieved -ns, if they had been Sent for-rt^ard. ' After thei surrender, we were intoched to Columbia — a dist'^face of 12'mUes. A few of our wounded men -were -with US a'nd suffered severfel^. ' We lay in the Court House at'CoIumbia jlart of the night which was not spent in marching. . i , We -i^^ere marched froin Columbia' to Shelby\'ille, and from tJiere to' TuUahoma,' where we were put on board the cars for Richmond. Onr sufferings were great from the time of capture to the time of release, which Avith some was only 30, -with others 60 days. The weather -Vvas very inclement, and Ve 20 THE STAE COEPSh; lay out of doors nearly aU' pf the- time, which caused, a^ great many to be sick, At Tfllahoni^, ouj- rubber blankets and overcoats wei;^ taken $-om us by order of Gen. Bragg. .., ;, AU the way we were very much crowded} hi the carg. We were , 7 days on the cars. We left TuUahoma on the 12th,. passing through Stevi^nson, Bridgeport, Chat:- tanooga, KnoxviUe, Bristol, and I^ynchburg. , The 33d was reieased froni Libby the 1st and 3d of of AprU, 1863. Arrived at Annapplis on the 2d and 5th. From th^re we wqr,e taken to Cajnp Chase,. Ohio, thence to IndianapoUs. After one month, the officer^ came uj^ and the regiment was reorganized. > The regiment was received with great honors by the- citizens pf Indianapolis. The boys were aU fiirloughed home for a few days, and on the 12th of Jun,e, the regi^ ment started again to the field, and on the 18tli rejoined the portion of the. regiment that was not captured. The regiment thus completely reorganized, we prepared to march. June 23 d, the regiment marched from Nash-vUle toMur- fireesboro, where we arrived on the .27th. Here we .lay two days, then marched to Guy's Gap, where we remained tUl the 18th of Jitly. Then we returned to Miir:free.sboro_ During om- stay at the Gap, we did very heavy picket duty. At Murfreesboro we went into regular camp -ndth constant drUUng. We lay here till the 6th of September, when we, were deployed on the R. R„from TuUahopia t®. Dechafd. The several companies had frequent sku-mis}iing with the enemy. At Dechard, Capt. Burton was in command of the post- THE STAE COEPS. 21 lOn the sth of November, the regiment was consolidated at 'Christiana, where we remained tiU Feb. 25th, 1864, when Tve marched to NashviUe, having re-enlisted at Christiana .as veterans. We were kept at NashvUle on guard duty ttiU the 25th of March, when we were furloughed home for •30 days. After a pleasant visit among home friends, we once more started for the field of strife. The regiment as rapidly as possible marched to Look- •out Valley, crossing a spur of the famous Lookout Moun tain, and then on towards Buzzard's Roost, where Sher- anan's mighty hosts were concentrating. THE TWENTY-SECOND WISCONSIN. 'The companies comprising the 22d Wisconsin, recruited almost entirely in the counties of Rock, Racine, Green and Wallworth, were ordered into camp on the 25th of August, 1862. The organization was effected at Racine 'during the latter part of the month, and the regiment was mustered into ser^dce on the 2d of September. But a short time was aUowed them in camp. They left Racine on the 16th for Cincinnati, having been ordered to that place in anticij)ation of the threatening movements of the rebels under Kirby Smith. On the 22d, they crossed the Ohio river on the pontoon bridge, and marching into Kentucky, encamped four mUes south of Covington at " Camp Bloodgood." Broke camp on the 7th of October, and marching on the Lexington pike, arrived at "^Camp Smith " on the evening of the next day. 22 THE STAE C CEP St On the 13th, marched to '.' Camp G^iliniOrV^ 'where they remained three days camping on Eagle Ci'eek. On the 19th marched to Big Eagle Creek, arid resuming march on the the 21st encamped at Georgetown. On the 24th, they moved to Lexington; wheaiethey re mained six days, marching to SandersviUe on the 30th. > Nov. 13th, marched, to NicholassvUle, wher« th^.ir©- mained performing proyost ; guard: duty, untU.the l-Sthof December, when they started for DanvUle, arriving heTJfc day. ' :.. , 'i;--. ...'¦. From DanvUle they moved in various directionsitihroiiigli the surrounding country, to meet and foU the movements of the enemy — particularly Morgan. At DanvUle and Nicholassville, the regiment suffered terribly from sickness. At times there were scarcely well ones enough to' take care of the sick. ' The Water was not fit to di'ink. . 1 ,,..| . ¦::'. , A few extracts may perhaps be interesting; here : " The new year has dawned again npoij us. The gal lant. 22d are yet in existence, and are not gobbled up-by Morgan as it has been reported,, although they have be«B nearer John Morgan's forces than a , great many of ike boys dreamed of Last Monday morning the 22d and 33d Indiana, were ordered to be on the Pike and ready to march, destination unknown. Just as we got -Outside the city, we found that we Avere to go to Lebanon to reinforce troops there and baffle John Morgan, as he was advanc ing on Lebanon. That day we marched 16 miles. Tues day morning again on tlie road towards Lebanon. "When we had reached within five mUes of Lebanon we were or dered back to DanvUle, and we reached the old camping ground of Monday night, tired and wet. We have since THE STAE COEPS. 2S learned that a force of rebels planted a battery a fe-w mUes from us along a group of hUls, to rake us in the morning as we should go to Lebanon, but as fortune would have it, we were to go to DanvUle. The 33d Indiana is an old regiment and is the best in the Di-visiony the largest and most powerful. They told us Wednesday morning that they intended to tire us out, but they failed. Faster and faster the 33d marched, but close upon theii' heels fol.- lowed the 22d. After getting to DanvUle, they aeknowl-, edged that no regiment- had kept so close .to, them as the 22d. Sunday, the long coveted green^backs were distributed to the boys. They have, stood long in :(i.eed of them,, and to-day each one smiles .like a. basket of .chips. Sickness is on the decrease I think in the regiment. * * * * ',,*•'• -*,..,. * Occasionally, 'yOurs, ¦ Glen-dowee;" Under date of January 2d, 1863, Chaplain Pillsbury "writes as foUows : " On arri-ving at DanviUe, I learned that death had been doing his work there as weU as at NicholsviUe. Hugh Stu art, who left the latter place weU, so far as I knew, and of whose sickness I had learned nothing, had fallen and 'his remains were on tlieir way to the grief smitten home. Thuty of the regiment have now fought their last battle. But a smaU portion of the desolations of war are seen upon the battle-field. Were leading military men required to Avrite letters of condolence to bereaved friends, instead of issuing orders to brigades arid divisions, perhaps they would become more anxious to strike a settling blow. Put 24 THE STAE COEPS. :aU the generals, on 'both sides, into the ranks and let them take the chances and fare as privates, and the war wiU be brought to a close in less than three months. Sickness in the regiment, I am happy to say, is at the present time abating, both as regards the number sick and the severity of prevailing diseases. Our regiment has recently 'marched up the hUl and marched'down again,' and repeated the march. By order of the commanding General, two brigades, then in this place, marched for Lebanon a distance of twenty-eight mUes, on Friday morning of last week. It rained in tor rents a large part of tihe day, and we camped for the night wet and cold, after marching fourteen mUes. Dniing the night orders came for us to return to Dan-viUe ; and on Saturday we marched back to our old camping ground. Early on Monday morning, agreeably to orders, the 22d "Wis. and 38d Ind., marched again for Lebanon. When within five mUes of that place, on the next day, orders came for us to return to Dan-yUle. So we returned to the camping gi-ound left in the morning. Dm-ing the night wders came for the regiments to hasten to Lebanon. But before getting under way, orders were countermanded, and -we stUl again sought our camping grounds in Dan-vUle. The boys begin to think it a difficult thing to find the way to Lebanon, ha-ying mai-ched seventy-two mUes and find ing themselves where they started. This is mUitary life, and these are the incidents of war. It is simply om- bus iness to obey orders and ask no questions. It is now said that Morgan -with 5,000 of his cavalry camped within three mUes of the 22d Wis. and 33d Ind. on Tuesday night, and that we should have been attacked, had he not supposed that we had reinforcements at hand. As to the THE STAE COEPS. 25 correctness of the report, it is difficult to determine — the country is fuU of rumors and much excitement prevaUs at times. That Morgan is somewhere in the vicinity -of Leb anon there can be no doubt — some of his men have been captured and brought into this town. His presence also gives Kentucky guerrUlas an excellent opportunity to pil lage the country, claiming to be Morgan's men, and thus ^ving him and his banditti credit for much of which they are not guUty. That this game is practiced quite exten- .sively is undoubtedly true." On the 26th of January, 1863, the regiment left Dan vUle for the last time, arriving at LouisviUe on the 30th. Here they went on board of transports for NashvUle. The following letter wUl be read with interest : "Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 8, 1863. The fleet of some forty steamers, containing the com mand of Gen. Baird, accompanied by five gunboats, an chored in the Cumberland river, against NashvUle, last evening. It being too late to disembark and go into camp, aU remained on board during the night. Om- passage on the whole, a distance of some 600 miles from Louisville to Nashville, was pleasant ; no serious accident occurring, ^except the loss of one man from the Champion, Jacob Wachter, of Company B, who feU overboard and was portion of the regiment, by faUing back to Franklin. In the battle of Spring HUl, the 22d lost 12 commis sioned officers and 142 men, in kUled, woimded and pris oners. 1 . On the Sth, the forces under Col. Bloodgood were or dered, to Brentwood. , Here -they were attacked on the 25th by a large force under Gen. Forrest After a sharp skirmish, during which they lost three men woimded, they were completely overposvei-ed by numbers, and compeUed to surrender.,. All were s^t to Richmond. Soon officers and men were exchanged and sent to St., Louis, where a reorganization was effected, and on the 12th of June the regiment was ordered to Nashville, where it arrived on the 15th. Here it remained a week, marching on the 22d to Franklin. On the 3d of July the regiment was or dered to Murfreesboro, where it. remained tUl Feb. 24, 1864. During their stay at this place^, their military du ties being vei-y Ught, the boys employed their time in ma king "shell-work," some of which was very fine. THE STAR COEPS. 81 Feb. ' 24th they were ordered back to NashviUe, where 'they remained until the 19th of April, when they set out for Lookout Valley, making the journey in about 10 days. THE NINETEENTH MICPIIGAN. ' 4 -V 'N This regiment was mustered into service Sept. 5th, '62, •and I6ft for the field S6pt'. 14th. Arrived at Cincinnati on the 16th. The rebel forces uiider Gens. Kirby Smith and Heath were faUing back froin the front of Covington. We were assigned to gtiardduty at Gravel HUl Station, the Ohio being quite shallow here. We were to defend ¦this point against the passage of Morgan and others. — Here John Morgan was said to have been in our camp one day, in the guise of an old man, peddling' stationary. He was meditating an attack on our fines, and took this meth od to find out about matters. The attack was aVerted — as generaUy believed since — -by change of camp next day to a more defensible position. Oct. 14th we were trans ferred to Covington, where, soon after, we were brigaded -with the 33d and 85th Indian^j and 22d Wisconsin, in Gen. Gordon Granger's "Army of Kentucky." On the 1st of January, 1863, we were stationed at Dan vUle. The "Army of Kentucky" having been transferred to the "Department of the Cun3,berland," a "Reserve ¦Corps," the 19th, moved with its brigade to NashviUe, -where it arrived Feb. 7th, proceeding thence to Franklin.. 3'2 THE STAE COEPS. On the 4th of March, with 600 cavalry and 200 addi tional infantry, it took part with its Brigade in a reconoi- sance in force. After a march of four miles, skirmishing commenced with the enemy's scouts and advanced pick ets, but the rebels retu-ing, the Brigade encamped, the 1 9th having lost in the skirmish one wounded. The march having been resumed on the foUowing day, the enemy were met in force at Thompson Station, 9 mUes from Franklin. After an engagement of some six hom-s, their ammunition became exhausted, and the entire force surrendered to the enemy, excepting a few who succeed ed in making their escape. The rebel force proved to be an entire cavalry division, 18,000 strong, under Gen. Van Dom. The 19th went in to action -with 512 officers and men, of which 113 were kUled and wounded. Those pf the regiment who had es caped, and those who had remained in camp at Franklin, were sent to Brentwood, organized with the remaining fragments of the Brigade, and placed under an offi cer belonging to another regiment. This force was short ly afterwards C9,ptured by Gen. Forrest and sent to Rich mond. The enlisted men of the regiment were soon paroled and sent North. The commissioned officers were exchanged May 25th. The regiment was reorganized at Cairip Chase, Ohio, and on the 8th of June left Columbus, arriving at NashviUe iri season to take part in the advance on TuUahoma. On the 23d day of July, the 19th was ordered to Mm-freesboro, where ^e werit upon garrison duty on the fortifications. Company D, numbering 50 men, having been stationed at a stockade on the NashviUe and Chattanooga R. R. at Stone liiver, was attacked on the Sth of October by a TIIE STAB COEPS. 33 large number of rebel cavalry and artillery, mider General Wheeler, and after a short and hopeless resistance, having lost 6 wounded, the conijDany surrendered, but after hav ing been plundered all were released. On the 25th .of October, the regiment was ordered to McMinnviUe, where it remained till April 1864, when it once more joined its brigade to participate in the Atlanta campaign. THE EIGHTY-FIFTH. INDIANA. Tho 85th Ind. Vol. Infantry was organized in Teri-e Haute, Ind, and mustered into the service September 2, 1862 — and thence went to Indianapolis, Ind., September 3d — was there armed and partiaUy equipped. Thence was sent to Covington Heights, Ky., via Cin cinnati, where in constant bivouac it did heavy guard, picket and fatigue duty, on the Licking River, and in the vicinity of Fort Mitchell and Latonia Springs. October Sth and 9th, marched to Falmouth, Ky., where it remained untU Oct. 26th, buildmg railroad bridges, doing provost and picket duty. Thence marched, via Cynthiana, to Paris — ^thence, October 28th, to Lexington Ky. — ^thence, Nov. 14th, NicholasvUle. Here the regiment suffered very much from sickness, iiot being yet hardened to the severities of camp life. December 10th and 11th the 34 THE STAE COEPS. regiment marched, via " Camp Dick Robinson," to Dan vUle, Ky. Made a reconnoisance on the Lebanon Pike with bri gade and division, on the 26th and 27th of December, for the purpose of heading off John Morgan and his forces, then on a raid thi-ough the State. Returned to DanvUle on the 27th, where it remained until January 26th, 1863, furnishing heavy detaUs for picket and guard duty, and detachments to project the Kentucky and Dix River bridges. Thence marched to LouisvUle, via Harrodsburg and Shelbyv'Ule — distance 85 miles — arriving at LouisviUe on the 31st of January. Thence on steamboats, the Har rison and Fort Wayne, constituting a part of the fleet carrying General Granger's forces, moved via Ohio and Cumberland Rivers, to Nash^¦iUe, Tenn., aiTiving on the 7th of February; thence marched to Brentwood ; thence to Franklin, Tenn. On the 4th of March moved out with brigade on the Columbia Pike, and on the 5th of March was engaged in the battle of Thompson's [Station, where after C hours fighting, and the loss in kiUed and woimded of about 60 men, the regiment with brigade was com pelled to surrender to the rebel forces, commanded by Generals Van Doi-n, Fon-est and Wheeler. In this engagement the regiment lost in kUled, Captain Floyd of Co. "A", of whom it can be said truly, no nobler and braver man ever drew a sword. Here also fell other good and noble men, such as Sergt. Shepherd, Corporals Lusk, Conaway and Listen. In this disastrous battle tho regiment changed front 7 times, and fought as bravely as men ever fought, but to no purpose. Surrounded and cut off from any hope of re- "inforcements, the surrender was inevitable, and as the THE STAE COEPS. 35 flag was lowered and the men lay down their arms, many wept bitter tears of disappointment. The terror of the march to TuUahoma, Tenn., under guard, and the ride from thence, via Chattanooga, Knox- vUle and Lynchburg, to Richmond, Va., and the horrors of Libby Prison, are, and ever wUl be vi-vid to the minds of those who shared in them. The enlisted men were released on the 1st of April, and the officers on the 5th of May, after which they were sent to Indianapolis, Ind. ; thence to Franklin, Tenn., arriving on the 13th of June 1863, where that part ofthe regiment not captured were stationed. At Covington, Ky., the regiment was brigaded -with the 33d Ind., 1 9th Mich., and 22d Wis., under command of Col. John Coburn, 33d Ind., afterwards known as " Co- burn's Brigade." The history of the regiment from this time is a part of the history of the brigade, serving in it through the Battle of Thompson's Station, and in the im prisonment Afterwards, in Middle Tennessee, the regi ments were separated, the 58th Ind. being stationed for a whUe at Murfreesboro ; thence moved to Wartrace, Tenn., where regimental headquarters were established, com panies being stationed along the road from Christiana to Duck River bridge. On the 5th of October the regiment was concentrated at Duck River bridge, excepting Company E, which was captured by Wheeler's force at Christiana, on the 5th day of October. In the month of November the regiment moved to Foster-yUle, Tenn., where it remained until Feb. 28th, 1864; thence marched, via Murfreesboro, Tenn., back to Lavergne, Tenn., where it was re-equipped and prepared 36 THE STAE COEPS. for the summer campaign. On the 20th of April started for Chattanooga, and on the way the regiments composing;- the brigade were re-united. Arrived in Lookout Valley on the 2d of May, and from that time forward througL the "Atlanta Campaign," the regiment shared in every battle where the " tri color" of Col. Coburn's Brigade was seen waving. Entered Atlanta on the 2d of September.. From thence with brigade, on the 15th of Nov., 1864, started with " Sherman to the sea." Arrived at Savannah on the 21st of December. On the 31st of December crossed the Savannah River with the brigade into Soutli Carolina ; thence to Purys- burg and Robertsville, where with the army again it bid adieu to aU liues of communication. Marched through South Carolina, and with the brigade was .engaged in the battle of Averysboro, North Carolina, on the 16th of March, 1865. Arrived at Goldsboro on the 24th of March. Thence on the 10th of April, started for Raleigh, N. C.,, where we arrived on the 14th of April. From thence on the 29th, started tor JTome via Rich mond and Washington. Participated in the Grand Review of "Sherman's Army," on the 24th of May, at the Nation's Capital. The regiment was mustered out of service on the 12 th of June, 1865, and started for home on the day following, where it arrived in safety amid the congratulations of,' many anxious friends. THE STAE COEPS. 37 BATTLE OF SPRING HILL. Col. Coburn's brigade, consisting of the 33d and S5th Indiana, the 1 9th Michigan, and the 22d Wisconsin, ac- •companied by the 124th Ohio, the ISth battery and 500 or 600 cavah-y, marched out of Franklin on the 4th inst. on a reconnoitering and foraging expedition. The cavalry took the lead of the column, followed by the 33d Indiana, the battery, 124th Ohio, 19th Michigan, and the 22d Wis consin in the order given. The 85th Indiana was guard to the train in the rear. On the 2d day, the 85th Indiana and 124th Ohio changed positions. After proceeding some fom- miles, the cavalry being de ployed as skirmishers to the right and left, the enemy were ¦discovered with a battery planted upon a hill about one- half mile in advance, supported by infantry drawn up in line of battle, amounting, in all, perhaps to 1,000 men. About this time, the enemy announced his presence by a messenger which went whizzing over our column and light ing upon the ground, about 60 feet from our boys. This messenger was acknowledged by a general dodging of heads. The 33d Indiana and the 22d Wisconsin filed to the right, and the battery took a position on a hill to the left, supported, by the 124th Ohio and the 19th Mich. Om- battery then opened upon the enemy, and quite a brisk fire was kept up between the batteries for an hour and a "half, when the rebels feU back. Our battery fired about '60 rounds. The infantry took no active part in this en gagement. Our forces followed the retreating foe over the hiUs they had occupied, and through a succeeding val- 38 THE STAE COEPS. ley, then returned to the hiUs and took dinner. They then advanced about a mUe and a half, and camped for the night. The enemy lost several kUled and wounded — one with the name of J. H. Harden written upon his coat, lay beside the pike when our troops passed. In this first day's skirmish, we had two men wounded, one of the battery, and one ofthe 19th Michigan. During the night, we had strong pickets posted in every direction from the camp, -nath positive orders to shoot any person who should approach from the outside. Early in the mornii|g, a reconnoisance was made three mUes to the front and upon the hiUs upon both flanks, and no enemy reported in sight. About eight o'clock the column advanced, the 22d Wisconsin taking the lead of the infantry, the cavalry in the front, next two guns of the the artillery, then the infantry. The column felt its way along slowly and carefully, skirmishers being thrown well out on the front and flanks. Soon they began to pass picket fires which had evidently been left by rebel pickets early in the morning. About the houses of farmers and planters along and near the pike, an ominous sUence reigned'; On the retreat, it -was learned from the negroes, that nearly all the citizens in the vicinity were with the rebel army during the battle. As the brigade came to the foot of a range of hills which crosses the pike, and through a depression in which it passes, a shell from a rebel battery, stationed at the other side of the vaUey beyond and nearly one mUe distant, feU in the midst of the cavalry, but, fortunately, it did not explode. The cavalry immediately feU back ; the infantry deployed on both sides of the pike, the S5th and 33d Indiana to the right, and the 19th Michigan, and the 22d Wisconsin to THE STAE COEPS. 39 the left, and advanced up the hills. Three' guns ofthe batteries took position on a hUl to the left of the pike, and two on a prominent position to the right. The battery immediately opened upon the enemy, bringing a response of shot and shell from tliree different positions. Thompson's Station is situated in a valley, nearly semi circular in form, both ends of which open into the coun try on the flanks of the range of hiUs, on which our brigade was stationed, and in the rear of our position; On tlie south side of this vaUey, near the centre, and on the right and left, about one-half mile apart, the rebel guns were stationed. On that side of the valley, throughout its whole length, from where the guns were stationed south ward, is heavy timber. In this timber, but out of sight, the whole rebel fore was drawn np in line of battle. After the artillery had been engaged some time, the rebel battery on their right and our left, moved still further to the right ; and men could be seen nearly one mUe distant, on our left, in trees, signaling to the battery, indicating a position- which would bear directly on our infantry. Soon the battery opened -\\'itli grape and canister, which came so close that the 19th Michigan was obliged to change its position. In the mean time. Col. Coburn had advanced the 85th and 33d Indiana regiments on our right down into the valley, and they had made a charge upon the battery situated near the left of the enemy's pcsition. As they approached the battery, two regiments, hid behind a stone wall in front of their battery, rose up and poured volley after volley into their ranks ; and immediately the -\\'hole rebel line emerged from the v/oods. At the point oppcsite the 22d Wisconsin and the 19tli Michigan, they were in 40 THE STAE COEPS. column of battalions. The Indiana regiments were soon compelled to faU back across the valley, which they did in good order, fighting as they went, untU they arrived at -their position on the hUL That position they maintained untU they were surrounded, and their ranks decimated by a heavy fire from both sides of the hill, when they sur rendered. The Wth Michigan and 22d Wisconsin sustained the attSck on the left with unflinching courage. Their fire was so severe and well directed, that, untU they were ordered from their position, the rebel line did not ad vance one inch from where they first engaged it. But to thsii left; the rebels were advancing unobstructed across the (©pern c©unti-y, infantry in line, supported by artiUery, for lihe pnrpo'S'e of capturing our train and cutting off our retreat. Soon after the engagement became general, Col. Co- bum finding himself severely pressed, ordered the 19th Michigan to his assistance, thus leaving the 22d Wiscon sin imsupported to contend against a force, probably, ten time* as great in point of numbers as its own. Such an ¦Qnequal contest could not long be maintained, neverthe less, the regiment held its ground until Col. Coburn be came alarmed for the safety of his rear, and ordered it to fall back and engage that portion of the rebel line on our left, which was rapidly closing on the pike. This order was delivered to the Lieut. Colonel, who notified the Colonel, but he seems not to have uuderstood it. Lt. Col. Bloodgood, in command of the right, gave the order to move by the left flanlt down the pike. About one-half the regiment followed the Lieut. Colonel, and engaged the right flank of the enemy, until they were outflanked, when they fell back, fighting as they went, and with the battery THE STAE COEPS. 41 ^arrived safe in camp. The Colonel was soon di-iven from his position, and retreated upon the hills to the right and rear of the position occupied by Lieut. CoL Bloodgood, a little more than one mile from the battle field, where he was captured, and all who remained with him. The rebels had, before this, closed in ujjon the three regiments upon the right, and compelled them to sur render. They fought, however, with such desperation, that, although they were surrounded, the rebel general found it necessary to bring a battery around, with gi-ape and canister, into position so as command them entirely, and was about to open upon them, when CoL Cobui-n surrendered. Our boys were said to have fought cooly, deliberately and bravely. Several instances of bravery were men tioned, amounting almost to rashness, and it was with evident reluctance that they left the field, though ordered to do so, and almost surrounded by an overwhelming force. It should be stated, that CoL Coburn, becoming satis fied that he was to meet an overwhelming force, either in the evening of the first day, or early in the morning of the second, sent an orderly to Gen. GUbert asking re-in- forcements. To this request, Gen. Gilbert said, " Col. Coburn must be scared," and retui-ned the following order, '" Your force is sufficient ; advance." The causes of the sacrifice of this brigade are, as we understand them, as foUows : 1st. Gen. GUbert, after being duly advised that they were in force at Spring Hill, ought not to have precipitat ed a single brigade upon them without adequate support. '.2. When Colonel Coburn saw the strength ofthe rebel 42 THE STAE COEPS. line, after he had drawn his two regiments back across the* bottom, he ought not to have permitted a general en gagement; but at once reversing his train, placed th& battery in a good position in the rear, and with his bri gade in a defensive attitude, retreated toward Franklin,, until the other brigade could have been sent to his as sistance. But instead of this, he permitted the brigade to become engaged in a position, where the more desperately it fought, the more certain it was that every man would be- captured. The only reason why any portion of the 22d. Wisconsin escaped, was that their position on the left was not so far in advance as the regiments on the right, and being left alone, the odds against them were greater, and. they were overpowered a few minutes before the rebels closed in on their rear. If the rebels had not jiressed quite so hard in the front, in all probability nearly every man connected with the brigade would have been cap-^ tured. These are my views of this'military movement, which resulted so disastrously to our brigade. Perhaps no one- is chargeable with intentional wrong, much less with treachery ; but it is, I think, somewhat difficult to justify the order of Gen. GUbert, and his neglect to send out his brigade to Col. Coburn's assistance, though all the time reminded by the incessant roar of battle within his hear ing, that a severe and doubtful contest was going on. THE STAE COEPS. 43 BATTLE OF BRENTWOOD. After the battle of Thompson's Station, in which many of the 22d were captured, the balance of the regiment was stationed at a point on the railroad, running from NashvUle to Franklin, for the purpose of protecting the road from the depredations of guerriUas, We were about 9 miles from either place. We numbered about 640 men, including officers, teamsters, and the sick. The number fit for duty must have been less than 400 men. About two mUes south of us, the remnant ofthe 19th Michigan Infantry, numbering in all 230 men, was sta tioned to guard the railroad bridge across the " Big Har- peth." A small stockade had been built here for protec tion against the attack of infantry. We had neither cavah-y or artiUery at either, of the two points. The loyal forces were, quite strong at both Franklin and NashvUle. Lieut. Col. Bloodgood was in command of the 22d at Brentwood Station, and when notified of the state of affaii-s at the bridge, on the morning ofthe 25th, so many of his men, as it was thought i>i-udent to take out of camp, were started immediately to the aid of the 1 9th Michigan. But when they had reached the height of a small elevation, not more than one-fourth of a mUe from the camjj, and were enabled to look down the ojiposite side, a large num ber of rebel mounted infantry were in full view not more than half a mile distant, forming in line of battle on either side of the street Our advance force was then quickly deployed to the right and left, in the timber as skirmishers. Next, a flag of truce was discovered approaching us 44 THE STAE COEPS. i'rom the enemy. Major Smith was sent out in advance to meet it. We received a communication, stating that we were entirely surrounded by Gen. Forrest's command, demanding an immediate and an unconditional surrender, and declaring that Ave should be cut to pieces otherwise. '" Come and take us" was the answer returned. Upon the return of the flag of truce, the enemy com- -menced moving toward our lines as infantry, a portion of them having dismounted for that purpose. When suffi- -ciently near, they were flred upon by our skirmishers, and -quite a smart firing was kept up on both sides for about ten minutes. At this point, a piece of artUlery was dis- ¦covered in position to sheU our camp, and horsemen were rushing down the hUl upon every side. Next a flag of truce approached the enemy from our lines, the firing ceased, and a surrender of our feeble force followed. We had three wounded, and one accidentaUy wounded him self after the surrender, and subsequently died. I saw one of the enemy's officers dead upon the field, and they had 'five severely wounded with them in an ambulance on their Teturn. The rebel force consisted of three brigades imder the -commands of Generals Forrest, Armstrong and Stearns, and a battalion of independent scouts, under the com mand of Major Sanders of Nicaragua notoriety, numbering in aU not less than 5,000 men. Perhaps some men might have contended longer, but, in my judgment, it would have been but a reckless sacri- rfice of life to no purpose. Certain strictures upon the conduct of Col. Bloodgood, and insinuations of cowardice which have appeared i^ the Chicago Tribune, and one or two other papers, are but the cowardly attacks of some THE STAE COEPS. 45 one entirely ignorant of the facts in the case. The 230. men guarding the bridge, and represented as having been surrendered without resistance, were a remnant of the 1 9th Michigan Infantry, two miles south of us, and with whose- surrender. Col. Bloodgood had nothing to do. This movemsnt was characteristic of Forrest's command,. as aU well knew. To place such a feeble force in such a position, withneither cavalry nor artillery, was to place them in the hands of the enemy. Every family in the neighbor hood answered the purpose of pickets for the enemy, in forming them fuUy of our ijosition and circumstances. — With two pieces of artUlery, our jsosition might have been maintained tUl the arrival of reinforcements, and a very dif ferent result might have followed. On the ninth day after our capture, aU, officers and pri vates, were paroled and sent by way of Richmond to be returned through our lines. Under the di-illing ofthe "Confederates," our "boys" learned that they could do some very smart marching, and that upon very light rations. The rebels fared but very little better than we did. We were captured inside of our own lines, the enemy having made a forced march of thirty miles, flanking our forces at Franklin during the night, and it required dis patch and rapid movements to avoid an attack in return ing. We marched not less than 75 mUes, seemingly,, through all the forests of Tennessee, to reach Columbia, a j)lace 28 mUes from where we started. But had our posi tions been reversed, and the circumstances the same, we should have marched them as they marched us, and had the Big Harpeth crossed our path, in the absence of other means of crossing, they would have been required to ford 46 THE STAE COEPS. it, as were om- boys, though the water came near their arms. War is war, and in passing judgment npon treatment received, that fact should be borne in mind. Note. — The Author would here &ckno-v7ledge his indebtedness to Chaplain Pillsbury, of the 22d 'Wisconsin, for reports ofthe above bat tles. "COULD "WE ONLY KNOW!" PABTINQ W0KD3 OF ELDEB DUSs's MOTHEB. As the dear ones leave the hearthstone. Murmuring farewells soft and low, How the heart, iu wild uprisings, Crieth "could we only know." Know that this our dearest treasure. Tended by our strictest oare, Would but list when evils gather For the mother's voiceless prayer. Prayer, perchance, that in life's morning All unheeded was, but now, In the hour of manhood's trial, May it not the spirit bow 1 "Voice of pleading heard in childhood, Far adown the walks of life, Sounding louder and yet clearer, Serves to strengthen for the strife. "THE STAE COEPS. 47 "Hemory paints with golden pencil All the tracery of the past ; 'Touching lightly — leaving sunshine "Where but shadows should be cast. IBnt beyond this gilded picture. And from out this "long ago," •Come their voices iu their wildness, Crying, "Could we only know." And in our momentous present, Never more despairing cry vVas upraised to the All-Father, E'en though knowing we must die. All the wealth and all the pleasures, Earth cau give, or Fame bestow. Freely, Oladly would we give them, "Could we, could we only know." 'Only know if slain or dying. Wounded, sick, or captive taken, iKnow the hearts best idgl was not Bound by sin's most galling chain ; ¦Only know that by the camp-fires. Brother, son, or husband dear, Kept the incense burning, ever, On the altar, bright and clear. 'Upward then, our soul-gaze turning, Rising out of self, beholds Hearts all crushed, and torn, and bleeding, By the woes the war unfolds, Looking anxiously for starlight, ¦ When there gleams no single ray, Giving token that the midnight Will be followed by the day. In this night of pitchy darkness, Stands our nation, filled with gloom, Scarcely having faith sufficient To avert its dreaded doom, — 48 THE STAE COEPS. Longing so to know the future, — See the end of all this woe, — Dumb it is with very anguish, But the soul cries, "only know."' Still in this eventful present. We would see a Father's hand, Feel that day from out of darkness Yet must break upou our land ; IIow or when we may not question ; Trust and pray the whole night tlirougU, — If 'tis best, our God will give us Full and clear the end to view. MRS. G. S. BRADLEY: College Hill, Hillsdale, -Mich. « PRISONERS OF WAR. After the surrender at Spring Hill and Brentwood, om- men were started for Richmond. The foUowmg, whicht has been kindly furnished by R. L. Adams, wUl serve to- give some idea ofthe journey to that place. He says : " But as prisoners of war we were hmTied: away by our captors — Forrest and his command — on an. uncertain and tedious march through back ways, by muddy lanes, through fields, over fences, through streams, large- and smaU, and over, in fact, the roughest and most dis agreeable route possible. We were led in a roundabout way to avoid being recaptured by our forces which were- THE STAE COEPS. 49 on the track. We marched tliree or four mUes to gain one. March 28th, 1863, found us at the old Court House in Columbia, Tenn. — arrived during the night, completely jaded out, having marched a day with little or nothing to eat. We were quartered in the Court House, which had the appearance of having been used for this purpose a long time, and was none the more comfortable for its abundant supply of filth and vermin. Here we received a very meager ration of hoe cake and meat Received here also a written " parole of honor." Marph 29th — Marched nine mUes this P. M. over a road too rough to be tolerable even for a footman. Camped for the night upon a rocky hiUside. March 20th — Marched again this morning on our journey towards Richmond. Passed through cedar swamps and woods for quite a portion of the day. About 5 P. M. we stopped at a little town caUed Farmington, known as a Union town. But few people were here except women and chUdren, who were outspoken in their Union senti ment, in spite of the presence of rebel officers. They were not wanting in their expressions of kindness, both in word and deed. One good lady, who with her little ones lived in a log house, wUl ever be remembered. She made us welcome to everything she had, even to raUs from her fence, which enclosed her little garden. May God's choicest blessings be bestowed upon this truly loyal and noble hearted woman ! We spent the night as comfortable as could be expected under the circumstances — corn meal being dealt out to us, with a little bacon to use as best we could 'to satisfy hunger. But the night was too cold to sleep. 50 THE STAE COEPS. March 31st — Started on our march again this morning. Reached ShelbyvUle about 3 P. M., distance 15 miles, but passed beyond some throe miles, when we stopped for the night in a cedar thicket, which shielded us from the wind, and where wo had plenty of wood, so that we spent the most comfortable night here we have since being taken prisoner,?. April 1 St — Marched for TuUahoma to-day, arriving about 3 P. M. Found " butternut" soldiers as thick here as bees — this l^lace being Bragg's headquarters. We were quartered in the highest part ofthe town within some earthworks, but so low as to be no protection from the wind. We found it very difficult to keep warm, having only a very smaU al lowance of wood. Some ofthe boys spent most of the night vralking about to keep warm. We had, one consolation — wc were not to walk any further. Up to this time, most of thoso having charge of us were human, and kind, but some, including sorae of the officers, were harsh and even brutal. There were two officers in particular — Capt. Forrest and Lieut. Coffee, who' should be held in execration. Most of the privates" seemed to cherish an affection for the old fla"- stUl. It was evident that many of them would leave the rebel service at the first opportunity. April' 2d— Marched at sunrise out of our cold camp to the depot To our surprise, we were compeUed to leave aU our overcoats, blankets and canteens before going aboard the train. We were crowded into box cars — 60 in each, so that the ride was tedious enough. AiTivcd at Chattanooga about 9 o'clock in the evening. But little wood was furnished us, and, with no blankets, THE STAE COEPS. 51 sleep was out ofthe question. The night, being so cold, seemed intolerably long. April 3d — This morning dawned on our poor boys sleepless and cold. At 3 P. M. we were ordered on board a train for Richmond. The country through here is rough and mountainous. AU the little towns along the route have a forsaken, dilapi dated and uninviting appearance. The fields are growing up to weeds, and very seldom did we see any farming, except some little garden spots. The inhabitants are mostly women, children and negroes. April 4th — Reached KnoxviUe about 6 P. M. It ap peared to have been once quite a flourishing little city, but the effect.s of war were plainly visible here. About noon we changed cars and moved on. The general appearance of the country is rather mountainous. ' ' '"" April 5th — Arrived in Bristol dtu-ing the night The weather being cold, we suffered for want of our blankets. Having to wait over one day for want of transportation, we were marched a little out of town near a piece of woods, -vvhere wc found -wood plenty, and so made our selves quite comfortable. Slept some during the day, but during the inight it was too cold to sleep. The hours ' seemed Idrlg and tedious. We were impa tient to be hurried through as fast as possible. Bristol is about on the line between Tennessee and Virginia. ''' April 6th — Left Bi-istol this morning at 4 o'clock. The country appeared rougher than any we have seen— passed through sfeyeral t'tinnels. The scenery was romantic and gi-and. Pine and cedar prevaU mostly. April 7th — Arrived at Lynchburg at 10 A. IVL This 52 THE STAE COEPS. seemed to be a city of considerable importance, situated on the James River. Here we changed cars for Richmond. AprU Sth — Arrived in Richmond at 9 A. M., and were marched over to Libby, where, after being searched, we were furnished with our quarters under strong guard." In addition to the above, read the foUowing : U. S. Geneeal Hospital, ) Annapolis, MAEYLAND,May 13, 1863. j " Free ! Free ! Thank God we are free once more," was the glad shout that went uj) from the lips of our party of two hundred and fifty Union officers, who had been held in " durance -vile" for many long weeks and months by the bars, bolts, and bayonets of Jeff. Davis' rebel horde of minions, as with countenances beaming with joy, and eyes moist with tears, we stepped aboard the good steame!^ State of Maine at her mooring at City Point, on the morn ing ofthe Sth inst., whither we had been sent fom Libby Prison, Richmond, for exchange. Never were men more thankful to the Divine Ruler for the blessing of freedom, or more grateful to a government for the efforts made to bring about their liberation. 'Tis true, that at times, when the prospects looked dark, and we were desponding and sickening with hope deferred, fearing that we should be held and treated as felons and criminals, all through the sickly months of summer, we would complain somewhat at the seeming indifference of the government, to the suf fering and indignities inflicted upon us by the traitor mob. But the indifference was only seeming, and we now rejoice that our excellent commissioner (Col. Ludlow) did not accede to the compromising terms demanded by the THE STAE COEPS. 53 traitor Ould, as to the conditions of our exchange. Better to end our career in rebel dungeons, than that the govern ment should yield to the dictates of those, -ftdio held us in their power. Our sufferings and imprisonment have only made our faith stronger in our cause, and increased our confidence in the integrity of our government and its ad ministration, causing us to strengthen our resolution to suffer and endure even more, if it were possible, and then die for its honorable maintenance. I wish, Mr. Editor, that it were possible to compel that class of people at the North, known as " copj)erheads" to niiike the trip as we did through rebeldom. They would perhaps receive bet ter treatment than we from their friends, the more honest traitors in arms ; but the journey would effectually cure them of the insane idea of our establishing a peace with treason, with anything but the sword. For us, who have gone through the fire, there is no such thing as peace un til the flames of treason are smothered by our rain of leaden hail, or quenched with our life's blood. Every offi cer and man is anxious to get back to the field again, and I hear more complaining at the delay here, than when we were shut in behind the iron-barred windows of Libby j)rison. You have been api)rised, by a far more able pen than Eiine, of the jJarticulars of that terrible fight and its results, as well as the sufferings endured by us all while on the march from there to Richmond prisons ; in fact, no human power can tell all we suffered. Robbed of everything, stripped of onr clothing and blankets, exposed to the severest weather, comiselled to ford streams, where the water came up to our armpits, and forced to lie in the mud. I only wonder that any lived to tell the tale. Men 54 THE STAE COEPS. died with praises to the Most High, that He in His mercy ended their sufferings ; others prayed for death, which did not come untU they had reached the shelter of the old flag, then nature, which had born so much, gave way, .and the soldiers' cemetery at Annapolis is their last rest ing place. Yours truly, WM. BONES. PRISON LIFE. " To those who have entertained the opinion that the people of the South were a superior race, and possessed of a much higher order of civUization than the North, the facts recently brought to light of the wholesale starving and inhuman treatment of our prisoners, must be not a little insti-uctive. We would expect such treatment and such barbarities from North American Indians, but who could have believed it. of any of the American people ? Jeff. Davis, Lee, Stephens and others, can never be ex cused for the horrible treatment of these poor men. They were crowded within the Libby prison, dying from dis ease and want, or they were left on Belle Island exj)osed to every inclemency of the Aveather, or they were cooped np in the pens of Andersonville, MiUen, and other places, dying by tens of thousands, wet, cold, hungry, and abused. No wood was allowed them, when forests covered the hiUs ; no mea't or good bread, when the unused gifts of THE STAE COEPS. 55 the North were rotting at the doors of their prisons ; weak, despairing, heart-broken, a great throng of the unhappy and helpless victims of the rebellion. And yet in all these years, with the sad report of these cruelties ringing through the world, Avhen he must have known of them. Gen. Lee never issued an order, nor made an effort to stop them. He had but to say the word, and the Federal prisoners would have been treated like ordinary jjiisoners of war. But no such word ever came from the chief cap tain of the rebellion. On him must rest the damning stain of these great wrongs and cruelties. He is resftonsi- ble for the starved and murdered young men of the North. Along with the memory of his first great crime of treason, wUl always endure that of these horrible brutalities to the prisoners of the North. They should never be forgotten. They are wrongs against civilization itself. General Lee is said to have been a harsh and cruel slaveholder ; he preserved his character with the prisoners he captured. He has committed crimes, and scattered woes and griefs, which he can never atone for, and which we sliould never forgive, tUl he himself, at least, has avowed his peni tence." I The following account of a private in the 82d N. Y. regiment, is but one of the many talcs of suffering that might be related. After speaking of his capture, and his journey to Andersonville, during which, " all blankets, haversacks, canteens, money, valuables of every kind, extra clothing, and in some cases the last shirt and draw" ers, had been previously taken from him and his com panions," he says : " On reaching the Stockade Prison, we found it crowd ed with twenty-eight thousand of our fellow soldiers. By 56 THE STAE COEPS. crowded, I mean that it was difficult to move in any du-ec- tion without jostling or being jostled. The jDi-ison is on an open space, sloping on both sides, originally seventeen acres, now twenty-five acres, in the shape of a paraUelo- gram, without trees or shelter of any kind. The soil is sand over a bottom of clay. The fence is made of upright trunks of trees, about twenty feet high, near the top of which are small platforms, where the guard are stationed- Twenty feet inside, and parallel to the fence, is a light raU- ing, forming the " deadline," beyond which, the projection of a foot or finger is sure to bring the deadly bullet of the sentinel. Through the grounds, at nearly right angles with the longer sides, run.s, or rather creep's, a stream through an artificial channel, varying from five to six feet in width, the water about ankle deep, and about the middle of the enclosure, spreading out into a swamp of about six acres, filled with refuse wood, stumps, and debris of the camp. Before entering the enclosure, the stream, or more proper ly sewer, passes through the camp ofthe guards, receiv ing from this source, aud others farther np, a large amount ofthe vUest material, even the contents ofthe sink. The water is of a dark color, and an ordinary glass would col lect a thick sediment This was our only cooking and drink ing wa.te-r. It was our custom to filter it as best we could, through our remnants of haversacks, shirts and blouses. Wells had been dug, but the water either proved so pro ductive of diarrhoea, or so limited in quantity, that they were of no general use. The cook house was situated on the stream ju.st outside the stock.ade, and the refuse of de caying offal was thrown into the w.ater, a greasy coating covering much of the surface. To these, was added THE STAE COEPS. 57 ¦daily, a large amount of base matter from the camp itself. There was a system of policing, but the means were sri limited, and so largo a number ofthe men were rendered irresolute and depressed by imprisonment, that the work was very imperfectly done. One side ofthe swamp was natm-ally used as a sink, the men usually going. out some distance into the water. Under the summer sun, this place early became corruption too vile for description, the -men breeding disgusting life, so that the surface ofthe water moved as with a gentle breeze. The new comers, on hearing this, would exclaim, " Is this hell?", yet they soon would become callous, and enter unmoved the horrible rottenness. The rebel authori ties never removed any filth. There was seldom any visi tations by the officers in charge. The surgeons were at one time sent by President Davis to inspect the caniji, but a walk through a small section gave them all the in formation they desired, and We never saw them again. The guards usuaUy numbered about sixty -four — eight at each end, and twenty-four on a side. On the outside within three hundred yards, were fortifications on high o-round, overlooking and perfectly commanding us, mount ing twenty-four twelve pound Napoleon Parrotts. We were never 23ei-mitted to go outside, except at times ui sniall squads to gather fire wood. During the building of the cook house, a few, who were carpenters, were ordered ¦out to assist. Our only shelter from the sun and rain, and night dews, was what we could make by stretching over us, our coats ¦or scraps of blankets, which a few had, but generaUy there was no attempt by day or night'to protect ourselves. Our rations consisted of eight ounces of corn bread. 58 THE STAE COEPS. (the cob being ground with the kernel,) and generally sour, two ounces of condemned pork, offensive in ap pearance and smell. Occasionally, about twice a week,. two table-spoonfuls of rice, and in place of the pork, the- same amount (twp table-sjjoonfuls) of molasses were given us about twice a month. This ration was brought into. camp about 4 o'clock, 'P. M., and thrown from tne wagons to the ground, the men being arranged in divisions of two- hundred and seventy, subdivided into squads of nineties and tlurties. It was the custom to consume the whole- ration at once, rather than save any for the next day. Letters from home very seldom reached us, and few had. any means of writing. In the early summer, a large batch of letters — five thousand Ave were told — arrived, having^ been accumulating somewhere for many months. They were brought into camj) by an officer, under orders to col lect ten cents on each — of course, most were returned, audi we heard no more of them. One of my companions saw^ among them three from his parents, but he was unable to pay the charge. According to the rules of transmissioiL of letters over the lines, these letters must have already paid ten cents to the rebel govei-nment." A correspondent of the Philadelphia Press, in an ac count of a visit to the returned prisoners at Annapolis, gives the foUowing fearful description of the condition of the men : "AU the men were filthy, ragged, or naked, and! swarming with vermin. They came to ' God's country' with scarcely enough strength to articulate their joy. Their limbs were palsied and stiffened with a scurvy, whichu marked them everywhere ; their bodies were smeared att over with the excrement of their diarrhcea, in which they THE STAE COEPS. 59 were compelled from sheer Aveakness to lie ; their hair was matted Avith filth ofthe same character; some, Avith tlieu' limbs and bodies filthy as they Avere, Avere SAvoUen by dropsy, to such enormous tension, as to suggest the idea of bursting to the pitying eyes that were bent upon them. Lice of great size swarmed over them — ravenous, tortur ing — living in burroAvs in the flesh, honey-combing it aU over with their dweUiag places. They were almost the bulk and shape of grains of Avheat. Their bites Avere keen — their combined attacks excruciating. Others Avere, in addition to these iUs, afflicted with 'ground-sores.' Their bones pierced through the tightly drawn flesh, re duced by starvation ; and at the hips, shoulder-blades, and other projecting portions of the body, these sores were formed and peopled with hideous, slimy maggots, whose very motion was untold agony to the unhappy sufferer, who had neither the means, the strength, nor, perhaps, in the stupor of sufl'ering the avUI to remove them. There were but few of these, hoAvever, though, as the soldiers teU us, on their oaths, such sights were quite com mon at ' Anderson.' But the poor victims died too fast for any large number to accumulate at one time. They might be seen at all points, gasping under their horrid pains, the maggots, disporting, eating, piercing nearer, nearer, eveiy day, to the vitals. In some instances, they formed lines of communication betAveen one sore and an other, by eating little conduits for some distance under the skin. Through these ways, they traveled in lines, the living arcade over them heaving up and down as they moved ! No care Avas taken of these martyrs, no medi cines given, no facilities for even a very moderate attempt at cleanliness, and they died by scores, to be buried like 60 THE STAE COEPS. brutes, in great heaps, in unmarked graA-es. Our friends of the Commission will soon i')resent these facts, and oth ers far more horrible, in a detailed Avay." Such is Southern chivalry, in its gi-eat attemj)t to enter npon a career of independence. Such are some of its cre dentials for entering the great family of nations. Is it any wondcj" that the South failed ? Their whole system Avas one of fraud and inhumanity-. They seemed to de light in stai-Aing and torturing Yankee prisoners, and were never so haj)py as Avhen they laid aAvay thousands in their last resting place. God surely could not smile upon such a nation, and their destruction has been SAvift and terrible. Do you say the North was too lenient toward such fiends ? Perhaps so, but after all it is better to be thus, than act the jsart of such inhuman monster.s. We shall stand better before God aud before the Avorld in the exer cise of mercy. But there should be no mercy toAA'ard Davis, Lee, and their tools. Hang them I CAPTIVITY OF COBURN'S BRIGADE. AVritten on old eijTel opes, in '• Libby Prison," by Edwix R. F. Hakt, Co. C, 2-2d Eegiment. A tale I -(fill tell of what lately befell Some Northwestern boys, sir ; A thousand or more, a number of score, All stripped of their joys, sir. THE STAE COEPS. 61 'Tis held in derision to live in a prison. As if we were felons, sir ; But the fortunes of war, have brought us thus far. And not stealing melons, sir. It was a bright day, we met in the fray, The host of 'Van Dorn, sir ; AVe shall never forget tho trap that was set, As true as Im borUj sir. Though ten to one, we wished not to run, But fought them for five hours, sir ; yfe made a great slaughter, but had to back water. Because overpowered, sir. Our cavalry fled, artillery sped. Things began to look blue, sir ; Our General, Gilbert, proved not worth a filbert, And yet we stood true, sir. The great C. S. A. then came in our way, AVe don't think it great, sir ; As prisoners of war they starved us— I'll aver ¦We had little to eat, sir. One ration for three, did not quite agree, With stomachs like ours, sir ; When we meet Rebs. again we'll pay them like men, We will by the powers, sir ; We stood in the mire, in the rain, without fire, It seemed very hard, sir ; We forded cold streams, and had no sleep and no dreams, It killed eight of their guard, sir. When we reached TuUahoma, all will allow me, That Bragg had his say, Sir ; We stood all aweary, the wet night dreary, Our strength giving way, sir. Gathering brush for our fire, we grouped in the mire, And then wrung our socks, sir ; In giving us meal, the Rebs. seemed to feel As humane as hard blocks, sir. 62 THE STAE COEPS. Our overcoats blue, and blankets quite new, They took from the Yanks, sir ; They scorn Northern foes, but not our fine clothes, Which they took without thanks, sir. 'Twas a cold frosty morn when thus we were shorn, They stripped officers, too, sir ; Kebs. to the dickens, they'll watch their own chickenS; With that we are through, sir. The cars were so old we shivered with cold, Some were minus a door, sir ; Too dirty for hogs, fit for old Egypt's frogs, AVas the filth ou the floor, sir. We sat bolt upright, rogues never pinned so tight, Or lay several deep, sir ; AVith aches in our bones, with curses and groans, We hardly could sleep, sir. Days to weeks hurried on, we were famished aud gene. Ere to Richmond we came, sir, To flnd the bad air and eat the bad fare Of old Libby prison of fame, sir. Ourselves on the brink of the grave, we'll think, Those dead in the battle well off, sir ; Deprived of our canteens, our coat and our blankets, And every one hoarse with a cough, sir. , Like beasts in a den, these long famished men Can scarcely wait for meat, sir ; But from morning to night, they talk with delight Of dainties to eat, sir. The soup is not sweet from such horrid meat ; For life we do desperate things, sir ; We eat the stuff up, drink soup from a cup, And whittle the bones into rings, sir. But -we're ready to shout, rebellion's played out, Through sheer want it wanes, sir ; Their money's vile stuft', with food not e-nough, The right soon will gain, sir. THE STAE COEPS. And as April is come, we are on the way horce. Hurrah for the stripes and the stars, sir ; Look boys, there they be, on an arm of the sea, Farewell to the cursed flag of bars. THE "KENTUCKY POLICY." This Avork Avould not be complete, did aa'c omit some in cidents that transpired during the Kentucky campaign. When the 22d Avas about to leave " Camp Wells," an or der Avas received from General Gilmore, to leave behind all contrabands Avho might be Avithin our lines. The Colonel ¦did not feel himself called upon to guard the negi-o prop erty of slaveholders, nor did he lead a regiment of sol diers from Wisconsin, to be employed in sending back fu gitives to their rebel masters. The consequence was, that several fresh volunteers en tered the ranks just as Ave Avere leaving the premises of a noted " secesh," on Avliose grounds we had been encamped. 'The foUoAving is the oi-der referred to above : " Head Qes. Division, Aemy of Kentucky, ) NoETH WiLLiAsis'roAVi«^, I^y., Oct. 16th. [ Geneeal Oedee } No. 5. [ AU contrabands, excejDt offi-cers' servants, wUlbe left be hind, when the Division moves forAvard to-morrow morn ing. Public transportation wiU in no case be furnished to 64 ' THE STAE COEPS. officers' servants. Commanders of regiments and detach ments will see this order promptly enforced. By command of Beig.-Gex. Q. a. Gilmoee. W. L. M. BuEGEE, Capt. and A. A. G. P. B. Paesons, Lieut and A. A. A. G., 2d Brigade." After pitching our tents at " Camp Jones," the foUow ing came : Oct 18, 1862. Coloxel : — You avUI at once send to my headquarters^ the four contrabands, John, Abe, George and Dick ;, known to belong to good loyal citizens. They are in your- regiment, or Avere this morning. Your obed't serA^ant, Q. A. GiLAfOEE, Brig.-Gen. To Colonel Wm. L. Utley, Commanding 22d Reg. Wis.. Vols. EEPLY. Head Qes. 22d Reg. Wis. Vols., ) Oct 18, 1862. ) Gen. Q. a. Gilmoee — Dear Sir : I have just received. your order to deliver up certain contrabands said to be in my regiment Permit me to say, that I recognize your authority to command me in aU military matters pertaining to the mU itary movements of the army. I do not look upon this as belonging to that department. I recognize no authority on the subject of deUvering up contrabands, save that of the President of the United States. You are no doubt conversant with that proclamation^ the STAE COEPS. 65,; dated Sept 22d,, 1 862, and the law of Congress on the , subject. In conclusion, I AviU say that I have had noth ing to do with their coming into camp, and shall have nothing to do with sending them out. Very respectfully, yoiu- obed't sei-A^ant, Wm. L. Utley, Col. Commanding 22d Reg. Wis. Vol.?. The Colonel Avas immediately called upon to report him self at headquarters. This order he complied with. The intervicAv was short and somewhat spicy. Said the Gen eral, " I sent you an order this evening." The Colonel replied, "Yes, sir, and I refused to obey it" The General thought he must be obeyed, and said he "should dispose of the matter at once." Tlie Colonel thought it would not be settled in a remarkably summary manner. The General finaUy said that he should repeat the order in the morning. To this the Colonel replied, " General, to save you the trouble and folly of such a course, let me say, I shaU refuse to comply in the same positive manner." ^ The morning came, but the order was not received. In stead of an arrest, the Colonel was put in command ofthe Brigade, with orders to protect, the supply trains, while marching to GeorgetOAvn. Shortly after the above, the Colonel called on the Gene ral, and was informed that the Act of Congress and the Proclamation of the President had been more carefully examined since the affair at Camp Jones, and that a dif ferent policy Avould be instituted. No more "niggers " would be returned, but that those coming into our lines 66 the STAE COEPS. would' be organized mto a brigade by themselves for ap propriate services. The 19th Michigan fuUy sustained the position taken by the 22d. The affair at the time created a good deal of discussion both in Kentucky and the North, and Ave trust some good to the blackman has resulted therefrom. As a Michigan regiment Avas inarching through George- toAvn, almost in the, immediate vicinity of General GU- niore, some 40 persons Avith drawn pistols rushed into tlie ranks, and forcibly took out cA'cry contraband. Before leaving that place. General Gilmore himself Avais seen to get ofl his horse, and accompany a slave catcher to a passing regiment, and assist him in taking a flying fugitive from the ranks, and he was heard to threaten the trembling transgressor of Southern rule with death, shoiUd he again attempt to transform himself from a slave into a man. Honourable Avork for a Commanding General in the loyal army of the United States ! - Is it any Avonder that for tAvo long years, the North gained little or nothing by the Avar ? Shame on those men Avho attempted to prop up the vile system, and a deejier shame on the tiler copperheads of the North, who ap plauded the efforts iof such men. ' ' . . ' With such a policy in carrying on the warj God' could not giA-e us' the Aictory: Consequently oiu- enemies Avere aUowed to triumph again and again, and not UntU the gov ernment Avas AviUing to acknoAvledge the rights of the black man, did the rebellion begin to wane. And a'Ou fathers and inothe/-s, have lost many ' a dear one, before this lesson Avas fairly learned. ' THE STAE COEPS. 67 May God save us from any such folly in the future. Rumor said the 22d would never march throush Georo-e- toAA-n, Avithout haAing the contrabands taken out of our ranks. ' ' The other regiments of the Brigade marched to Lex ington a feA\' days before us, leaAirig Wisconsin to look out for herself. Some' imagined that the brave General anticipated trouble, and thought it adAisable to keep at a safe dis tance. The Governor and several other gentlemen Avit- nessed the dress parade the evening before we were to leave, and after they had expressed their admiration of the regiment in general, and the Band in particular, the Governor declared the dress parade a very fine affair. Siernificant allusion Avas made to the never-to-be-foro-ot- ten "nigger" question. The gentlemen were informed, by the Colonel, that -any forcible attempt to take contrabands from his regiment might not prove a profitable business, and also requested them to say to the citizens,, that if such an at tempt Avas to be made, he Avished them .to remove, the wo men, and chUdi-en from the town, as he should, march through Avith loaded muskets and fixed bayonets, and if a single- shot was fired, he would sweep the streets and close the history of Georgetown. The next morning the regiment; with loaded muskets, marched thi-ough the place unmolested. ' General GUmore more than once played into the hands ¦of slaveholders. i ¦ -.. Under date of Noa'. 17, 1862, Chaplain PiUsbury, from Avhom I have gathered the preceding facts, AAi-ites as fol- loAvs : " Probably slavery exists in Kentucky in its mildest 68 THE STAE COEPS. form, but the removing of the veU of rebeUion exposes some startling facts. In my judgment, t^n dollars per year wUl furnish the- rags which hang upon many a poor slave, particularly those of the female sex. When we left Lexington, we comforted ourselves with the hope that the slavery question, Avhich had proved a constant and grievous annoyance from the time we entered the State, would trouble us no more, but in this we have been sadly disappointed. The slave catchers foUoAV us day and night, and seem determined to crush us if in their j)ower to do so. It is not, hoAVCA-er, so much the desii-e for the " nigger " himself, Avhich drives them to despera tion, as the necessity of breaking doAvn the principle ujjon Avhich we stand. The Negro is a personal and comparatively trifling mat ter, and, probably, we have a smaller number of them than any other regiment in Kentucky, but the principle inxolves the jiosition of the State. On the very day after arriving at this place — NicholasvUle — the Colonel Avas informed that a gentleman, outside the lines, wished to see him. The Colonel remarked, " Another negro catcher, I pre sume." On approaching the lines, a large, j)ortly old gentleman appeared, lying back in an elegant carriage, with a negro servant for driver in front. He informed the Colonel that he was in pursuit of a boy, who Avas in his regiment, at the same time presenting an order from the General, di recting that he be permitted to enter the lines and get the- boy. The Colonel coolly informed him that such orders were- not current in his regiment. The old gentleman then went on to say that he too was- THE STAE COEPS. 69 ¦opposed to slavery ; that he AA^as the only surAivor ainong the Honorables Avho voted for the famous Missouri Com promise, and that he had written an essay against slaA^ery, and in favor of emancipation, which was eagerly sought after by the President at the preseiit time. Said the Colonel, " If you had done these things hon estly, and from principle, it would eertainly have been vei-y commendable; but, sir, your mission here to-day ^ives the lie to aU of these professions. I do not permit nigger hunters to ransack my regiment. If youwUl drive I)ack into town, and return at 3 o'clock P. M., I wUl look through the regiment, and, if I find such a boy, and he is AvUling to go with you, I pledge you ray honor that you shall have him." He reluctantly consented, and tumed his horse towards the A'iUage. After he left, the Colonel found the boy, Avho frankly acknoAvleged that he belonged to the old gentleman. The little feUoAV then gave us a tale of son-ow, and that with such an air of truthfulness and inteUigence, as astonished those who listened to it. And when at last, he drew up his diminutive little fig ure, called upon us to see what beating and starving had •done for him, and cried, " See me ; I am almost 19 years old — Avhat am I ? and now they beat me because I am no larger, and can do no more," moisture was seen to gather in the Colonel's eyes, and he left the tent with a signifi cant detei-min ation on his broAV. Before reaching his tent, he met the old slave hunter re turning long before the appointed time, so eager was he for his prey. 70 THE STAE COEPS. " Have you found the boy ? " were the first words to tremble on the old man's anxious lip. " Sir," said the Colonel, fixing his " wicked look " upon him, " I have found a little yellow boy who says he belongs to a man in Lexington, who hired him out to a brutal Irishman for $50 per year. The Irishman ncA^er having^ seen him, was dissatisfied, he being much smaller than anticipated for a boy of 19, and as his master would not take him back, he declared, Avith an oath, that he would licji it out of him — that the man beat him for anything- and for nothing — that he had been to his master many times, and told him that he could not stand it. His mas ter. Avould say, " Go back, you dog." He also says he shoAved his master his neck, Avith the skin torn off, where the Irishman had tied a rope around it, and dragged him about. And yet his master Avould give him no protection — had commenced hii-ing him out Avhen only five years of age, and had left him there ever since, taking all his wages. He 13 ays that he has been beaten, and Avorked and starved, till there Avas nothing left of him, and that he was then beaten for not being bigger. He also says that he endured it tiU he could no longer, and fled. He lived on black Avalnuts tiU the snoAV came, and he Avas obliged' to seek shelter somewhere. He sought protection from several regiments, but could gain no ad- miesion till he came to this. 3^ow, sir, is that yom- boy ? Are you the fiend of a master of whom he speaks ? Tou, AA'ho came to me boast ing of your wonderful works in the cause of tlie oppress ed ? I say, sir, is that your boy ? Are you tliat master ? These declarations fell Avith terrible force upon the old THE STAE COEPS. 71 gentleman's trembling nerves. It w^s some time before he could answer, but finajUy faintly replied, " It is my nig ger, but niggers AviU lie." , The Colonel then told him that they would go and see the boy. . When we arrived at the quarters, the little fel- loAV, instead of shrinking away from his presence, walked out Avith a firm step, and meekly but boldly said, " Hoav do you do, Massa ?" , Tlje Colonel said to him, " This man claims you as his property, and says you ran aAVay and left him.'* " Yes, sah," said the little felloAV, and then he proceed ed to rehearse the whole stpry in a calm, respectful, but decided manner. The master ^ struggled in vain to resist the force of the simple, tale. The , foUoAving questions and ansAvers passed between the master and the slaA'e : "Have not I ahvays treated you aa'cU?" " No, massa, you have not." , , "HoAV so, sh-?" ,, " When I Avent to you for protection from those who beat nie, you refu.sed to give it, and drove, me back like a dog." " ' ,, " But, did, I, not teU you that, I Avould take yo.u, away ? " " Yes, massa, .but yo.U[ never did it" Ah,! it Avas a beautiful sight to see that, little abused slave confront so nobly that proud, bloated, aristocratic slaveholder. , The Lord Avas Avith the Aveak, and gaA'e him poAA^er to, confound the mighty. , ,, . The Colonel then .asked the bpy if he was wiUing to go home with his master. J He replied, ."No, sir," land that " No, sir," Avent to the ,, heart of CA'ery Ipyal man Avho heard it. , , .There he stood, that boy Avho came into our lines cold. -'72 THE STAR COEPS. barefoot, ragged and Hungry,' kmidst a dreary snoAvstorm, asking food and shelter, and raiment, after having spent days and nights in the woods, living upon black walnuts. Was he tto be returned to slavery ? Tui-ning to Judge Robertson, the Colonel said, " I don't think you can get that boy. If' you think you can, there 'he 'is, try it I shaU have iiothing to do with it" This gentleman slave hunter is no less a person than the Chief Justice of the State, and is said to be the most learned jurist in Kentucky. He wiU be likely to remember the scathing which he received from a Wisconsin Colonel for some time. I re- ¦gret that the whole North could not have heard it. The Colonel was threatened with Kentucky laws, but lie thought it might be profitable to his country and the cause in which he Avas engaged, were he even sacrificed, 'did that rend the delusive a'cU and permit the nation to look in upon Kentucky as she is. The Colonel intimated to the Judge that he preferred that he should leave the camp, lest an excitement should be occasioned among the " boys." The idea of leaA'ing AVithout his nigger Avas evidently a painful one, and he Avas inclined to argue the case. .State subjects Avere dropiied, and the conversation be- 'came at once rich and animating. To an intimation from the Judge that we Avere a set of " nigger stealers," the Colonel replied. " You talk about nigger stealing ! Tbv, who riot in idleness, and who live on the sweat and blood •of such little creatures as that ! you, -vvhose costly man sions, and churches, even, are built out of the earnings of -women -and children, beaten out of them by brutal ovei'- :seers 1 Tou, Avho hire out little chUdren to brutes, Avho beat THE STAE COEPS. 73 ¦and Starve them, stealing from their backs and mouths their small earnings ! Tok, who clothe theiii in rags, and when, at last, they oan stand it no longer," and fiee from that protection which you denied them, you hunt them down like a ravenous beast, to drag them back to their chains, toils and sufferings, that you may eke out a few more pennies from this last life drop ! You talk about our stealing, when all the crime AA-hich we have committed Avas to feed, clothe, and shelter that poor, half stai-A'ed, suffering little boy ! Sir, I would rather stand in the place -of that slaA'e to-day, than in that of, his prond oppressor. It wUl be more tolerable for' him in the day of judgment than for you." Said the Judge, " If that is the w&j you talk and feel, the Union can never be saved. You must give up our property.'' The Colonel replied, " If the perpetuity or restoration of the Union depends upon my delivering to you with my own hands that poor little overworked creature, dwarfed by your oAvn avarice, the Union may be cast into hell, with all the nations that forget God." He then told him in his own peculiar scathing style, Avhat kind of " Union men " he had found in Kentucky. Said he, " I have not seen a half-dozen who did not damn the President. You may put all the pure Unionism in Kentucky into one scale, and a ten pound nigger baby in the other, and the Utiionism avUI kick the beam." Before leaving, the old jurist condemned the President's Proclamation ; declared that it had no bearing upon Ken tucky, and that it was the poUcy of Generals command ing our armies to ignore both the action of Congress and "the Proclamation. 74 THE S-TAE COEPS. From our lines the old gentleman di-ew a very straight. line to the ," General's Headquarters," and to this place the Colonel was soon summoned, where he enjoyed an other interview with the persevering Judge and several other Kentucky gentlemen. Colonel Coburn, now in command of i this Brigade^ arose and stated in a very gentlemanly manner the policy of commanding Generals .in Kentucky, which is simply this : To look; at a slave in: an encampment as in tke same condition , precisely. that he.Ayould be Avere thei-© no regi ment, therp—ithat: any, person, has a right to enter thie en campment and take out a f^igitive at his pleasute^ The Judge corroborated the statement, and added, " The- Proclamation of the Pi-,esideiit is to have no consideration in Kentucky., ,. i,,,"/ :, - -, The Colonel commenced by saying that he regi-etted to>, be under the necessity of difl'ering ijiom his commanding- officer. Said he, .",1. reverse .the. ; Kentucky policy, and hold that the regiment stands precisely as though tfaere- Avas no 'slaA'ery ill Kentucky. We came here as, freemen from a free State, to defend and support a , free govern ment. ,',...: ¦,<..•,,' , . ¦:,..,. We have ijotliiug to do -with slavery, and avq avUI never be made nigger catchers. ;We came at the . c;dl of the President, and stUl recognise his authority. It is useless, to think of stating all that was said, but you may be assured the old slave-catcliing -Felix; trembled as he listened to such bold declarations upon the Union- neutral soil of Kentucky. , ., But he could n,ot leaA^e without making one more effort to obtain tlje dwarfed human property noAV in danger of" being transformed into a man. And turning to the Colonel THE STAE COEPS. 75 he said, "Are you wiUing that I should go and get my boy ?" "Yes Su-," said the Colonel, "you may go, and I wiU remain here." " Do you think I shaU be permitted to take him ?" " I think not, but I cannot teU." " WiU you send him into some other regiment ?" "¦No Sir! said the Colonel, "I AvoiUd see you in hell first." The Colonel has since been indicted by a Kentucky coiu-t at Lexington for man-stealing; but he has not yel been arrested. It wUl be remembered that there is now a little spat from Wisconsin doAvn here in the center of Kentucky. How long a more serious collision with the insiUting and heaven, daring slave power can be avoided, it is difficult to calculate. It is my clear couAiction that Judge Robertson's principles correctly and fairly repre sent the Unionism of the State. With the loyalists here, the Government is worthies.'- Avithout slavery, and loyal soldiers from the Free States are expected to employ their arms, and to spill their blood, if necessary, in defence of that heaven-daring, God-insulting institution. The struggle has not yet ter minated." Uuder date of Feb. 2, 1863, he AATites as foUoAvs: " On the subject of slavery, the people are very nearly united — almost to a unit. The leading men of the State and the most influential classes of the people are reso lutely, almost madly determined to sustain the institution at all hazards. They are ready to peril anything and everything in its suj)port. The GoA-ernor and the Legis- ture, openly, and in an insultuig manner, denounce the THE STAE COEPS. President, Congress, and all others Avho suggest the of fering of slavery to save the Union. With Kentuckians slavery is the first object, and I really believe the State would join herself to the Southei-n Confederacy at once, had she no hope of a pro-slavery triumph in the North, and Avere she not to closely watched by the loyal armies. The 22d maintained her position, unwaveringly, tUl she left the State. No contraband was taken from our ranks, nor given up at the demand of the slaA'e-catcher. We Avere incessantly harrassed by the slaA'e powers from the time Ave entered the State tiU we left. AU seemed to understand our position, and to keep themselves posted respecting our movements. They had their plans made to obtain our contrabands at LouisviUe surely. The pre tended owner of the three once ordered to General Gil- more's headquarters, and Avliich order Colonel Utley re fused to obey, foUowed us to the wharf and made every possible effort to obtain them. Many others from Dan viUe, and, indeed, from nearly every place of any conse quence through which we had passed in the State, were there. Many more slave catchers hung about the regi ment than there were contrabands'connected Avith it. No other regiment had withstood their brow-beating. All others they had conquered, and taken fugitives from then- ranks. The 22d had become noted for its firm adherence to Northern principles, and they coiUd not bear the idea that she should leave the State without bowing to the God of the South. Word had been giA'en out that no regi ment should take contrabands on board of boats. Or ders were issued to aU other regiments to leave them. The 22d Avas left in camp tUl all others had gone on board the transports, and nearly all had moved doAvn the THE STAE COEPS. 77 i-iA^er. The order came for the 22d to, mo\'e to the wharf A citizen friend approached the Colonel and told him that he would have trouble m going through the city, and said to him: "Don't fire the first gun." "Fix bayonets !" sounded along the line, and the order Avas promptly and cheerfully obeyed. Reckoning myself more of a civil than a mUitary man, I was somcAvhat in ad vance of the regiment. While making my Avay through the crowd, in front ofthe Gault House, in Avhich General Nelson fell, a gentleman stopped me, and asked, " Has the 22d passed? I replied that it had not, but it was coming down the street. " Then," said he, "you had better stop, there Avill be music when it passes here." "Why?" I responded. He replied. "They took every nigger from the regiments Avhich haA^e passed, and they declared that they Avould die rather than let the 22d Wis consin leave the State Avith a nigger among them." Said I, " I hope there aa'UI be no forcible attempts to take one from the ranks, for if there is there will be music. ' By this, the regiment was in sight. The unexpected SAvanip of bristling bayonets evidently had a tendency to cool the over-heated Southern blood. But the tempting bait ap peared, and several chivalrous champions of Southern rights apjjroached the ranks, one rushing in between two companies and laying hands upon a fugitive. -' Snap" went a cap ! Fortunate for Mr. Slave-catcher that the pistol in the hands of the fugitive missed fire. A dozen bayonets converged to the spot where the slave-hunter stood, some of which evidently penetrated his clothes, and he came from the ranks at a gi-eater velocity than he entered them. This bold charge and hasty retreat terminated this mode of warfare. A terrible shaking of 78 THE STAE COEPS. southern fists and threats in unstinted measures succeeded. Amid the excitement. Col. Coburn and two of his Aids came up — the Colonel Avalking upon the sidewalk, and the Aids riding upon horses betAveen the sidewalk and the ranks. Pointing to a contraband, one ofthe Aids said to the rag ing, defeated hero, " Is that your nigger ?" " Yes," Avas the emphatic reply. " Then why don't you step in and get him?" "I mean to." "You dare not," and this short dialogue ended. Colonel Coburn seemed A-ery much pleased at the turn Avhich things had taken, and said to his Aid, " Keep your eye on those felloAvs." There can be no doubt, from circumstances, that the 22d AVas left to march through LouisvUle alone, that she might set tle the question with Kentuckians in her oAvn way. It is a significant fact, that orders were issued to every other regiment, by General Granger, to take no colored per sons on board the boats, who had not free papers. In re ferring to this order. Colonel Utley said to General Baird, " Ours have no free pajDers, but aU have declared their in tentions." An attempt Avas made to prevent the Commercial from leaving Avith contrabands on board; and the Captain — a Kentuckian — declared, that he should be responsible for all negroes who left in the boat. The Colonel informed him that the boat was under the control ofthe GoA^ern- ment, and that, as commander of the troops on board, he had 'command of the boat, and ordered him to steam up, and make aU necessary arrangements to move dovm the river. This order terminated the second charge of the day. But the defeat Avas not to be acknoAA'ledged yet ; and next and finaUy came the Sheriff of Jefferson Countj^, t'o THE STAE COEPS. 79 .serve AA'rits upon Col. L^tly, in laA-or of one Plogau, who, .-report says, introduced secession resolutions at the demo- -cratic ctmcTts' in Frankfort a fcAV days since, and to Avhom ¦General Gilihore had once afforded important services, for three negroes, " Abraham, George and John," A'alued at ¦¦$800 each. The Colonel received the j^apers Avith becom- .ing dignity, and though informed by the Sheriff that ail a,crtions Avoiild be AvithdraAvn upon conditions of giA'ing uji 'die iVigitives, and instructing him as to his danger of l)eing held responsible in any and every State, should an (execution be issued against him, he gave the order, and -the ¦Commercial, Avith all on board, contrabands not ex- «sq;)ted, moA'ed . down the river as calmly and quietly as though nothing had hapijened. The independence ofthe Colonel and the regiment, has Blade a most favorable impression on the judgments of ¦the people, notAvithstanding then- refusal to boAv to tho yoke of the South. Ea'cii amidst the excitement in Louis- viiie,' isorfie' df the most enraged Avere heard to say, that it was a " bully regiment." And citizens of standing in the rfjommunity are knoAvn to liaA'c said, that the regiment Ji5il'6i-ed itself by standing firmly and boldly by its princi ples.' General Baird and his officers are highly gratified with the results, prize the regiment highly, and seem fuUy (determined to sustain the Colonel in the position he has taken. We come out of Kentucky unsoiled by her slavery prin ciples." In closing this chapter, I will do so by giving an extract ¦ixom one of the .public papers. We are not at all sur- ¦prised at the revelation. "'Kentucky Loyalty. One year ago to-day, Ave 80 THE STAE COEPS. published, by request ofthe speaker, the remarks of Judge- RoBEKTSON, of Lcxingtou, Ky., at a public meeting held in that city, to denounce the 22d Wisconsin ,Vol,.Infantry, because its officers and men would not o,bey ,th|e,la,Ays of Kentucky, instead of those passed by Congress. At the time Ave Avere assured that Judge RoBEETS0]!f's son was in the rebel army, and Avith his father's approval at that The foUowing paragraph from the telegraph. news from New York, is a fitting final to the Judge's con ditional jjatriotism. Neav Yoek, Dec. 31. Yesterday P. M. ten prominent rebels, recently cap tured by our forces in Kentucky, arriA^ed by the express- train from Washington, in Jersey Citj', and were trans ferred to Fort LaFayette by order of the Government- Two of them, named Redgar and Bowen, resided in Jer- , sey Cit}', but left for the South on the breaking out of the Avar, Avliere they remained until the time of their capture.. Another ofthe party is a son of Judge ROBER,TSON, of Ky., Avho has, during the past six months, been engaged in guerrilla warfare." Surely, you brave men, Avho stood so firm at that time> as you read these pages, AAiU rejoice in view ofthe fact, that you did thus stand so firm. You did weU. The slave is now free. THE STAE COEPS. 81 IN MKMORIAM. Inscribed to the mother of Geo. [McHuren, one of the 22d 'Wis. "Vol., who died of disease contracted by exposure on that memorable march performed by the 22d AVis., after being taken prisoners near Franklin, Tenn. Mournfully murmering rain-drops, Come to my -w-indow pane, Bringing me thoughts of the spring time, Ne'er to be mine again. Nature must surely be weeping, Tears I so long have repressed; Calm be the swelling of anguish, Rising within my breast. Sighing and moaning, the wind-harps Breathe but a saddening tune; Seeming almost with the Nation's Bleeding heart to commune. Grieving that loved ones to save her Nobly have fought and have bled; Availing an anthem of glory, Over the patriot dead. Lonely and wearied and saddened, Sit I iu dreams to-night; Tracing the earlier life-path, Bordered with flowers so bright. Gone is their fragrance aud beauty, Moistenedfnow only by tears; Memory fails to recall them, Fresh as in earlier years. Dimly that golden hued future, Comes to my soul once again; Trooping, a thousand wild fancies Take up abode in my brain. 82 THE STAE COEPS. Breathings of love's first devotion, Swell high the heart as of yore; Instantly real-life whispers Joys to be felt never more. Dreaming am I of the morn, when, Led to the altar a bride, Pledged I to cherish and honor, Whatever on earth might betide. Tremblingly bearing from shoreward, Out to the wild unknown sea, Left 1 the loved and the tried ones, Still by the parent roof tree. Clouds were seen floating above us, They were so fleecy, the blue, Could easy be seen in the distance, And softened the light which came through. Years glided by and a treasure. Heaven-sent, came to onr hearts ; Adding a new, untold pleasure. Naught else in life ever imparts. Little feet tramped through our dwelling, Little hands, still but in sleep, Left us no time to built castles Over which vainly to weep. How were the hours and the moments, Mid-day and evening and morn, Lovingly, waking or sleeping. Lavished on him our first born. Painted we visions of glory, Heard we in praise his dear name; Sat he within the dim future, Throned on the hill-top of fame. Sadly the vision has vanished. Pall now, and bier in its stead. Bringing to the soul deepest anguish. Crush out the life with their tread. THE STAE COEPS. 83 Boy, but in years, when the bugle Sounded the call of " to arms !" Suddenly grown up to manhood, Left he his home and its charms. Blooming with ruddiest feature, ' Vigorous, hopeful and brave; Strong in high purpose went he, Freedom and country to save. Home ! how the life-current gushing, Gave to him power anew: Kindled high hopes that the life-work Might not thus early be through. Shadows crept over his forehead, Showing the death angel there; Slowly but surely erasing, Hopes that were bright as the air. Far from the red field of battle, Far from carnage and strife. Proud to be martyred for freedom, Faltered the young hero's life. AVords fail to tell of the anguish Felt as they hid him from sight; This be our solace iu sorrow, ; He died in the cause of the right. Other hearts wounded and bleeding, Mingle their tears with my own; Surely the nation is reaping The harvest of sin it has sown. Father in mercy, oh spare us ! Slavery surely is dead; For from her sepulcher, whited, "Victory, Freedom has led. Mrs. G. S. Bbadibt. Mt. Pleasant, "Wis., Nov. 26, 1863. 84 THE STAE COEPS. THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. The terrible battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Moim- tain, and Mission Ridge, had been fought, and Rosecrans had safely lodged his victorious legions in Chattanooga. From NashviUe to this city, the country was aU our own, but a little further on to the South, Johnston held all the mountain fastnesses, and he defied the further ad vance of the Union army. Early in the spring of 1864, one might have noticed in the increased business-like appearance of the "Rock City " — NashvUle, that some unusual preparation Avas go ing on. Daily, long trains swept across the beautiful ii-on bridge over the Cumberland, and swai-ms of soldiers filed out fi-om the depot, and evei-y hiU about the city was thickly dotted with tents. Reviews and drUls were no uncommon things, for it was- understood that there was earnest work before us. Mighty hosts Avere gathering, and Sherman was about to mai-ch. toward the " Gate City." Who could diAine the future ? Who could tell what the result would be ? Who, of aU this vast army, would live to witness the triumph of our brave leader ? Alas ! that so many must fall to save the country ! Why could not the rebels read their doom, ere it should be too late? Why must so many innocent ones suffer? How could the South be so blind ? But we wiU not anticipate. LETTEEI. Camp neae Fort Negly, ) Nashville, Tenn., March 15, 1864. j Arrived m Nashville last Saturday morning, having; THE STAR COEPS. 85 h^eri detained, in Chicago , pn , account of sickness. Am feeling pretty -vveU, ^f, present,, though I have rather a bad cold. The weathei;,!? quite cool, for the time of year, es peciaUy the nights, though I am informed that they are rather cold throughout the entire summer. Let me describe my tent, Avhich Avill perhaps give you some idea of our present sun-oundings. ' Should you approach, and wish to enter, you would be obliged to notice a few strings that hold the door curtains together. You need not stop to knock, bijt just stick your ¦head in, saying, "How do you do?" I "should rise and invite you to a seat constructed as foUows : Four stakes are first driven into the ground, cross pieces are put on, and then some thin pieces laid across the other Avay. Over this is put a small quantity of hay, and then some tent cloth is drawn tightly^ over the whole and fastened. This is the seat to my writing table, the latter having "been' made in the same manner, having boards put on the top of the stakes,, instead of thiii slats. With a newspa per for a tablecloth, arid my stuffed seat, it is not a very Tincomfortable place for Avriting. At my lefl is a washstand, made after the plan of the table. For a stove, please imagine a huge sheet iron tunnel placed on the ground, Avith a smaU aperture at the bottom for air, and a door in one side, the pipe of the tunnel pro truding through a piece of tin in. the rc^f of the tent. This tunnel stove is perhaps one and one-half feet in di ameter at the bottom, and tapers down to four or five inches at the top, being, perhaps, two and one-half feet in height This is a regular mUitary stoA-e, and A-ery good .service it does. Of course, you wiU understand that the THE STAE CO ¦Rhs stove has no bottom except the ground. On the march^ these stoves can be run into each otlifer, like so many ba sins, thus occupying a small space cbniparaitively. The tent is about ten ifeet square, the waUs four feet high, and sufficient roof to shed the rain. In one corner is a bunk, made like a common lounge, and fiUed with hay, on which are laid blankets. For a floor, I have brick, and for a carpet, a few pieces of old tent cloth. The regiment is now camped about one and one-half" miles south of NashvUle, and a little to the right of Fort Negley. It is an elevated point of ground and overlooks the city. We can see regiments and batteries encamped in aU directions. NashvUle is strongly fortified. There is a A-ast amount of munitions of Avar stored here, consequently it is neces sary to keep the place Avell fortified and guarded. There is considerable sickness in the regimeiit at pres ent. The weather has been cold and raw, an^ since com ing here the boys have not had as good,accommodatio'ns- as they did at Murfreesboro. It was quite rainy 'two weeks ago, when they arrived here, and before they equlcl get things arranged in a comfortable manner, many suf fered from exposure. The new recruits seem to suffer the most. Our camping ground is, a very pleasant one, and in the summer it must be delightful. The 22d is likely to fuUy sustain its weU-earn'ed feputa- tion for whittling and carving. The boys are "busy' at work upon some most beautiful designs. Not only the privates, but the officers have designed some . very fine specimens of shell work. Let the friends at home encourage the whittling projien- THE STAR COEFS. 87 sities, for v.'hUe the boys are thus engaged, card playing and such things wUl have the go-by. * ¦» * G. S. Beadley. LETTEE II. Nashville, Tenn., March 25, 1864. Just one year ago to-day the fatal disaster at Brent wood occurred, by Avhich so many of the Second Brigade were gobbled up and taken through Dixie. Some of the boys have gone out to-day, to look over the ground again. It is reported that Morgan, Avith some eight or ten thousand men, is only some forty miles or so from Nash viUe. Some of our cavalry force has just been ordered out toward Columbia, to meet him, so it Avould not be strange if fighting Avere going on there. NashviUe SAvarms with soldiers. There are probably 20,000 troops in the city Avaiting transportation, some going north on furlough, others passing to the front. The 18th Ky. passed through here a few days since, en route for Chattanooga. They are to march the whole distance, as a protection to the railroad. A fcAv days since, the road between here and Chattanooga Avas eut by guerrillas, and three cars burned. It is thought that the rebels Avill make a great effort to intercept our communication Avitli Chattanooga. Could they destroy the railroad, it Avould inflict great damage on us. The probability is, that troops Avill be sent by land to keep all raiders out of the Avay. Last night and to-day, we have been having a fine rain. It Avas much needed. Last TuesdaA" they had over a ••88 THE STAE COEPS. foot of snow at Stevenson and Chattanooga, a thing never Tjefore known so far south. A refugee just in from southern Alabama, reports that the general impression there is, that the war is going to close the present season, but not particularly favorable to either pai-ty. One thing is noticible, which is, that they are giving up the hope of conquering the North. This refligee says that they have a strong hope, that the peace men of the North wiU be able to bring about a compro mise of some sort. Says the rebels cannot possibly hold out longer than the present year. During the last two months, over 4,000 refugees have applied for assistance at the office of Mr. Oviott, agent for that purpose. Of this number, about 1,000 are fi-om this State, especially East Tennessee. They come fi-om Geor gia, Alabama, and even fi-om North Carohna. The story they tell of suffering at the hands of the rebels, is a sad one. As a general thing, every man, thus driven out, has his man selected to kiU when the war is over. Society in those sections wUl for years be in a most unsafe condi tion. Those who have suffered are bound to have revenge. Said one of the refugees from East Tennessee to me a few days since, an intelligent lady : "The government may be satisfied when the rebels return and take the oath of aUe- giance, but we shaU not be, Avith any such arrangement. We have suffered too much at their hands to overlook it thus." You ought to hear the soldiers this Avay talk about Northei-n copperheads. Said a soldier to me this af ternoon : "There is nothing that avUI make me mad so soon as to think of those copperheads at the North. Here we are fighting the rebels, and some of our people at home THE STAE COEPS. 89 are trying all they can to give them aid and comfort. They better craAvl into their holes before we return home, "or there wiU be a savage time." Just transport a few from Racine County doAvn this way, and I wUl guarantee that they AviU soon haA'e their copperheadism taken out jof them or something else. The soldiers declare that they hate them worse than they do the rebels, ' and they •dislike them bad enough. Co. E, is now doing guard duty at the ZoUicoffer bar- j-acks. Companies I, and E, are guarding the Chattanoo ga depot. The rest are stUl near Fort Negley, guarding ii;he various Pikes. Our sick are getting better — no deaths since my last. Jt is rather expected that the whole regiment wiU soon ttake up quarters in the city, though it is not certain. Our Major surgeon, Henry W. CansdeU, has just resigned, and nin his place, we shaU probably haA'e Dr. Thomas Hatch- ard of MUwaukee. He has been with the regiment some six months, as Assistant Surgeon, and is highly esteemed "by evei-y one. All the boys haAC the greatest confidence 'in him. G. S. Beadley. LETTER III. Nashville, Teni?., AprU 2d, 1864. We are stiU at NashviUe, though we received marching •orders two days ago. We were to get two day's rations .prepared. No one knoAvs Avhere we are to go, but camp o-umor says in the direction of Fort Donelson, as an at tack is expected from Gen. Forrest. The boys thmk they -would lUve to get sight of him again, though not exactly 90 THE STAE COEPS. under the same cu-cumstances of just about one year ago.. He is represented as being a pretty hard looking man,. dressing simply in citizens' clothes. Some of the boys de clare they saw him in camp a few days before the battle,. seUing eggs, which, however, is doubtful. A large number of troops went down the Cumberland a few nights since on transports, so that the moA-ements of the rebels in that direction will probably be checkma ted. There are a few sick in camp, and some in the hospi tal, but are getting along weU, I believe. Allow me to say that so far as I am able to judge, the- morale of the regiment is good. There is no doubt but we have as good fighting material as can be found in the- Army of the Cumberland. We have had a good deaL of rain lately, so that vegetation begins to look somewhat green. I notice a few peach trees in bloom, but a large portion have been kUled by the cold Aveather this winter. G. S. Bradley. letter iv. Extreme froxt 16 miles sol'th avest ( OF Daltox, Geoegia, May 6, 1864. [ At last we haA-e reached the "Jront,'''' about which our- boys have been talking so long. Tuesday morning, we broke camp at Lookout VaUey, marching some fifteen mUes, and camped for the night on the battle field of Chickamauga. As Ave crossed a spur of grim old Lookout, we saw Chattanooga off on our left, perhaps three mUes. The day was quite warm, so- that the boys felt somewhat tired when they reached camp,, though the roads were not very dusty. Wednesday THE STAE COEPS. 91 morning found us once more on the wearj' march. Camp ed for the night near Tiiylor's Ridge, some 12 miles Avest of Dalton, and about seven miles from Tunnel Hill. Ring gold lay on our left, distant three niUes. A heavy picket force was sent "out from the several regiments of our brigade. Lieut Flint, of Co. H, of the 22d, Avith 400 men was sent to the front of Taylor's Ridge. During the night, our cavalry pickets came dashing doAvn the mountain's side, saying that quite a body of rebels was ascending the hiU on the other side. Lieut. Flint reported that he saw a company of rebels on the top about daylight, but they did not show themselves during the day. Yesterday Ave res ted, having been 15 days on the march, with only one day's rest in the meantine. This morning Ave broke camp at about 7, marching in a south-westerly direction some five mUes. Orders were issued to halt and prepare rifle pits. Trees were immediately cut doAvn, rails brought, and an extensive line of pits was made, behind which the. 22d AviU camp to-night. The other regiments haA^e their rifle pits also. The 19th Mich, lies just behind us. This is the first line of rifle pits ever constructed by the 22d, con sequently it seems somewhat Avarlike to us. It is stated that the rebels are directly in our front, dis tant some four or five miles. We have been told since coming here that a few rebels Avere here this morning, but retreated on our approach. Gen. Thomas is with us, also KUpatrick. The rumor is, that with a thousand cavalry, he dashed thi-ough Dal ton this morning, reaching our lines a fcAV hours since. Officers and men have been cut down to the lowest point in their baggage. Only one valise is aUoAA-^^ed to two offi- 92 THE STAE COEPS. cers, and one team to each regiment for carrying bag- .gage. Col. Utley Avas in command of the Brigade tUl we reached Lookout VaUey, when Col. Ross, of the 20th Conn. took command, that regiment having lately been put into our Brigade. "Col. Cobsrn, of the 33d Ind., wUl assume command as soon as he returns with his veteran regi ment The Aveather is pretty warm at present, though the nights are very cool. I have noticed scA-eral quite severe frosts lately. The season is evidently very backward all through the South. A fcAV of the boys were sent to the hospital in Chatta nooga, but I haA-e not been able to obtain their names. It is hard to keep track of such things whUe marching every day, especiaUy when the sick are in charge of the brigade and not the regiment. G. S. Bradley. THE BATTLE OF RESACA. LETTEE T. [i'rom the Madison Journal.] Camp near Field's IVIills, oif Coosa Rivee,Geoegia. 1 May 17, 1864. The month of May has been a season of unceasing ac- tiAity for the 22d Wisconsin volunteers, and Sunday, May THE STAE COEPS. 93 15, wUl never be forgotten by those soldiers Avho partici pated in the terrible struggle. For months Ave have read of battles, and Avandered over battle-fields, looking cm-iously at the traces of combat, but not until we had marched nearly 250 miles, and nearly 40 south of Chattanooga in to the wUds of Northern Georgia, did we see war in its terrible reality. For ten days we h*ave heard the sounds of battle, and slept accoutred for instant action ; built four lines of earthworks, only to abandon them at last, and make the assault of the day against the floAver ofthe rebel- army, massed behind the finest and strongest works they have yet constructed, upon formidable and natural posi tions. May 11th, Ave made eleven miles, coming up with other diA'isions of our corps, and with them constructed a doub le road through Pigeon Gap for our trains, and those of the 15th, 16th and I7th army coriDs in advance. May 12th, our corj)s is held in reserA'c, and Ave look on AvhUe the seemingly endless lines of troops move forward. Regiments of cavalry gallop past, and batteries of artiUe ry go rumbling by. Our attention is arrested by a dis tinguished group who gather near us. There is the hand some Butterfield, the one-limbed, spirited Sickles, the- fighting Hooker, Palmer and McPherson. Sherman joins them for a moment, then mounts and rides forward with serious, quiet air. Schofield, heavy biiUt, and with all a soldier's look, appears a moment, also the dashing KUpat rick. Then onward to the front ! At noon we hun-y forward for several mUes, and form in line of battle, whUe the war-music of cannon and musket ry tells us that the enemy are before us. May 14th, the 1st brigade of 3d diA'. 20th A. C, in position 94 THE STAE COEPS. to tLe south of the rebels, are attacked by them, and, after a brief, sharp fight, succeed in repulsing them. Our brigade the 2d of 3d division, was held in reserve. At half past 1 P. M., the battle really begins by an attack on Johnston's position by the 4th army corps. We are continuaUy shif ted from point to point, and held in readiness. AU around the roar of battle goee reverberating through the vaUey, shells explode sharply high in air, cheers ring up from be low, and peals jar the sensitive earth beneath us. Our tremendous army lies massed around the rebel stronghold, and, checking each assault, draw closer the lines of the Union anaconda ; CA'ery bang of artUlery, every crack ling voUey of musketry cementing in the blood of the bravest the union of the States. A sharpshooter wounds one of the band, and the wound ed are borne by, pale, bloody and ghastly. GoodAvin of Co. H, was accidently shot, and his leg amputated. The 1st division imder Gen. WUliams, pass around to the left, and reach the field just in time to saA-e the 9th Indiana bat tery, and mowing the rebels by hundreds, drive them in confusion from the field. Sunday has ever been the day of battle, and having rested fi:om 12 o'clock midnight, after buUding a strong line of breastworks, we move early in the morning a dis tance of about six mUes to the left aroimd our lines, pass ing the 23d and 4th corps massed line upon line, and come npon the field of yesterday. There is an ominous sUence, and the busy hum of preparation stirs the air. It is, noon ; we march through captured rifle-lines, being strengthened by spade and axe, wielded by strong arms, past brigades of troops, tUl we reach a position in reserve behind "Sard's brigade of our division. Half past one^ THE STAE COEPS. 95 -:and Avhile the axe echoes on the ridge above,, and trees topple over, at once the woods resound Avith rebel yeUs, :and a crash of musketry rings out. The 22 d throw off •knapsacks, and lie like hounds Avaiting for the chase. An officer rides up and asks, " What regiment ? " " Twenty-second Wisconsin, " says a man. " Foi-Avard, double-quick up the hUl ! " And aAvay we went, over a whole brigade of troops, lying Avitli heads close to the ground to avoid the rain of shot. Shell came crashing and hoAAiing, ripping their way like thunder-bolts through the tree-tops ; men faU around in the crashing fire ; Avhile doAvn across an open vaUey rushes the regiment, with broken lines but eager steps, while from right, left and front, they pour in grape, can- nister and bullets. On up the hill to its crest, Avhere four cannon stand Tinmanned. Silas Wright of Co. B, seizes the battle flag of the 102d Illinois, and plants it on the hill. Col. Gilbert, of the 19th Mich., falls, and four men of Co. K, 22d Wis- -oonsin bear him off. The leaves seem alive Avith balls, and the men fall like grain before the reaper. Capt. Pugh, of Co. F, charges three different times up that hill to gain the coveted artillery, but from the most formidable breastVr'orks the rebels hurl a sweeping temp est of shot, and men Avho start up the hill with cheers fall to the earth and hug the sheltering log, while one makes a rampart of dead bodies. Three men lose their i)rothers. Lt. Dickinson loses his daring boy close by the cannon, and night finds our men holding the posi tion. A ieavy charge and raking fire of artUlei-y succeed en 96 THE STAE COEPS. our left, whUe our men constitute a reserve. The shots- skim close, and men of a regiment rise to run and ar& ordered back. Not a man of the 22d left his place. For- several minutes the firing continues. Then a wUd cheer from a thousand throats, and our flag waves from the fort on the left. A third charge by our men nearly in our rear is made Avith success, and the fight closes to our advan tage, and Ave rest with stacked arms. Suddenly a tremen dous fire biu-sts out in front, and all are ready. It soon dies aAvay and all sleep sAveetly, as only the tii-ed soldier,, Avearied by the excitement of battle, can. The color guard lose four corporals, wounded ; the flag; is often hit, and if justice is done, the State of Wisconsin AvUl be proud of her 22d regiment. During the night, our men secured the cannon, and the rebels evacuated their works, and morning finds us busy burying the dead. Ten men were laid in one trench with in the fort Avhere they feU. We follow the enemy mUe after niUe, finding hundreds of their dead and wounded lying in the woods, deserted by their inhuman surgeons and officers. The Army of the West wUl hold its own in the strug gle which is to crush out armed resistance to the Union,, and keep pace with the now victorious Eastern Ai-my. This fight has done much to restore harmony in our regi ment, and consequently increase its efficiency. With every disadvantage, they occupied the fort, and had there been a proper understanding among us what we were to do, and skiU in leadership, we would have accompUshed more, but Ave feel that we did aU we could do and liaA^e but one name to be inscribed on our flag. The 26th Wisconsin charged the same position later in the afternoon. THE STAE COEPS. 97 The fQlloAving is taken from the New York Herald: Sherman attempted to reach Resaca and cut off John ston's retreat by a flank moA'cment on the left. The Avily rebel, hoAvcA'er, evacuated Dalton, and feU back. At Re saca he fortified himself in a A-ery strong position. The country in the A'icinity is admirable for defence, abounding in hUls and thickly Avooded. He first formed a line stretch ing noi-th"west from Resaca. Sherman coming up on the night of the 13th, a general engagement took place the next day. The rebels attempted to turn our left and had their own turned, and were doubled back upon Resaca. Their kUled and wounded numbered nearly tAVO thousand, besides 500 prisoners. Our principal losses were in Gen erals Schofield's and Stanley's commands, AA'ho had about a thousand killed and Avounded. THE PJSBEL POSlTIOIf OX SUNDAY' MOENIXG. The position occupied by the rebel army on Sunda}- morning was, notAvithstanding Shei-man's successes on Saturday, altogether more advantageous than that of the previous day. His troops were concentrated on a short line, strongly intrenched throughout its length, Avith a broad stream with marshy banks covering his centre, which was posted on commanding heights beyond this stream, Avhile his left flank was eoA-ered by the stiong works that had been consti-ucted with great care and time at Resaca, and his right resting against the river, after crossing a range of hiUs fully fortified with redoubts, masked batteries and rifle pits. The river in the vicinity of Resaca makes a deep bend to the south, forming a perfect aid de sac, across the mouth of wh^h the rebel line extended. The position was such that Johnston's army, with eighty thousand men. THE STAR COEPS. at an estimate, Avas thrown into line of battle' but little- more than two miles in length. Of course, in a line so compactly formed, a weak spot Avould be difficult to find.. shermax S LISfE. The operations of the previous day, in Avhicli General Hooker had borne a conspicuous part Avith portions of his corps, had convinced that officer that the key to this strong position was in the heights on the right of the rebel line, on which they had rested on the previous day. On com municating this impression to General Sherman, Hooker Avas directed to storm aud carry these heights. As one of his divisions, that of General Butterfield, Avas detached at this time, General Hooker asked to have that division re turned to him as preliminary to this assault, a request that Avas promptly granted, and the gap formed on the right by Butterfield's withdrawal, Avas filled by an extension of Palmer's line to the right. This position virtually gave Hooker the left of the line, with Howard's corps as a sup port. The rest of the line remained substantiaUy un changed. THE POSITION. The position that Hooker was to carry, Avas not a range of hUls, but rather a coUection of detached eminences of " considerable altitude, the intervening hollows being fiUed with a dense growth of timber and underbrush almost im passable for horsemen, and traversable with great diffi culty by infantry. The turnpike road leading from Dalton to Resaca passed through these hiUs, a portion of them lying on the right and others on the left of that road.' On i THE STAE COEPS. 99 both sides of the road in front of the hills, the country was rolling, and densely Avooded. In front of the rebel position Avas a lofty elevation, covered with heavy timber, fiUed Avith their sharpshooters. Our line of battle approaching from the southwest, barely touched the western base of this hill, and then crossed, in a more northerly direc tion, a narroAV vaUey intervening to another command ing elevation, that had been possessed by us on the j)re- vious day, and on which Ave had planted batteries during the night. The rebel line of battle extended in a cu-- cuitous form around the cluster of hUls directly back of those particularly noted above, the intervening sjDace be tween their lines and ours being cleared of its timber. Immediately back of their line, on the right of the road, Avere tAvo hiUs — the first wooded, and concealing a battery, the second more remote and cleared at its summit, and having a carefully built redoubt, mounting four guns, Avhich SAvept the Dalton road with terrible precision. On the ojiposite side of the road from these heights, Avas another elevation that had been overlooked at first. It was covered Avith thick woods in front, but cleared on its rear slope, and was commanded by the rebel masked battery, as well as by their redoubt. On this hUl a large body of sharpshooters were concealed by the enemy. DISPOSITIONS, WhUe we have been making this hasty and imperfect survey of the field, Hooker has been employed in massing his troops under cover of the hUl I have mentioned as in our possession. The divisions of WUliams and Geary are ready ; but Butterfield has not yet arrived. Everybody is 100 THE STAE COEP.S. impatient and wondering at the delay. But presently the suspense is ended as the looked-for division emerges from the Avoods, and moves steadUy down the road. It is now noon, and no more time is to be lost ; so Butterfield being already in line, is directed to continue his march luitil within range, and then dej)loy his division in columns, by brigades, and make a charge at the enemy's position, G^^ary's and WiUiam's divisions to support if needed. On receiving his instructions. General Butterfield, Avho Avas riding at the head of his column with his staff, dashed ahead to survey the ground uj^on AA'hich he AA'as to figlit. THE ADA'AXCE. Having now a clear understanding of the work he had to perform, General Butterfield was not slow in entering upon its performance. Entrusting to the brigade com manded by Colonel Wood, tlie work of taking tlie hUl on the left of the road. Gen. Ward AAith his brigade, was ordered to charge that upon the right. Colonel Coburn's brigade to act as a reserve to General Ward. These dis- j)Ositions brought on two seperate battles almost simulta neously, both of them raging throughout nearly the re-. mainder of the day Avith great fierceness. We shall characterize that in which General Ward led off as the battle on the right, and Colonel Wood's affair as the battle on the left. THE FIGHT ON HOOKEE's EIGHT. General Ward soon put his brigade in order of battle, under cover of the advanced hUl occupied by the rebel sharp-shooters, and then ordered an advance. Up the hUl THE STAE COEPS. 101 went the column steadily and bravely, AvhUe the rebel sharp-shooters went down the opposite side less steadUy, and back to their works. Crossing the summit ofthe hUl, Ward led his brigade on a double quick doAvn the rear slope, across the vaUey intervening to the base of the op posite hiU. This valley Avas. swept by the guns of the re doubt on the remoter height ; but so quickly was it cross ed by the eager Avestern troops, that the grape of the en emy had but little effect Yet their guns were played vig orously and earnestly, and continued rolling their iron charges through the valley after the Avhole column had passed. On gaining the base of the ojiposite hiU, the charging column began to feel the rebel bullets flying about them, as volley after A-oUey Avas poured down upon them from the rifle pits above. But, nothing daunted, the brave felloAvs plunged into the Avoods that covered the face of the hill, and began the toilsome ascent. The reserve brigade, under Colonel Coburn, had, in the mean time, crossed the first hill, and Avere Avaiting in line of battle on the inner slope for the moment when they should be need ed. Presently the time seemed to have come. Ward's brigade, having approached within easy musket range of the enemy, began returning the compliments they had so moderately received. The roar of this musketry, echoing from hUl to hill, and reverberating through the Avoods, Avas intensely magnified. It seemed as though Ward had en countered the Avhole rebel army. To add to the effect, the i-ebels at this juncture unmasked a battery of four pieces, planted behind an earthwork on the summit of the hill, and began hurling canister at their assailants. But, noth ing daunted, the column moved on, firing rapidly as it ad vanced. 102 THE STAE COEPS. A JUSHAP. Both the brigades of General Ward and Colonel Co- burn, though old troops, Avere in their first action. , Their duty had hitherto been to garrison posts or protect lines of railroad, and, although two years in the serAice, to most of them, this was the first time they had been under fire. It is proper to mention this fact in extenuation of a mis hap that occurred at the critical moment to which I have brought the assault, and Avhicli came A-ery near proA'ing fatal. The resei-A^e brigade, hearing a few buUets whist ling about their ears, and somcAvhat confused with the deafening roar of the raging battle opposite, fancied their companions cut to pieces, and that the rebel hosts were coining down upon them. Determined not to giA-e Avay without a struggle, they leveled their j^ieces, and began firing AvUdly into the woods on the opposite hUl. Ward's brigade, being thus assailed in front and rear, Avere on the point of rething, Avhen the staff of General Butterfield, by riding in front of Coburn's men, succeeded in persuad ing them to desist from firing. Another round would probably have finished the Avork for the day. As it Avas, their fire had been nearly as destructive as that of the en- .emy. THE FIGHT GOES ON. General Ward had not been seriously disturbed by this mishap. Apprehending the cause, and confident that it would be quickly stopped, he succeeded Avith gi-eat exer tion, in holding his men up to the Avork, and noAV moved them directly up to the rebel breastworks. Here, elub- THE STAR COEPS. 103 ' bing their muskets, they fought, hand to hand, Avith the desperate foe, utterly fearless themselves, each striving to mount the works before his comrade. The rebels resisted nobly, but they Avere OA'crmatched and forced to give Avay, retiring.finaUy in a rout, leaving their battery of four guns iin onr possession. In leading the final charge. General Ward Ayas severely wounded in the arm, and Avas carried rfrom the field, leaving the brigade in command of Colonel ;Harrison,, the senior field, officer. I RETURN OF THE REBELS. The rebels retired but a short distance from their Avorks, Avheii they Avere raUied by their officers, and receiving re inforcements returned to the fray, determined to re-take their jiosition. Our men Avere hoav too feeble to hold the ¦work against the superior numbers the enemy brought against it, and the less so because of the gaUing artil lery fire they opened from the redoubt on the hUl in the rear. Colonel Harrison, therefore, Avisely beat a retreat, to a small elevation, separated from the main one only by an indentation in the hUl like the diAision of a camel's back. The enemy's AA'ork was such that it was impossi ble for us to bring off the guns Ave had captured ; but by occupying the summit opposite, Ave were relieved from the rebel artUlery fire, Avhile our muskets swept the lebel works so effectuaUy that they could neither occupy them nor get away ,tlieir guns. And thus our men kept guard over their trophies until night, Avhen an opportunity Avas afforded of bringing them off the field. The desperation of this Uttle fight is attested by the fact, that General Ward's brigade lost nearly four hundred men in killed and wounded in the action. 104 THE STAE COEPS. THE FIGHT ON HOOKEE's '. LEFT. WhUe the fight above described was in jjrogress on the right of the road, a battle even more desperate was rag ing on the left of the same road. The brigade of Colonel Wood, it wUl be remembered, had been detaUed to storm the heights on that side of the road. Colonel Wood met with but little resistance in clearing the hill of rebels ; but on gaining possession he found the timber on the back of the hill cut aAvay, thus leaving his jiosition open to the gaze of the rebels. The redoubt so often mentioned above also swept this hill with its guns, so that it -was not a very safe location, and as the rebels left, their artiUery com menced to work. To this Ave could make no rej)ly, hav ing no guns in position ; but Colonel Wood, placing his ^ men under such cover as he could find, dii-ected them to lie down, and the rebels were permitted to fire aAvay until they emptied their magazines, or exhausted their patience.. REBELS MOVING TO THE LEFT. From his elevated position, during the one-sided fight the rebels kept up Avith then- artiUery, Colortel Wood dis covered large masses of rebel infantry moving across the cleared fields between the Dalton road and the railroad, as if another attem2>t Avas to be made to flank us. The information was quickly conveyed to General Hooker, who promptly ordered Geary and WUliams to take positions- on Wood's left, extending their line weU Out tO the raU- road, in order to meet this apprehended attack. But no- attack came from that direction ; but very soon Colonel . Wood' found himself attacked by a whole division of rebel- infantry. THE STAR CORPS. 105 ATTACK ON COLONEL AVOOD S BRIGADE. With the peculiar yeU for Avhich the rebel soldiers are so notorious, they came charging on a double quick, up the cleared slope of the hill. The firing from the redoubt had now ceased, evidently to give place to this attack. Colonel Wood promptly had his men on then- feet, and ready to receive the attack. Reserving then- fire until the assailants were well in range, the command Avas given to fire, and' a more murderous A-oUey was never dischargisd from an equal number of muskets. A hundred rebels Avent doAvn at the first discharge ; but the column advanc ed, and nearer and nearer the crest of the hUl, they began to return the fire that had been doing such fearful execu tion in their ranks. For a time, Colonel Wood's men stood their ground Avith a heroism, that Avould haA'e done credit to the veterans of a hundred battles ; but being without cover and opposed by treble their number, they began to show signs of Aveakness and a disposition to give Avay, Avhen help came from an unexpected quarter. KNIPE SLAUGHTEES THE REBELS. General WiUianis, Avho had been posteds on the left of Wood's brigade, in anticipation of the rebel flank move ment, on hearing the musketry on his right, had ordered General Knipe, who commanded the brigade on the right of his line, to go to Wood's assistance. Knipe moved off Avith alacrity, and, crossing the hiU from the east, fell upon the rebel flank before they had any warning of his ap proach. Leading his men in person, he charged directly into the rebel column, the bayonet doing the work of exe- 106 THE STAR CORPS. cution when time Avas insufficient for re-loading, and, with out halting his column, faii-ly pushed the rebel force doAvn the hiU with his bayonets, occasionally firing a A^olley to expedite the rout. This Avas one of the most gallant deeds of the campaign. The rebels were largely superior in numbers to both Knipe and Wood combined ; but the audacity and determination of Knipe's attack defied re sistance. The face of the hiU Avas strewn all over Avith rebel dead and Avounded ; their brigades were crowded upon one another, and, in inextricable confusion, they were routed and driven from the attack. General Knipe Avas not content Avith a single rout, but,, following closely on the heels of the fleeing foe, he cut them down at CA'ei-y step. The chase Avas continued in this manner mjtil the enemy Avere run into their reserves,. concealed in the dense timber, and the attacking party AA'as himself attacked. GENERAL KNIPE AVOUNDED. Obstinately refusing to give ' Avay, the gaUant Knipe stood Avith his little brigade, and contended AAith a force probably ten times greater than his own. Returning volley for voUey, he maintained his advanced position, and would doubtless have continued to do so until rein forcements re-ached hiiri, had he not fallen severely wounded. His brave Hi^n bore him to the rear, and' the column steadily fell back to its original position. CHAEACTEE OF THE FIGHT. Though of, but short duration, it is seldom that amore desperate fight is Avitnessed thap the one I have attemp.^- ed to describe so briefly. Its character can be judged THE STAE COEPS. 107 from the casualties it entailed. The rebel loss in this charge alone must have been not less than a thousand men. Our OAvn loss was heavy. These men fought Avith heroism and bravery almost unparalleled. Of General Knipe's staff, CA^ery officer Avas either killed or wounded. Lieutenant Knipe, a nephew ofthe General, was literally shot to pieces. But though compelled to fall back, the brigade brought ¦off some trophies of the victory they had achieved. Among these Avere three battle flags ofthe 38th and 68th Alabama regiments. They also took a number of priso ners. CLOSE OF THE DAA.-'S AVORK. With the exception of another slight advance on tho j)art of Logan's corps, on the extreme right, accomplished without material loss, this Avas the only portion of the army seriously engaged during the 15th. Our batteries along the entire line had been diligently employed, di verting the enemy's attention to assist General Hooker in his Avork, but the serious Avork had been left to Hooker and his corps, and Avhat Avas assigned them to do Avas fully accomplished in every 2iarticular, as Avas demon strated by the subsequent moA-ements of the enemy. General Butterfield, with his division, fought splendidly, and Avon unbounded praise. The same must be said of Gen. Williams and his veteran diAision. RESULTS. Hooker's loss, during Sunday's battles, Avas about fif teen hundred men in kUled and wounded; and it is sup- 108 THE STAE COEPS. posed that their losses were at least double those of om- own. Besides, we took between eight and nine hundred prisoners, four guns and a number of rebel flags. The. crowning result of the battle was that it left both flanks- of the enemy at our mercy, rendering their position Avholly unt-enable. Under cover of the night, the rebele^ evacuated Resaca, leaAing their Avounded and dead be hind, with immense stores of ammunition, several thou sand stands of small arms, and a large, amount of com missary stores,. What the Herald correspondent says about Ward's and Coburn's brigades never haAing been under fire be fore, is a serious mistake. All of Coburn's brigade had seen desperate fighting at Spring Hill. Thsit there Ava.« serious blundering at this battle, no one doubts, but the fault did not rest with Coburn's brigade, and it, besides,. should have the credit of capturing the four guns, spoken of above. We propose noAv to give Colonel Coburn's reports of" the Atlanta campaign, contenting ourself with these, as they convey all that need be said of the weary marches, hard living, and hard fighting, that resulted in the capture of Atlanta. Head-Quaeters 2d Brig., 3d Div., 20th A. C, ( Camp near CassAille, Ga., May 22, 1864. f Capt. John Speed, A. A. G. 3.d Div., 20th A. C.. — Captain : — I have the honor to report the following ope rations of the 2d Brig., 3d Div., 20th A. C, from the Sth day of May to the 21st day of May, 1864 : On the 9th day of May, the brigade was encamped in DogAvood Valley. Two regiments, the 19t.h Michigan- THE star COEPS. , 109 :and the 20tli Connecticut, were ordered to march and •occupy Boyd's Trail, oA-er John's Mountain, south of Buzzard's Roost. This Avas done, after a slight skirmish, -with the loss of one sergeant of the 19th Michigan, mor tally Avounded. Three regiments remained there on the 10th, the remainder of the brigade still in their former camp. On the Uth the brigade moved Avith the division to Snake Creek Gap, some 17 miles, and Avent into camp jiear the southern end, and at once began AVork on tht- Toad, making a double track for wagons and a bye-Avay for troops. On the 12th, the brigade continued the Avork •on the road. At noon, three regiments marched three miles in advance, and encamped in rear of a part of Gen. McPherson's command. The 20th Connecticut and 33d Indiana remained at work on the road during the day, and at night rejoined the brigade. May 13th, the Avhole brigade marched at daylight, and at about 2 o'clock P. M. Avcnt into position in rear of the 15th corps, in the neighborhood of Resaca, having been deployed in tAvo lines. In the CA-ening, the brigade marched to the left and front, about a mile and a half, and encamped for the night in the rear of a part of the 14th corps. May 14th, the brigade moA-ed forAvard about 400 yard.s and relicA-ed a part of the 14th corps — Carlin's brigade in front and to the left. The formation was in two lines deployed. The brigade encamped here for the night on the left of the division. The position of the enemy Avas in our front and beyond a narrow cleared valley, upon a loAV Avooded ridge covered by fortifications. The 14tli corps Avas severely engaged with the enemy here during the day. May 15th, the brigade moved in the morning Avith the 110 THE .STAR COEPS. division to the left some two miles, passing tho 14th, 4th and 23d corps, and here, having halted, received an order to advance in rear of the right of the 1st brigade, in ech elon, in two lines, and in their support as an assaulting column on the Avorks of the enemy. On coming to the position where the formation Avas to be made, it Avas found to be impracticable on account of the location of a pai't of the 4th coriis on our right. The brigade AA-as then formed in close column of battalion, immediately in rear of the 1st brigade. Soon after, this order Avas changed, and the brigade was directed to be forniod in tAVO lines, in rear of the 1st brigade, Avhieh Avas being done, but before the completion of the deployment, or ders Avero giA-en to adA'ance at once, and as raf>idly as possible, to support the 1st brigade, Avhich Avas making an advance on the enemy's Avorks. The brigade Avas moved forward at once in the folloAV- ing order: First line, 85th Indiana, Colonel Baird, on the right, 19th Michigan, Colonel Gilbert on the left. Second line, 20th Connecticut, Col. Ross, on the right 22d Wisconsin, Colonel Utley, on the left Third line, 33d Indiana, Maj. Miller, in the rear of the 22d Wiscon sin. The brigade Avas thus formed in a narrow ravine very thickly Avooded Avith Ioav and bushy trees, Avith steep hiU sides, and out of view ofthe enemy and their Avoi-ks. The advance Avas difficult up this steep hill. At the time of receiAing this order to advance, and throughout the movement up the hill, the 2d division ofthe 20th corps Avas moving by the left flank in from six to eight lines from right to left, through my brigade, break ing and intercepting the lines, and preventing every regi- m.ental commander from seeing his OAvn troops, or the THE STAE CORPS. Ill possibility for the time of managing them. The brigade, notAvithstanding moA'ed forAvard over the hills and on- Avard, carrying some men of the 2d division Avith them, and losing others of its own men, who Avere swept with the heavier current to the left. The summit of the hill is covered Avith Avoods, but the slope beyond, and the valley, are cleared in front of a portion of the rebel Avorks, Avhich Avere situated on the hill beyond, and Avhicli here presented, opposite our right, a salient angle receding with a long SAveep sharply to our left. The brigade advanced across a portion ofthe field to the works, and the left along the Avoods to its left. This Avns done under a tremendous fire of artillery and mus ketry, AA-hich killed and Avounded many of our men ; but they bravely adA-anced, and planted the colors ofthe 19th Michigan and 22d Wisconsin in a sniall fort of the enemy, occupied by four of their field pieces. Such was the fury of the enemy's fire, that the men could not ad- A^ance further, and here a portion of the 1st and 2d bri gades remained during the day, holding this position under the A-ery broAV ofthe rebel earthAvorks. A portion retired to the left and rear. Soon after my arrival in the immediate vicinity of the rebel works, Gen. Ward Avas Avounded, and left the fleld. I took command of the forces then, and made the effort to charge and take the enemy's works, but such was the disorganized condition of the men of both brigades, and the terriflc force of their fire, that such charge failed, and nothing more could be done than to hold the place up to the line of their breastAvorks. In one of these charges, late in the day, the 111th Pennsylvania (Col. Cobham) gallantly participated. 112 THE STAR COEPS. Remaining here until near sunset, I recelA'ed an order to go to the rear Avith the men of my command then with me. I returned, leaving the men where I had placed them near the rebel Avorks, and this was approA'ed. A portion of the brigade having been formed in the rear and to the left after the first charge, I took them by order of General Butterfield, to the left still further, to meet and assist in repelling a charge then made by the enemy upon the left of our position. The 33d Indiana at once charged forAvard, and promptly met the attack. After a seA'ere fight, in which the rebels suffered much, they were repulsed, and retired. General Butterfield then directed me to send two hundred men to reinforce the men of my own bri gade near the rebel earthworks. This was done under the command of Lt. Colonel Buckingham, of the 20th Connecticut. His force assisted in digging the side of the fort aAvay, and in dragging out four pieces of artiUery at night. The losses of the brigade in the action are as fol lows : KiUed 28, wounded 200. I refer to the reports of the regimental commanders for the names of officers and men killed and wounded, and for acts of distinguished merit. Early in the action. Colonel Henry C. GUbert — 19th Michigan — Avas mortally wounded AA'hile leading his men up to the rebel works. His life has been gloriously sacri ficed to his country in the front rank of his soldiers. Capt Cohnar of the same regiment Avas kiUed on the top of their ramparts. Captain Patton and Lieut Flint, of the 22d Wisconsin, were mortally wounded close beside him. THE STAR CORPS. US The conduct of the brigade under the peculiar trying circumstances was excellent Their determined and gallant charge secured the position so boldly AVOn by the 1st brigade, and together held it under the very muzzles of the enemy's guns five hours in daylight ; and their prompt and Aigorous action upon the left late in the day, contributed poAverfiiUy to repel the fierce assaults of the enemy there. The brigade encamped on the battle field, a detail making breastworks during the night. On the morning ofthe 16th, the brigade marched Avith the division, passing the railroad near Resaca, and cross ing the Conasauga on a temporary bridge left standing by the enemy. At eleven o'clock at night the brigade arrived at CoosaAvattie river, .and crossed soon after on a ferry boat. This was accomplished at half past ten on the morning ofthe 17th. At 2 P. M., of the I7th, the brigade marched, leaving a detail of 150 men to complete a bridge [over the Coo saAvattie, and 250 men as train guard. Marched till 10 P. M., and encamped with the Division. On the morning of the 18th, the brigade marched tO-osted in heavy and formid able Avorks in plain view. THE STAE COEPS. 137 "The enemy t"hus holding to this day with dogged tenac- "ity to this, to hira, precious but untenable position. Very respectfully, your obedient sei-A'ant, John Coburn, Commanding Brigade. He.(Vdquartees 2p Brigade, 3d Dia^sion, ) 20th A. C, x\tlanta, Ga. Sept. 12 '64. [ •.'Captain John Speed, A. A. G. 3d Division 20th A. C. Captain : — I have the honor to make the foUoAving re port of the operations of the 2d brigade, 3d division 20th A. C, for the period from the 27tli day of July to the 12th day of September 1864, inclusive. On the 27th day of July 1864, the brigade being north of Atlanta, was encamped in reserve in rear of the 2d di vision of the 20th Corps, and remaining there during the day. On the 28th the brigade was orderedto move to the right and reinforce the 15th corps, and marched at 3 P. M., but before arriving at the battle field, Avas ordered back, the enemy being repulsed. The 33d Indiana remained in camp under orders as a reserve to the 2d division. On the 27thday of July, the 'brigade Avifh the division moA^ed to the extreme right of the army, and encamped on the right of the division in a -position refused to the right' of the' Sand Town road, -about six miles west of Atlanta, biiUdin'g works. On the 30th, the brigade Avith the division moved farth- •er to the right half a mile, taking position on tlie Sand 'Town road in the center of the division, in tAvo lines, ¦making earth works. July 31st, remained in same cahip. Davis' division of 138 THE STAR CORPS. the 14th A. C, making a reconnoisance in front to Utoy Creek. August 1st, remained in same camp. August 2d, the brigade moved with the division to the left, about five miles, and near the Chattanooga Rail road. August 3d the brigade moved into the works occupied by a portion of Baird's division of the 14th Corps, on the- Turner's Ferry road, and in front of Atlanta. New woi-KS Avere laid out and commenced at once, two hundred yards in front. The work was continued on the- 3d and 4th, and on the Sth the new line was occupied. August 6th, 7th, Sth and 9th, remained in the same- camp. On the night of the 9th, a new line of works, about three hundred yards in front Avas laid out and the labor begun. The work was continued on the 10th and 11th of" August, as before. On the latter day the brigade moved into the ncAV line of works. The brigade continued in this position up to the 24th day of August, strengthening the Avorks, and lying in close proximity to the enemy in front, during most of the time keeping up a constant skirmish fire. During the few days of the latter part of the time, the- firing ceased by mutual act of both parties. On the 26th of August, the 33d Indiana Avas ordered to^ march to Turner's Ferry on the Chattahoochee river, to» assist in the construction of fortifications for a new camp- The regiment marched in the morning at 6 o'clock, and arrived at the Ferry at noon, and at once commenced the- construction of works. The brigade moved quietly withs the 3d brigade of this division, at 8 o'clock P. M., of this THE STAE CORPS. 139 day tOAvard Turner's Ferry. The pickets were not with- draAvn until 2 o'clock in the morning, Avhich was done with out observance on part of the enemy. The brigade arrived at the river about tAvo o'clock in the morning of the 26th, and encamped in single line on the south side of the road near the river, the right resting on the river strengthening the works begun by the 33d Indiana. These Avorks are in a semi-circular shape, and on a ridge near the river. A pontoon Avas laid out at the Fer ry, in our rear. At 10 o'clock A. M., on the 27th day of August, the enemy attacked us in front Avith artUlery and musketry, but were soon repulsed. It was supposed to be a recon noisance by a brigade of infantry, with a section of artU lery. Lieut. Slauter of the 33d Indi.ana Avas severely woun ded. In the afternoon the enemy Avillidrew', leaving their kUled and wounded. On the 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st ot August, and 1st of September, the brigade remained in camp, strengthening works and repairing the roads beyond the river running from the raUroad bridge to Sand Town. On the 28th of August, Major Higgins of the 79th Ohio made a reconnoisance in front Avith 300 men, and found the enemy entrenched at a distance of three mUes. After a short skirmish he returned. A portion of my brigade was with him. On the 2d day of September, at 6 A. M., under orders from Brigadier General Ward, I marched on a reconnoi sance from Turner's Ferry to find the position of the ene- 140 THE STAR COEPS. my. CaA'ah-y Avas found to be in the city, and we advan ced cautiously. I was met in the suburbs by Mr. Calhoun the Mayor, with a committee of citizens, bearing a flag of truce. He surrendered the city to me, saying he only asked protection for citizens and property. I asked him if the rebel cavalry AA^ere yet in town. He replied that Ferguson's brigade Avas there, but was on the point of leaving. I replied that my force Avas moving into the city, and that unless that force retired there Avould be a fight, in which neither jiersons nor property would be safe, and that if necessary, I Avould burn the houses of citizens to dislodge the enemy, that I did not otherwise intend to in jure i>eTsons or property of citizens, unless used against us. I ordered my skirmishers to advance, and they moved through the city, the cavalry rajiidly evacuating the place. I at once sent dispatches to Brigadier General Ward at Turner's Ferry, and to Major General Slocum at the rail road bridge, of the occupation of the city bv- my com mand. Gen. Slocum came at once to the city. Immediately preceding him came a portion of the 1st and 2d diAision of the 20th A. C. Gen. Ward directed a portion of my brigade to move up from Tiu-ner's Ferry under command of Lieut Col. Bloodgood of the 22d Wisconsin, Avhich reached Atlanta about sunset, and the remainder, under Major MiUer, the next morning. Soon after Gen. Slocum arrived, he directed me to move my command and occupy the Avorks of the enemy on the south side of the city, to the right ofthe Augusta raUroad. This was done, and Gen. Knipe's brigade was posted on THE STAR CORPS. 141 the left of the road, in single line, deployed at intervals of three paces. Here the brigade has remained in camp until this data Some 200 small arms Avere found in the City HaU, and about 16 pieces of artUlery abandoned in the Avorks and bm-nt Avith a train of cars. The ammunition abandoned had been fired in the night, and continued to explode with loud reports after Ave had entered the city, in the forts and among the ruins ofthe bm-ning shops and buildings Avhere it had been deposited. The works of the eneniy were left almost perfect, and there seemed to have been no attempt at the destruction of anything but the materials of war. As Ave passed through the streets, many of the citizens ran gladly out to meet us, welcoming us as deliverers from, the despotism of the confederacj-. Others regarded us with apprehension and begged to be spared from robbery. I assm'd them they Avould be safe from that. Many of the buUdings Ave found to have been much in jured by our artiUery, but such as will be Heeded for public use can be taken at once with slight repairs. My command on reconnoisance behaved Avith remarka ble promptness and energy, and deserved to be the first, as they were, of our army to enter the city. Very respectfully, &c., John Coburn, Commanding Brigade. 142 THE STAR CORPS. LETTEE VI. In THE Field six miles noeth of Atlanta, Ga., j July 21st, 1864. j Friend T. : — The 22d has again " met the foe." Yes terday P. M., the 4th and 20th A. C, under command of Generals Howard and Hooker, engaged the rebel forces under General Hood, near Peach Tree Creek, four mUes north of Atlanta. Our division advancing in line of battle, the 22d Wis consin Avas deployed as skirmishers, and while thus acting di-ove the rebels nearly a mUe across the creek. As they were ascending the hUls on the south side, they were met by the rebels in force, who charged down upon them in three different lines of battle at least twenty men deep ; but our advanced line of skirmishers, under command of Captain Frank Mead, acting Major of the regiment, held the ground they had taken untU they were almost com pletely surrounded, when Captain Mead gave the order to " raUy on the reserve." Our men fell back slowly down the hill, disputing the ground slowly inch by inch, until they met the reserves, Avhen they again raUied and drove the rebels up the hiU the second time Avith tremendous slaughter. The balance of the brigade coming up at this moment, Ave were enabled to maintain, finaUy, aU the ground we had gained. The 22d fought weU and bravely, and it is a great won der they were not aU taken prisoners, for before Captain Mead gave orders to fall back on the reserve, the rebels were in theii- front, on both sides of them, and in three minutes longer Avould have been in the rear of them. the star CORPS. 143 They came doAvn the hill after our men in swarms, but Avhen they Avent up again their number was considerably lessened, for this morning I counted in front of our bri gade 128 rebels, lying stark and stiff, in Av-inrows, ready for the burial party. When I left the regiment, about 10 A. M., our boys Avere stiU bringing in bodies. Our men have by this time fairly " wiped out" aU the stain brought npon them by the disaster at Brentwood and Thompson's Station. General Geary, commanding the 2d division of our corps, Avhen he saw from his head-quarters aU the rest of the skirmishing line, except the 22d Wis consin, falling back, and the rebels swarming around us, he is reported to have said : " My God ! what do these men mean ? *T is the first time in my life that I ever saw a single skirmish Ime hold their own against thi-ee battle- lines of rebels." As we Avere advancing up the hUl the second time, one of the privates of company C captured a set of rebel colors, but left them on the ground, and afterwards, when the 26th Wisconsin came up, the flag was picked up by some of their men. Our officers this forenoon tried to obtain the flag, as it is ours by all the rules of war. WhUe the discussion was going on. Captain Sj)eed, A. A. G. of our division, said to Colonel Bloodgood: " Colonel, you need n't care for the flag ; the 22d Wisconsin have enough to cover themseh-es with glory." The loss of the entire regiment is seven enlisted men kUled, and one commissioned officer and thirty-five men wounded. Of those from Racine county kUled, Avere In- gersoU and Mattinore of company H; and wounded, Iver- son, 'Schultz and Holland of company H, and Edwards and Anderson of company F — all slightly wounded. Not 144 THE STAE CORPS. a man of company A was scratched, though many very narrow risks were Avon by members of the company. Captains Mead and Pugh did their Avliole duty. Lieu tenants Dickinson, Jones and White Avere ever at their- posts, cool and fearless. Colonel Bloodgood, Adjutant Durgin, and, in fact, most every officer in the regiment^, have fuUy proved the falsity of the assertion that they were a set of " cowardly calves. " And the men of the- ranks have shown to the world, that, the 22d Wisconsin has some merit left in its columns yet. There is hardly a man to be found in the regiment to-day but what made a. telling shot yesterday. I hereAvith enclose you an election ticket, which Lew^ Dickinson took from the knaj)sack of a Mississip2ji rebel. The heading of the ticket '¦^ Save the Union," "No.. civil loar," ha,s some significance. Has'iit it? I under stand a great many such tickets haA-e been found on the persons of prisoners captured yesterday. The prisoners. say Ave AviU haA-e to fight to get Atlanta. We expect to- fight to get it, and probably ere this reaches you, Atlanta,. the great magnet of this campaign, will be ours. Yours truly, Racine Boy. LETTEE VII. On THE South bank of the Chattahoochee, } NEAR Turner's Feeey, Ga., Aug. 31, 1864. f Do you wish to hear a Avhisper or two from the oldbat- tle-Avorn 22d ? If so, listen aAvhile and I'll try and tell you where we h.ave been, where Ave now stre, and what we are doing. After the battle of Peach Tree Creek, July 20th, in which our regiment so nobly did its part in repulsing the^ THE S'TAR CORPS. 146 rebel charges on our corps, Ave moved with our division and corps to a position in front of the rebel Avorks around Atlanta, and at a point two and one-half miles northeast ofthe centre of the rebel den. We remained there build ing breastworks, abattis, and other defences, and perform ing our allotment of skirmish duty until the 26tli of July, when we AVero ordered Avith onr diA-ision to the extreme right of the Grand Army, and about four miles Avest of Atlanta, on the Sandtown road. Building tAvo sefiarate lines of breastAvorks there, Avithin four days, we Avere re turned to our place in the Star Corps, put this time to a position on the Turner's Ferry road, and one and a half miles northwest of the city. Here we remained until the 25th of August, building tAVO very formidable liues of earthAvorks, and engaging in the meanwhile in some A'cry .sharj) sku-mishing Avith the rebel pickets, having a man killed occasionally, others Avounded quite frequently. On the 24th and 25th, General Thomas sent all of his supply trains to the north side of the Chattahoochee, and a strong force back to the south side of the river to guard the trains, the raUroad bridge at Vining's and aU of the ferries for the distance of twelve or fifteen miles along the river. This duty Avas assigned to the 20th coi-j)s, Avhile Sherman abandoned the railroad from the river to Atlanta, and swung his left around so as to let it rest on the south bank of the river near Sandtown, while his right was pushing towards the Macon railroad. This movement completely changes front with Hood's army. Sherman now faces to the northeast, Avhile Hood faces to the southAvest. Sherman gets his supplies from Vin ing's down along the north bank of the river, and around Hood's right flank, and this to the south and rear of his 146 THE STAR COEPS. OAvn army, using the steep bank of the rough and muddy Chattahoochee as a guard for his communications. Hood must gather his supplies from the southern part of the State by Avay of the Macon raUroad, now frequently tap ped by KUpatrick, and bring them around Sherman's right, having nothing to protect his line but men. There are few, if any, rebel troops in Atlanta now, and the gen eral feeling amongst the knoAving ones is, that Hood Avill soon be compelled to foUoAv Johnston's example and again draAV Sherman on. Our dlA'ision, the blue starred one, was detailed to guard this crossing of the Chattahoochee called Turner's Ferry. We came here on the night of the 25th, and immediately commenced fortifying. This j)recaution which experience has taught us to use iuA'aiiablj^ Avas not unnecessarily ta ken, for at noon on the 27th., avc were attacked by a re connoitering party of rebels. But after throAving shells at us quite briskly for a fcAV minutes, and sending their skirmishers up so close as to inspect our Avorks, and learn our strength, they retired to the place from whence they came. We cannot now see or hear anjthing of any reb els near us, except Avhen a " blue coat " straggles outside the lines he is butchered by the chivalry. We have no idea how long we shall remain here, but in all probabUity until Sherman orders us up to defend Atlanta. We are StiU hoping and longing for the paymaster to visit us with his agreeable verdancy. There are now eight months' pay due us. But we aU feel that a great injustice is be ing done us by keeping back our pay so long. We are confident it is not because of lack of money, but of sheer negUgence of our leaders. The Generals and their staffs throughout the entire army can get their pay whenever THE STAE CORPS. 147 they ask for it. Indeed, they have all been paid quite re cently, but the private Avho does all the Avork for the nom. inal sum of sixteen dollars per month, must Avait and wait through long Aveary months, must read letter after letter from his dear ones at home, telling of their sufferings for want of what government OAves him. He must wait until the campaign is over to get his p>ay. There may be justice in this, but the men who do the fighting, and Avho suffer through their families at home de pendant on their wages for support, faU to see it. The health of the regiment is, at present, not very good, neither is it very bad. There are A^ery many cases of scurvy in the command, produced by the constant use of -salt food and the total lack of any vegetables. Our diet is hard tack, coffee and salt meat, with occasionally an issue of fresh beef True, we might be a great deal worse ofl in point of rations, but such an unvarying diet is by no means welcome to the boys, who have worked and fought as Sherman's array has worked during aU of this four m.onths' campaign. Our regiment started from NashvUle on the 1 9th day of April, with over seven hundred men. Now we can only •" stack two hundred and ninety muskets. " Where are a]i the men, do you ask ? They fell by the wayside between here and Chattanooga. Their graves are marked on every battle field between Resaca and Atlanta. We are anxiously looking-for help from the North, to be brought here by the coming draft. We can stand here m •our safe shelter, and laugh with vengeful glee to see the shivering victims of the Provost Marshal coming up so reluctantly to our aid in this great struggle. We feel 148 THE STAR COEPS. that the repeal of the commutation clause was a blessing sent from HeaA-en. Captain Bones, notwithstanding the hurculean efforts- that were made to disgrace him, and the malicious reports- that are stiU being sowed broadcast about Mm, is still Avith us, and commanding his old company " K, " respec ted and beloved by all its members, and many others who are indebted to him for manifold acts of kindness. After having charges prefen-ed against him as long ago as last February, tried by a district court martial, and whUe awaiting the decision in his case, instead of remain ing in the rear seciu-e from all danger, as Avas his right, he requested permission to take the command of his compa ny. After much cutting of red tape, and against the pro test of his enemies, his request Avas gi-anted, and he fear lessly led his command through aU the bloody battles of this roughest of campaigns. And, when at last, his case did reach the ear of that stern old hero. Major General Thomas, aU charges against him were set aside, and by Special Order No. 208, he was hon orably restored to duty, and is now with us, and intends to remain until this Avar is ended, or death or disabUity takes him from the service. But I have ah-eady written a longer letter than I inten ded. I hope the next letter you receive from us wUl be written from Atlanta, and by om- worthy Chaplain, now at home. Mr. Editor, are you tu-ed of listening ? Mr. Type-setter, are you tu-ed of foUoAving? If so, good-bye. Yours truly, 23. THE STAE COEPS. 149 ' letter viii. Camp of the 22d "VV^isconsin Vol. Infantry, ) Atlanta, Ga., Sept 12th, 1864. f You are of course aware of the occupation of this proud and haughty " Gate City," by the noble army of the inde fatigable and indomitable Sherman. As there, are false reports published by some northern papers, concerning the honor, if there be any, oi first occupying the place, I wiU simply say that on the 22d ult. .the city Ayas formally -surrendered to Colonel John Coburn, of the 3d division, commanding the 2d brigade, by the mayor, and jirotection asked for the defenceless citizens and private property. There was at that time a brigade of rebel caA^alry in the -city, plundering the stores of all property left. Colonel C. told the Mayor he would giA-e the cavalry one-half hour to leave the place, or he would carry fire, as weU as the sworcl, through the city. At the expiration of that time, a forward moA-ement commenced from the outer Avorks. The sku-mishers from our brigade — part of them 22d boys — were the first armed Yankees to pass through the streets of the city ; but, unfortunately, we left our camp in the morning, upon a reconnoissance, and took no colors -with us, and the detachment from the 2d division having ¦a flag with them, when they came up, Avere " the first to plant the Stars and Stripes upon the Court House," and their reporters make capital of it at our expense ; but w^ hnovs, if the world at large does n't, Avho were the first to parade the streets of Atlanta. It was a scene of destruc tion seldom witnessed. In the northern portion of the city, nearly cA-ery house is damaged by shell from Yan- 150 THE STAR COEPS. kee guns, and some fine dweUings are nearly demolished, shade trees cut down and fences splintered. In nearly every yard is a bomb-proof, or " gopher hole," as the boys: call them, in which the families fled for safety when shells came thickest. These " holes" are about six or eight feet deep, and from eight to twelve feet square, planked over and covered with dirt to the depth of three or four feet, with a little doorway upon the south side. I heard of one instance where a famUy of six or more, with some friends — young ladies of the neighborhood — were gathered, in the afternoon, during the bombardment. A shell of large size carae plowing through the covering and exploded in the midst of them, kiUing five, and wounding nearly aUl One old Irish woman remarked in my hearing as we were passing her : " An' sure, I'se belave ye's are bains afther all." At one door I noticed a card in large letters : "Uni ted Ave stand, divided Ave fall," and white flags Avithout number. Most of the citizens kept weU out of sight, and but very little enthusiasm was manifest anywhere, save in the ranks. As the Old Flag caught the breeze from the spire of the court house, such a cheer went up as only a conquering army, flushed with victory, can give. Com mencing in the Gate City, it rings out loud and long as it spreads from regiment to regiment, from post to post, and from state to state, and the news carries gladness to CA'cry loyal heart in the land. Alas ! in this hour of the Nation's rejoicing, thousands of hajjpy hearthstones are made des^ olate, and places that knew our brave boys shall know thera no more. The mother, Avife, sisters, and " friends so dear," .shaU look and Avait in vain for the return of their country's brave and noble defenders. Unhappy thoughtt cruel, stern reality ! And yet, the sacrifice is Avorthy. To THE STAR CORPS. 151 die in defence of Justice, Freedom and Right, is glory and honor enough. Sooner die a thousand deaths upon gory fields, than submit to the reign of southern despots, or yield an inch to their infernal desires. The Hight must prevaU ; Liberty's Banner, purified in the nation's blood, shall yet wave triumphantly oyer all this fair land. The rights of all shall be emblazoned upon her folds in letters of fire, and the United States of America Avill sustain a name not second to any nation on the earth — " The pride of the free, the home ofthe brave." This war cannot stop tUl our flag floats triumphantly from every spire, from every mountain top ; tUl every chain is broken that binds human limbs and reduces »ia>!,, created in the image of his Maker, to the level of the brute. Slavery, the curse of our nation, must be plucked out, root and branch, and and the tree of Liberty firmly planted, before we can have lasting peace. It matters not if " Little Mac" is nomina ted and elected to the executive chair, Avhich I cannot be lieve wUl be the case. Peace cannot be had Avith "chains and slavery ;" and a conquering, noble and braA-o army, suhnitiing to the dictations of a weaker power — to these miserable butternuts, Avhom Ave 've driven from one strong hold to another, against almost insurmoimtablo obstacles. Do you think the army in the field avUI submit to their dictation ? Never ! If such Avere to be tbe case, the war is Just begun. But I will not dwell longer upon this subject. I have no fears but " Honest Old Abe" will fill the chair at the White House another four j-ears, and will see this thing through, despite southern foes and iinrtJiern traitors. We are noAV in camp near the formidable works tliat .'sur round the city, and bade defiance to us so long. The 20th army corps garrison the city, Avhile the army is ui camp. 152 THE STAE COEPS. in a line frora Decatur to the Chattahoochee RiA-er, at Tur ner's Fen-y, via this city. The recent order, expeUing all citizens from the place, is noAv being carried into effect. All those who are con nected in any way with the rebel army, to go South, oth ers go 'North. A long train of government wagons, fiUed with these happy families {?), started for Rough and Ready this morning, where they are taken by Hood's wa gons under a flag of truce. The city is to be ^^ purely a mUitary depot." For the present, avc are enjoying hugely the season of rest we Avere so much in need of — preparing for the " fine winter's campaign." ATLANTA CAPTURED. THE GEEAT MOVEMENT OF SHERMAN's ARMY PRECEDING THE EA'ENT. The ncAvs ofthe capture of Atlanta marks the progress our armies are making in the work of crushing the rebel- Uon. It sends a thrill of joy to every loyal heart, dispels all gloomy forebodings, and brings up the masses to tlie 8upj3ort of our glorious cause, Avliich is uoav so grandly in the ascendant. The movement of General Sherman, Avhich commenced on the 26th ultimo, is thus explained by a correspondent : "The 20th corps received orders on Friday last to THE STAR CORPS. 153 march from its position on the extreme left of the army, and on the Chattanooga raUroad, to the rear along the railroad, and take up position in the tete dupont, covering the railroad bridge across the Chattahoochee river. This -was done with some display on Friday afternoon, the pur- ;pose being, I suppose, to give the enemy an idea that Ave 'were about to evacuate. " The 23d corps held the right, near East Point, and ¦on the advance of the army, Schofield moved at dark by "the right flank to tLe west of East Point The rest of the army foUoAved, the 4th corps in the rear, silently tak ing an affectionate leave of the railroad which had almost miraculously fed it, and Avhich had bountifully provided the whole army with 20 days' rations for the hazardous movement." — Daily Papier. ,-SHEEMAn's OFFICIAL EEPORT OUE LOSS 1,200 REBEL -LOSS 300 KILLED, 250 AVOUNDED, 1,000 CAPTURED 24 ¦CANNON AND MANY SAIALL ARMS FALL INTO OUR HANDS. War Department, Sept. 4. 'To Major-General Dix: General Sherman's official report of the capture of At lanta has just been received, dated Aug. 26th, five miles ¦south of Atlanta, 6 o'clock yesterday morning. It had been detained by the breaking of the telegraph lines, as already reported. " Our army Avithdrew from about Atlanta, and on the ^Oth raade a break on the East Point road, and reached a _good position from which to strike the Macon road. How- 154 the star corps. ard was on the right, near Jonesboro ; Schofield on the left, near Rough and Ready. Howard found the enemy in force near Jonesboro, and intrenched his troops within half a mUe of the raUroad. The enemy attacked him at 3 o'clock in the afternoon and Avas easily repulsed, leaving- his dead and Avounded. " Finding strong opposition on the road, I advanced the left and centre rapidly to the railroad, and made a good lodgment and broke it all the way from Rough and Ready down to Howai-d's left, near Jonesboro, and by the same movement interposed my Avliole army between At lanta and that part of the enemy intrenched in and around Jonesboro. " At the first we made a general attack on the enemy at Jonesboro, the 14th corps, General Jefferson C. Davis, carrying the works, with 10 guns and about 1,000 prison ers. The enemy retreated south, aud wo have followed him to his hastily constructed lines near LoA-ejoy's Sta tion. " Hood, finding me on the only road that could supply him, and betAveen him and a considerable part of his army, blew up the magazine in Atlanta, and left in the night The 20th corps. General Slocum, took possession of the city. So Atlanta is ours, and fairly Avon. " Since the 5th of May, Ave have been in one constant battle or skirmish, and Ave need rest. " Our losses wUl not exceed 1,200, and Ave have over 300» rebel dead, 250 Avounded, and over 1,000 prisoners. W. T. Sherman." A later dispatch from General Sherman, dated on the night of the 3d, at Atlanta, says : the STAE CORPS. 155 " The enemy destroyed seven locomotives and eighty- one cars, loaded Avith ammunition and smaU arms and stores, and left fourteen pieces of artillery, mostly unin- • jured, and a large number of small arms. Deserters are coming into our Unes. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War." ATLANTA Is comparatively a new place, formerly called Marthas- vUle ; but in 1847 it was incorporated, audits name chang ed to "The City of Atlanta." In 1850, its population only amounted to 2,500 souls. It is situated on a high ridge, six miles Avest of Decatur, 101 miles northeast of Macon, and is the point at Avliieh the Western and Atlan tic, the Macon and Western, and the Georgia Railways connect And this, taken ^n connection Avith the fact that it was settled by men of northern extraction, and inteUi gent emigrants from Germany, is what has made Atlanta a place of bustle and of business. In importance, it is second to none in the South. Manufactures of all kinds of arras and munitions of Avar untU recently, fiourished in Atlanta, as they now do in Macon. Its entire population at present may be set doAvn at 100,000, for that number wUl include the rebel army, the militia, the citizens, the refugees, the negroes, the j)risoners and the spies. Mar tial law has been proclaimed and CA-ery living thing has been .Sbof^-Avinked General-ly by the authority supposed to be A^ested in Bragg. It is not doubted that affairs in Atlanta will be speedily improved by the Governraent of the United States, and Major-Gener.al W. T. Sherman is taking active measures in that direction every day ! The Atlanta editor of the Mobile News, says : "I can 156 THE STAE CORPS. give you no idea of the excitement in Atlanta. Every body seems to be hurrying off, and especially the women. Wagons loaded with household furniture and everything else that can be packed upon them crowd every street, , and Avomen, old and young children innumerable, are hur rying to and fro, leading pet lambs, deer, and other little household objects of affection, as though they intended to save all they could. Every train of cars is loaded to its utmost capacity, and there is no grumbling about seats, for even the fair ones are glad to get cA-en a standing place in a box car. The excitement beats anything I ever saw, and I hope I may never witness such again. But in the midst of all this the soldiers are cool, and cheerful, and sanguine." FACE OP CC^UNTEY. The face of the country in Georgia is undulating. HUls overgrown with clumps of woods, and A-aUeys traversed with noisy creeks ; and hills and valleys relieving each other at short intervals, mark its face just like so many Avrinkles. Much of the soU will hardly repay the labor of cultivation. The rich lands are on the Chattahoochee and South rivers, and Peach Tree, Nancy's, and Utoy creeks, and AvUl produce, so the farmers say, from 1,000 to 1,600 pounds of cotton to the acre, and from eight to ten bar rels of corn, Avhere that article is cultivated. Wheat is always an uncertain crop in this country. What is known as the gray lands Avill not produce over 700 pounds of cotton, or eight barrels of corn, or twenty-five bushels of wheat to the acre. SouETHERN Teash. — The " poor whites " of the South THE STAR CORPS. 157 are in most cases as ignorant as the emancipated slaves, and as incompetent for the franchise. The Springfield Republican says : "The general ignorance in the South is absolutely appaU- ing. We never half comprehended it tiU the war brought us into contact Avith the masses of the poor Avhites. Of eighteen thousand rebel prisoners at Point Lookout, Md., not long since, only about tAVO thousand could read and Avrite. And this is the average condition of the white men of the South, untaught in the first rudiments of learn ing, debased, brutal, and Avith no ambition for anything better. The planters and tradesmen of the Soutli have educated their children, but they have taken no interest in the general education of the people; indeed have discour aged it, from the preA'ailing sentiment that ignorance and slavery is the proj)er condition of the laboring classes." A Nashville corresjoondent of the Watchman and Re flector, Avriting from that city, after glancing at the retri bution Avhieh has everyAvhere foUoAved the footsteps of Avrong in the scA^eral insurrectionary states, thus speaks of the raanner in Avhicli the A'arious classes at the South are punished. They are certainly haAing at least a portion of their punishment in the present life : "I have seen the children of once wealthy slaveholders clad in the coarse " negro cloth " which formerly was only used by slaves. I know that once wealthy slaveholding famUies have often been forced to live for raonths on corn bread and a little bacon — formerly the diet of none but the slave. I know that once Avealthy slaveholding ladies are now obliged to work hard for a liAing ; that they are forcibly separated from their husbands ; that their children are 158 THE STAR COEPS. 1- . .^ Avrested from them by conscript officers ; that they are sometimes obliged to fly and sometimes driA^en from then- homes ; that they are occasionally pressed by hunger to save their lives by begging, and (God pity them) by Averse ; that their little daughters can at some places be seen with out shoes aud stockings, Avhile the negi-o chUdi-en at their sides are comfortably clad ; that their word is doubted and their petitions refused when their former slaves are believed and protected ; that they are compeUed to endure without a Avord, the insolence of blacks which a few years ago they would have jiunished by strijDes till the blood ran doAvn the culprit's back in streams. I know that wealthy slaveholding ladies have been halt ed by soldiers once their own slaves, and obliged to show their passes ! In truth, there is hardly any humUiation that the negro formerly endured, that the slave holder and his parasites, " the poor white trash, " do not now undergo. A negro soldier telling how he had forced his old mistress to stop and show her pass, said, " Halt, is de SAveetest word I ever spoke. " The poor Avhites were the slave-hunters of the hard old times. They hunted the runaways with bloodhounds. They have been hunted Avith the same dogs by conscript officers. The fugitive slaves were compeUed to hide in caves, and holes, and in the depths of forests and swamps. So haA-e the poor whites. The slaves were arrested wherever found and flung into prison. So have the poor whites. The slaves Avere Avhipped and shot for trying to escape. So have the poor Avhites. The slaves were forced to fly from their homes and famUies. So have the poor whites. THE STAR CORPS. 159 The slaves Avei-e driven ¦ like slieep to the slaug'nter; into the deadly cane brakes of Louisiana and other States. So haA-e the poor Avhites been driven into the still deadlier trenches of Virginia and Georgia. Truly, the Lord liveth and heareth the cry of the poor, and avenjjeth those Avho call on him in their distress ! ANECDOTES OF SHERMAN. While a regiment was moving by Sherman's headquar ters — a tent, fly and a fence corner, near Kenesaw Moun tain — one of the soldiers observed a Major General lying asleep by the roadside. He spoke A-ery loudly to his com rades, saying: "There's the way we are commanded — of ficered by Major Generals Avho get drunk and lie in fence corners. " Sherman heard him and sprang to his feet. " Not drunk boys, " he said quietly, " but I've been up all night, and I'm very tired and sleepy. " He got on his horse, and, foUowed by his staff, rode aAvay. An order was promulgated directing all civUians to leave Atlanta (North or South) within twelve days. On the day of its issue a gentleman entered Sherman's office and enquired for the General. The latter answered, very promptly, "I am General Sherman." The colloquy Avas very nearly as follows : Citizen — General, I ara a Northern raan from the State of Connecticut ; I have been living at Atlanta for nearly 160 THE STAR CORPS. seven years ; have accumulated property here, and as T see that you have ordered all citizens to leave within twelve days, I came to see if you would make an excep tion in my case. I fear, if I leave, my property wUl be destroyed. General Sherman — What kind of property do you own, SU-? Perhaps I wUl make an exception in your case, sir. Citizen— I own a block of stores, three buildings, a plantation two miles out of town, and a foundry. General Sherman — Foundry, eh ! what haA'e you been doing with your foundry ? Citizen — Have been making- castino-s. General Sherman — What kind of castings ? Shot and shell, and all that kind of thhig ? Citizen — Yes, I have made some shot and sheU. General Sherman — You liaA-e been making shot and shell to destroy your country, haA-e you ? and you still claim faAor on account of being a Northern man ! Yes,. sir, I will make an exception in your case ; you shaU go South to-morroAV morning at sunrise. Adjutant, see that this order is carried out. Orderly show this man the door. Citizen — But, General, can't I go North? General Sherman — No su-. Too many of your class there already, sir. SHEEMAN TO A SOUTHERN MINISTEE. * The following letter is characteristic of its author, and is .an interesting sketch of one of the many pleasing epi sodes of the war. How A-ery agreeable it must have been THE STAR CORPS. 161 to a rebel minister, one clothed Avith the authority of the church and defending the most unholy cause! We can almost see him as he reads the missive : Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 16th, 1864. Rev Confederate Anmj: Dear Sir; — Your letter of September 14 is received. I approach a question involving a title to a "horse" with deference for the laws of Avar. That mysterious code, of which We talk so much but know so little, is remarkably silent on the "horse." He is a beast so tempting to the soldier, to him of the Avild cavah-y, the fancy artillery, or the i^atient infantry, that I find more difficulty in recover ing a worthless, spavined beast, than in paying a million of " Greenbacks ; " so that I fear I must reduce your claim to one of finance, and refer you to the great board of claims in Washington, that may reach your case by the time your grandchUd becomes a great grandfather. Privately, I think it Avas a shabby thing in that scamp of the Thirty-first Missouri who took your horse , and the colonel or his brigadier should have restored him. But I cannot undertake to make good the sins of omission of my own colonels and brigadiers, much less of those of a former generation. " When thi,s cruel war is over, " and peace once more gives you a parish, I avUI promise, if near you, to procure out of Uncle Sara's corrals a beast that will replace the one taken from you, so AvrongfuUy ; but now it is impossible. We have a big journey before us and need all we have, and, I fear, more too ; so look out when the Yanks are about and hide your beasts, for my experience 162 the star corps. is that all soldiers are very careless in a search for title. I know that Gen. Hardee Avill confirm this, my advice. With great resj)ect, yours truly, W. T. Sherman, Maj. Gen. A PRUSSIAN OFFICER IN SHERMAn's ARMY. I Avish to say a fcAv Avords about Captain Dilger, or "Leatherbreeches," as he is familiarly called. When the war broke, out Captain Dilger was an artillery officer in the Prussian service. A short time after the battle of Bull Run,., an uncle of DUger (a merchant in New York) Avrote that the present Avas an opportune time to visit Amer ica, robably disputing our further passage. Some of the boys are saying that they are glad we are in the advance ofthe corps to-day, for if they have to fight ¦.at aU, they rather go in at first than be brought up as re serves. After skirmishing for awhile, it vvas discovered that the ifiring on the other side of the swamp came from our own men of the 14th corps, they supposing us to be rebs on this side, and vve supposing the same thing of them. It seems that they crossed further up the river, and en tered LouisviUe early in the day. Seeing the bridges on ¦fire, they sent a guard of raen down to put it out, and they fired in npon our advance cavalry. General Ward •coming up just at this juncture, ordered the cavalry back. 198 THE STAR CORPS. and two companies of the 33d Indiana to advance. Thus the 33d was pitted against another Indiana regiment of the 14th corps. They fired a few volleys, when some daii- ing fellow of the 33d ventured across on the burning stringers of the bridge, and the whole thing was soon ex plained. Had this occurred in the night, most serious re sults might have followed, but as it was no one was hurB. Some of the southern people express great surprise at the election of Lincoln. Said they had been led to sup pose that he could not possibly be elected, and that we al ready had in the field about every man. The largeness of" our army is a perfect wonder to them. Nov. 29th. — Staid on the other side of the river last night so as to cover the trains till the bridges could be fixed. The swamp proA^ed to be a A-ery bad place to cross, the teams not all getting OA^er tUl about dark to-day. Just before dark last evening, Avord came into camp that the- rebs were pressing in our rear, and that Capt. Bones had been fired npon. It seems that he had gone out that way all alone, to see if any pickets had been left by the other brigades, and was riding along in rather a leisurely maur ner, when he noticed a head looking out carefully from be hind a tree. Reining his horse to the side of the road t&- get a better view of the fellow, the rebel at once rode out and ordered him to halt, being at a distance of about six rods. The Captain wheeled his horse towards camp at. once, discovering about the same time two other rebs on- horses, who also commanded him to halt. Two of them flred upon him, the third one's gun failing to discharge, and then commenced a race for life, but the rebs did not dare to foUow fir, as it Avould bring them too near our main force. Captain Bones is a brave, dashing officer. TIIE STAE COEPS. 199 but it vvas a foolish thing for him to venture towards the rear all alone, as there are plenty of the enemy hovering about, to pick off any one Avho may happen to be so un lucky as to fall within their reach. Col Dustin thought him uuAvise thus to expose hiraself, still he commended him for his bravery. Several companies of the 22d Avere at once ordered in to line of battle and sent to the rear, and soon the entire brigade Avas throAvn around the trains. The night passed off quietly, however. Our present camp is but a short distance this side of the swamp, on a very low, wet piece of ground, the vv-ater actually standing on some portions of it. It was expec ted last night vv^hen vve broke camp on the other side, that we should travel all night again, but some'of the divisions sent to destroy the raUroad faUing to come up, it was deemed best that vve camp within reach of the pontoon^ so as to protect it. Nov. 30th — The artillery went forward last night, but vvas ordered back, it being feared that we might be at tacked during the night. Four guns are now in position ju.st opposite us on the other side of the road. Thus far we have been very fortunate as to sickness. There are a few complaining, though tlrere is nothing seri ous I believe. Wish we could get some letters from home Aviule camp ing in this swamp. Hoav anxiously the loved ones far away avIU Avait tor letters from us ! Shall vve ever meet again ? Dec. 1 st — Broke camp last night .about S o'clock, march ing only about five mUes, but it took us till one o'clock this morning. It was an a^vful road to travel in the night. '200 THE STAR CORPS. many places being So muddy as to be almost impassable, mud then to add to our trouble, the night was exceedingly ifoggy and dark, so that one could not tell where to go on ly as he followed closely the one ahead of him. Not hav ing felt very Avell during the day, it was a A-ery hard night's Avorkfor me, producing a sickness at the stomach. • ¦ -Col. Bloodgood and others were affected in a similar man ner. Getting into camp so late, Ave simply spread our tents on the ground and lay down in the chilly, cold open air, stUl I slept quite warm and well, considering the cir cumstances. Passed through LouisviUe during our march, but did aiot stop. Saw many chimneys standing as evidence that fire had faithfully been doing its fearful work. It once -contained 2,000 inhabitants, but it is almost entirely de- ; serted at present, the people taking the most of their ef fects Avith thera. Our stay in the swamp is already haA-- ing its effect upon the men by way of cough. Were this a rainy time, I hardly see how we could possibly get through these swamps. Shortly after daylight this morning, Corp. Witham of -Co. G, brought in a rebel prisoner under the foUoAving - cu-cum^ances : He went out after AvoOd, and seeing aper- simraon tree, he shook it, the noise of Avhich started up a sleeping. i'(ft) near by. There Avas a loaded musket byhis :sid'e,and'he3iad alibis accouterraents on. Witham Avas .not armed at aU, but putting his hand to his pocket as if I about to draAV his revolver, he marched boldly up to the 'fellow, Avhen the rab said in a hurry, "I surrender," and he brought him im The fellow seemed very much surpri sed at his capture. .A colored man aud his wife with two chUdren have just THE STAR CORPS. 201 -passed me. 'The children were astride a poor old horse, the mother leading it, aud the father pushing on ahead. A.nd here. comes another woman on horseback, Avith a little boy :behind her and a small chUd in her arms. :She tells me that she has been with the army since it was in Marietta — that her husband Avas a teamster. A squad of rebel prisoners has just gone along, and :among the number, I noticed some very young looking boys. Some of the men are very confident that Ave .«hall never be able to get through to the coast. KU patrick a few days since cut the raih-oad between Au gusta and Milieu. The bugle is sounding, the troops have mostly passed, and we are the rear guard, so Ave are •elected for another night's Avork. These night marches are very severe on the men, but they cannot be avoid- •ed For breakfast had chicken, goose, fresh pork, sweet ipotatoes, hard bread and cofi'ee with sugar. Broke camp at 7 o'clock A. M. The country through Hhere is A^ery thinly settled. After leaving camp, we •travelled for two hours before coming to a house. "When vve do come to one, it is generally that of a wealthy planter with plenty of negro cabins near. The soil is very sandy, and the principal production is corn. 'This is emphatically a jjitch pine country. Most of the "houses we see through this section are deserted. Along rat first, as Ave started out of Atlanta, the people mostly ¦staid at home, but this way they have left. Dec. 3d. — Marched about 16 mUes yesterday on the JIUlen road, passing through some very pleasant country. SaAV one splendid plantation. The Mansion House was a A-ery fine one, the best avc have seen on the march, and 202 THE STAE COEPS. the grounds around bore evidejice of much taste in the- proprietor, Dr. Jones, formerly professor in Oglethoi-pe University, but for awhile past a Major in the rebel ser vice. He vvas taken prisoner a few days since. Reached camp about dark and spent a very pleasant nignt. The boys do not very often put up their tents, but lie down by good fires, with their blankets over them. We generally put up our headquarter tents every night. Camped last night 11 miles from Milieu. Now and then, we pass a school house, and some very good ones too, but as a general thing, the population is too scattered for schools. During the day, I stopped to feed my horse from a big corn crib, the overseer teUing- me that he had about 3,500 bushels on hand when our ar my first comraenced passing, worth about $8,00 per bush el, but there would be nothing left in a few hours. On the north side of a lai-ge open square, vvas a row of corn cribs, on the east the mansion house, on the south, a row of negro cabins, and on the Avest the road along which our troops passed. The plantation employed 16 hands. The overseer remarked, that the v\'omen and children of" the country must suffer very much after we go away. The Confederate government calls for a tenth of all they raise. What would our northern farmers think to be thus taxed ? About five miles from MUlen, avc stopped for dinner,. and Avhile it Avas preparing, in company Avith Adjutant Durgin, I visited the rebel prison just in our rear about half a mile, Avhere our prisoners have recently been con fined. A space of about tAventy acres was enclosed by setting pine posts upright in the ground, about fourteen. THE S'l'AR COEPS. 203 feet in height. Around this log enclosure, Avere forty sen try boxes, entered from the outside by moans of ladders, the only entrance to the prison being on the south side. The ground is dry and sandy, and through the center runs a fine stream of water — its only redeeming feature. On the north side of this stream are numerous huts where our poor boys have lately been kenneled. About 8,000 were confined here. They were moved from Anderson ville four or five weeks since, and had but just got fairly located, before they had to remove again to get out of our way. The huts were built in all raanner of shapes. Some had walls of logs, with a covering of timber, and over these a good layer of sand. Some had Avails of turf, again others were cut into the ground perhaps two feet and then covered, some times with pine slabs, sometimes with sand, and some Avcre simply thatched Avith pine boughs, while .others were bare sheds.' It made liiy heart ache to look upon suck miserable hovels, hardly fit for our swine to live iri, and here our brave soldiers had to stay. No wonder that 635 graves were counted near by, and all this in five weeks. If ever I felt indignant, it was Avhen I stood in one of those sentry boxes and looked over the acres thus covered Avith these huts. Many of our soldiers visited the spot, but it Avas only to go back muttering louder curses on Jeff. Davis and all hi.s murderous crew. Through the middle of this mass of huts, Avas a row of bake ovens, each having two good sized arch kettles set for heating Avater. Near the entrance way was a smaU building, or rather the roof to one, set on posts, under which our soldiers Avere punished, I conclude, as stocks for the feet Avere lying near. I counted holes enough for seA^en persons, and they appeared to be Avell Avorn. Also 204 THE STAE COEPS. noticed a lot for the neck. I never knew before that our soldiers had to undergo this barbarous method of torture, but there was no mistaking the fact now. Around the inside of the stockade, was the "dead line" perhaps a rod and a half distant, beyond Avhich it was death for any man to pass. Sunday, Dec. 4th. — More cannonading this morning, but as yet vve get no information relative to it. Broke camp about 8.30 A. M. There is a rumor that Savannah is ours — did not learn by what forces, but I do not credit it. Marched about 12 miles yesterday. Some of our for ces, yesterday morning, struck cff toward Waynesboro, in order to destroy the raUroad, although it was first cut by KUpatrick, several days ago. The destruction of the raUroads through Georgia will prove a serious loss to the rebels, for many of their supplies are di-avyn from this state. It wiU prove a tedious work for them to wagon their corn over such an extent of territory. I think it is not the design of Sherman to get into any fight back here from the coast, any more than actually necessary to clear the way. We haA-e not the transporta tion to spare to carry Avounded men, and to leave them in the hands of the rebels would be worse than deatii itself The mere raid, living upon the country as Ave do, wUl quite as effectually bring the southern people to terms. It is much better to conquer by destroying property than life. Reached camp in the evening, having traveUed perhaps five miles. The road has been very bad indeed — swamp again. Iu some places our horses Avent in so deep we had to hold up our legs pretty well to keep from getting THE STAR CORPS. 205 Avet. In some instances horses stumbled and threw their riders into inud and water., NcAVS has just come in that KUpatrick had quite a live ly little fight last night, which explains the cannonading heard, resulting in the capture of two guns and fifty pris oners. A soldier of the Sth Ohio, foraging to-day, saw three of our men with their throats cut from ear to ear. Said they had no other wounds. They had evidently been captured while out foraging, and thus inhumanly butchered. A few days ago, four men of the 55th Ohio were found hanging by their necks in the woods, with a piece of -pa- per attached to one of thera, stating that the hanging was done by members of company F, 21st Georgia. Monday, Dec. 25. — Had a vevy good night's rest, though I vvas somewhat cold before morning. There was a little distant cannonading during the evening. Broke camp at 7 A. M., it being a beautiful morning. Several of the buUdings on the plantation Avhere Ave camped, Avere set on fire just as we left Our men have many exciting things to talk about. I have just been list ening to the story of a negro who says he concealed three of Stoneman's men in the SAvamp at the time of his fa mous raid through here, they getting separated from their command, and he fed them there for several weeks. At length he secured some good horses for them, took them twelve miles and told them to 'go on. " How does it happen," I asked him, " that all you col ored people seem so willing to help the Yankees ?" " O," said he, " I knew that they were trying to set us free, aud I was not afraid of them." Yesterday an orderly, connected with the 3d brigade of the 2d division, went out foraging in company with three 206 THE STAR CORPS. others. After gathering what they Avanted, they took the stuff out to the main road near a church. Here they found four of our men lying dead, having been shot in the breast. Some negroes were burying them. The rest of the or derly's company Avent back after something, leaving him to watch their forage. Being gone longer than Le thought they ought to be, he started out to see Avhat was the mat ter. Having gone some three miles, riding leisurely along, he heard somebody say "halt," but supposing it at first to proceed from some of his own men, who were trying to fiighten him, he did not feel alarmed, but in a few min utes he discovered quite a party of rebel cavalrymen a little distance off. They said " come this Avay," but he wheeled his horse in a hurry, saying as he did so, " can 't do it boys," and started for our lines. Five of the rebels started at full tUt after him, and haAing better horses than he, continually gained on him, firing their carbines as rap idly as they had a chance. They followed him tUl they could distinctly hear the rumbling of our wagon trains, when they turned back. His companions have not yet come in, and are probably in the hands of the rebels. Reached camp a little after dark, haA-ing marched about 15 miles. The road has been A-ery good. Om- path lay through the pine openings or plains^nothing but pine. Yesterday we passed through a beautiful forest of live oaks. It really looks cheerful to see green trees this time of year. We are uoav about ten miles from the Savannah River, and nearly 60 from Savannah. December 6th. — Reached camp to-day about 4 P. M., our brigade being in the advance again. SaAV but few houses to-day and those belonging mostly to the poorer class. In several places the rebels had felled trees across TIIE STAR CORPS. 20 7 -£he road, thinking thus to impede our progress^ but such things do not hinder us, for the infantry can inarch around them, and our pioneers Avill have everything out of the way by the time the trains Avisli to pass. Our course lay in a southerly direction along the river, at a distance of about five miles, so the rebels had aU their labor in vain — vve did not wish to cross. We seem now to be making toward Savannah, still Ave may turn off -at any moment. This morning our breakfast consisted of turkeys, chick ens, -fresh pork and other usual things. Sorae days the soldiers have all they can possibly eat, then again they suffer for rations. Our camp to-night is In the forest, with the taU, murmuring pines above us. About the Avorst thing one meets Avith in a soldier's life, are the lice, or " gray backs." It is almost impossible to keep clear of them. GeneraUy, as soon as the soldiers get into camp, lots of them may be seen here and there with their shu-ts off, looking after gray backs, or, " skirmishing," as they haA'e it. Was informed a day or two since that this expedition •comprises some 73,000 men, and 100 cannon, KUpatrick "having about 7,000 men under him. We go in four col umns, and each forages at least five miles on either side, thus we lay waste a strip of country 40 miles Avide. No -one, Avithout being here, can form a proper idea of the de vastation that wUl be found in our track. Thousands of families wiU have their homes laid in ashes, and they themselves will be turned beggars into the street. We have literally carried fire and sword into this once proud •and defiant State. Broke camp about 1 P. M. Just after Ave left we had 208 THE STAR CORPS. quite a piece of swamp to cross, and here the rebels had' cut doAvn trees again across the road. It seems A-ery fool ish for them to do such things, for they are A-ery small ob structions indeed. The 14th corps must have cut the Charleston and Sa vannah railroad by this time, which will make quite a dif ference in the supplies of that ill-fated city to which Ave are hastening. Marched about six miles to-day. Bad places in the- road again. Did not see a house after leaA-ing Spring field till near our camp ground. The country is very level through here. A rumor prevailed to-day, that the Colonel of an lUi- nois regiment, mounted infantry, was lately found hang ing by the neck in the Avoods, and that KUpatrick had de clared he Avould serve the rebel Colonel now in his hands in the same Avay. Have heard more or less cannonading all the afternoon. It must be at or near SaAannah. To-night we are twen ty-one miles from the city. Dec. 2d.^Broke camp at two A. M. — marched twelve miles — got on the wrong road, and consequently had to- march further than we otherwise should — went too far to- the right, striking the road traveled by the 1 7th corps- Had a good rqad most of the Avay — ;pine plains still. Have seen no wealthy plantations lately. Came to one place where the proprietor was a well-to-do sort of plant er and a strong Union man. For the last two months,, he. had secreted himself from the rebels Avho had been hunting for him, but hearing of our approach, he came out of his hiding place, with the intention of going along- with our army and getting North if possible. Transpor- THE STAR CORPS. 209 tation was given him and his family, and the boys made him up a purse of $130,00. He seemed a great deal af fected when the money was handed him, saying with tears in his eyes, " Gentlemen, I most heartily thank you for this, for I never expected to meet with such kindness." Saturday, Dec. lOtb. — Broke camp at 7 A. M., striking the railroad 10 miles from the city. A portion of the 1st division were destroying it as vve passed. This morning just as the head of our column hove in sight, a train of cars was seen coming around the curve on the long bridge from Savannah, but it at once turned back. Our cavalry started forward, hoping to capture the train, but the steam horse was a little too fast for them. There has been cannonading all the forenoon in our front. Come to a halt about noon, being distant from the rebel works just about one mile. We lay in the woods till nearly night, Avlien our brigade was ordered into camp a short distance to the right near the railroad. And here we are at last before Savannah. letter ix. Hd. Qrs. 22d Wis., five miles up the Rivee, ) Above Savannah, Dec. 16, 1864. [ Without doubt, friends Avill be glad to hear of our safe arrival before the city of Savannah. It is now a little over four weeks since we broke loose at Atlanta from aU communication with the North, and during that time we have made our way through the very heart of Georgia, for the distance of some 350 miles. Our march has been a most triumphant one, and to-day we are knocking for admittance into the great stronghold of the southeast. Arrived here the 12th. Our brigade has not lost a man 210 THE STAE CORPS. ly sickness since Ave left Atlanta, and there have been but very few unable to march. Dr. Bennett has just informed me that they have only about 60 eases at the division hospital. Last Sabbath orders came for the 22d to take up its po sition on the river, to support battery I, 1st N. Y., all un der command of Colonel Bloodgood. Our force lay back under cover of the trees tiU about dark, w-hen they took their positions on the bank, and proceeded to throw up proper works. The boys marched with a hearty good wUl, being well pleased at being sent here for this pnr- pose. The night passed off A-ery quietly, but about 8 A. M. on Monday, Avord was passed along the lines that three boats Avere coming down the river, one of which was thought to be a gnnboat. On they came with their rebel rag proudly fluttering in the morning breeze. They proved t© be two steamers, the Sampson ahead, then the Resolute, foUowed by the gunboat Macon. When Avithin range, om- batteries opened upon them. Perhaps a dozen shots -were fired, before the gunboat made any reply, when she sent some 32 pounders bounding over at us, most of them faUing short, but some struck in the bank just under the battery, and some Avent high aboA-e us. One went di rectly over the house where Colonel Bloodgood had his headquarters, and others crashed through the trees near the house, making the limbs fly in- a lively manner. None of us were hurt in the least, for when we saw the white smoke from their guns, we either jumped down behind our breastworks, or got behind the big trees near the shore. This artUlery duel was kept up for about half an iouiT, irhen some of our shot passed through the wheel iiouse of the Resolute, also striking both the other boats. THE STAE COEPS. 211 ¦causing SO much confusion amongst them that the S am- ;son ba(iked into, the: Resolute on on^ side, smashmg her wheel house, andthe gunboat behind smashed in the stern. tBeing thus disabled, she blew off steam at once, and we •^felt certain that her show of resistance was over. The K)ther boats, however, made no effort to take off the crew, "but steamed up the river as fast as possible. The steam er was at once taken possession of by Colonel Hawley, of the 3d Wiseojnsin, who was at this time occupying the Is land betAveen us and the boat, word being sent him by Colonel Bloodgood that the boat was disabled. We cap tured 7 officers and 33 men, who were loud in their cm-ses at the other boats for thus deserting them in the hour of their danger. Durii^g the night, a party of saUors from the 22d Wisconsin, Under command of Lieutenant Dick inson, of company A, towed the Macon to this side of the river, and workmen were at once put at work upon her to get her once more in running order. She has an excellent engine, but the rest of the boat is not worth much. She wiU, however, answer a very good purpose in transport ing troops from point to point. She is now in charge of ¦Colonel Bloodgood, Lieutenant Dickinson still remaining -on board with his saUors to manage her. Of com-se, we feel a littie proud of the capture. Yes terday the rebel gunboat down the river attempted to shell her, but was unsuccessful. Last night, however, we mov ed her further, up the river for safety. Our present location is a beautiful one. I should be content to live in such a paradise as this all the rest of my life. The bank is sufficiently high above the water to .afford a beautiful prospect up and down the river. We •can see the church spires of the city from near our head- 212 THE STAR COEPS. quarters. At every hour in the day, smaUi boats i can be seen running over to the Island^ so- the boysi arelhaving-a fine time. A fishing party has gone' Out for a pleasant time. While I write now, the gunboat dovvirthe river is thundering away at something.* Every discharge jars the house, and we can distinctly : hear the bursting' of, the sheUs. . We are aU in the best of spirits. ; •¦ ..i Friday, Dec. 16th. — The gunboat' is inclined not to al low us much peace, as sheUs have been flying quite lively inost of the day. One man of the 3d Wisconsin was to- d'ay kiUed on the Island. A shell passing tbrough the breastword, took the top of his head off. The rebels have also been shelling our forces on the Is land; so that it was deemed necessary' to send over a sec tion of our artillery to sUence thein. They seem to have something of a force on the Carolina side, and there has been more or less skirmishing -ivith them all day. It is the intention tO-morrow to send foibe troops to drive them off and get possession there. 'The 8d Wisconsin vvent over yesterday to recbnnoiter,' but finding the enemy rath er too' strong, Colonel HaAVley hastily returned to the Is land. ' ' ' You need not expect that SkvanhahAvill fall immediate ly, foritis strongly fortified and defended by a good force, probably 15,000 men. "We could probably take their whole works by dii-ect assault, for we far outnumber thehi as to men, but it would res'lllt in a heavy loss to us. 'Y'ou may rest assured, however, that Savannah AviU fall ' sooner or later. Their outer liiie of works is about four miles from the city, and Ave have A<'orks withih 400 yards "of theirs. Our sharp shoot e'rS preA'cntthe working of some THE STAE CORPS., 213 of their guns iu the day time, so in the night they pitch a few shells into us here and there. , While we have been staying at the river, the rest of the brigade have been doing skirmish duty near the rebel works. ... The cheering news came to us to-day that 20 tons of maU matter await the , 20th corps on board the gunboat below Fort McAlister. , ,¦ So we shall soon hear from home. Truly yours, G. S. Bradley. LETTER X. Tuesday evening, Dec. 20th. — This afternoon the gun boats ascended the river to a point nearly opposite us, and sent their shells over this way, some of the pieces striking very near our house, and some exploded near the regiment, but many of the boys went right on with their preparation for supper, not -even " getting behind a tree. Some of us, a little more timorous, either got behind the big oaks, or under the breastworks. They quit about dark and went down the river, but peem to be banging away at something again this ev-ening. There vvas pret ty constant cannonading all of last night. The gunboats shelled the 2d division, who were, preparing works for some of the large guns we" have just received from the fleet ; some 40 being wounded and nine kiUed. There lias been some skirmishing on the Carolina shore to-day, .icme man having his leg shot off by a cannon ball ; anoth- •er being wounded in his arm, and a third one killed. There has been a rumor to-day that they are evacuating •tlie city, but the report is not credited. It is stated by a tdeserter that the inhabitants are very anxious that the city 214 THE STAE COEPS. should be surrendered, probably fearing that if they hold on, it wUl share the fate of Atlanta. ¦ - Before this reaches you, the . telegraph will probably have informed you of a glorious- victory or a terrible de feat, for we are just on the eve of most important events. The storm is about to burst, and the throats of more tHan 100 cannon along our lines will not be opened, we ti-ust, in vain, although many of our brave boy^ must faU. ' Yours just before the biattie, G. S. Bradley. AT SAVANNAH,, I need not tell you that Savannah is ours, for the papers have alrealdy told you thi^ in big letters, and you have had your rejoicing over the glorious news. On Monday, Dee". 1 9th, the rebels opened with heavy cannonading all along their works, and it was kept; up nearly all day, our guns but seldom replying. Tuesday it was the same, the gunboat down the river, in an espec ial manner paying us its compliments in the shape of huge 64 pounder shells. About 2 o'clock on Wednesday morn ing, a small reconnoitering party of the 2d division, 20th A. C, General Geary's command, crawled stealthily up to the rebel works near one of their large guns, getting up to the very, muzzle, it being too dark to clearly distinguish objects. For a moment they dropped down under the THE STAR CORPS. 215 works, fearful that the rebels might take the alarm and pour in upon them. After waiting a short time, they ven tured to peep over the works and listen, but could neither see nor hear any one. Then they crawled clear over and found that the Une of works was entirely evacuated. Some of the number were sent back to report, and soon our troops along the 3d division line were notified, but could hardly believe what was told them, susj)ecting it to be some trick of the Johnnies. They even went so far as to want to trade coffee for tobacco, with the supposed rebs, but the 2d divisions stoutly affirmed they were no John nies but veritable Yankees. Gen. Ward soon mustered his forces and pushed on toward the city, but Gen. Geary was a little ahead of him, and received the sun-ender of the city. Gen. Sherman being absent at Hilton Head at the time. On looking over their fortifications, a single line of works about 3^ miles from the city, it is evident that they could not have maintained much of a fight Still nature had helped them very materially, there being swamp all along their line of works. In some places there were rice swamps, ov-er which they had let the water at high tide and then shut down the gates. In charging their works, Ave should haA'c been obliged to go right through these swamps in the face of a galling fire from both musketry and heavy guns. The works Avere quite well supplied with heavy ordnance, mostly 32 pounders. There were tAVO guns directly in the road on Avhich we advanced into the city. The woods along the road near us frequently showed the marks of their shots. When we retired to rest Tuesday evening, we expected that the morrow v\-ould witness a most bloody day, but in- 216 THE STAR CORPS. stead, our army triumphantiy entered the city without any opposition. Savannah is one of the oldest cities in the country, and is reaUy a beautiful place, being finely shaded by the live oak. On some of the streets, there are two rows of trees through the center, Avith a wide path between them, and a row hear each side Avalk, thus giving to the city a very cheerful appearance. Were it not for the chUly air, one might almost be led. On Avalking through the city, to think it mid summer, so green are the trees. As a general thing the streets are wide, and frequently intercepted by smaU public squares well set out Avi'th trees, and often ornamented with some monument. On one of them, I noticed a most beauti ful white marble one to the memory of Pulaski; on the east side is the simple Avord Pulaski ; on the south it reads as foUoAvs : PULASKL THE HEROIC POLE, WHO FELL MORTALLY AVOUNDED FIGHT ING FOR AMEEICAN LIBEETY AT THE SIEGE OF SAA'xVNNAH, 9tH OP OCTOBER, 1776. On the Avest, also the simple word Pulaski ; on the north. Savannah, 9th Oct, 1779, and directly under this is the figure of Pulaski falling fi-om his noble steed, all of whichis very finely executed. The shaft is perhaps near THE STAR CORPS. 217 40 feeft in height, surmounted at the top by the statute of the hero, the whole of Avhite marble. Around the monu ment, is a substantial fence, the posts being in the shape •of cannon, each surmounted by the representative of a J large solid shot. The prospect up or down the river is a fine one, the "bahk on Avhich the city is built being high above the wa ter. I shall perhaps be able to give you a more complete pic ture of the city after I have seen more of it. The nura- 'ber of inhabitants has been about 30,000, about half of ^hem remaining, among whom are many very strong Union men, and you need not be surprised if before long you hear of a decided Union niovement this way. The 22d regiment was at the rice mUls tUl Saturday morning, when Ave had orders to abandon them and join our brigade near the city. On , Friday CA-ening, Colonel Dustin informed Colonel Bloodgood that the 22d was now all alone at the river — that Wheeler's cavalry, numbering ^.several hundreds were Avithin a fcAv miles of us, and that our pickets better be strengthened. You may imagine that Ave did riot like the idea of being gobbled very weU. The men thought of Brentwood. The night, hoAvever, passed away without alarm, and : Saturday morning found us on the move to the city, with colors flying and music playing. During our stay at the river, about 7,000 bushels of rice were threshed. December 27th. — It being the general impression that we should remain in Savannah for the present, our boys -went to work iinmediately to put up good quarters, but -yesterday just at night orders came for us to be ready to move to the north side of the river. This movement is 218 TIEE STAE COEPS. probably for the purpose of stopping rebel raids along the= river, so annoying to our boats. The impression now is that we are soon to enter upoa another campaign, perhaps toward Charleston. All are in the best of spirits over our own success, also over the good news from NashvUle and other quarters. Truly, this winter's work is telling hard against the re bellion. Yours truly, G. S. Bradley, Chaplain. 22d Wis. GEN. Sherman's dispatch. Savannah, Ga., Dec. 22, 1864. To His Excellency President Lincoln: — I beg to pre sent YOU, AS A Christmas gift, the citat op Saa^annah, WITH A HUNDRED AND FIFTY HEAVY GUNS AND PLENTY OP- AMMUNITION, AND ALSO ABOUT TAV^ENTY-PIVE THOUSAND. BALES OF COTTON. W. T. Sheeman, Major- General. GEN. poster's DISPATCH. Steamer Golden Gx^te, \ Savannah River, Dec. 22d, 7 P. M. f To JjieMt.-Gen. Grant and Maj.- Gen. Halleck: — lyliave the honor to report that I have just returned from General Sherman's head-quarters, in Savannah. I send Maj. Gray of my staff, as bearer of dispatches from General Sher man to you, and also a message to the President. The city of Savannah was occupied on the morning of ~ the 21st Gen. Hardee, anticipating the contemplated as sault, escaped with the main body of his infantry and. THE STAR CORPS. 219 light artillery, on the evening of the 20th, by crossing the river at Union Causeway, opposite the city. The rebel iron clads were blown up and the navy yard bm-ned. AU the best of the city is intact, and contains 20,000 citizens who are quiet and weU disposed. The captures include 800 prisoners, 160 guns, 12 loco motives in good order, 1 90 cars, a large supply of ammu nition and materials of war, 3 steamers, 33,000 bales of cotton safely stored in warehouses. All these valuables — fruits of an almost bloodless vic tory — ^have been, like Atlanta, fairly won. I opened communicartion with the city with my steam ers to-day, taking uj) aU ,the torpedoes we could see, and passing safely over others. Arrangements are made to clear the channel of obstructions. Yours, etc., J. G. FOSTEE, I Major- General. SHERMAN'^ MARCH TO THE SEA^ BY BEV. G. S. BEADLEY, CHAPLAIN 22d WIS. And still the war along tlie border Had forces in deadly array, And we knew by tlje distant camp-fires, That many had gathered that way ; And we heard the wild notes of the bugle. That sounded o'er river and lea. And a rider then told ns in haste, That Sherman would march to the sea. 220 THE STAR CORPS. And when we saw our banner of Stars Flung out to the breezes so gay, Our patriot blood within was stirred, And we could not remain away. Hastily taking the last adieu, ¦With weeping by cottage and tree, We followed fast our leader so brave, For Sherman must march to the sea. And up the wild heights of Kesaca, Our columns were hurried that day. But many a brave slept by that fort, And sad was the work of the fray. Then Kenesaw frowning with cannon, And thick as the rebels ccJIlld be. Soon fell by the hands of our legions, For Sherman must march to the sea. Golgotha, Dallas 'Woods, and the like, Where bullets were showered like hail — Our men stood like tried heroes that day. And we made the enemy quail ; Then southward we hurried to battle, — Peach Tree fell by river and lea, And the country all caught the glad sound, As Sherman marched down to the sea. Then out from Atlanta we hurried, Ita grim walls all battered and black — Nothing was left to rebeldom there, Naught but ruin along our track ; And our banners were flung to the breeze, — We knew we should march by river and lea- That our journey would take us afar, As Sherman marched down to the sea. Then we heard the loud champing of steeds,— The clatter of hoofs by the way — And we knew our columns were marching, Striking tents at break of the day ; THE STAE CORPS. 22.1 And rumbling of trains fell on our ear, And we thought of what was to be, Away in the dim, distant future. As Sherman marched down to the sea. As in the swamp and tangled morass. Our troops were hurrying through, Often the booming of cannon was heard. The sharp rattle of musketry too ; And we knew our comrades were falling By many a river and tree, — And the life-tide fast away ebbing — As Sherman marched down to the sea. But bright did our bivouac fires blaze In the deep old forests of pine, And we lay ourselves down on the ground, — Our pickets well guarding the line. 0 'twas wearisome marching so long, — Such tramping by river and lea — But our hearts were brave as brave could be. For Sherman would march to the sea. How often we thought of the future, And prayed for the ending of strife, — That brother might visit with brother. And troubles no longer be rife ; Yet, while traitor flags flaunted the breeze. Insulting the stars of the Free, We buckled anew our saber's keen blade, For Sherman must march to the sea. Let rebels have stockade or fortress, Well mounted, snd guarded and manned, We knew nothing could hinder the way. Which our old Tecumseh had planned ; And loudly echoeii the tugle and drum, That' marshaled onr troops on the lea. And cheer upon cheer went up from the men. For Sherman would march to the sea. 222 THE STAE COEPS. Hark ! what meaneth that booming away — That crossing the pontoon below ; Can it be the traitors have fallen, And this their salute as they go ? But the moming scarcely had broken, With fog upon river and lea. When vve kn«w by "Forward boys ! Forward ! " That Sherman had marched to the sea. And the black throated cannon were still, Yet pointing to the northward, they lay, While the city from flames had been spared, And rebels were now far away ; And then there was shouting and joy, To think fair Savannah was free ! To our God will we utter our thanks — As Sherman marched down to the sea. LETTEE XI. Savannah, Ga., Dec. 28, 1864. It may be weU, perhaps, to review briefly some of the more striking points of the campaign just now brought to a close. After the faU of Atlanta, it began to be talked about in northern papers that Sherman was preparing for some great move, how, when, or where, no one knew. Finding himself so nicely out-generaled in the loss of the " Gate City," Hood determined he would punish Sher man by stopping his supplies. His communications must be cut in the rear and his mighty army would soon be star- THE STAR COEPS. 223 wed out of their stronghold, and there is but little doubt but Sherman's gigantic stride across the broad State of Geor- jgia, if not produced, was, at all events, precipitated by Hood's severance of railroad communications between Atlanta and Chattanooga, forcing the evacuation of the former stronghold. From Chattanooga, Hood threw him self on Florence, and there began to feed and shoe his troops, and to reinforce and mobilize his columns, so as to play a stUl grander game in Tennessee. His plan was 'Carefully elaborated. First, he seized Corinth, and Beau- Tegard held it in force. This raove opened a line of sup- j)lies by the way of the Corinth and Mobile railroad, through the length and breadth of Mississippi and Ala bama. Right and left on the railroad line, he received contributions, and rapidly got forward troops, food and forage, ammunition and clothing. The mending of the railroad between Corinth and Tuscumbia perfected his •communications. These preparations were made with the apparent in tent to force Sherman out of Atlanta. Sherman did go ¦out of Atlanta ; but unfortunately for Hood, went out on the wrong side. About the middle of November, the lat- ter's preparations neared completion; but Sherman's were a,lready completed. WhUe Hood was chuckling over both a-etrospect and prospect in Northern Alabama, Sherman with the instinct of genius, and the skUl of a thorough- l)red soldier, reversed the tide of fortune, took the offen sive, and, out of the nettle danger, plucked the flower ¦safely. Everybody recollects how summarily General Sherman and his handful of invading Yankees were to be disposed •ot, after leaving Atlanta. Trees were to be cut down, 224 THE STAR CORPS. bridges wpre to be burned, aU forage for man and beast was to be destroyed, the country was to be desolated and the difiiculties that beset Bonaparte on l^is famous and' disastrous visit to Moscow, Avere to have, been repeated iIhj the State of Georgia in the year of grace 1864. That was the programme written out and printed at length im all the southern papers. Hospitable graves were the only- hospitable and welcome openings that awaited him of the bliie coat on the road frora Atlanta to Sa,vannah ! So saidT the fulminating proclamations of Governors, Generals, edi tors and all. But the gallant Sherman says it Avas an " agreeable journey." Probably but very fcAv people in the soutli dreamed ; that Sherman could make his Avay through the, entire length of Georgia, Avithout greater interruptions than he experi enced. We were ofteu suprised at the abundance of everything- eatable, and it was evident to every one that the south could not be starved into submission. But if we could destroy their raih-oads — the great arte ries of the south — we should most effectually operate against Richmond, Charleston, and other strongholds^. though hundreds of mUes away. While Grant has been holding the hydra headed mon ster — rebellion at bay, near Richmond, Sherman has been SKINNING and carving and taking out the vitals in Geor gia, and soon you will hear pf his plowing up South Cai-o- lina. And he wiU not do it Avitli a one-horse afiair either, but setting his coulter :deep, he avUI cut their secession r)>ots-, and tm-n up a better soil. Do. you say it is tprrible thus to destroy property? So it is, but better thus than to d«s- r oy life. THE STAR CORPS. I 226 Do you say that the women and children of the south must suffer ? Undoubtedly, but how can the reb'els be punished at all without a great deal of suffering some where. So far as the women are concerned, we might as well spare our pity, for they are the Avorst secessionists, and why should they not sufier ? They have urged on the brutal treatment of Yankee prisoners. They have personally insulted these poor men, and woiUd you now spare them a proper amount of suf fering? We say no. Let them understand that secession means something more than a holiday parade. Our heart has often been pained as we have witnessed the cruelties and devastation of Avar. As we have looked OA-'er plantations laid waste, houses burned, and the peo ple turned out as beggars into the streets, our hearts have relented, but right over on the other hand we have thought of the thousands in the prison pens of Charles ton, AndersonviUe, Salsbury, Libby and other places, and then wc haA'e said, let ruin bring thera to their senses, if nothing else Avill. You will notice in the rebel papers that they now de clare the fall of Savannah no particular loss to them — that they wiU now have an additional force to concentrate at some otiier point. Well, they have certainly rather a happy way of look ing at all their mishaps, as " blessings in disguise." But it wiU not go doAvn with the masses at home. Such raids as the one through Georgia will make the war a reality to the people of the south as perhaps nothing else can. The pedple at home wUl be completely discouraged, and the soldiers in the field will feel the same when they hear of iBe destitution of their families. Let the south buUd as 226 THE STAR CORPS. many air castles as people please, but one fact stands out apparent to every one who has been where we have, that the rebeUion is fast tumbling to ruins. Sherman is knock ing the bottom out. But my letter is already sufliciently long, j^et I want to quote an extract from the correspondence of the New York Herald, which is as follows* " On the evening of the 12th, HoAvard relieved Plazen's second division of the fifteenth corps, by a part of the seventeenth corps, and threw it across the Little Ogeechee, towards the Great Ogeechee, Avith the A-iew of crossing it to Ossabaw Island, and reducing Fort McAUster, which held the river. The enemy had destroyed King's bridge across the Great Ogeechee, and this had to be repaired. Capt. Rees, topographical engineer of Howard's staff,r with the Missouri engineers, i^repared the timber and bridged the one thousand feet of riA-er during the night, and on the morning of the 13th, Hazen crossed and moved towards the point where Fort McAllister obstructed the river. Kilijatrick, in the meantime, had moved down to St. Catherine's Sound, opened coramunication Avith the fleet, and asked permission to storm Fort McAllister ; but Sherman did not give his consent, considering it question able Avhether the cavah-y with the poor facilities, and small supply of artillery, could succeed. THE PORT CARRIED BY HAZEN. , , Learning that Hazen was to storm the fort on the after noon of the 13th, I visited the right of the line, and at 1 o'clock joined Generals Sherman and Howard, at Dr. Cherne's rice miU, on the Ogeechee, opposite Fort Mc Alister. I found Sherman on the roof of the mUl, sur*?. THE STAE CORPS. 227 rounded by his staff and signal ofiicers Bekley and Cole, waiting to communicate with Hazen on the island. WhUe patiently waiting for Plazen's signals, Sherman's keen eye detected smoke in the horizon seaward. Up to this time he had received no inteUigence from the fleet In a moment the countenance of the chieftain lightened up, and he exclaimed: " Look ! Howard ; there is the gunboat ! " Time passed on, and the vessel now became visible, yet no signal from the fleet or Hazen. Half an hour pass ed and the guns of the fort opened simultaneously with puffs of smoke that rose a few hundred yards from the fort, showing that Hazen's skirmishers had opened. A moment after Hazen signalled. " I have invested the fort and will assault immediately." At this moment Sickley announced. "A signal from the gunboat." AU eyes are turned from the fort to the gun boat that is coming to our assistance with news from home. A few messages pass that inform us that Foster and Dahlgreen are within speaking distance. The gun boat now halts and asks ; " Can we run up ? Is Fort McAUister ours ? " " No," is the reply. " Hazen is just ready to storm it. Can you assist ? " " Yes," is the reply. " What will you have us to do ? " But before Sherman' can reply to Dahlgreen, the thun ders of the fort are heard, and the low sound of small arms is, borne across the three miles of marsh and river. Field glasses are opened, and, sitting flat upon the roof, the hero of Atlanta gazed away off to the fort. " There they go grandly ; not a waver," he remarks. Twenty seconds pass, and again he exclaims : 228 THE STAE CORPS. " See that flag in the advance, Howard ; how steadUy- it moves ; not a man falters. * * There they go StiU ; see the roU of musketry. Grand, grand." Still he strains his ,eyes, and a moment after speaks- without raising his eyes — " That flag stUl goes forward ; there is no flinching- there." A pause for a minute. "Look! "he exclaims," it has halted. They waver, no ! it's the parapet ! There they go again ; now they scale it ; some are over. Look, there is a flag on the works ! Another, another. It's ours. The fort's ours !" The glass dropped by his side, and in an instant the joy of the great leader at the possession of the river and the opening of the road to his new base, burst forth in words : As the old darkle remarked, " dis chile don't sleep to night." And turning to one at his side. Captain Ande- reid, he remarked : " Have a boat for me at once, I must go there," pointing to the fort, from which half a dozei* battle flags floated grandly in the sunset. And well might WUliam Tecumseh Sherman rejoice ; for here, as the setting sun went down upon Fort McAl lister reduced, and kissed a fond good night to the Starry Banner, Sherman witnessed the culmination of his plans and marches, that had involved such desperate resistance and risk — the opening of a new and shorter route to his base. Heie at sunset, on the memorable 13th of Decem ber, the dark waters of the great Ogeechee bore witness to the fulfilment of the covenant Sherman made with his ii-on heroes at Atlanta, twenty-nine days before, to lead them victorious to a new base. Tours truly, G. S. Bradley. THE STAR CORPS. 229 VICTORY. B-V JULIA ADELAIDE BURDICK. Victory ! Thunder it, cannon and resonant bell ! Echo it, mountain-side, htll-top and dell ! Trumpet and bugle the loud pean swell ! Victory J! Victory ! Boon-ung of cannon and bursting of shell, Haste, to our foeman the great tidings tell ! Victory ! II. Victory 1 Wave, happy flag, over fortress and fleet ! Army and navy exultingly greet ! •City to country the glad news repeat ! Victory ! Victory ! Fly with it, freemen, the poor bondman meet. Strike the last fetter in twain at. his feet ! Victory ! -Soldier, the weary day's suffering through ! Patriot, everywhere dauntless and true ! Nation, unflinching to dare and to do ! Victory ! Victory ! Lift up your voice and welcome anew Kuler as wise as the land ever knew ! Victory ! Victory ! Flash it with lightning, o'er highways of wire ! Speed it, ye steeds with the red heart of fire ! 230 THE STAE COEPS. On with it, white ships, and never more tire ! Victory ! Victory ! Beacons on rampart and redan and spire, Signal triumphant the Nation's desire ! Victory ! Victory ! Thunder it ocean and river,4nd lake I Echo it strands that the mad waters rake ! Fly with it winds till the universe shake ! Victory ! Victory ! Heaven and Earth into melodies break. Morning hath broken, awake, 0 awake ! Victory ! IN MEMORIAM. Tune — Just hefore the Battle. Inscribed to Mrs. Thomas Place, whose son, Eugene, fell a martyr to his country in the autumn of 1864. BY MBS. O. B. BRADLEY. Farewell home, and farewell mother ! Hear you not the country's call 1 WeU I know your heart will falter. Fearing your loved boy will fall. Surely, mother, you '11 withhold not Service for a hundred days. Duty to the country, mother, In my mind all else outweighs. THE STAE COEPS. 231 Farewell home and all its treasures: — Glad I leave you for the fight; Ood will love your hoy, dear mother. More if he sustain the right. In thft tear-gemmed eye, dear mother, Well I read your anxious fears, — Know that fancy,; leads the spirit Where the battle-field appears ;— A Shows among the slain and dying. Him who gladly leaves you now ; — And well I know the struggle, mother, Ere you can submissive bow. Jei, dear mother, I must leave you, For the country's honor bright,— God will love your boy, dear mother^ More if he sustain the right. Fancy, too, will often picture Him the subject of disease, — Till the pain aud anguish, mother. Doth the weary soul release. Many more must fall, dear mother, Ere shall cease this conflict wild ; Though you 've nobly given Luther, Hold npt back your second chil(^. l/Ct me go, tho' I may, mofher, Fass forever from your sight; God will love your boy, dear mother, More if he sustain the right. ******* Farewell home, and farewell, mother ! Far removed from loved ones all, I am sick and I am dying, Dying, lest the country fall; One by one the brave boys going, Tells the value of the prize ; -232 THE STAE COEPS. 'T is well, if from our ashes, Liberty and Union rise. Farewell, loved ones! Quell the^anguish That makes the heart so wildly swell; Keep in mind the cause of Freedom, That for which your loved boy fell.' Well I know that you will miss me, — , It Sad indeed will be each heart, ¦. AVhen the flash along the wire- ,r Shall to you the news impart. 0, how you will weep, my mother, Thinking of my lonely lot, — , How no kindred ones around me, Stood beside my dying cot. Farewell, father, farewell mother! All my kindred fade from sight! Ood ivill love your boy, dear mother, For he died to. save the right. You will come and bear my body Back to rest with loved ones gone, ' While the stream of life, tho' sluggish',' Will the tide of years roll on. ' You will often think of GENIE— ' Sometimes -wish me back again, — ' ' ' But oh ! yoii would not wake me, mother, Life hath so much grief and pain. Farewell Father ! farewell Mother ! All my kindred fade from sight, God will love your boy, dear'mother. For he died to save the right. Mt. Pleasant, Wis. THE STAE CORPS. 233 ,i: Extract from Colonel Dtistin's Report of the Savannah ¦ icainpaign : ' Headquarters 2d Brig. 3d Div. 20th A. C. ) '' Savannah; Georgia, Dec. 27th, 1864. j To Captain John Speed, A. A. G. 3d Division 20th A. C. Sir :— I have the- honor to transmit my report of the -operations of the 2d brigade, 3d division 20th A. C, from the time I assumed command on the 9th day of Novem- ¦ber to the 21st day, of December. I also transmit here with' the reports of my regimental commanders, embra cing the time from the occupation of Atlanta, on the 2d ¦day of September, to the capture of Savannah on the 21st inst. ' By special orders from Corps Headquarters, I assumed (Command of this brigade on the 9th day of November, my own regiment, the 105th Illinois, stUl remaining in the 1st brigade. I thus relieved Lieut Colonel Crane, ofthe r85th Indiana, the ranking oflicer of this brigade. Col. Crane Avas in command but for a few days, and to relieve him fi-om the necessity of making a separate report as brigade commander, it may be here stated that nothing "Of particular interest occurred while he was in command, excepting that on the 5th day of November the brigade moved out on the McDonaugh road for liie distance of two niiles, and then encamped. On the 6th, it was or- -d'erdd back to its original position near Atlanta. Before returning, and just at daylight on the morning of the 6th, a dadi upon our jiicket line Avas made by a squad of rebel ¦cavalry,' and one man fi-om the 33d Indiana -veteran a-o1- Tinteers was kUled. Early on the morning of the 9th of ^November, our lines, were disturbed by artillery firing 234 THE STAR CORPS. from the enemy, who had placed tAvo guns in position at- a point, a short distance to the right of the Decatur road- From this point, some fifteen or tAventy sheUs were thrown. into our lines, some of them bursting within and close- upon the encampment of the 85th Indiana. The brigade- was promptly under arms, but the firing soon ceased, and, no farther demonstration was made in our front. On assuming command of the brigade, I found it or-- ganized as foUows : Regt. Comdg. Officer. Aggre'ate strength... 33d Indian Vet. Vols. Lt Col. Burton. 636 22d Wisconsin Vols. Lt Col. Bloodgood! 711 19th Michigan Vols. Lt Col. Baker 703 85th Indiana Vols. Lt Col; Crane. 640 Grand Aggregate, 2,690 meit Of this number, the total present was 1,531. Number of muskets present 1,222. I found the 19tli Michigan detached, and on duty in the- city of Atlanta, reporting to Col. Crane, 107th N. Y. Vol unteers, commanding a provisional brigade. On the 14th, I announced the brigade staff, as follows r Major Wilson Hobbs 85 Indiana, Surgeon ih Chief. Capt A. G. Kellam. 22d Wisconsin, A. A. A. G. Capt Wm. Bones 22d Wisconsin, A. A. I. G. Capt D. J. Easton 1 9th Michigan, A. A. D. C. Lieut H. C. Johnson 33d Indiana, Top. Eng. A. A. D. C^ Lieut L. M. Wing 19th Michigan, A. A. Q. M. Lieut W. S. Harbert 85th Indiana, A. C. S. Lieut C. A. Booth i 22d Wisconsin, Prov. Mar. Lieut H. C. Brown 85th Indiana, Brig. Amb. Ofii- Lieut. John Hart 33d Indiana, Brig. Pioneer Offi"' THE STAR CORPS. 235 From the 10th to the 15th, the command was busy in preparing for the new campaign. Nov. 15th, pursuant to orders of the day before, the brigade moved out from Atlanta at 9 A. M., taking the Decatur road. The 3d division in the rear, and the 2d brigade in the center of the division. ¦»¦*¦ * * * * ** Dec. 10th, broke camp at 7 A. M., and marched to within five miles of Savannah, on the Savannah and Au gusta dirt road, crossing the Charleston and Savannah railroad, ten miles from the latter place. Here our ad vance coming upon the enemy, our troops went into posi tion. The 2d brigade being in reserve, went into eamp in good season, in rear of the line of the 1st and 3d brig ades of our division. Dec. 11th, remained in position until dark. In obedi ence to orders from Corps Headquarters, the 22d Wis consin was detached and sent to Gibbon's plantation on Savannah river to support a battery and blockade the river. At dark the brigade moved forward into the first line, connecting the right of the 1st brigade with the left of the 3d brigade of our division, and midway between the dirt and raUroad, the general du-ection of the line of battle being nearly north and south. Dec. 12th, remained in position. The battery supported by the 22d Wisconsin, attacked three boats attempting to pass the blockade. One, being a gunboat, the other side- wheel steamers — one armed. The unarmed boat was dis abled by the battery, and the other two abandoned her, our forces immediately taking possession of her and her crcAV. 23 6 THE STAE COEPS. The 22d Wisconsin at the river took possession ofthe rice miUs on the river, and detaUs from the regiment comraenced operating thera, contributing very materiaUy toward relieving the embarassment of the Subsistence Depot, on account of the scarcity of supplies. This AVork was energeticaUy prosecuted under direction of Lieut. Harbert, A. C. S., of the 2d brigade, by details from the brigade. Dec. 13th. line of battle connected and advanced — 2d brigade again in reserve. Dec. 14th, by direction from corps headquarters, two regiments, the 85th Indiana and 19th Michigan, Lt. Col. Crane commanding, made an expedition eight and a half miles into the country with twenty-four wagons, return ing in eight hours with the wagons loaded with stores. Dec. 15tli, remained in position. Dec. 16th, at 7 A. M., brigade moved to the left of the Augusta dirt road, occupying partiaUy completed works just then evacuated by the 2d brigade 1st division 20th A. C. (Col. Carman), connecting on the right with the 1st brigade of our division, and on the left with the 1st brig ade 1st division 20th A. C, picket line 500 yards in ad vance of line of battle, and within 600 yards of the ene my's line of battle. Dec. 17th, remained in position. Details from the reg iments were set to work, and the unfinished breastworks iu front of the brigade, put into good condition for de fense. Dec. 18th, in position — nothing of importance occur- ing. Received the foUoAving order fi-om division headqaar- ters : THE STAR CORPS. 237 Headquarters 3d Division, 20th A. C. ) Near Savannah, Ga. Dec. 18th, 1864. j Circular : To-night each brigade commander will send out to his front a reconnoitering partjr to ascertain every avenue to the enemy's position. A Avritten report of the investigation will be sent to these headquarters by 9 A. M. to-morroAV. By command of Brig. Gen. W. T. Ward. John Speed, Capt & A. A. G. In pursuance of Avhich, after a careful jjersonal exami nation of the ground by the Colonel commanding, the following report Avas made : Headquarters 2d Beig. 3d Division 20th A. C. \ Near Savannah, Ga. Dec. 20th, 1864. f Captain : I have the honor to submit the foUoAving report for the information of the General commanding. This brigade (2d) has three (3) regiments in line, the 22d Wisconsin being detached, and upon duty at Gib bon's plantation on the Savannah river. The right of our line rests upon the Savannah and Au gusta dirt road, connecting with the left of the 1st brig ade of this division (Col. Smith), the left connecting with the right of the 1st brigade, 1st division of this corps (Col. Selfiidge), with a front of seven hundred and forty (740) yards — the general direction of our line of battle is a little east of north, and is very weU fortified. Our front is covered by a picket line of two (2) com missioned officers and one hundred and seventy (170) men, connecting on right and left as indicated above, and 238 THE STAE COEPS. is four hundred (400) yards in advance of the line of battle — the intermediate ground being covered with pine. The ground is dry, with no serious obstacles to an ad vance in line of battle. In front of the entire length of our picket line, is an open space — probably eight hundred (800) yards in width on our right, and gradually widening towards the left. The enemy's line of battle — fortified — is just on the edge of, the woods upon the opposite side of the open space just refeiTed to, and continues towards the left, along the edge of the woods — about half our brigade front. From this point toward the left, their line is plainly visi ble in this open space. In front of the right of our picket line, there is an al most impenetrable slashing of timber, one hundred (100) yards in width, and extends towards the left, nearly half the front of our brigade. Between this slashing and the rebel skirmish line, there is a basin of water from 75 to 100 yards in width, the depth of which has not been as certained. This basin of water widens and evidently deepens toAvardthe left, where are three floodgates, plain ly visible, indicatmg that this basin of water has been used for purposes of irrigation. On the 19th inst, I made a careful personal examination of the ground. The same has been done by other officers of my staff and command. The ground to Avithin a short distance of the enemy's picket line has, I think, been very thoroughly explored. I have reason to believe that between the rebel skk- mish line and their line of battle, there is a ditch or canal extending from the bridge on the main road toward the i-iver. THE STAE COEPS. 239 I In my judgment an advance in our front for the pur- Apose of assaulting the enemy's works would be extremely ^difficult and its success doubtful. This report was very fully confirmed by facts transpir ing with the evacuation, except perhaps the distance be- tfcween the picket line of this brigade and the enemy's line Mississippi, in the Field, Feb. Sth, 1865. ) General : — Yours, addi-essed to General Howard, is! received by me. I hope you will burn all the cotton, and save us the trouble. We dont want it, and it has proved a curse to our country. All you don't burn, I wUI. As to private houses, occupied by peaceful families, my orders are not to molest or disturb them, and I think my orders are obeyed. Vacant houses, being of no use to anybody, I care but little about, as the owners have thought them of no use to themselves. I don't want them destroyed, but do not take much care to preserve them. I am, with respect, yours truly, W. T. Sherman. Major-General Commanding. Major-General J. Wheeler, Comraanding Cavalry Corps, ^ Confederate Army. The following story is one araong many that happen from day to day in our grand tramp through the confed eracy : Two Rebel Soldiers Surrounded by a Fedeeal Officee. — On the night of the 30th a Captain of the 16th Michigan infantry, while riding out, came uptn two rebel soldiers in the vv^oods near the pike. The officer, seeing it would not do to attempt an escape, in a very authorita tive tone deraanded what regiment they belonged to. They replied to a Mississippi regiment. " What are you doing off from your command at a time like this ? You have no business here." The soldiers replied that they were only looking around a little. " Very AveU," replied the star corps. 263 the oflicer, " come right along with me, and I AviU take you to your regiments." The soldiers followed, and in a few minutes they found, to their dismay, that the witty officer was in the Federal service, and had led them into a Yankee camp. Probably the rebels can also teU some pretty sharp things about theu- exploits. Each side has its daring, cunning, and fearless men. LETTEE XV. Faatetteville, N. C, March 12, 1865. As there is a chance to communicate with the outside world, I Avill embrace the opportunity of teUing you tha;t we are all safe and sound. ArriA^ed here last night, and camped just a little out of the city. From my journal which I send home, you avUI be able to gather a tolerablj clear idea of our march through South Carolina. Each day was alike for the most part, varied perhaps by inci dents more or less exciting, according to circumstances. Striking the railroad near BranchviUe, each corps had its share of work laid off, and most faithfully was it per formed, and I think they Avill not soon have their roads in running order that way again. Sherraan has been swinging his big scythe right and left, and South Caroli na has tasted some of the legitimate fruits of nullification and secession. I think her people are perfectly salisEed with their experunent. Striking off into the interior of the State, dejStii',oying the entire netAVork of railroads in every directiosi, burning and laying waste the country generally, Ave at last reach ed Columbia, the capital of the State — a beautifiU city. In order to prevent the large amount of cotton stored 264 THE STAR CORPS. there from faUing into our hands, Wade Hanipton ordered it to be set on fire. It was done, and a heavy Avind aris ing, the burning cotton was blown over into the city, and soon a large portion of the town was a mass of smoking xuins. Probably there will not be many te.ars shed at the North over the destruction of Columbia. At Cheraw, we caj)tured 17 guns, 3,000 sraaU arms, and a large amount of ammunition. At this place is an old church, said to have been built in Revolutionaiy times. General Slarion was buried liere. On a tombstone in this ancient burying ground, is a, quaint epitaph, Avritten as follows without name or date : My name — my country — what are they to thee 1 TVhat — A?-hether high or low my pedigree ? Terhaps — I far surpassed all pther men ! "Perhajps^ fell below them all — what then ? Suffice it, stranger, that thou seo'st a tomb. Thou knowest its nse — it hides no matter whom. A rebel surgeon at Cheraw, in answer to my question, "What do the people through here think ofthe war ? " re marked, " They are gcnei-ally despondent, thinking some thing must be wrong somewhere, as your army seems to he marching where it pleases — but the ar77}y is hopeful." A rebel clergyman in Cheraw remarked that the people along the track of our iirmy, were becoming v-ery bitter toward us on account of the destruction of their pj-operty. Well, let them rage. We have their hatred already, and they have sworn eternal separation, so that any little increase of hate vvUl not materiaUy affect matters. They have the alternative before them in plain English — sub mission, or cocrcioti and suhpi.gation. THE STAR CORPS. 265 As I was riding along through the place one morning, ;i met an old negro, and accosted him thus : " Do you live in this place ? " " Yes, sir," politely lifting his hat and bowing. " How many inhabitants does Cheraw contain ? " "Don't know sir." *' When did the rebels leave ?" " The morning you came in." " Was there any fighting before they left ? " " No sir — they all ran as fast as they could across the "Ijridge." " Who was in command ? " " General Hardee. I see him. " Why didn't they fight? " " Why didn't they fight you before you got here ? " "Where do they propose to fight us next?" " The Lord only knovvs. Probably when you get them into a corner somewhere, but they run now," at the same time extending his coat tail out straight behind and step ping forward a few steps. " You know," said he, " that a rooster after being badly whipped wUl sometimes fight a little when cornered." I was quite amused with him, as he seemed to be a warm Union man, and also quite inteUigent. Speaking of inteUigence, suggests a remark made by a woman to one of our boys, who inquired how far it was to Fayetteville. " I don't know," said she, " as I haven't any edifica- • tion." It is really sad to see the lamentable ignorance of the Amasses of the South. They are dirty and ignorant, the women, and even lit- 226 THE STAE CORPS. tie girls, chewing tobacco and dipping snuff! I have seen some of these Southern women squirting tobaceo' juice till I vvas completely disgusted, and prayed that my destiny might never be linked with any of them. The people of the South have lately been learning two very important facts : 1. That cotton is not King. 2. That slavery does not always pay. How nicely everything seems to work Avith Sherman- Just about the time his army reaches this city, up comes a vessel, thus opening communications Avith the outside Avorld once more. We are now 1 20 miles from the mouth of Cape Fear River. The city contains 5,000 inhabitants, and is quite a pret ty place. There is a large arsenal here, commenced in 1837, by the U. S. Government, but not much was done to it tUl the breaking out of the war, when the rebels erected some extensive and beautiful buUdings. As we shall not need them ourselves, Sherman has ordered them to be battered down, and this work is being done as I Aviite. A touching little incident occurred this morning, which I will relate. A couple of gray headed old men came to the picket line early this morning, pleading to be let through, that they might once more look upon the Stars and Stripes. They Avere granted the privilege,^and came Avithin our lines. They then Avanted to go to the city so as to see the^ old fiag floating over the place. And as they once more: saw the glorious emblem of our nationality waA-ing sc^ proudly in the morning breeze, they could not repress their deep emotion. ' THE STAR CORPS. 267 As a contrast to the above, let me give you the foUow ing, which I copy from the original : Mr. Greenwood was taken a prisoner by the rebels, and AvhUe in Savannah, he addressed a note to an uncle, asking for some little favor. The following was the reply of the uncle : Savannah, August 4th, 1864. M. L. Greenavood, Esq. Sir : — Your note came to hand this morning, and I on ly say that I am surprised that you have had the presump tion to write to me at all. I am a loyal subject to the Confederate Government, and can hold no correspondence with the enemies of my country. I pity you for having suffered yourself to be led so far astray as to try to oppress a people, that have never injured you or the Government, in whose service you are. I must decline seeing, or having any correspon dence with you, unless of a strictly business character. I am sir, W. H. BOEDLY. We shall probably remain here only a day or tAvo, and we shall then start once more across the country. We have now been seventy days on the road from Savannah. Many a weary day's march has been made, and Ave have seen the desolations of Avar on every hand. South Caro lina has suffered most terribly. The general impression now is that Ave shall strike for ¦Goldsboro, as that is considered the raost iraportant point in that direction. But we do not expect to reach that place Avithout some severe fighting. Charleston, Wilmington, and several other places have fallen, and now Ave shall have to meet 268 THE STAR CORPS. the combined forces probably not many days hence. Thus far we have seen but little fighting, but we expect more in the future. Let the friends at home keep up good courage. The war is rapidly drawing to a close. Sherman is severing the arteries of the rebellion. Yours truly, G. S. Bradley. P. S. Be sure to write a good long letter that I may hear from you at Goldsboro — you see I am confident about getting through. Johnston cannot stop us. G. S. B. LETTEE xvi. Arrival at Goldsboro — Battle of Averysboro — Battle of Bentonville — Hie Panic — 2Qth Corps save the day— The Grand Army rests. Goldsboeo, N. C. 3d Division ) Hospital, March 25, 1865. ) The smoke of battle has cleared away somewhat and we are able to realize the magnitude of the contest, though not fuUy able to gather the amount of loss. It has been severe, however. In the battle of the 16th, our division lost about 160 ; the 2d brigade losing 50. During the terrific fighting on the 19th 20th and 21st, our brigade was not engaged at all, though we expected every moment to go into the thickest of the fight Had not the 20th corps come up when it did, the 14th would have been annihUated, losing hospital, trains and every thing. The rebels had them in a trap, and it was only by THE STAR CORPS. 269 the timely arrival of our corps that the wavering fortunes of the day were restored. Soon the 15th and I7th came up, then the 23d and parts of the 24th and 25th, so that the rebels thought it best to get out of the thing as soon as possible. They have probably gone toward Raleigh. Sherman wiU not attempt any further offensive work at present, I think, but will concentrate his army near Goldsboro and let it rest awhUe. We have h.ad a long campaign, and many of our soldiers are barefoot and destitute of clothes, and need rest. Our brigade is now camped out of the city some three miles. Goldsboro has been quite a fiourishing place of 2,000 inhabitants. The 23d corps is now garrisoning the city. Our Hospital is located in a pleasant part ofthe city. We have not far from 300 in the 3d Division Hos pital. Probably many of them will soon be sent to New- bern or Wilmington. I heard the whistle of cars this morning, with the wel come inteUigence of " mail from the North." The boys in the hospital fairly cheered the engine as the whistle sounded. The weather is quite warm — peach and apple trees are in bloom, G- S. Bradley. Hd. Qrs. 2d Brig. 3d Div. 20th A. C. ) Near Goldsboro, N. C. March 27, 1865. J Since I wrote you at FayetteviUe we have marched nearly 100 miles and fought two battles. We hardly expected the rebels to permit us to go on unchecked to our base. They had hovered about our column (the left wing) for over two weeks, capturing our foragers, and at times 270 THE STAE COEPS. making dashes upon the pickets and cavalry. Several prisoners captured by us, also their deserters, gave us in formation which proved to be nearly correct. On the 15th, KUpatrick was checked by a rebel force stationed at Smith's Plantation, near Averysborough, re ported to be strong. This caused the main column to halt and go into camp; while the 2d brigade, 1st division moved up to support the cavalry. A short time had elap sed when cannonading was heard but five miles distant ; it continued to a late hour of the night. At 4 P. M. the rain commenced to fall, and the prospect looked gloomy. THE ADVANCE. We were ordered forward at daylight on the 16th; two divisions ofthe 20th corps (1st and 3d) were ordered for ward unincumbered; pack mules, wagons, etc., were to foUow. The 4th corps came up behind us. Here let me state that the 2d division of the 20th corps, and the 3d division of the 14th corps were detailed to go with the principal part of the train on another road (to our right) since leaving FayetteviUe. The column mov-ed on at a rapid rate through mud and mire, as the roads were made miserable by the heavy rain during the past twelve hours. Soon we heard the booming of the cannon and the sharp crack of the skirmishers' guns. KUpatrick had worked aU night, and as morning dawned we were advised of their position. POSITION OF THE ENEMY. The enemy were reported on a hiU, or rise of ground, across the road running direct to Raleigh. Their works were quite strong, but in plain v-iew, as jiart of their line extended to our left, across an open level field; this, how- THE STAE CORPS. 27l -ever, was an outerwork, and the right flank of their main line. The rebels opened fire from two guns in their field work upon our skirmishers, but were soon silenced by our sharp fire. THE FOEMATION AND CHAEGE. The 3d division, 20th corps formed upon the left of the sToad, while the 1st division formed upon the right ; three batteries (Winnegar's, Geary's and Knapp's Pennsylvania l)attery) were planted in our line and opened a furious fire to cover the fprmation and advance. The 1st brigade, 3d division, 20th corps, commanded by Col. Case of the 125th Illinois regiment, was sent around to the left to turn the right flank of the rebels. The cavalry were formed for the rout in case there should be one. Time had been given for the first brigade to move around; all vvas ready on the right of the road, the sku-- mishers were busy, and the order carae to advance. Col. Dustin's brigade (the 2d of the ,3d division, 20th corps,) covered the open field, and the line was single, and as it moved up toward the works of the enemy, they opened a ¦sharp fire upon us. The whole line charged, and the cannon poured a covering fire for us upon the "Johnnies." Just then came in upon their right flank the 1st brigade — and such commotion ! The rebs ran this way and that way, and finally were routed, leaving their cannon and dead and wounded in their works. Our lines halted to gather breath and eat dinner, when we adv-anced and took position in front of their second line, a mile distant. Their wounded were left all along the road, and a great many dead were found in the works we had driven them from. This is a little surprising to us, as it was ascer- 272 THE STAE COEPS. tained that their force outnumbered our own as far as the- engageraent was concerned; but our artillery excelled ev erything in its effect, and the flank movement was a com-- plete stunner upon thera. Our corps went into camp or bivOuac for the night,, and the 14th corps took position on our left. OUR LOSS. In the 3d division, our loss did not exceed 300, kUled. and wounded; the enemy's loss was far greater judging^- from the wounded in our hands. Our division captured 165 prisoners, among thera several captains and lesser of- flcers; three officers were killed upon the works, and sev eral wounded feU into our hands. Our loss in officers was-. heavy in proportion. The 19th Michigan lost two officers kiUed ; the 22d Wisconsin lost only eight wounded, they being protected by a rise of ground in front ofthe works„ Our total loss during the day was 60 — 10 kUled and 40 wounded. THE ENEMY FALL BACK. During the night the enemy retired, and we were or dered out at an early hour. The two divisions ofthe 14tht corps took the advance, and the 1st division of the 20ths corps foUowed, while the 3d division moved on a road tee the left leading to Averysboro, eight mUes distant, where- we were to cover some roads leading into the flank of the main column. At this place we found 32 wounded rebels,, whom we paroled. Remained here that day, and at 6 A_ M. ofthe 1 7th, we took the back track for the main colunm^ Nothing but very bad roads and the ponderous trail* interfered with our progress until the 19th, when it wa»- reported the enemy had a strong force in our immediate- THE STAE CORPS. 273 front, and, as we could hear the dull roar of cannon in the dLstance, we believed it. Our division guarded the trains, while the 14tli corps took the advance; the 1st di vision of the 20th corps brought uj) the rear. At 4 P. M. an order came back to us to leave the train and jjusii on at a double quick. The division arrived just in time, for the left of the 14tli corps liad been driven back, and our position looked "mixed." The order had been issued to abandon the hospitals, and detaUs of raen were made to remain with them in case they were. But when the old " Star Corps" came up, a shout rent the air. The 14th corjis, beaten back and Avhipped by superior forces, ral lied and took position; battery after battery Avheeled into position; our corps filed into line on the left. It Avas soon ascertained from prisoners and deserters that the Avhole rebel army of North Carolina was ready to fight us. These conclusions Avere confirmed by a charge on our center. Charge ujjon charge, and the din of the cannon and rausketry told us 2Uainly that the enemy were massing to break our center. The 3d brigades of the 1st and 2d divisions were moved down to support the center, and all had a taste of war; Avagon load after Avagon load of ammunition being hurried across the vast open field to the edge of the wood that marked our lines. The rebels were repulsed in five distinct charges, but they came- on until the seventh charge had been repulsed. There has ifever been fiercer fighting on the j^art of the rebels. Night was coming in thick with the smoke of battle, but the roar of our " death-tide" still flowed. Our line was as yet undisturbed. Our men had thrown up strong works, and were standing " at arms." There was a luU in the storm, and our weary soldiers lay down to rest 274 THE STAR CORPS. 'The morning brought no change in our i:)osition. The enemy had given up his project and we were content. We learned on this day that our right wing had wound round and covered Kingston, and that Schofield vvas at ¦Goldsboro; that our base vvas reached, and Sherman was Mmself. Do you wonder we were so content. After a lapse of seventy clays, we were again to hear from the United States, and could again procure clothing, coffee, sugar and hardtack. Sherman had told us at FayetteviUe that vve must march again before our true destination was reached. We liav-e made the raarch, whij^ped the enemy twice, and here vve are at our true destination, busy pre paring for another glorious camjjaign. Yesterday, Sunday, we received a large maU, with let ters dated as late as March 1st. We have promi&e of an other to-day. But I raust close without telling you half — how our boys have marched without shoes oc hats — how vve have been without soap for three weeks, and obliged to cook over pitch pine fires — how, with " giant great hearts," they have waded through sloughs of despondency, and have finally secured rest, food and raiment. But I must tell you a little about a class in our array (and no inconsider able portion of General Sherraan's army do they compose) called " Bummers." Imagme a fellow with a gun and accoutrements, Avith a plug hat, a captured militia plume in it, a citizen's saddle, with a bed quilt or table clot'h, upon an animal whose ears are the larger part of the whole. Let us take an inventory of his stock as he rides into camp at night. Poor felloAV ! he has rode upon that knock-kneed, shaved taU, rail fence mule OA-er 30 miles, has fought the brush and mud, and passed through untold THE STAR CORPS. 275 dangers, and aU for his load, which consists of, first, a bundle of fodder for his mule ; second, three hams, a sack of meal, a peck of ijotatoes ; third, a fresh bed quilt, the old mother's coffee pot, a jug of vinegar and a bed cord. You call him an old, steady bummer. I'll give you one more picture. Here comes a squad of eighteen or nine teen, no two alike. Look at the chickens, geese, bee hives ; see that little fellow Avith a huge hog strapped up on his nag's back. There rides the commander, a Lieu tenant, completely happy, for the day has been a good one, and his detail has got enough for a day's good sup ply for his regiment. These " Bummers " Avere detailed for foragers, and up on them the army depended for subsistence ; for be it knoAvn that we started with a A-ery small stock of supplies,, and our campaign was lengthened after starting from our base (Savannah), consequently the " Bummers " were the life of the army. About 5,000 strong, not a field or house or barn, but Avas searched by them; not a town or hamlet but the " infernal bummers " (as KUpatrick said) manag ed to plunder before his cavalry came up. They met the enemy at Fayetteville, and drove him across Cape Fear river; they entered Columbia as skirmishers, not only for " Johnnies," but for meat and bread and goodies. Many outrages Avere committed by them. To enter a house and find the feather bed ripped open, the wardrobes ransack ed, chests stripped of contents, looking glasses taken from the walls, cooking utensUs gone, and all the corn meal and bacon missing, bed quilts stripped from the beds, the last jar of pickles gone, was no uncommon sight, and one to make a soldier blush with indignation. Every effort that could be made was made to check the 276 THE STAR CORPS. demoralization of the foragers ; but the occujoation tended to demoralization, and " the army must be fed, and the Bummers must feed us." Thus we reasoned, but depre cated the means used to bring about the result. Sorae Avould discriminate, others Avould not, and thus the few have caused a great deal of unnecessary sufiering. I must close Avith the " Bummers," saying that they ex ist no more as an organization ; but the sjairit wUl live throughout the lives of at least one-half of those who served in the capacity. OUR SITUATION. Orders — congratulatory orders, regulation orders — haA-e been issued. We are to remain in our present position to fit up for another campaign. We face north. Signifi cant, is it not ? The army under General Schofield occupies the center, in and about the city ; the 15th and 17tli corps rest on the right, coA-ering the railroad and Neuse river, and the 20th and 14tli corps are on the left. We are to haA-e two railroads in Avorking order in tAvo or three days — one from WUmington, the other from Newbern ; some bridges are to be built, cfcc. Our wagon trains avUI go to Kingston for supplies. Everybody is busj', and we are all feeling AveU ; but Ave look rough after our campaign of 70 days, from our base. Chas. a. Booth, Lt. and Pro. Mar. 2d Brig., 3d Div., 20th A. C. LETTER XVII. Neios of Bee's Surrender — Rebellion about played out — Johnston in a tight place. Raleigh, N. C, AprU 14, 1865. As I have a chance to send you a fcAV lines through THE STAR CORPS. 277 private hands, I av\11 embrace the opportunity. We left Goldsboro last Monday, the 10th, the troops pushing on unencumbered by trains. The 22d Avere detached frora the Brigade and detailed as train guard ; and for .several days Ave Avere almost the only troops guarding the whole train. The day Ave started quite a heavy rain set in, and in a short time the roads Avere avfiil. People at home can- form no idea of piiUing such trains as we have, through the mud. For four niglit.s in succession A\'e Avere out till midniglit, and after. The first night I lay down in the rain, with a single rubber blanket under rae and one over rae, and at one time Avas awakened by the rub ber's allowing the drops to fall upon my thee. Tliis is soldiering; but still Ave ave healthy and strong. Yester day Ave marched some twenty miles aud camped for the night,'^about nine miles from Raleigh ; to-day we entered the city, joining our command. Our forces entered the place about nine A. M. yesterday, Avith but little opposi tion. There has been more or less skirmishing all the Avay from Goldsboro, but has not amounted to much. Johnston has fallen back to HiUsboro, and citizens inform me that theprogramnie was, to join Lee somewhere west of this and push for the Mississippi ; but the Lee part of the performance j)i-ovos to be a little shaky. To-day Gen. Sherman has been reviewing several ofthe corps, in front of the State House. We march to-morrow, and the 20th corps Avill be reAiewed by him as Ave pass through the city. We shall probably push on after Johnston, whercA-er he goes. The general impression among the citizens is, that it is a very foolish thingfor him to longer continue the contest. Our army is highly elated oA-er recent A-ictories near Rich- 278 THE STAE COEPS. mond, and the subsequent capture of Lee and his army. There is an impression that we may follow Johnston into Tennessee, but no one can teU Avhat a fcAV weeks may bring forth. Raleigh is a very pretty city of some 6,000 inhabitants. It contains a Deaf and Dumb Asylum — a splendid buUd ing; also an Insane Asylum, a very large buUding, 700 feet or more in length ; both of the above buildings being brick and stuccoed. There are many very fine residences in the city, and everything bears the impress of taste and enterprise. The city is finely shaded by trees on all the streets. The rebels, on leavmg, set fire to a large railroad warehouse, containing a large amount of gi-ain. Citizens say that Davis recently telegraphed to John ston, that " a terrible calamity had befaUen Lee and his army, but you must hold out to the bitter end." Some think we shall go to Augusta. A portion of the 23d corps wUl remain to guard Raleigh, while the rest of us push on. It is evidently the intention to keep open communication for the present. We are weU, generally. Let all be hopeful; a few weeks longer and Ave shall see a Avinding up of the Avhole affair. " The end draweth nigh." Yours truly, in haste, G. S. Beadley, Chaplain 22d Wis. LETTER XVIII. Johiiston Surrenders — Tlie War Closed — Going Home. Hd. Qrs. 22d Wis., 2d Brig. 3d Div. 20th [ A. C, Raleigh, N. C. AprU 28th, 1865. \ I need not tell you that the war has closed ; that the rebellion has been crushed ; that the Union army has tri umphed; that slavery is dead, and th.at the Stars'and the star corps. 27ff' Stripes float over almost every portion of our broad land,, for you have heard it and seen it flashing along every Avu-e, of late; you have heard it from every pulpit, seen it in every paper, talked about it on the streets, in the count ing room, around the fireside, in your sanctum, printed in large letters, in your papers, tiU you are fairly intoxica ted with the pleasing news. And it is all a. fact. But amid all this joy of a nation's overflowing heart, comes the terrible news that our noble Lincoln has faUen by the assassin's hand. As you felt then and feel stiU, so Avith our army. The night foUowing the intelligence, they had to double their guard around the city, or it Avould have been laid in ashes ; in fact, several attempts were actually made to fire the buUdings, and soldiers were overheard planning their mad schemes. There Avas a most intense feeling; and when our soldiers get home, woe to the raan Avho dares to express any sympathy for the assassuis. As you are perhaps aware, negotiations haA-e been going on with Johnston for several days, but he Avas un- Avilling to surrender unless his men could haA-e the privi lege of taking their armshome and depositing thera in their OAvn State arsenals. Of course, our Government avouIcI accord no such condition. On Tuesday last, the 20th Array Corps (the 14th had moved several days before, stretching from Holly Spring.s; to CajDe Fear River — some fifteen mUes,) Avas ordered to raove out in a soutliAvest direction, to Jones'Cross Roads, some fourteen mUes, thus cutting off Johnston's retreat, should he attempt it that way. Here we lay for two days anxiously Avaiting for the thing to close. Last evening ncAvs came that hostilities had ceased ; •280 the star corps. that Johnston had surrendered North and Soutli Carolina, ¦ Georgia as far North as the Chattahoochie, and the larger portion of Alabama. This moming orders came for us to return to Raleigh. We arrived here about noon. To-morroAV morning the right Aving of our army, Gen. HoAvard, 15th and I7th corps, AviU start for home, and On Monday morning, May 1st, the 14tli and 20tli corps wUl go. It is reported that weshall goto Alexandria, Aia Richmond. We expect to mareii the entire distance, but this' the boys ^AviU do AA-itli pleasure, for Ave are going home. It is thought Ave shall be mustered out of the United States sei-Aice at Alexandria, and then sent to Wisconsin to be mustered out of the State sei-Aice. We expect to spend the next 4t]i of July at home, and won't the boys have a big time ! We are all in the best of spirits, and trust in the course of a few Aveeks to see you face to face. Yours truly. G. S. Br.vdlby. letter xix. IJcmeirard Bound — Libby Prison — Jeff'. Davis'' House. Near Riciihond, M.va- IOtii, 1865. Onr friends at home Avill be glad to learn that Ave haA-e arriA'ed near Richmond. We camped here jcsterday about noon, after a Aveary march of some ten days from Raleigh. The Aveather Avas good, though A'ei-y Avarm a portion of tlie time, and the roads excellent. We traA'cled about 170 miles. There was quite a strife between the 20th and 14th corps which should get to Richmond first ; the, result was. THE STAR CORPS. 281 ¦th-at our raarch wn,^ a forced one, the comfort of the men ¦ being almost totally disi'egai'ded. General Sherman ordered that Are av erage fifteen miles a, day, but this was not iblloAved. Sevei-al men are said to have died on the Av;iy — exhausted and .sun struck. In company Avith several ofiicers, I have l)een to the city to visit Libby Prison, Jefl". Davis' hoii.se, &c. We Avent ¦all over Libby. S.ivv Castle Tinnide]- and various places tof interest. Dick Turner — tihe wretch who used to abuse our pris- • oners so — is confined in a small cell iii the basement of .Libby. They ai-e feeding him on bread and Avater. This ;is right, and I wish old Jefl*. was there 'nimsolf. We expect to be reAiewed by General Halleck in Rich- .mond to-morrow, and then Ave shall start for Washington It will probably take us some ten days to get there, and then after another gi-.-iiid re A-iew, avc shall go home. All --feel gfe'd Avith tiiel prospect. ' >' '¦ -:'¦ G. S. Bradley, Chaplain 22d Wisconsin. HOME AT LAST. During the latter part of June, the several regiments -of our brigade, excepting the 33d Indiana, were sent liome and discharged. The 33d Avas sent to Louisville — "kept there tiU about the middle of July, and then_ dis- ¦«hai-ged. Yes, home at last ! 282 THE star corps. The following is an approximate statement of the dis tance marched by our brigade^: By railroad, 2,700 miles. By steamboat, 1,400 " On foot, 2,400 " Total, 6,500 " GENERAL SLOCUm's FAREAVELL. Head Quarters Army op GeOegia, Washington, D. C. June 6th, 1865. General Orders, No. 15. With the separation of the troops composing this Army in compliance Avith recent orders, the organization known as " the Army of Georgia," will virtually cease to exist. Many of you wUl at once return to your homes. No one now serving as a volunteer will probably be retained in service against his wUl but a short time longer. AU Avill soon be permitted to return and receive the rewards duo thera as the gallant defenders of their country. WhUe I cannot repress a feeling of sadness at parting- with you, I congratulate you upon the grand results achicA-- ed by your valor, fidelity and patriotism. No generation has done more for the permanent estab lishment of a just and liberal form of Government, — more for the honor of their Nation, — than has been done during the past four years by the Armies of the United States, and the patriotic people at home, Avho have poured out then- wealth in support of these Armies, with a liberality never before Avitnessed in any country. Do not forget the parting advice of that great Chief tain Avho led you through your recent brilliant campaigns.. THE STAR CORPS. 283 " As in war you have been good soldiers, so in peace be good citizens." ShoiUdyou ever desire to resume the honorable profession you are now about to leave, do not forget that this pro fession is honorable only when followed in obedience to the orders of the constituted authority of yom- Governraent. With feeUngs of deep gratitude to each and all of you for your uniform soldierly conduct, — for the patience and fortitude with which you have borne .all the hardships it has been necessary to impose upon you, — and for the un flinching resolution with whicli you have sustained the holy cause in which we have been engaged, Ibid you fare- weU. H. W. Slocum, Major General Comd'g. IN MEMORIAM. Inscribed to Mrs. A. H. Lathrop, whose son, W.^. R., died in hospi tal at "Washington D. C. of Typhoid Fever Sept. 26, 1862. BT MRS. Q. o. BRADLET. Calm be the spot where our Willie is lying — Sweet be the murmur of winds o'er his head, Never a tempest to rouse him from slumber — Never a storm-cloud to shadow his bed. Far from the scenes of the blood-red Potomac, — Sweeter the music than bugle or drum ; Saved from the camp and its thousand tempta' ions. Saved from the horrors of battles to come. Gone, ere thy youth's sunny morning had vanished, Gone, ere thy manhood was bowed with dull care. i84 THE STAR CORPS. Ere thou hadst known how the sick, soul may languish, Waiting and praying in heaven to share. Gone, eve the contest for Freedom was ended, Gone, but tliy life was uot given in vain, — Each drop of blood from the veins of the Northmen, Serves but to loosen the African's chain. Heart, be thou silent : cease ever thy pinin,g ; Call him not back to the conflicts of life ; AVhat if a dark rolling tide is between ns, Seeming to mortals with tears so rife ! Saw I not seraphs approaching to guide him ? Heard I not rustle of wings as they came ? Saw I not joy lighting rip his pale features, As angels low whispered m}- loved Willie's name ? Heard'st thou, my darling, thy sister among them 1 Tell us, pray tell us, the sweet words she said ; Sang she the strains of the heavenly choir. As o'er the dark tide thy freed spirit she led ? Wore she a crown iu which diamonds were flashing ? Gave thee one also like that of her own 1 Shines it amid thy locks witchingly gleaming, Emblem of heirship to yonder bright throne ? Spake she of lands where the glorious sunshine, ATill in its splendor forever beam on, — Flowers in the freshness aud spring-lime of beauty. Blooming profusely, will never be gone. — Bavishing music to charm all the senses, Dreamily floating the summer day through, — Beautiful beyond -ivhich the fancy can picture, Ever affording us pleasures anew 1 Heart, be thou silent ! our Willie is joining Angel Louise, in the hymn of the spheres. Tuning his harp-strings to sing the glad chorus, ^' Freedom to all when the new year appears." Join, 0 my soul, in the glorious anthem ; ¦Check the warm tear, and repress the deep sigh, TUB STAR CORPS. 28£ Patiently waiting, perform every duty, Knowing in weakness, on whom to rely. Mourn not, my heart, for the loved and the absent ; Trust, though cloud-shadows envelope the v/ay,,; Clearer and brighter the visions of heaven, Come to our scenes as friends pass away. Labor and pray on my remnant of loved ones, Time will soon carry ns over the tide : Then with the loved who have pnssed on before us, We may find rest by the dear Savior's side. Paksomaqe, Mt. Pleasant, Wis. RELIGION IN THE ARMY. That there is a good deal of wickedness connected A\'ith the army no one doubts. There the re'straints of home are thrown ofl", and men are left comp.aratively free to act as they please. Without doubt many soldiers Iiav been greatly surprised at their own want of steadfastness in the right. They hav-e fallen into many temptation,? when they thought they could stand firm. In the arm)', home influences, and home jDroj^s are all taken away, and the man must stand alone if he stand at all. Before thus stepping out into the Avorld, no one knows how much all these home associations have to do in keeping hira in the path of vu-tue. Still raen can live christians in the Army ! Men cau live moral in the Army! Many have done it, and have died in fuU hope of a blessed immortality. We have seen them die upon the battle-field and in camp, and have lis tened to the enraptured thought expressed, that they would 286 THE STAR CORPS. soon be beyond the storm and roar of battle, " safe on the evergreen shore." But there are many drawbacks in the army. 1st. Most of the officers are irreligious men, and make light of religion. 2d. There is no Sabbath in the army. Many of our most terrible battles have been fought on this day, and it would seem frequently as though officers took especial pains to fill up the day Avith marching, camp duties, re views or fighting. 3d. Many professed christians left home Avith the idea that they could not live christians in the army, so laid aside tneir religious life and became like other raen. Alas ! alas ! But we may reraark here that with all these drawbacks, a gi-eat many Avere faithful christians, whether on the march, in camp or on the battle-field, — their trust was in God. Then, too, a large number haA'e been converted iu the army. Many who left home swearing men, are now retm-ning praying men. They go home to bless their famUies, the church, and the world. Chaplains, who have been the men for the positions, have found the most ready access to the hearts of soldiers, and no more respectful or attentive congregations could they anyAvhere find. Hoav many pleasant memories gather around the history of those long, weary marches. Many who look over these pages Avill do so with tearful eyes, as they think of those SAveet, refreshing seasons around the camp fire in the dark pine forests of the South. The memory of such wiU serve to nerve us for the future, and lead us to be faithful wherever we may go, knoAving that whether in THE STAR CORPS. 287 -soldier or civil life, the faithful raan Avill receive a rcAvard for his labor. The foUoAviug avUI be read with deep interest : INCIDENTS. A christian brother of the 1 9th Michigan related to me the foUoAving : During one of our terrible battles in Georgia, he felt a very strong and strange impulse to go upon the battle field, although he carried no gun, being a cook. At first, be resisted the feeling, thinking he could do no good there, but as he heard the roar of artiUery and rattle of musketry, he could not resist longer, so turning over the mule he was leading to some other one, he foUoAved his company in the deadly charge. He saw a man faU — felt that it Avas a dear friend of his, although he was not near enough to tell. Seeing a man stooping over him to search his pockets, he rushed up — found it was indeed his best friend — saved his pocket book, containing over one hun dred doUars, and bore him from the field, bleeding and fainting. The strange impulse to go upon the field that day Avas now clear to his mind. It Avas to save his dear friend. Thus the providences of God lead us in a Avay we knoAV not A soldier of the 85th Indiana lay in the hospital dying, but he thought of the loved ones far away at home, and he wanted to have some of his little treasures sent to them, together with a letter. " Are you a christian ? " he was asked. " Oh, yes ; I was before X joined the army. Tell mother that God is with me ; all is weU." 288 THE STAE CORPS. Then taking out the rings he said : " That is for raotber,.. that is for sister, and sister will know to whom to give- the other." " Thoi-e is one thing more," he added, after a pause. A little j>ackage A\-as taken fro.ii his knapsack and brought- to him. In it were three photographs. He took up the first, locfked at it intently, and said : " Oh, thank God for- a pious mother ! Through her prayers and instrumental ity I was brought td Christ. Good-bye, mother, we shaH meet in Heaven." He kissed it and laid it clown on the- cot I-Ie took up the second, and said: "Thank God ibi- a pious sister ! We haA-e held' sweet communion o» earth, and Avill hold sweeter communion in HeaA'-em... Good-bye, sister," and he kissed it and laid it dowii vvitlt-;. the other. He took up the third, the nameless one, andfl as he looked fondly at it, his eyes filled with tears- " Ob,'* said he, " I did hope that you- and I would have many precious seasons on earth, but God has ordered otben-- wise. My country deraanded ray services. I gave tben&. cheerfully, yet, thank God ! ore long we'll both be whei-e- there'll be no Avars, but Avhere all Avill be peace throngb- out eternity. Yes, thank God ! we'll meet .again." An^_ he put the precious picture to his-ilips and kissed it, and' breathed his last with the photo'graijh lying on his lips_ i Blessed trust! Glorious hope ! IIow precious in sual* an hour to feel that all Avas Avell !¦ It was at the midnight: hour that the above affecting incident occurred, bid;- though darkness gathered around, yet he looked beyoBd^ this Avorld, and all Avas light, and glory, and immoirtalityi TUE STAR CORPS. 289 BEAUTIFUL PEACE AT LAST, BY MES. C. B. WEAVER..; Brightly lay a sunny vineland, purpling in a summer oliine ; Lovingly the soft winds lingered 'mid the orange groves and lime, Blossomed there the rich inagnolia, and the tall palmetto waved ; Rippling rivers, on their bosoms bearing shivered sunbeams, laved Bloom and beauty ladened landscapes ; surely never scene more fair. Vision gladdened, earthland burdened, fragrance breathed thro' summer air. On her blessed errand, Mercy paused, this goodly land to see, What the fruitage and the promise of the vintage there- miglit be ; While she looked, behold already, had the wine press just been trod, And the new wine from the vintage, crimsoned all the fresh green sod, And the crushed fi-uit, heaped and purple, clustered thick upon the plain, As the reaper, in the harvest, leaves behind the ripened grain. Oh the wine that stained the greensward, was the rich red wine of life, For the vine-ground, darkly crimsoned, lay a field of mortal strife ; And the fruit there, heaped and mangled, dead and dying heroes lay,— Precious off 'rings, freely given, that tho right might win its way — Loving hearts with anguish bleeding, mother — souls, shall know the price Of the Nation's purifying, what the costly sacrifice. Mercy, kindly, pitying angel, saw the mourning in the land. Vacant places at the fireside — saw each stricken household baud — Sadder grew, then thus besought she. Justice stem, the scourge to stay i 290 THE STAK COEPS. "In the blood already ponred out, be the dark stain washed away; Has there not e'en now been given, agony for agony ? Vengeance — hath it not already, blood for blood, and cry for cry? " To the earnest, tearfal, pleading, Justice bent relenting ear, — Stayed his hand, and softly beckoned Peace, white winged and hovering near, — Bade her stretch her silver scepter, o'er each fierce contending horde, Bid them tnrn the spear to pruning, and to plowshares btat the sword ; Let the "forward march" be "homeward," henceforth learning war no more ! "Kight hath triumphed," be the glad song chorosed to tbe farthest shore. Now upon the crested mountain, now o'er all the valleys free. From Superior to the Oulfland — from Missouri to tbe Sea, Peace hath spread her beauteous pinions, — Peace hath set her foot prints bright, — Peace hath bathed our own loved country, once more in her per fect light ; But above our Aero martyrs, tears, to-day, proud tears shall fall, For their dying gives the harvest — Freedom's birthright unto all. CoTTAOE Home, Hudson, Mich. [NoTi!.— The above beautiful lines were written expressly for this work, by one whose poetic effusions will surely find way to public favor more and more. — Aw- THOR.] THE STAR COEPS. 291 THE MONTH OF APRIL. The month of AprU, 1865, has been replete with great events — the greatest, perhaps, in the history of our coun try. Four years ago this AprU, our great civil contest commenced, which has resulted in the loss of half a mU- lion of lives, and many miUions of money. What an eventful four years I AprU 1. General Sheridan routs the rebel forces at Five Forks, Va., capturing three brigades. 2. Assault along the whole line In front of Petersburg, and a bril- . liant victory achieved. Twelve thousand prisoners taken. — News received of the burning of the steamer General Lyon, be tween Wilmington and Fortress Monroe, March 31st ; 400 or 500 soldiers perished. 3. The Union forces under Weitzel occupy Richmond. — Qreat rejoicings all through the loyal States on account of the fall of Richmond. 4. Fire iu Brooklyn, N. T. Several firemen killed. c 6. General Sheridan attacks and routs the forces of General Lee, and drives them across Sailor creek: 9. Surrender of General Lee and his whole army to General Grant. 10. Extraordinary rejoicings throughout the loyal States ou ac. count of the surrender of Lee and the end of the rebellion. 12. Mobile occupied by the Union forces. — General Stoueman occupies Salsbury, N. C, after a series of vic tories, he having advanced upon that State from the west. Vast amount of military property captured with the town. 14. Assassination of President Lincoln by J. Wilkes Booth, au actor, aud attempted murder of Mr. Seward, Secretary of State. Mr. Frederick Seward badly injured. 292 THE STAR CORPS. 15. Death of President Lincoln. — The whole country in mourning. A very solemn day. — Andrew Johnson, Vice-President, takes the oath prescribed by the Constitutioii and becomes President of the United States. —The flag removed by General Anderson from Fort Sumter, in , 1861, hoisl(9d by him, pn thei same fort, with appropriate ceremonies;! , .16. Great flre in New York. Loss $2,000,000. 18. Second great fire in New York. Loss $1,000,000. ' n — Arrest of Payne, the supposed author of the attempt upon the ' life of Secretary Seward. — General Sherman concludes a treaty withyi General Johnston, which is not ratified. He is ordered lo resume hostilities at once. 19. The funeral of President Lincoln at AVashington. 21. The reward now offered for the ari-est of J. Wilkes Booth, the murderer of the President, is $1^0,100. — The remains of the late President are taken from Washington, on their w'iy to Springfield, 111., where they are to be fin'ally deposited. 26. J. Wilkes Booth, the assassin of the President, is shot and killed by a partjr of cavalry sent out to arrest him. Har old, an accomplice, is taken. — iGeneral Johnston surrenders to the Union forces with all the troops in his department. 27. The boiler of the steamer Sultana exploded on the Mississippi, setting the boat on fire. ,,One thousand five hundred Union soldiers, just released from rebel prisons, were lost. 29. President Johnson appoints Thursday, June 1st, as a day of humiliation and prayer. 30. Plot diaoovered to burn the city of Philadelphia. — Great fire in Boston. Loss estimated at $150,000. THE STAR CORPS. 293 CONCLUSION. During many hundred miles of Aveary tramping, we were with you. Sometimes we bent over you in the hos pital, and tried to add a little comfort in your hours of pain. It was pleasant to be able to assist you, and as some of the dear boys were laid aAvay in soldier graves, an earnest prayer went up that their fall might not be in vain . Once again together here, we have lived over the past. We have fought over our battles, and thought over many incidents, but now we come once more where our paths diverge. Let each of us act well our part on life's stage. May God bless you all ! In closing, I cannot do so better than by quoting the following beautiful lines : MUSTERED OUT. Let me lie down. Just here in the shade of the cannon-torn tree, Here, low iu the trampled grass, where I may see The surge of the combat, and where I may hear The glad cry of victory, cheer, upon cheer: Let me lie down. Oh, it wag grand ! Like the tsmpest we charged, in the triumph to share ; The tempest — its fury and thunder were there ; ¦ On, on, o'er the entrenchments, over living and d'--ad, With the foe nnderfoot and our flag overhead; Oh, it was grand ! Weary and faint, . Prone on the soldier's couch, ah, how can I rest, With this shot-shattered head, .and sabre-pierced breast ? Comrades, at roll-call, when I shall be, sought, , , Say I fought till. I fell, and fell where 1 fought. AVonnded and faint. 294 THE STAE COEPS. Ob, that last charge ! Right through the dread lead storm of shrapnell and shell. Through without faltering—clear through with a yell. Right in their midst, in the turmoil and gloom; Like heroes we dashed at the mandate of Doom,! Oh, that last charge.'l It was a duty! Some things are worthless, and some others so good, The nations who buy them pay ouly in bipod : For Freedom and Union each ma,n owes his part, ^ -And here I pay my share^ all warm from my heart. It is a duty! Dying at last! My mother, dear mother, with meek, tearful eye, Farewell! and God bless you, forever and ayu! Oh, that I now lay on your pillowing breast. To breathe my last sigh ou the bosom first pressed: Dying at last ! I am no saint, But, boys, say a prayer. There's one that begins "Our Father," and then says, " Forgive us our sins;'' Don't forget that part; say that strongly, and then I'll try and repeat it, and vou'll say Amen! Ah, I'm no saint! Hark! there's a shout! Raise me up, comrades! We have conquered, I kuow! Up, np on my feet, with my face to the foe! Ah, there flies the flag with the star spangled bright; The promise of glory, the symbol of right. Well they may shout! I am mustered out! 0, God of our fathers, our freedom prolong, And tread down rebellion, oppression and wrong! 0, land of earth's hope, on thy blood-reddened sod, I die for the Nation, the Union, and God! I'm mustered out. APPENDIX. COL. COBURN'S REPORT OF THE BATTLE OF THOMP SON'S STATION. Head-Quahters 3d Brigade, 1st Div. Reserve Corps, ) Murfreesboro. Tenn., Aug. 1st, 1863. J Capt. Bore H. Polk, A. A. G. 1st Division : Captain: — I have the honor to report that on the 2d day of March A. D. 1863, my brigade, composed of the 33d Indiana, the 22d Wis consin, the 85th Indiana and 19th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and the 18th Ohio Battery, being encamped at Brentwood, Tenn.. I re ceived an order from Brig. Gen. CO. Gilbert, then iu command at Franklin, Tenn., to march to that place, then threatened by a rebel force ; an attack having been made on his southern line of outposts ou that day. The brigade was at once moved, and ari-ived at Franklin that night at ten o'clock, and there remained during the next day. At 11 o'clock at night of the 3d, an order was received to marbh the brigade, togeth er with the 124th Ohio Infantry, and six hundred cavalry, composed of parts of the 9th Pennsylvania, 2d Michigan and the 4th Kentucky regiments, on the next morning at au early hour. A foraging train of eighty wagons was to be taken, aud the men were to be supplied with four days' rations. The expedition was to proceed to'iSpring Hill the first day and en camp; on the second day the force was to be divided, a part to go to Raleigh Hill, and there await till night to meet an armed force coming from Murfreesboro. If the force did not come by nightfall, to return to Spring Hill without delay. The other part of the force was at the same time to march in the direction of Columbia, and returning to Spring Hill, there meet the force that had been to Raleigh Hill. I was not informed as to what force was coming from the direction of Murfreesboro, nor anything about it. On the morning of the 4th of March, the entire command, consist ing of 2837 men and officers of all arms, moved out from Franklin, the weather being cool and favorable. The road is a turnpike, and the men marched with facility. Having advanced to the south about four miles, a considerable force of cavalry was discovered in front of us. It proved to be about a thousand mounted men, with a section of artillery. I had the forces brought up at once. The cavalry deployed to the right of the road and advanced. The 33d Indiana and 22d 296 THE STAE COEPS. Wisconsin were posted on the right, with a section of the battery; the 19th Michigan and 124th Ohio, with a section of the battery, were placed on the left. The 85th Indiana remained in the rear with the train, about half a mile. The face of the country here is much broken, presenting to the eye long swells and ridges, Irom fifty to two hundred feet in height, aud in many places quite steep and precipitous. A view greater iu extent than a quarter of a mile could not be had, except in the direction of the road to the south. Our guns, posted on a slight elevation, had a range of nearly a mile, uninterrupted by the hills, directly dowu the road. The enemy opened fire from his artillery, and was replied to from ours. For about an hour, u. brisk cannonade was kept up by both parties, resulting in no loss on onr part, but, according to the report of the enemy, on theirs, of 15 men and several horses killed and wounded. While this was progressing, three regiments of infantry and a por tion of the cavalry were advanced, the 33d Indiana under Lieut. Col. Henderson, the 22d Wisconsin under Col. Utley, and the 19th Michi gan under Col. Gilbert. As they advanced, the enemy fell back and totally disappeared in front for a time. Quite a number soon after appeared ou the hills to our left, and it being reported that a force of some twelve or fifteen hundred were on the Louisburg road, a mile to our left, and attempting to gain our rear, I ordered the .advanced forces to fall back to our first position, which was done. Here they remained about three hours, and having reported the previous occurrences, I awaited orders from Gen. Gilbert. In the meantime, the cavalry h.ad been directed to examine thorough ly the country on our left, and drive back any force that might attack us in that direction. No attack was made by either party, and the result of the skirmishing in that direction was two slightly wounded on our side. At length, orders came to send back the foraging train. This was done at once, half of it having been already loaded. An advance of some two miles was made, with slight skirmishing in front, when the force went into bamp for the night. The loss in this days engagement ou our part was three (3) men slightly wounded, one of the 19th Michigan, and two of the 9th Penn sylvania, aud one piece of artillery disabled. Apprehending an attack that night, the comm.and was put upon the alert, and a considerable force slept under arms. An occasional pick et firing during the night was all that occurred. A new supply of ar tillery ammunition was sent for, and arrived before daj-light. The 9th Pennsylvania, was also newly armed with the Spencer rifles during the night. Soon after daylight, two negro boys, about twelve years of age, were brought into camp, who said they had come from yari Dorn's army, and that it was out on the road this side of Spring Hill, and was coming on to take Franklin. I sent them, at onde, with il messenger and some mounted men, to General Gilbert at FrJinklin. I heard nothing from my messenger or the General. Patrols were sent out on the flank, right and left ; scouts were dis patched iri all directions, with orders to scour the country, and I awaited reports from them. THE STAE CORPS. 297 At about eight o'clock, no force having been discovered as yet, we moved on. The cavalry in advance, with a line of skirmishers ex tending about half a mile on each side of the road. One piece of ar tillery was placed with the advanced guard some three-fourths of a mile to the front of the main force. Advancing slowly, with frequent halts, the skirmishers of the-enemy alone could be seen in the road, or in the woods, fields and hills, on either flank, retiring as we advanced. After an hour's march, I was informed that a small party of the enemy, apparently an outpost, were seen on the Louisburg turnpike. I directed a small force of cavalry at once to drive them and thor oughly test the strength of the enemy there. Time was given to the cavalry to inspect the country thoroughly, which continued broken and was in many places covered with woods; the farms being very irregular in shape, and not very extensive on account of the hills and ravines. Quite a large outpost of the enemy was driven in about a mile from Thompson's Station, and some two miles from our camp. They re tired, skirmishing with our dismounted cavalry, who pushed them handsomely across the fields and over the hills, to tue Station, Before reaching Thompson's Station, on the north, the road passe.? a wooded hill on the left, with a field in the valley on the right aud still beyond it — this field being bounded by a range of hills. This field extends south on both sides of the road to the range of hills just north of Thompson's Station — being narrow on the east side of the road, and extending to the south east, ending there in a gap through the ridge. This ridge, or range of hills, traverses the road at nearly right an gles, running east and west, and is broken into knolls, some of which are covered with a thick growth of cedar. This ridge is also inter sected by other gaps right and left. The turnpike and railroad pass through it by a gap together. Beyond the ridge, is an open farm about a fourth of a mile wide, on each side of the road. On passing through the gap, the railroad turns from the general di rection of the turnpike to the right and west. The Station is situated about the middle of the clearing, and nearly three hundred yards west of the turnpike. Here the ground is somewhat depressed, and a small stream flows by it to the west. Beyond the Station and field, is an extensive wood on each side of the road. The ground ascends ss it is approached from the north, and continues to ascend toward the south, and is bro ken into irregular knolls. Here the enemy lay. As our force approached the gap, the head of the advance guard being in it, the enemy began with a flre of artillery raking the road, his battery being stationed in the wood on the west side. This fire failed of effect. The skirmishers of the enemy who had occupied the ridge on either- hand had already been dislodged and driven to the Station, where they took refuge and rallied for a time, but retired before the skir mishers of the 33d Indiana, and under a fire from our battery, which had been brought up aud stationed— two paces on the right of the road, and three on the left on the ridge, at that place about flfty feet. above the valley, and the field in front. 298 THE STAR CORPS. In this position, they commanded the front from ahalftoafullmile. The 33d and 85th Indiana, were stationed on the right of the road, and 22d Wisconsin aud 19th Michigan on the left of the road, out upon the ridge, supporting the positions held by the battery. Some companies of dismounted cavalry were placed upon a cedar crowned knoll to the left of the 19th Michigan, with directions to hold it. In their rear the main part of the cavalry were stationed. To the rear, a third of a mile, was the 124th Ohio, whose duty it was to guard the ammuniton train. Such being the disposition of the foi-ces, a demonstration was made by our cavalry on the extreme left, and the 33d and 85th Indiana were advanced to the Station with directions to charge the battery on the right of the road, if practica ble. The 22d Wisoonaiu and 19th Michigan, aud a portion of the cavalry were held in reserve. The battery, in the meantime, kept up a continuous fire, and was answered by guns stationed at two points. The firing was kept up ¦Jf ith great vigor during the advance to the depot, our column moving forward uuder a constant fire of shell and cannister, as well as mus ketry from a brigade posted behiud u, bank and stone fence beyond . The loss was slight, and the troops moved forward in separate col umns by divisions, regularly and steadily to the depot buildings. As this force advanced, a large number of the enemy arose from their cover on the extreme left, and rallied to the battery beyond the depot. At this moment, I was informed that a force of a thousand or more cavalry had been discovered advancing beyond our left, a mile or more distant, in the neighborhood of the Lewisburg road. I immediately ordered the regiments to withdraw from the depot, intending at once to retreat, being convinced that we were in the neighborhood of an overwhelming force. Lieutenant Boohman, my Quartermaster, bore the order. The two regiments began to retire, and the enemy with loud cheers followed. Colonel Jordan of the 9th Pennsylvania was directed to bring two companies of his cavalry to support the regiments as they retired. He went ofiF. I saw him no more. I saw tis cavalry no more, although I sent for them. He thus iu a cowardly, unsoldierly and dishonorable manner left the field. The firing of musketry and artillery on our retiring mon was heavy aud galling, but they rallied on arriving at the ridge in good order, and repulsed Whitfield's, Cosby's and one regiment of Armstrong's brigades, driving them back beyond the depot. They sustained and repelled here three successive charges. To pre vent an approach on our right. Captain Laton with two companies of the 33d Indiana was posted upon an eminence about an eighth of a mile in that direction, keeping back all approaches there. During the advance to the depot, the battery did good firing, but on being ordered to fire more slowly and carefully, it ceased firing al together, and as our men were falling back from the depot, began to leave Its position. I directed the battery to resume firing and keep its position. On being told that their ammunition might be exhausted, I directed Lieut. Adams, Acting Assistant Adjutant General, aud Lieut. Bochman, Ac- TilE STAE COEPS. 299 "ting Assistant, Quartermaster, to examine all the ammunition chests and report the quantity on hand. They informed me that they then had about seventy rounds to the gun, of shell, grape and cannister. Deeming this ample for our re treat, I directed very careful use of it . Lt Bochman was directed to turn the wagon train preparatory to retreat, which he did expeditiously. In the mean time, while the enemy were pressing with great vigof ¦ our right, they bore down with Forrest's division and Armstrong's brigade on our left. The dismounted cavalry on the hills to our left fell back, and the rebels planted two pieces of artillery in their posi- -tion. This fire enfiladed the 19th Michigan, and it changed its front toward the left. This was followed by a furious assault by infantry ¦on our whole left. They were repulsed, and the attack was repeated, the, 19th Michigan falling back to the rear of the 22d Wisconsin. The enemy were again repulsed. They charged up the road to gain the ,'?pace between the 33d Indiana and 22d AVisconsin. The two companies on the extreme right of the 33d were brought 'over.to its left ; the 19th Michigan was ordered by me to move across ¦Tthe road and placed on the left ; the 85th Indiana had already been brought from its position on the right of the 33d Indiana, aud placed 'to the left of the position occupied by the 19th Michigan, and near to a school house. The 22d AVisconsin now severely pressed, fell back across the road to a position on the left of the 85th Indiana, and re- • tired a short distance to the rear. * * « * The enemy now charging across to the west side of the road, made >several successive assaults upon the front of the 19th and 85th, but -were repulsed and driven oif, and several prisoners taken. The battle flag of Armstrong's brigade was captured by the 19th I Michigan. At this point the enemy were completely routed. * * During the attack on the left, Whitfield and Stearns renewed the :B.ttack on our right — the 33d Indiana — but were again repulsed. As our right was being attacked, and before any serious assault had been made on our left, the cavalry disappeared, the artillery under ¦Captain Aleshire followed hastily, without the loss of a horse or a imau, and when it was still a position of personal safety to the men, .-although Lieuts. Adams and Bochman of my staff' attempted to rally -them, put them in position, and thus assist in covering our retreat. The battery was partially put iu position in our rear, by Lieutenant Adams, but by the directions of Colonel Jordan and Captain Aleshire, 'was ordered to move off without firing a gun upon the forces which nvere closing aronnd our left flank. The force thus falling back, took with it the 124th Ohio, the ambu lance train, and with them, all hope of an orderly retreat or a contin- 'ued successful resistance. As th«y disappeared, our whole front was pressed with the greatest ¦vigor, requiring a firm resistance, or resulting in a confused flight and 'the utter rout of the entire command. To the firmness with whiph our position was held, is due the safety •of those who retreated to Franklin, holding the enemy as we did, at aeast two hours after they had gone—on the very ground they had left. aiad all thus haro «t6od firmly, the chances of escape and au or- 300 THE STAK CORPS-, derly retreat were in our fa,vor, even with the immense prepouderairoe- of force against us, but the task would then have been most diflScult, accompaied by severe loss and the constant exercise of caution, cour age and the highest activity. The enemy at length h.aving been driven from our front at all points-- and silenced, our ammnnition running low, and our train having- gone, the brigade was moved to the woods upou our right and rear. Sere they met and attacked Forrest's division, which had gained our rear byJthe left, having come through the gaps in that direction, and being posted behind fences, trees, and other favorable positions, from the left across the road to our right Martin's brigade had also gaineti the rear of our right. These forces occupied the entire opposite slope of a deep ravine which lay directly in front of our new position, an3 whose precipitous side it would have been difficult to ascend. The brigade was formed in line, bayonets fixed, and all things made ready for a charge under a galling fire, which cost us some of our best men. The men would willingly have made the desperate venture witliout it shot in their cartridge boxes — nothing remained but to give the word.. I was now convinced that a massacre would ensue to litt'e purpose,. that a few might escape, but the many would fall nr bi^ captured in a vain struggle for lite with unequal weapons. I ordered a sutrender. 1 believe it was justified by the circumstances. It was then found that. we had been opposing Gener.al Van Dorn'sentire army — siir brigades, under Generiils .Forrest, Martin. Cosby, Steams. Jackson, Armstrong, and Coionel Whitfield — that the greater part of this force hidl advanc ed on us that morning from Spring Hill, tliree miles oft'-^where they had been encamped .a week, havin.g ferried the river at Columbia some two weeks before The whole force amounted to about fifteen thnnsand m'-'U. with twelve (12) pieces of artillery — six and twelve pound gmis : while the force under my command at tlie time of the surrt-nder anlAunted to about one thousand and fifty men — over one hundred and sixty being taken at other places. The whole rcliel force fought a.-s infan try, and were armed with good carbines, Mississippi and Enfield ri- ¦ fles. Thj distance to Franklin was nine miles — the contest had rag ed nearly five hours — no reinf'or<^ements were in sight— none had been heard from — the enemy held the roail fiu- in our rear — our cavalry- and artillery had already been gone two hours — we had no ammuni tion — the enemy was mounted — his batteries raked the road, and his men by thousands hung upon every a;dvaiitilg'eous post in our rear — we had exhausted all means of destruction except our bayonets, be yond the reach of which we were powerless. That a Colonel of cavalry, and a Captain of artillery, should, with-- out erders, and against orders, leave the field with their entire com mands in haste, and without notice to nie, at the very moment they should have put? fbrth their .greatest exertions to repel the enemy rushing upon us--aud in addition, carry also with them an infantry ; regiment on duty as a reserve with the teams, and witli it all of our ammunition, was a continency,' against which, human foresight could not provide, and left the 'surrountled and unflinching men who with stood the storm, no alternative bttt-a disgraceful and fatal flight, or to- THE STAE CORPS. 301 •4o,,as they f7W, fight tiH further resistance was. Vain. Had it been -«,ven possible to retire from theimmodiate presence pf so large a force, it was only so by the united aptipn of every man. But with a thousand -men suddenly withdrawn — with onr two most formidable arms, in re- t^reat-rcayalry and artillery— with the way thus opened for tho flank- .-ing forces, the contest was reduced to a mere question of endurance. Perhaps had all stood firmly, the result would have been the same. I think it would not. If reinforcements, had come, even amounting 'to a single regiment, arid .a; , battery, I am confident our withdrawal .¦could b^vo been handsomely efi'ected. To the commanding oflicei-s of the regiments. Colonel Utley, 22d ¦Wisconsin, Colonel Baird, 85th Indiana,, Colonel Gilbert, 19th Miohi- :3?an, and Lieutenant-Colonel Henderson, 33d Indiana, I am compelled ^j their conspi^uQUS daring and gallantcy to return my thanks. They •idid all that ofiicers in their position co,iild do. The other field ofiicers; Lieutenant-Colonel Crane, 85th Indiana. ¦Major ,C|raig, 85th Indiana,, Major Shatter, 19th Michigan, Major Mil ler, 33d Indiaiua,^ and, Major, ¦Smith, 22d Wisconsin,, were at their posts "bravely doing their duty. The Adjutants of the regiments, Craw- Iford, Tompkins, Bones, aiid Pickering, did nobly. ' ' To the line- officers, and the men, who so faithfully and -fearlessly •drove back the foe, is due whatever can be said of' heroic. daring- and self sacrifice. Their firm, persistent, triumphant nepulse of assault after assault by overwhelming numbers, gave proof that on a fairer field victory would have been an easy prize. My staff officers present, Lieutenants Adams and Bochman, and Captain Foil, rendered me most valuable. asSisfance, and were cut off ini tbe retreating column , vainly endeavoring to rally the scattering forces; arid place the artillery in such positions, as would have pre vented the flanking force under Forrest from effectirig his purpose. ' The officers of the 124th Ohio, so far as they came under my eye, did well. One of my orderlies, Mr. Brown, 19th Michigan, did travely and faithfully all that was required. I append a list bf- killed, wounded and missing in battle, showing the number of each . I refer to the reports of regimental command ers herewith forwarded, for their names. I also append a list of the number of thosewho died by exposure and cruel treatment during ¦ captivity : REOTMENTg. KILLED. W0U3ffDEl>. DIED OF EXPOSURE, B.TC. TOTAL. Thirty-Third Incliaiia 31 69 Tweiity-8ec the railroad and store-house. Pickets were placed at proper distan ces upon the Franklin Pike,' south of the camp. The same on the Wilson Pike^south, at the railroad »nd store house, and through the woods west, and also on the Franklin Pike, about 100 yards north of the bridge, where the Franklin Pike crosses the railroad I had felled trees on three sides close to ffly camp, as.i defense against a dash of cavalry by night. A detachment of the ISth Michigan was stationed at the Stbckade near the railroad bridge about one and a half miles south of Brentwood. On the morning of the above date, a messenger from the stockade rode into camp with the information that the enemy were upon theio, and destroying the railroad. My command, comprising but about four hundred (40.0) effective men, was soon in line. Three compa nies were immediately directed to move forward to the assistance of those at the bridge, but after advancing a short distance from camp, the enemy in superior force were discovered deploying from the jnke- into line of battle on both sides of the road, and moving npon us. E immediately deployed those three companies and placed them under the charge of Major Smith of our regiment, and rode back to place' the remaining three in position. I then endeavored to telegraph to Franklin, but found the wires cut both in front and rear. I tlien ordered two courier^ to Nashville to take news of my attack, and ask for reinforcements. Only one suo- ceeded in getting out — whether he got through the enemy's lines I nev er knew. At this time, a flag of truce was seat by the'en^oiy, an nouncing that General Forrest bad surrounded us with' his entire com- THE STAK COEPS. 303 mand, demanding our unconditional surrender, and threatening to cut us inpieces if We attempted r'esistsnce. Word was sent back to General Forrest, "come and take us." Previous to this, I had given orders to have the wagons loaded and move toward Nashville, as I feared from the superior force of the enemy, thus far developed, I might be compelled to fall back in that direction. The last wagon bad not left the eamp, when those in front were stopt by the enemy. In the meantime the advance companies had opened fire upon the enemy. I bad barely time to post the other companies, when I discovered we were completely surrounded by the enemy in overwhelming force. I disposed of my men so as to keep them at bay as long as posssible, but they advanced rapidly, pressing me closely, and soon brought two pieces of artillery close up to my lines. I had no artillery to keep them at bay. My position was without defence natural or artificial, for the protection of my men. I bad no hope of ^aid-from any quar ter. The force that surrounded me was evidently five to ten times my number, and I was satisfied that in fifteen or twenty minutes we must be overbalanced after great sacrifice of life, without — in conse quence of our inferiority in numbers and equipments — inflicting ade quate injury on tbe enemy. I therefore deemed it for the interest of the service, and but justice to my men, to surrender, which I accordingly did. The contest, from the opening of our fire up to the time the enemy had succeeded in surrounding me, and was about bringing bis artille ry to bear, was from twenty-five to thirty minutes. After my capture, I learned that the enemy had not attacked the force at tbe railroad bridge before coming upou me, but had rode by it. They surrounded and took this force after my surrender. I then found the enemy's force to be three or four brigades of moun ted infantry, numbering from five to eight thousand men, under tbe command of Brigadier-General Forrest, and including an independ ent Aikansas regiment under the command of Major Sanders, all of which officers were on the field with their commands. Also, at that time, I learned that the enemy had sent a force to Nashville and Franklin to drive ia our pickets. A body of our cav alry came up and made an ineffectual dash at the enemy some two hours after we were captured. Four of my command were wounded, and left upon the ground with two of the regimental Surgeons. The loss of the enemy so far as I learned was 3 killed, including a Lieutenant, and 5 wounded. The enemy while in action, with the exception of a sufficient num ber acting as cavalry, were dismounted and fought on foot. They bad made a forced march during the night, and came in through the country to the west of our camp, and about a mile beyond our pick ets. I was informed by General Forrest that he had captured a cour ier sent to me by General Baird that morning, with orders to fall back immediately with my command to Nashville, but I did not see the courier among the captured. My command after being taken were marched to TuUahoma, Ten nessee, and there sent by rail to Richmond. 304 THE STAE COEPS. The men were paroled there and sent to Annapolis, Marylansl. After being exchanged with other officers. I had to, go to the hospi tal at Annapolis, and from there was ordered to report to my regiment at Benton Barracks at St Louis, Missouri. All of which I respectfully submit. I am. Sir, very respectfully, E. BLOODGOOD. Lt. Col, 22d Regt. Wis. Vol. Inft. .(Note — Wa intended to insert in this work several tables of statistics, rosters of vegimenta. &c., but most of those we have are very imperfect-many officers failing to forward ub what we wanted. We have many other items of interest on hand, 1)ut our limits are full, and we must consequently omit them. — Author. GENERAL DUSTIN'S FAREWELL. Head Qks. 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 20th A. C, ) Near Wasuinoton, June 6th, 1865. J Officers and men of the 2(i Brigade . My own regiment, the 105th Illinois 'Volunteers, having been mus tered out of the service, my connection with this brigade is necessa rily dissolved. My grateful acknowledgements are due you, for the uniform kind ness and respect that have been extended to me, during the time that I have had the honor to be your commanding"officer. All honor to the Second Brigade, for tbe gallant and noble manner in which it has sustained its position iu that magnificent line of bat tle, that has ultimately closed in, surrounded, fought, conquered and destroyed the Great Rebellion. As you have in au especial manner, so bravely withstood the hard- ehips and dangers of a long and bloody war, so will you be the shai- ers, in an emineat degree, of the glorious results consequent upon the brilliant and sublime combination of victories, with wbich the terrible conflict has been brought to a close. It is with proud sa/tisfacti on that you may exclaim, " Now lettest thou thy servants depart in peace, for our eyes have seen the salva tion of our country.'" With expressions of profound sorrow for the fate of your brave comrades, who have fallen, my kindest feelings of respect and es teem will go with those of you who are abont to return to your homes, and will also linger with those who may remain in the ser vice, God bless you all, and crown your future with that full measure of ipeace, prosperity., and happiness, which you so richly deserve. DANIEL DUSTIN, Brevet Brigadier-General. pm ru'.iji m>' f.' m ¦'¦A,i]' ;. i'»,i ii'i'i i •>.*« IU\I iV\-.<' ¦ '"TI «ir«