O. P. Cutter

“ The streets are narrow and irregular, not being laid out with any regard to beauty. There are a large number of fine buildings here, both public and private. The citizens are, for the most part, strong secessionists. The appearance of Union soldiers in their streets was not much relished, but they were obliged to put up with it.
On the 29th of March, we struck tents, and again [Pg 42] moved forward, taking the Franklin road, in company with the Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania, First Wisconsin, and Thirty-fifth Indiana, all Infantry, and one Regiment of Pennsylvania Cavalry. ”

“ We now turned off to the right, crossing a small creek; and, as we were now off the McMinnville pike, our expectations of going to that place vanished. We were once more nonplussed as to what was really our destination. As usual, various opinions were expressed.
It would really be laughable to an outsider to hear the surmises and “yarns” of the men about this, that and the other. One thing, however, was quite evident: that from the direction we were taking, we would soon be among the Cumberland mountains; and it further looked as if we were heading towards Chattanooga. ”

“ On this morning, as General Palmer and Staff were out, with some of the First Tennessee cavalry, on a reconnoissance, when about five miles from camp they were suddenly confronted by a large body of Rebel cavalry, who at once opened fire on them. General Palmer gave the command for his cavalry to charge, and which order the brave Tennesseeans were not slow in obeying. With drawn sabres they rushed on the Rebels, which caused them to give way, when they broke and fled in confusion. The result was the capture of about twenty prisoners, the same number of horses, and a few muskets. ”

“ Suddenly the clear notes of the bugle rang out on the night air. Never was the sound more unwelcome; but its call had to be obeyed. The moon shone brightly, but the air was piercing cold. The prospect of an all night’s march was not much relished.
As soon as we got out on the road we struck off on a double quick, and went spinning along towards Crab Orchard. Considerable firing was now heard some distance in advance. ”

“ We camped on the Nashville pike, about one mile from town. The next morning, there was quite a movement of troops. A large force headed by General Nelson went towards Nashville. Our battery moved camp to a high elevation overlooking the town. About three hundred slaves had been brought in from the surrounding country, and set to work building a redoubt for the use of artillery. Our men were engaged in putting the camping ground in good order. In a short time, report reached us that a large force of Rebels had entered Lebanon and captured the place without firing a gun. ”

“ The Thirty-third Indiana Infantry were posted on a hill directly opposite our battery, while the Seventeenth Ohio and First Kentucky Infantry, together with a part of Woolford’s Cavalry, were stationed away to our right. The Fourteenth Ohio Infantry were drawn up in line to our left. The Rebels were making efforts to drive the Thirty-third Indiana from their position. Every shot from our guns told with good effect, and the battle continued at intervals during the day. About three o’clock in the afternoon the firing became quite brisk, and lasted for half an hour. ”

“ Nashville, the capital of Tennessee, is situated on the Cumberland River, two hundred and fifty miles from its mouth. It is the terminus of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, and is also the centering point of numerous other Southern roads. It is sometimes known as the City of Rocks; being built on a high rocky elevation. The population is about twenty-five thousand, and it is a place of considerable trade. Most of the cotton, and other products of Middle Tennessee, here find a market. ”

“ Here, much to our satisfaction, we were ordered to encamp. No time was lost in obeying the command, and what few tents had arrived were soon pitched. A hasty supper was cooked, and as speedily demolished. Soon, all had turned in for a night’s rest, being the first we had been able to obtain for two days.
Thus ended one of the most disastrous forced marches during the war. Many a poor fellow owes his death to this cause.
The day following, the rest of the battery arrived, and we remained here until Tuesday noon, the 19th of November, when we were ordered to march, our destination being Lebanon. ”

“ The morning of October 10th were again early on the move, and at 9 o’clock passed through the town of Perryville, and proceeded on towards Danville. The buildings, as we passed along, presented the appearance of hard usage from the effects of the battle of Wednesday. Nearly every house was more or less riddled by shot and shell. We saw one house that seemed as if it had been the especial target of the gunners, for it was pierced in many places. We continued on for about two miles, when our advance had some little skirmishing with the enemy’s rear guard. ”

“ War follows rebellion, and death follows war. Some must die—both the just and the unjust; but in the end, right will ever conquer. And now to our movements.
The morning was cloudy, and in a short time it began to rain. Nevertheless, all were soon ready to move. After waiting for more than an hour, the command was finally given to “forward march.”
The army of General Rosencrans had now been divided into three separate divisions, or army corps, and designated as the Right, Left and Center wings. The Right, commanded by General McCook; the Centre, by General Thomas ”

“ A march of twenty miles brought us to Tullahoma, which is south of Wartrace, and on the same railroad. It is also at the junction of the Manchester and McMinnville road. On arriving there, we encamped in an orchard near the depot. At dark, the left section were posted on a high elevation, at the north-east [Pg 55] part of the town. There was already a large force here, and more troops still arriving. The concentrating of so large a force at this point, looked as if a battle was brewing. Preparations were at once made to resist any force the enemy might bring to oppose us. ”

“ Rebels suffered the loss of a number killed and wounded, and a few taken prisoners.
Early next morning, we were in readiness to renew the attack; but the enemy were not inclined to oppose us, as they commenced a retrograde movement towards Murfreesboro. Our troops at once pressed on them closely, and constant skirmishing ensued throughout the entire day. At dark, we had succeeded in driving them six miles, to what is called Stewart’s Creek. We here rested for the night—the Rebels on the east and we on the west side of the creek. ”

“ Between 3 and 4 o’clock in the afternoon, the Rebels, in strong force, opened an attack on a single brigade of ours, which was posted near Stone river, and in advance of our extreme left. Pressed by greatly superior numbers the brigade was compelled to fall back, which they did in good order, contesting every inch of ground, and making great havoc in the enemy’s ranks. Our reserve force soon pushed forward, with cheers and yells, determined to do or die. ”

“ Colonel Barnett had arrived shortly after the battle, it being the first time we had seen him since leaving Camp Dick Robinson. He remained with us only a few days.
Not having before said anything about Somerset, we will here describe the place:—It is one of the early settled towns of Kentucky, and like all the other [Pg 33] mountain towns of this State, it presents rather a sombre and gloomy appearance. The buildings are mostly built of wood, and are old fashioned affairs. The business part looks as if it had gone through the revolutionary war; many of the buildings are fast going to decay. ”

“ The citizens did all in their power to make us comfortable during our short stay. A number of us obtained beds at the hotels, by paying for them, which was done willingly, for a comfortable bed we had not for a long time enjoyed.
In the morning, after passing a short time doing our trading, all returned to camp, and were again soon on the move. The right section had gone on ahead, under command of Lieutenant Baldwin—Lieutenant Bennett having received a short furlough to go home. We passed through Stanford during the day, and pitched tents four miles beyond the town. ”

“ Got an early start, and pushed on through the mud and slush. At noon arrived at Mount Vernon, and halted for an hour in a large field, and cooked our dinner. At 2 o’clock we again moved forward, and went towards Somerset. The weather was now growing colder, and the snow had made the roads very heavy, so that our progress was but slow. It was a cheerless and comfortless march. Little do those at home, who tread only on hard, dry pavements, know where a soldier’s feet hath been. We toiled on through the mud for about six miles, and then camped for the night. ”

“ It appears that the firing had all been done by the Rebels, who were on the opposite side of the river. They had been throwing shot and shell into the camp of the Twelfth Kentucky, but without execution, only causing the Twelfth to move further back from the river, and out of reach of their guns.
Occasionally the Rebels would march forward in regiments, fire a volley, and then fall back. Our guns made no reply, we not firing a shot. There had been some slight skirmishing between the enemy and the Twelfth Kentucky a day or two previous to our arrival. ”

“ Captain Standart was still acting as Chief of Artillery, on General Palmer’s Staff. Lieutenant Sypher was sick, at [Pg 109] Nashville. Both Lieutenants Baldwin and Sturges acted with great coolness and bravery. Lieutenant Baldwin had one horse killed under him. The Battery was several times in a dangerous position, and once was nearly surrounded by the enemy, and subjected to a severe cross fire. The men heroically stood at their posts, and fought like veterans, while the air was hissing with shot and shell. None wavered from their duty, and all are deserving of the highest praise. ”

“ The enemy’s loss, in killed and wounded, will not vary far from twelve thousand to fourteen thousand. About five thousand of the enemy fell into our hands as prisoners of war. We captured but few arms or equipments. Our loss, in killed and wounded, was about eight thousand, and from three thousand to four thousand captured and missing. The Rebels probably gained a slight advantage in the amount of artillery captured. Several Generals, and other officers high in rank were killed and wounded, on both sides. The Rebels retreated towards Tullahoma. ”

“ The population is about one thousand five hundred. Although the inhabitants profess to be loyal to the old Government, yet many of them are, at heart, rank secessionists. There is a court-house and jail here, it being the seat of justice for Pulaski county.
We remained here until the 10th of February, 1862, being a period of just ten weeks from the day of our first arrival. On Saturday, the 8th of the same month, Edward C. Chapman, a member of our company, died, and was buried the next day. His remains were followed to the grave by nearly all the members of the battery. ”

“ The State House, is a large and magnificent structure, built entirely of marble, and situated on a high elevation called Capitol Hill. It is the first object that attracts the attention of the stranger, on his approach to the city, as it can be seen from a considerable distance from all quarters of approach. ”

“ During the night, we were reinforced by the arrival from London of the First and Second Tennessee Infantry. The next morning nothing was seen or heard of the enemy, and it was supposed that they had become alarmed during the night, and had fallen back to their intrenchments at Mill Springs. Small reconnoitering parties were sent out daily, but with the exception of a few slight skirmishes, and occasionally a little firing between the picket guards, nothing of importance occurred for a number of days. ”

“ At about five o’clock we had succeeded in driving the enemy behind their intrenchments at Mill Springs, being a distance of eight miles from where the battle commenced. Reinforcements had now come up, and though the men were nearly exhausted, having eaten nothing since early morning, and were saturated with the rain, the guns were soon got in position, and opened with shell on the enemy’s works. The Rebels replied with a few ineffectual shot, their shell falling far short of their destination. Kinney’s and Wetmore’s Batteries were also engaging the enemy from different positions. ”

“ But we at once took up good positions, and made preparations to resist any attack. Detachments were sent out to reconnoiter, but without discovering any signs of the Rebels. They had retired to their old quarters at Cumberland Gap.
The country around London is rough and mountainous, and the people are mostly of the poorer class. They are generally loyal to the “old flag.” The population of the town is about five hundred. Most of the inhabitants had fled on the approach of the Rebel army, but returned to their homes on our arrival. The buildings are, for the greater part, rickety affairs. ”

“ The engagement had now become general. For [Pg 28] a time our guns could not be brought to bear upon the enemy, owing to the nature of the ground, and the position of our troops, without endangering our own men. After considerable maneuvering, a portion of the guns were got into a favorable position, and soon begun to pour in a deadly fire upon the enemy. Shot and shell flew thick and fast. Each discharge wrought fearful execution, and the Rebel ranks were rapidly thinned. ”