by John Beauchamp Jones
JUNE 20TH.—A fog; subsequently dry and dusty, but the sun in a haze, like Indian summer.
As I feared; there is trouble with Beauregard. He drew off his troops from in front of Bermuda Hundred to reinforce the fewer regiments at Petersburg, and saved that city, and Gen. Lee had to drive the enemy off again from the abandoned line. It is said Beauregard acted contrary to orders, and has been suspended from command by order of the President. At all events, Lee is at Petersburg.
Sheridan’s raiders are near the city again, followed and preceded by Wade Hampton and Fitz Lee. Their cannon has been beard all the morning.
Mr. Secretary Memminger has resigned.
Same place, front of Twin Mountains,
June 20, 1864, 11 a.m.
Rebels still on the mountain, a good deal of our artillery, a little of theirs, and not much musketry this morning. Wheeler is in our rear, but we don’t care for that. I do hope, though, that Forrest will not be allowed to come over here. We are all well and feeling fine, but wishing very much to see the level country beyond these mountains. In a “Commercial” of the 15th I see the Rebel loss in the charge of Bates’ (Rebel) division on the 27th of May was 72 killed and 350 wounded, and 56 missing. That charge was made almost altogether on our brigade, and my skirmish line did three-fourths of the damage. The 40th Alabama we captured the other day inquired for the 8th Illinois. They fought each other at Vicksburg and got well acquainted in the rifle pits. McPherson and Logan have just gone down to the front and there is talk of a fight to-day, but it is hard telling when one will have to go in. Can’t tell until the order to “commence” firing is heard. Wagstaff will be home in a few days. I would like to date my next from a new place, but Sherman and Johnston will decide that matter.
This is becoming tedious. Johnston has no regard for one’s feelings. We are all exceedingly anxious to see what is the other side of these mountains, but this abominable Johnston has no idea of letting us take a look until he is forced to. He is a good-natured fellow in some respects, too, for here we have our “flies” stretched, and our camp fires and our wagons around us in good range of his guns and not a shot does he give us. You understand that we are in reserve. Our front line is along the foot of the mountain, and we lay back about a mile. But it is all open between us and the front, and we sit in the shade, and (as we have this p.m.) see 20 Rebel guns firing on our men. Why they don’t make us get out of this is beyond me to tell. Hundreds of wagons and ambulances are parked around us, and right by us is parked the reserve artillery of our corps, all in plain view of the Rebels on the mountains, but not a gun is fired at us. Yesterday they dropped one shell a hundred yards to our right and quit, as much as to say: “We could stir you Yanks if we wanted to, but it is all right.”
I don’t know how this looks to outsiders, but it seems to me as the coolest thing of the campaign, pitching tents right under the enemy’s guns, without a particle of cover. Being under artillery fire in a fight or while supporting a battery is all right, and if we were in rifle pits or behind the crest of a hill ‘twould be ditto, but moving right out and pitching tents under the noses of Rebel 32-pounders beats me and I guess it beats them. We all feel a pride in the thing and I’d see the the Johnnies to the devil before I’d dodge the biggest cannon ball they’ve got there. The artillery this p.m. has been the heaviest I have heard this campaign.
Colonel Lyon’s Letters.
Claysville, Ala., Sun., June 20, 1864.—Colonel Chapman goes tomorrow morning with Companies A. B and K too Whitesburg, ten miles south of Huntsville, where he will have command.
It seems very healthy here. The regiment is uncommonly healthy. We shall occupy more than 40 miles of the river. I shall have about 250 men here, or close by. We are making arrangments to get mails and supplies by river.
We are not entirely out of the world, as a gunboat patrols the river from Bridgeport to Decatur once or twice a week; and there is a railroad from Nashville to Decatur, you know. This boat will carry us up and down at any time.
We hear that Forrest has whipped us near Memphis and is making his way to Decatur. This will give the 18th Michigan a job, if true. Colonel Jim Howe’s brigade is there, including the 32d Wisconsin. General Granger is there, too. The 13th Wisconsin is not there. I hear that the 8th Wisconsin is at Vicksburg on its way home on veteran furlough. I wish you to show all possible attention to my Company K boys. Tell them that I do not do much fighting now-a-days, but I think a heap about them.
June 20th. A hot morning. Traveled all night. Most of the time at a lively gait, at times on the run, to keep with the wagons and artillery. Sometimes we would hang on to the tailboards in order to keep up. Don’t know how many miles we have covered since we left in front of Lynchburg. Stopped this morning for rest and rations, which consist only of fresh meat, broiled and fried. We have been informed that this part of Virginia is known as the Blue Gap country. We have not stopped long enough to learn the names of the places that we pass through. We are along the line of a railroad leading to Lynchburg. This railroad, its bridges, and property, are destroyed as we go along. Some of the bridges are over deep ravines. When the bridge is gone, the cars are run over into the deep ravines. They go down with a great crash.
Constant skirmishing is kept with the rear guard and the enemy. The rear guard reports that many of our boys are falling into the hands of the rebels, as they are worn out and cannot keep up with the army. The suffering of our men is something fierce. Clothing and shoes are wearing out. Many are barefoot while we go pushing over these rough roads. We are still guarding the wagon train. At times we are obliged to trot in order to keep up. There is room in many of the wagons so that the guard might ride. It is against orders. Soldiers must obey orders. On the road we pass a few houses once in a while. Inhabitants very few in this rough country. Mostly old men, women, and children. Young men are in the rebel army. These people look as though they were suffering for the southern cause. Very little forage can be found in this mountainous country.
