Letter – Bryant Vincent, 22 December 1864

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Letter written by Private Bryant L. Vincent of Company K, 12th IN Cavalry, to his friends, from Murfreesboro, TN. Vincent writes that he has been in three hard battles, but has come out safely. He mentions defeating Confederate Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest, and comments on the way that Union Major General George H. Thomas “whipped” Confederate General John Bell Hood in Nashville. Vincent describes the battles he has been in since leaving Tullahoma, TN, including the Battle of Overall’s Creek. Another saw his brigade guarding a forage train under heavy fire until they received reinforcements. He writes that he has gotten used to the sounds of cannons and musketry, and they will have to wait until he returns home to fully explain what battle is like. Vincent remarks that the hardest part of being a soldier has been the rations, as food has been scarce for several weeks. The railroad to Nashville has been torn up, and several bridges have been burned.

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Murfreesboro Dec 22 64

Dear Friends

I rec[eived] 3 letters this morning I am well and doing well I have been in 3 pretty hard fought battles since I have been at murfreesboro but I have come through all staraight all though sometimes I thought I would not I have seen some awful hard marches. but it is all in a fellows life time and I guess the fighting in this part of the country is nearly done [???] for we have whipped old Forest here three times and the way Thomas has whippped Hood in front of Nashville will be a caution to him not to try it again and

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but a small part of his forces will ever get across the Tennessee for they said when they came up here that Victory or no Victory they would not go back again we started from tullahoma Nov 30 and got here Dec 2 we marched day and night, the first fight was Sunday the 4 of Dec it is called the battle of overalls creek, the next fight was the 6 of Dec we had to support a battery the revel artillery was playing on our artillery and our co lay right behind the battery and the way the shot and ball came was a caution we lost 2 men both wounded from our co I do not know how many from the regt the next fight was wednesday the 14 our Brigade went out to guard a forage train

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we fought all day and were surrounded on all sides just at night as we had got the wagon loaded with corn and got on to the pike they commenced harder than ever in front and rear we made up our minds we were gobbled and we should have every one of us been taken if it had not been for reinforcements coming out but they fought hard before they gave up. I have got so the noise of cannon and muskets dont bother me much for I have been within sound of it about all the time for 3 weeks, I wish I could give you some idea of what a battle is but I havent room to do so by letter and I will have to wait untill I get home then I can tell you something about it

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[Thad?] is well [???] is not very good but I guess he will be better before long we shall probably start for tullahoma tomorrow, and when we get settled there you can send the box. I am glad you could not send it for it would be nothing but a trouble here I wrote to you the day before we left tullahoma and told you not to send it but I guess the letter did not go through, I dont know how long before this one will but I will have it ready, the hardest has been the rations we have been obliged to live on all most nothing for the last 3 weeks we have drawn only one hard tack and one pint of meal for 5 days rations and had it not been for parched corn I believe we would have starved the railroad is badly torn up between here and Nashville and several bridges burned but there is a large force at work on it and before long we will have a plenty of rations but I have written a long letter and I must close Vincent

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Mother

you must not worry about me for I am all right and have probably seen the hardest I will have to so, you said something about homsick I aint homsick, it is pretty cold here

Bryant L. Vincent, from Pulaski County, IN, enlisted as a private in Company K of the 12^th IN Cavalry on November 14, 1864. He survived the war and was mustered out on November 10, 1865. Being a new recruit, his youth and inexperience is fully evident in this letter. The war obviously remained somewhat of an adventure to him despite the hardships he was compelled to rapidly cope with.

Letter – J.P. Graves, 7 September 1864

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Letter written by Private J. P. Graves of the Warren County MS Light Artillery, Army of TN, to his sister, from a camp near Jonesboro, GA. Graves writes that most of his battery was captured by Union troops, although he and a few others escaped. He goes on to describe the fighting at Jonesboro and writes that they did not leave their guns until the Union troops were on their breastworks, at which time some Confederate men “clubbed muskets with the enemy.” Graves ran to safety as the Union troops mounted their works. He writes that Captain Charles Swett gave a speech to the troops, telling them they had the thanks of Generals Hood, Hardee, and Cleburne for their gallantry on the battlefield. Graves expects to be a regular scout for Hardee, as Lieutenant Harvey Shannon sent the order to Hood for approval.

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Camp near Jonesbourogh

September the 7/64

Dear Sister

I received Sallies letter the other day would of answered it sooner but did not have any paper as the yankees captured every thing I have, I expect you have heared that our Battery was capture and nearly all of Govans Brigade. Bud, Graves Tennent and myself escaped unhurt I expect you would like to know what Graves Tennent is doing in our Battery. He came up a bout two or three weeks ago and joined our Battery. He is a very good and nice boy. He says he left Holly Spring a bout three months a go. Aunt Mary and Cousin George Bird was well. Well I reckond you want to know something about the fight at Jonesbourough. Hardees Corps and Lees Corps were both at Jonesbou

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rough. Hardees Corps was on the left and Lees Corps was ond the right Ond the 31st of August Hardees and Lees Corps was ordered to charge. Hardees was succesfull and Lee was not. The next day Hardees was ordered to the right to contend with the whole yankee army; as Lees Corps was ordered back to Atlanta The enemy was seen to bee massing their whole army in our front our Battery commenced playing ond them; Then the enemy brought up four Batteries and commenced playing and our battery. we keep up the artilery duel until all of our limbers to the guns were shot down. all that time the enemy was massing in a hollow about three hundred yards on our front then they commenced charging. the first charge they were hurl back and skattered like leaves in a whi[r]l wind, but the[y] went back under the cover of the hill and

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formed again. They came again but were repulse[d] with the same result; all the time our battery was pouring double charges of canister in to their ranks. by this time their reserved lines had got up. and they come again with overwhelming numbers and our men were driven back with the loss of hald of Govans Brigade and Swetts and Key Batterys, we never left our Guns untill the enemy were ond our Brestworks some of our men club[b]ed muskets with the enemy. we lost seventeen men out of our Battery They were will wounded or captured when I run I thought the yankees would put a bout fifty bullet holes throug my back; but as it happens not a one touched me. I know that nothing safe me but the prayers of my mother. The yanky were mounting our works when Graves Tennent and my self left both of us came out safes–

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Captain Swett came down to the battery day before yesterday and made a long speach to us saying that we had the thanks of Generals Hood Hardee & Cleburne for gallantry showed on the field. Captain Swett complimented us very highly; and said he considered evry man of us a Hero. I expect we will now be regular scouts for Gen Hardee as Lieutenant Shannon says evry thing has been sent off to General Hood; and he expects and answer from him to day. and if Gen Hood grants it we will have a pritty nice time. we will be mounted. I have a great deal of news to tell you but have no paper. Bud is well. Tell Sallie I will answer her letter soon. I [sentence illegible]… love to you all. give my love to sister Sallie and Ma and except [accept] a share for your self

believe me as ever your affectionate Brother

J.P. Graves

J.P. Graves enlisted on March 20, 1864 in Dalton, GA in Captain Swett’s Company L, the Warren Light Artillery. He survived the war and is shown on a muster roll of Confederate soldiers paroled at Greensboro, NC on April 26, 1865.

Report – Henry Bryan, 2 February 1865

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Report of Confederate Major Henry Bryan, staff of General P. G. T. Beauregard, from Montgomery, AL. The report is addressed to Colonel George H. Brent, Assistant Adjutant General. Bryan recently inspected the Artillery of the Army of Tennessee at Columbus, MI, and found that they were in desperate need of horses. There were enough horses when General Johnston was in command, but the number lessened under General Hood in Atlanta. The march to Tuscumbia and Nashville wearied them due to harsh weather conditions and lack of forage. Bryan describes how the horses were lost during the retreat. The close proximity of Union troops forced a march through the mountains, and many weaker animals were left behind. Major Landis saved several hundred mules and brought them to Clinton, AL where they are to be exchanged in charge of Captain Rumble. Bryan mentions that the quartermasters, Captain B. M. Duffie and Captain McIves, supposedly escaped to Richmond but have not sent a report.

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Montgomery Ala Feby 2d 1865

Col. Geo. H. Brent, A.A.G.

Colonel

In my recent rough inspection of Artillery of the Army of Tennessee at Columbus, Miss., I found the most pressing want to be horses. It was a mooted question whether mules could be successfully used to pull the caissons instead of horses. I presume we shall be forced to depend on them. For mere hauling on the roads, they are better, but when wounded they may run away & smash up everything; at least this has happened so.

I tried to make an enquiry as to what had become of the horses belonging to this artillery & append to this a statement of what I gathered, not added up, because the reports I asked for were not sent in uniformly or complete.

It seems that the horses were in good order during Gen. Johnston’s Administration of the Army of Tenn., but deteriorated under Gen. Hood at Atlanta for want of forage, & were wearied by the march to Tuscumbia. They suffered in the advance into Tennessee somewhat, but more at Nashville for want of good forage. On the retreat they got very little to eat & this with bad weather broke down most of them.

Major A. L. Landis, Inspector of Field Transportation, collected many unserviceable horses & mules at Columbia, Tenn. & sent them across the Tennessee River. At the crossing of this river on the retreat about Dec. 26^th Maj. Landis by order of Gen. Hood, thro’ Major Ayer stopped all unauthorized animals & unserviceable artillery horses to be sent to the rear for protection & recruiting. He got there & on the retreat about 150 horses (some 600 animals of all kinds). Many of these horses were lost on the south side by the gross negligence of the guard under Lt. ______of Nixon’s Cavalry Regt., & only 116 could be found on the morning of the 28^th Decr. & were started for Clifton, Ala. in charge of Capt. Hays. Between Bainbridge & Leighton, Ala. some Confederate cavalry (command not known) met these horses on the march & took violent possession of quite a number of horses & mules. The enemy

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being in close proximity, a forced march was made to the mountains, during which many of the weaker animals were left. Part of these with a lot of mules 268 in all were saved from the general wreck by the agents of Major Landis & brought to Clinton, Greene Co., Ala., where they are to be exchanged or recruited in charge of Capt. Rumble, agent for Major Ewing. Capt. Rumble is said to be incompetent, or careless in the care of horses.

(The quartermasters, Capt. F. M. Duffie & McIves, in charge of the pontoon train, escaped but did not make any report to the Inspector of Field Transportation, & are supposed to have gone to Richmond; 80 pontoon boats were supposed to have been lost.)

In the artillery, many officers were riding government horses under an order issued by Genl. Hood at Florence. Many of these officers could not buy horses at the high market rates. They should be authorized to purchase at low rates under certain checks, the use of public horses, by them[now] forbidden.

Very respy. yr. obt. svt.

Henry Bryan

Major & A.I. Genl.

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Approximate Statement of what became of Artillery Animals belonging to the Army of Tennessee during the Retreat from Nashville

Battalion	Corps	Killed in action	Saved from battle of Nashville or on hand at Nashville	Now on hand	Died on Retreat	Abandoned, exhausted & captured on Retreat	Taken by or turned over to Maj. A. L. Lanais, Insp. Field Transportation	Turned over to Q. M. Dept.	Turned over to other Batteries
Eldridge’s	Lee’s	7	112	9	7	30	4	38	12
Johnson’s (sent to Geo.)	“		142	48	10	10	22	28	24
Courtney’s	“	17	112	9	2	40	12	19	3
Turner’s & Cobb’s	Cheatham’s			14			14	(114 Horses belonging to these Battlions were either killed, captured, abandoned on Retreat or turned over to Capt. O’Bryan Regt. 2 Q. M. as unservciable)
Hotchkiss; (sent to Georgia), Capt. Bledsoe, Cmdg.	“	2	119	28		62	16	11
Storr’s	Stewart’s			52	52		“a great number”
Truehart’s	“		50	12	2	7	15	14	29
Myrick’s	“	19		30	7	10	8	5	8

-On Verso-

Montgomery Ala/ Feby 2d 1865/ Henry Bryan/ Maj. & A.I.G.

report on what became of artillery horses, Army of Tenn. on late retreat

Letter – Martin Wiley, 28 December 1864

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Letter written by surgeon Martin Wiley of the 117th IL Infantry, to his wife, from the woods north of Pulaski, TN. Wiley writes that his regiment will move again the next morning. He mentions hunting, and describes the terrain along their march from Nashville. He briefly mentions the health of Colonel Moore, and inquires after the health of his wife. Wiley has heard rumors that General John B. Hood was beaten at the Tennessee River. A second section of the letter dated December 29th, 1864, mentions that his regiment is moving towards home. He reports that the 16th Corps left General George Thomas’s army and moved toward Clifton, TN. There are rumors that Hood’s army is attempting to cross at Savannah. He remarks on the adverse road conditions which will slow the march.

Camp 117 Regt. Ill. V.

In the woods, 4 miles

s of Pulaski, Tenn.

8-20 P.M. Dec. 28^th 1864

My very Dear Wife

I sent you your letter this morning. I commence again and will forward by first opportunity. We did not move today, but have orders to move at 8 tomorrow. I went hunting squirrels and shot one. These hills are rather pleasant. All the way from Nashville here it has been a constant succession of regular hills and narrow valleys. The road winds through the valley, passing over more

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of the hills. The population is considerably dense. The soil is rich and the products of luxuriant growth. Much of the surface is too steep for cultivation. The timber is excellent; maple, beach, birch, chestnut, oak, and cedar groves, large and beautiful.

Col. Moore is better today. Darling I hope the same of you. I would feel so glad to be certain of it.

Tell Dr. Carpenter that I am going to write to him when I get settled for a day or two. We get rumors that Hood has been beaten again at the Tenn. [River], and lost largely. A squad of prisoners passed this morning.

Good night my dear,

Dr.

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7 – 8 P.M. Dec. 29, 1864

My Dear

We are again on the way, and I am cheerful for we move in the direction of home. This morning the 16^th Corps left Gen. Thomas’s army and moved on a road toward Clifton. This place is on the Tennessee [River] due west and below Pittsburg Landing. So when we get there we are in easy communication with Ill[inois] again. If we go there, I presume it will be for the purpose of taking transports for some other point. Some say a portion of Hood’s army are attempting to cross at Savannah, and that we will strike him there. However it may be, I know we are not now going south

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but toward a certain line of communication, and this makes me glad. The roads are bad, and the march will be slow. We have but 3 days’ rations in the train. We have marched but 13 miles today. We left Lieut. Brown, Co. A, sick at Pulaski; glad it wasn’t me. are having good living and a comfortable place to eat it. Dr. J and myself have a table in our tent. The evening is cool (freezing), but we are cozy and warm. We have various reports from the front. I can vouch for one of them. You probably hear as much. A good night Kiss for you, Dear.

Your husband, affect[ionately],

M. Wiley

Martin Wiley, from Trenton, IL enlisted on August 14,1862 as a private in Co. E of the 117^th Illinois Infantry. He was promoted to surgeon October 9, 1862, and was mustered out at Camp Butler, Springfield, IL on August 5, 1865.

Letter – Isaac Miller, 2 December 1864

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Letter written by Private Isaac Miller of Company E, 93rd Ohio volunteer Infantry, to his brother, from Nashville, TN. Miller is expecting a fight, as the Confederate troops are forming their lines. He writes that his regiment guarded the train to Nashville, and that they just missed the fighting at Franklin. He heard an account from a member of the 175th Ohio Volunteer Infantry about how the Confederates were unable to get over the Union’s abatis. Though they attempted to surrender, the 175th continued to fire. Miller says he doesn’t know how long his regiment will stay in place, as it likely depends on whether or not General John B. Hood charges. Miller mentions that he ate Thanksgiving dinner in a graveyard in Columbia.

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Nashville, Tenn. December 2/64

Dear Brother

I sit down this afternoon to let you know how I am and what we are doing. Well, the troops are marching around getting into position. I guess we have got even. The Rebels are forming their lines in front of us, and I guess we will have a fight. We had a pretty tough time retreating from Pulaski, but our division did not get in any fight – that is our brigade. I don’t know whether any of the other two brigades done any fighting at Franklin.

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Our regiment was detailed to guard the train to this place. I guess you will hear of the great fight at Franklin before you get this. We were just leaving as it commenced. I saw about 1,000 of the Johnnies that our men took, and they say that they just piled them up in front of the works. I was talking with one of the 175 OVI [Ohio Volunteer Infantry] boys. They was in the fight. They had what they call [abatis] in front of the works – that is, brush and sharp pointed stakes, so that a man can’t hardly get through them at all. The Rebels charged up to them and could not get over, and they hollered to the boys

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to cease firing – they would surrender. But they were a new regiment and the first fight they had been in, so they just kept firing away at them, and would not let them surrender. So much the better. All they kill, we won’t have to fight or feed anymore. I received your letter of the 25[th] and the shirt and socks also, and am very much pleased with them, and your letter. Believe I needed it, for I only had one old one left. I don’t want anything else that I know of. I will buy me a pair of boots in this place. I can get them as cheap as you can send them, but send me the other shirt.

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I have no money but can borrow all I want of the boys. I can’t tell how long we will stay here. If Hood tries to take this place we will stay some time, but if he breaks off to some other place, we will have to follow him. I think if he charges these works like he did at Franklin, he won’t have many men to go with him. The troops are just wishing he would try to take this place, but I hardly think he will.

I am tickled at the joke played on Aaron and cousin John. I would like to see the picture. I guess you have got the photographs I sent you. I took dinner in a graveyard at Columbia on Thanksgiving Day, after marching all night and till nearly noon, and we formed our lines and regiment came right [remainder of letter missing]

Isaac Miller, enlisted on August 5, 1862, aged 20, as a private in Co. E, 93^rd Ohio Vol. Infantry. He was mustered out of the army June 8, 1865 at Nashville, Tenn.

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Letter – Bryant Vincent, 22 December 1864

Letter – J.P. Graves, 7 September 1864

Report – Henry Bryan, 2 February 1865

Letter – Martin Wiley, 28 December 1864

Letter – Isaac Miller, 2 December 1864