25th.—There has been a great battle in the West, at Chickamauga, in Tennessee, between Bragg and Rosecranz. We are gloriously victorious! The last telegram from General Bragg tells of 7,000 prisoners, thirty-five pieces of cannon, and 15,000 small-arms, taken by our men. The fight is not over, though they have been fighting three days. Longstreet and his corps of veterans are there to reinforce them. A battle is daily expected on the Rapidan; and, to use Lincoln’s expression, they are still “pegging away” at Charleston.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Friday, 25th—It is quite warm today. I was on fatigue duty, accompanying the quartermaster’s wagons into Vicksburg to draw supplies for the regiment. The bales of hay and sacks of corn taxed our strength in loading them. Some of the boys on furlough returned today.
Md. Heights, Sept. 25, 1863.
Dear Mother:
Please find enclosed $100 and forward $45 to Uncle F. from Geo., being four month’s pay. Credit me with $35 and Jerry $20. Practiced with our battery yesterday; fired 12 shots from 30 pdr Parrott. Range was over 3¾| miles. They are splendid pieces. Co. H fired the 100 pdr last week; fired 5 miles, went through a small hill ricochet from there about 3 miles. I look to Rosecrans’ army for great successes.
I remain, Very respectfully yours
L. Bradley, Jr.
Mrs. Leverett Bradley, Co. B 14th Mass. (H. A.)
Bradley Farm, Methuen, Mass.
by John Beauchamp Jones
SEPTEMBER 25TH.—The latest dispatch from Gen. Bragg states that he has 7000 prisoners (2000 of them wounded), 36 cannon, 15,000 of the enemy’s small arms, and 25 colors. After the victory, he issued the following address to his army:
“HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE,
FIELD OF CHICKAMAUGA, Sept. 22, 1863.
“It has pleased Almighty God to reward the valor and endurance of our troops by giving our arms a complete victory over the enemy’s superior numbers. Thanks are due and are rendered unto Him who giveth not the battle to the strong.
“Soldiers! after days of severe battle, preceded by heavy and important outpost affairs, you have stormed the barricades and breastworks of the enemy and driven him before you in confusion, and destroyed an army largely superior in numbers, and whose constant theme was your demoralization and whose constant boast was your defeat. Your patient endurance under privations, your fortitude, and your valor, displayed at all times and under all trials, have been meetly rewarded. Your commander acknowledges his obligations, and promises to you in advance the country’s gratitude.
“But our task is not ended. We must drop a soldier’s tear upon the graves of the noble men who have fallen by our sides, and move forward. Much has been accomplished—more remains to be done, before we can enjoy the blessings of peace and freedom.
“(Signed) BRAXTON BRAGG.”
The President has received an official report of Gen. Frazer’s surrender of Cumberland Gap, from Major McDowell, who escaped. It comprised 2100 men, 8 guns, 160 beef cattle, 12,000 pounds of bacon, 1800 bushels of wheat, and 15 days’ rations. The President indorsed his opinion on it as follows:
“This report presents a shameful abandonment of duty, and is so extraordinary as to suggest that more than was known to the major must have existed to cause such a result.—J. D. Sept. 24.”
The quartermasters in Texas are suggesting the impressment of the cotton in that State. The President indorses as follows on the paper which he returned to the Secretary of War:
“I have never been willing to employ such means except as a last resort.—J. D.”
The Secretary of War is falling into the old United States fashion. He has brought into the department two broad-shouldered young relatives, one of whom might serve the country in the field, and I believe they are both possessed of sufficient wealth to subsist upon without $1500 clerkships.
September 25th, 1863.—The telegraph wires are up and working again and the news we get is both encouraging and distressing. A great victory has been won at Chickamauga, but at such a fearful loss of life. It is said to be as bloody a battle as Gettysburg and it lasted three days, beginning on the nineteenth of this month.
We have such glorious news of the courage displayed by Gen. Finley’s Florida Brigade. They are in Longstreet’s Corps and they formed the entering wedge, which broke Thomas’s line; they charged with the bayonet three times with dreadful loss, before Thomas gave way. It is grand, it is heroic, but oh, those poor boys and their wives and mothers! Sometimes I am glad I have no real, true brothers for wouldn’t I love them just a little better than these I have?
September 25.—The English steamer William Penn, which was captured near the Rio Grande, arrived at New-Orleans. — Spencer Kellogg Brown, condemned by the rebels as a spy, was hung at Richmond, Va.—A fight took place near Upperville, Va., between Major Cole’s command of National cavalry, and about one hundred and fifty guerrillas belonging to Mosby’s gang, in which the latter were defeated and put to flight. Major Cole recaptured seventy-five horses and mules, and one mar belonging to the Nineteenth New-York cavalry, besides killing one of the guerrillas and capturing nine.—A party of guerrillas attacked the Union garrison at Donaldsonville, La., but were repulsed, and compelled to retire with slight loss.
September 25th. Our regiment with supplies and munitions ordered to Martinsburg, West Virginia. Packing up, getting ready to march.
