Statewide County IN Archives History - Books .....Chapter III Stone's River Campaign 1893
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Book Title: History Of The 82nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry

CHAPTER III.
STONE'S RIVER CAMPAIGN.

  On December 26, 1862, Walker's Brigade, composed of the Seventeenth,
Thirty-first and Thirty-eighth Ohio; Eighty-second Indiana, and Fourth Michigan
Battery, started on the Murfreesboro campaign, marching by the Franklin pike,
encamping for the night near Brentwood. During the night a very heavy rain fell,
making the crossroads almost impassable. On the 27th we retraced our steps back
through Brentwood and crossed over to the Nolinsville pike and encamped for the
night; 28th, remained in camp, it being Sunday there was no advance of the army.
The 29th, Walker's Brigade marched on a cross-road from the Nolinsville pike to
the Murfreesboro pike. We marched all night, it being very dark, and the road
being extremely muddy much of the time through the woods. While it was thought
to be next to impossible for the artillery and wagons to get through, we
succeeded in reaching Stewartsboro sometime during the forenoon of the 30th.
Soon after reaching the Murfreesboro pike a messenger came into our brigade and
notified Colonel Walker that the rebel cavalry had captured General McCook's
supply train, which was parked at La Vergne. Colonel Walker took the
Seventeenth, Thirty-first and Thirty-eighth Ohio, with one section of Church's
Battery, and started for La Vergne to assist in regaining as much of the train
and guards as possible. The Eighty-second was left in charge of the camp and
guard for the four pieces of artillery left in camp. On Colonel Walker's arrival
at the scene of trouble he disposed of his command in such good shape as to
recapture eight hundred of the train guard, all the teams and a few wagons that
were not burned, and gave the Jonnies a good sound drubbing. About sunset
Colonel Walker returned with his command and ordered Colonel Hunter, with the
Eighty-second Indiana, to proceed to Nashville and bring out all trains ordered
to the front. We marched all night, reaching Nashville about daylight on the
morning of the 31st; halted, stacked arms, prepared breakfast and ate as quick
as possible, and moved the train on the road, numbering about three hundred
wagons. Colonel Hunter divided his regiment into companies, distributing the
companies along at intervals among the train, with orders to hold their part of
it at all hazards. We moved off at a lively rate for Murfreesboro, knowing the
rations were badly needed. We could see straggling scouts of cavalry on our
flanks all day long, but met with no resistance from the enemy. While we were
not bothered by the enemy, we all felt a great responsibility resting on the
regiment for the safety of the train, as well as the safety of ourselves. We
started for Nashville late in the evening, night soon overtaking us, knowing a
large body of rebel troops were in the rear of our army to do all the harm
possible. I have often thought this occurrence over, and must say I always
thought it an undertaking of great peril and responsibility, and consider it the
merest chance of good luck that we finished the job without a heavy loss of men.
I never for a moment doubted our ability to return with the train, without we
were attacked by a superior force of the enemy. On our arrival in the
neighborhood of the army, we met the worst stampede I ever witnessed in the
army. On the road, in the fields on either side of the road, came teams with
drivers and without drivers; horses with and without riders; men with and
without guns. The Eighty-second being the only organized body of troops in
sight, and unable to see what was causing this stampede, I shuddered for fear
the sight would unnerve the regiment and it would become a part of the
demoralized body. Colonel Hunter immediately threw the regiment across the road
in line of battle, ordered them to fix bayonets and stop the stampede, if they
had to fire into them to succeed. This order put the regiment on its nerve and
they obeyed the order to fix bayonets with a will. This movement appeared to
have great effect; men who had guns formed in line on either flank of the
regiment, and things became quiet in a few moments. The first team stopped in
our front had Colonel Hull, of the Thirty-seventh Indiana, in an ambulance,
going to the rear, wounded, under the care of Chaplain Lozier. We inquired of
the chaplain what was the cause of this trouble; he pointed to his left and said
there was a heavy cavalry fight going on, and thought our forces were getting
the worst of it. On looking to our rear we discovered a body of troops forming.
Colonel Hunter ordered me to go back and ascertain whether they were friend or
foe; if friends, to notify them what was in our front, and request them to move
up and join us. I rode back and found General Starkweather's brigade, and
notified the general what was in his front, and he moved his command up and
joined Colonel Hunter. They talked awhile, and everything appearing quiet,
Starkweather moved on and left us. After parking our train we moved toward where
we heard heavy firing of small arms. On raising a hill we were saluted with a
shell which struck in front of our line, tearing up the ground pretty lively,
but doing no harm. Colonel Hunter ordered the regiment back of the brow of the
hill out of danger, and the officers watched the fight between ours and the
enemy's cavalry. They were using their carbines pretty lively standing in line
of battle. Soon our men ceased firing, and with one flash their sabers were
drawn, and a most gallant charge was made, and the rebs took to the woods and
left. We didn't know where to find our brigade, and the men being tired, hungry
and sleepy, we moved to a piece of woods along the pike, stacked arms and got
our suppers. After supper Colonel Hunter ordered the men to sleep until he found
out where we were needed. About midnight one of the Eighty-second, who was on
staff duty, was sent back to see if we had returned from our trip to Nashville.
Finding the men resting in peaceful slumber he reported to Colonel Walker, and a
short time before daylight we received orders to move up and take position on
the front line. We took position on the morning of the 1st day of January, 1863.
Sometime during the afternoon of this day rain set in and continued all night
and a good part of the 2d. Awhile before night the rain ceased with appearance
of clear weather. My brother and I cleaned off a large stone and built a fire on
it to dry and warm it for a bed. After awhile we removed the fire to one side,
let the rock cool to some extent, swept it off and made our bed, imagining what
a fine night we would pass if the Johnnies let us alone. We soon turned in and
passed into the happy state of forgetfulness (slumber). This happy state didn't
last long, however, as a most terrific rain storm struck our pickets (I mean our
blankets), forced its way through and captured us both. I didn't remain a quiet
prisoner very long, but soon came to my feet and preached a very interesting
sermon, not much after our chaplain's style, but after the style of my feelings;
stood up the balance of the night, feeling that if it was such a great honor to
die for one's country would like for the Johnnies to open the ball and let me
out of my trouble. The next morning my boot tops were burned so badly they
dropped to pieces. But what need a fellow care about his boots. The rain over,
the rebs were hunting up the boys and playing them such sweet music, that
sleeping or fine boots didn't figure a cent's worth. Shells and bundles of iron
rods dropped in our camp, causing more wonder than fun. Along in the afternoon
our brigade was ordered over the works, and moved to the front some two hundred
yards, coming to an open field. The rebels were massing their troops in this
open field to try our lines. The brigade was formed as follows : Seventeenth
Ohio on the right and Thirty-first Ohio on the left of front line, Eighty-second
Indiana on the right and Thirty-eighth Ohio on the left of second line, and the
Fourth Michigan Battery on both flanks. The two lines were massed, the front
firing and laying down to load, then rear line firing and laying down to load.
We got two volleys from each line and some good work from the six guns in our
battery at short range, when the Johnnies broke in great confusion and never
came back to see us again. The battle was raging to our left across Stone River,
which proved too much for Bragg and his rebel horde, as they moved out that
night and left the dead and wounded to our care. The 4th was spent in burying
the dead and caring for the wounded of both armies. On the fifth we moved
through Murfreesboro and went into camp. During this battle the Eighty-second
had only five men wounded. Although we were on the field from the evening of the
31st of December to the 4th of January, and performed all duties assigned us,
having a position on the front line all the time except the night of the 31st,
it was our good luck to not be called on for hot work. Notwithstanding our army
was victorious, yet I must say, after the battle of Stone River was the darkest
day I ever saw during my four years' service. Many officers delivered their
disloyal sentiments and were dismissed from the service dishonorably therefor.
My experience was that many men were in the service that had no love for the
cause. Let them be extremely tired, wet, cold or hungry, they would commence
damning the government, and saying if they were out of the service nothing could
induce them to enter it again. Yet every man expects to be looked upon as loyal
now, let him act as he will, if he was in the army.

  We remained in camp back of Murfreesboro better than three months. During our
stay here the regiment became very low in numbers. The extreme exposure during
the campaign had caused much sickness. On one occasion Company I had reported
six men for duty on their morning report. During that day I received an order
from brigade headquarters for a detail of men. Agreeable to the morning reports
of the different companies the number from Company I would be three men. I made
the order for detail and sent to each company to report their men at a certain
time. Going to the place of formation at the time set, the Orderlies of each
company came with their men to report for duty, except Company I. Sergeant Raper
(better known as "Uncle Andy," he being 65 years of age when enlisted) came up
and stepped on line with those that preceded him. I said to him: "Uncle Andy,
where's your men?" He gave the salute, and said: "Here's all of Company I," and
asked to be put on duty. I told him to go back to his quarters as I couldn't use
him, he being the acting Orderly of the company. He said he hated to be the only
man in the company for duty, and thinking they might pull through without a
detail had reported six men for duty, but wouldn't do so any more, as he saw it
caused me some trouble and delay, as I had to order three men from other
companies and wait for the Orderlies to go back and bring their part of the
detail. "Uncle Andy" was a true patriot, a good soldier and a Christian
gentleman. He was so anxious to serve his country that he gave a barber in
Madison, Indiana, five dollars to shave him and cut his hair and black it (his
hair being snow white), in order to pass him into the service. He passed for 44
years of age. He was a stout-built, florid-complexioned man. Although he was 65
years of age when entering the service, he served his country honestly and
faithfully for two years and ten months, without losing a day except when
wounded. He received a minnie ball through one of his thighs at the battle of
Chickamauga, but returned to duty in due time. "Uncle Andy" passed beyond the
river of death some three years ago, being about 93 years of age. May the
choicest blessings of heaven rest upon him as a just reward is my heartfelt wish.

  On the 10th day of April, 1863, the Third Division, to which the Eighty-
second belonged, moved to Triune, Tennessee, this being a point of great
interest, being on the pike leading to Nashville, and midway between there and
Murfreesboro. We were kept very vigilant. Heavy picketing was necessary.
Scouting parties made daily excursions down in the neighborhood of the rebel
outposts, to see what they were doing. Foraging parties went out as long as
there was anything to get within a reasonable distance. From 3 o'clock to
daylight every regiment stood to arms so as to meet the enemy promptly should
they attempt an early attack. We had a nice drill ground and were kept at it
daily, unless on other duty to prevent. Our whole division were well versed in
all the movements necessary to make a good fight, and when the time came for
fighting we proved ourselves equal to any command in the army, by either
regiment, brigade or division. While encamped here two men from Company H got
into trouble, one Hiram Reynolds (commonly called "Gunboat") and Washington
Mosier, Reynolds shooting and killing Mosier. Reynolds was tried by
court-martial and condemned to death by hanging, which took place at Nashville
on the 12th day of August, 1863. Such incidents are caused by passion and
whisky. During our stay in this camp we had several changes in our division
commanders, Generals Fry, Steadman, Schofield and Brannan. Brannan commanded our
division until the reorganization of the army at Chattanooga. While here my
brother-in-law, F. G. Taylor, contracted to furnish three days' rations of light
bread each week while laying in camp, to the Third Division of the Fourteenth
Army Corps. I was sent to Nashville in charge of three teams to bring his things
to camp. The next day after going to Nashville some rebels, dressed in our
uniforms, captured and burned a small train of wagons on the pike between Triune
and Nashville. On account of having no guards for our train we were held over
one day for the First East Tennessee Cavalry to report as guards. The hour for
starting next morning was set. I reported ahead of time, but found the train had
been gone more than an hour. I was mounted, but there were eight men on foot,
Taylor, four bakers, two assistants, and one member of the Eighty-second, who
was reporting back for duty from hospital. We came to the place where our train
had been burned two days before. I told those who were walking if any men
dressed in our uniform come in on the road they must look out for themselves and
I would do likewise. We hadn't passed the burned wagons more than a quarter of a
mile when we saw six men dressed in blue come on the pike in our rear. Casting
off all the traps I was carrying for the footmen I bade them good-bye, and away
Dobin and I went, keeping an eye to the rear to see how things were going.
Increasing my speed the horsemen in the rear did likewise. There was a gradual
ascent for about two miles, which gave me a good view of all maneuvers in my
rear. Two of the horsemen checked when they came on the footmen, which led me to
believe the party was captured. The other four kept on after me. I made the top
of the hill and commenced the descent, which soon threw my pursuers out of
sight. Keeping up my speed the pursuers soon raised the top of the hill, only
three being in sight. This began looking better. Soon only two were to be seen.
This wasn't so bad. Directly only one was in sight, but gaining on me. My horse
was good bottom, but not as fleet as the one after me. I looked ahead, but no
train in sight. My pursuer never attempted to shoot or draw his saber. He was
getting close on me. Having my revolver in hand ready to pull trigger, taking my
reins well in hand, letting him get within about two rods of me, I wheeled my
horse to the right and covered my man with the revolver and demanded his
surrender. He commenced trying to tell about the men in the rear. Stopping his
music I told him to take the road in front of me and not change his speed or
attempt to leave the road, or he would be killed. We kept up a lively gait for
about three miles and run onto the train. He said, "There's my captain." I asked
the captain if this was one of his men. He said yes. I turned my prisoner over
and took a good breath. I got the train stopped, and Colonel Browlowe furnished
me horses sufficient to bring up the eight footmen, and loading them on the
train, continued our journey to camp, getting in before night. The chase was
just as exciting as if the men after me had been rebels, but am free to
acknowledge that I was glad they were wearing their true colors. Had two come on
me at once I should have shot without asking any questions, as it was a common
occurrence for the rebels to capture our men by being dressed in our uniform.

  Triune was a very healthy place, the ground being rather rolling, our camps
were dry; plenty of good spring water, with plenty of grub; fine weather, with
plenty of good exercise, the men were the very picture of health; and when the
order came for a forward movement on Tullahoma, every man appeared to be ready
and determined that no equal body of rebels need face them with the expectation
of holding their own. And history will bear me out in saying they went wherever
they were ordered without any trouble, even against heavy odds.



Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF THE EIGHTY-SECOND
Indiana Volunteer Infantry,
ITS ORGANIZATION, CAMPAIGNS AND BATTLES.

WRITTEN AT THE REQUEST OF THE MEMBERS

BY
ALF. G. HUNTER,
Late Adjutant.

INDIANAPOLIS:
WH. B. BURFORD, PRINTER AND BINDER.
1893.


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