30, Confederate recruit S. T. Williams at camp of instruction; letter to his uncle
August 30, 1861
Camp Brown near Union City, Tennessee
Dear Uncle,
According to promises I will try to drop you a line which inform you I am now in Tennessee and in the enjoyment of very good health. I have been a little sick since I land here but one dose of medicine cured me. All the boys in this company that left Ouachita are well except John Fuller & Charles Worley. Worley has been at death's door and verry low now improving slowly though. John's sickness is produced mostly from the thoughts of home, something I thought he would be far from. I left Monroe the morning of the 22nd and landed at Camp Moore on the 23 at four o'clock. My regiment was packed at the Depot to leave for this place and did so…so I stayed at Camp Moore only an hour which met with my approbation precisely. Camp Moore is evidently a verry unhealthy place. I found a great man sick there and they were burying from one to six per day so I learned. I enjoyed my trip to that place verry well I got in company with the Moorehouse Southerns at Monroe and found Bela McCloud in the company. They are now in Camp Moore in the Thirteenth Regiment, which I suppose will soon be compleeted .
From Camp Moore to this place was a tolerable hard road to travil . We had to take old box cars with planks layed across for seats and no place to lie down, no place to lean on. This is the way we had to travil for forty-eight long hours. I was verry well entertained in [the] day time looking at the country from Jackson to Camp Moore is the poorest country I ever saw. From Jackson to Holly Springs is poor yet they have tolerable crops. They cultivate the vallies entirely. The hills washed red and in Gullies. They all have beautiful residences and [are] fine looking people. I saw some of as fine looking ladys as I ever saw who waved us on top to the border to defend them from danger. This was very encouraging to us. I would like to live about Holly Springs rite well I think. It seems to be a place of considerable manufacture it is a poor country that is the lands. Also the cotton-growing part of Tennessee. We are out of the land of cotton now. Union City is about twenty two miles south of Caro . Eleven east of the river four miles south of the Kentucky line and sixty north of Jackson, Tennessee. The Railway bridge at Jackson was burned down the night after we past which you know doubt have seen an account of. They have take one man on suspistion for the offence. There is a spy cant occassionly there were two brought to town yesterday. It is supposed they will be put to death….I am verry well please with our encampment. It is on a beautiful poplar ridge good water and verry well prepared for camp. This is a very good country. The land is Rich but suitable to nothing but Grain. The weather is getting cool up hear . We shall soon neede woolin cloths. Colonel Morrison proposed to send us such clothing as we may need he has been appyed too far them . I wrote to Father a few Days since but said nothing of cloths. Tell him to attend to this as all the boys will want flannel shirts etc. Winter clothing of all kinds in fact you will know better what we will want than I do. I am better pleased with camp life than I thought I would but what a contrast between this and the pleasures and quietude of home. For the sake of our country we can stand camps find but anything else would be no enducement.
I have written all I can think. I hope you will give me a long letter excuse bat writing, spelling, etc. For there is so much fuss hear a man can't keep his mind on one thing too long. Give my love to all. Tell them to write. William joins me in Love.
By the protecting land of almighty Providence I expect to meet you all face to face. I remain your nephew….Goodby S. T. Williams
TSLA Confederate Collection, Box 11, Letter, folder 41, Williams, S. T.
30, Depredations on the Cartmell farm
This regiment about as hungry as other, roaming about digging potatoes &c. Those that left yesterday killed 2 of my cattle and I don't know how many hogs....
Robert H. Cartmell Diary, August 30, 1862
30, A Confederate newspaper editor's opinion of the Union bombardment of Chattanooga
At this writing, 12 o'clock M. [Noon], the enemy are shelling the town vigorously. Our sanctum and our solitaire printer, with his 'case' and composing stick, are removed to the basement of the Bank of Tennessee [where he can] be heard frantically imploring our neighbor Haskell to open his door. The voice is evidently that of a 'dry' soldier. At least we judge so from the huskiness of his throat. Possibly wants a drink. Probably won't get it, as Haskell has retired to his earthworks.
Boom! Whiz-z-z!! Goes another angry shell.
'Oh, Mr. Haskell!' goes [the] voice outside.
Fooroom-BOOM! Ker-gip!
'HASKELL! open the door!'
Crash came a shell over the roof, struck a Chattanooga hog in the side, and sent him squeaking to the happy hunting grounds.
[The] soldier couldn't stand it any longer. He broke. We can hear the retreating echoes of his footsteps. Haskell has at length opened the door and calls after him: 'What do you want?'
Reply in the dim distance: 'Oh, d__n it, you're too late. 'Spect a man to have nine lives like a cat, and get murdered for one drink?'
Drama closes. Scene shifts! Suthin' rumbles. Exeunt, at a double quick.
Also in this one-page number of the Daily Rebel was a defiant answer to a rumor circulating in Atlanta, Georgia, and Montgomery, Alabama newspapers that the Chattanooga paper had fled the City. The rumor:
is...altogether incorrect. The Rebel lives. Its 'heavy bronze' [press?] has been moved to the rear, with that of the whole army, out of the way of active operations; but both of its editors, with a sufficient quantity of material and typographical force to print a daily war bulletin, remain, and will remain to the last hour. Whilst we are penning these lines, shells from the enemy's batteries are falling within our rear premises, and exploding in the street in front. If any citizen of Chattanooga has seen an evidence of a 'change of base' on our part, his imagination has led him far astray of the mark. Chattanooga maybe burnt to the ground, but the position will not be lost; and so long as our army is here to defend it, we shall share whatever befalls its gallant soldiers, many of whom are fellow comrades of war in past campaigns, and nearly all of whom are our friends and patrons.
Chattanooga Daily Rebel, August 30, 1863.
30, Skirmish at Tracy City and destruction of railroad
No circumstantial reports filed.
TULLAHOMA, August 31, 1864.
Maj.-Gen. STEEDMAN:
Wheeler's forces captured a company of Tennessee cavalry at Lebanon yesterday morning. They were skirmished by Gen. Van Cleve's scouts near Woodbury. A cavalry scout sent out from Duck River bridge drove in pickets of a heavy force of the enemy six miles east of that place yesterday evening. On yesterday the enemy attacked and drove in small force stationed at Tracy City, and destroyed a railroad bridge. Col. Krzyzanowski reports the enemy at Jasper yesterday. The telegraph all north of Duck River was cut last night. I know not what damage, if any, has been done to the railroad north of that place, but will soon know. No trains from Nashville since 6 p. m. last night.
R. H. MILROY, Maj.-Gen.
P. S.--Later: Fighting reported at Decherd at 10.45 a. m.
R. H. M.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 38, pt. V, p. 739.
BRIDGEPORT, August 31, 1864.
Maj.-Gen. STEEDMAN:
A member of the detachment of the Fifth Tennessee Cavalry has brought the following communication:
TRACY CITY, August 31, 1864.
We had a fight yesterday [30] with a detachment of Wheeler's brigade, and repulsed him. They claim to have had about 300 men. The enemy is reported to be about three-quarters of a mile from here, waiting for a piece of artillery. We can hold this place until we are re-enforced, unless they get artillery. We cannot get away without being captured by their cavalry. We have about thirty-five men and want help.
Gen., I am unable to send any re-enforcements from here. Can I request you for help for the troops at Tracy City? I have a pilot who can conduct the troops on a road about sixteen miles from this place.
An immediate answer most respectfully requested.
W. KRZYZANOWSKI, Col., Cmdg.
HDQRS. DISTRICT OF THE ETOWAH, Chattanooga, August 31, 1864.
Col. KRZYZANOWSKI, Bridgeport:
I sent a strong force of cavalry to the enemy's rear this morning, who will drive them from the vicinity of Tracy City to-morrow, if they do not leave sooner. I think they will hear of them, and leave to-night.
J. B. STEEDMAN, Maj.-Gen.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 38, pt. V, pp. 739-740.
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