Reminiscences of the Civil War, William and Adelia Lyon

Colonel Lyons.

Stevenson, Ala., Oct. 18th, 1863—It has rained for several days. The roads from here to Chattanooga are terrible, and it is almost impossible to keep the army there supplied with provisions. Lieut. Wemple has just been there with a part of his company, to escort a drove of cattle. It took them six days to make the trip. They had to swim the streams at that. Our cavalry have driven Wheeler across the Tennessee river at the Muscle Shoals, and are now down that way at Flint River recruiting their horses, fifty or sixty miles west of here. The 5th Iowa Cavalry are with the expedition. Col. Lowe has command of a brigade. They will be up here in a few days.

Yesterday we celebrated the 2nd anniversary of the 13th’s enlistment, it having been originally mustered on the 17th of Oct., 1861. We ate large quantities of cove oysters on the occasion, at the Alabama House, a dirty, one-horse eating house here

The whole army of the Cumberland is being reorganized, and we do not know anything about where we shall be assigned. My opinion is that there will be no general engagement here for some time to come, if at all.

We are led to believe that Sherman’s Corps from Vicksburg is on the way here, but we have no definite knowledge about it. The old 8th is in that corps.

Colonel Lyons.

Stevenson, Ala., Sun. P. M., Oct. 11th, 1863.—We have been cut off from the United States for several days. The first train came through from Nashville last night. We were all out of forage and rations were running unpleasantly low. Now we have large quantities of supplies, or will have immediately. I think our communications are comparatively safe, General Hooker having used every possible precaution against further interruption. We have an additional brigade here of General Hooker’s command, but I am still left in command of the post.

General Hooker came yesterday and asked me if I belonged to General Morgan’s Division. I answered in the negative. He replied that he was glad of it, because he had orders to send Gen. Morgan’s command to Anderson’s Cross Roads, twenty miles this side of Chattanooga. Gen. Morgan left this morning, but only goes to Battle Creek, 16 or 18 miles from here on the river

The presence of Gen. Hooker here does not relieve me from any of my labors or responsibilities, for he does not interfere at all in the management of the post.

Those Virginia troops did not get here a day too soon. The rebels sent a large force of cavalry and artillery to cut the railroad in our rear, expecting to do it before those troops got here. We learn that it was their intention to keep on this way, destroying the railroad and the supplies at this place, scattering the forces guarding the road, which they were strong enough to do; but when they got to the railroad they found so large a force in their neighborhood that they did but comparatively little mischief and hurried on. Our cavalry were in close pursuit of them, and on Thursday last overhauled and repulsed them at Shelbyville, killing, wounding and capturing several hundred.

So you see a protecting Providence has saved us once more from a great peril. We are now safe from any mere raid. Nothing less than an army has any business on this side of the Tennessee river.

All the troops which were left behind when Gen. Rosecrans advanced from Murfreesboro in June were organized into what is called the ‘Reserve Corps.’ This corps is divided into three divisions, the first commanded by Gen. Steadman, the second by Gen. Morgan, and the third by Brigadier-General R. S. Granger, the whole under command of Major-General Gordon Granger. We are in the 1st Brigade of the Third Division.

The Reserve Corps numbers some 25,000 men, 8,000 of whom—from the 1st and 2nd Divisions, were in the Chickamaugua battles. The Corps is badly scattered and I think will be reorganized. Our brigade is strung all the way from Ft. Donelson to Stevenson. We are nearest the front of any regiment of our division.

Gen. Rosecrans has made his position at Chattanooga too strong for the rebels to attack him, and they will hardly attempt to cross the Tennessee river with our army there. Oh! for 50,000 more men, and the rebellion would be crushed in the West in ninety days; but the men are not here and we must do the best we can.

Colonel Lyons.

Stevenson, Ala., Thurs. Eve., Oct. 8th, 1863.—We have been isolated here for a few days, and you need not be surprised if you do not get letters regularly. The rebel cavalry got in our rear the other day and cut our communications. The telegraph line was restored today, and we expect trains through from Nashville tomorrow.

I learn from General Butterfield’s dispatches to Gen. Hooker (which he very kindly shows to me) that the enemy struck the railroad at Christiana, ten miles this side of Murfreesboro, capturing a company and destroying the water tank. They then tore up a mile of track near Duck River, and destroyed a bridge across that stream near Tullahoma. Our cavalry were in close pursuit, overtaking them near Shelbyville (which place they had burned), attacking and whipping them, killing 100, capturing 300, and scattering the balance of the rebel force. General Ruger’s Brigade is on the railroad between Tullahoma and Murfreesboro. The rebels were too closely pursued to do much damage.

General Butterfield went up to take command of the troops that were left behind in order to open communications. It interferes seriously with us to have this line cut off. We are out of forage, and rations are getting uncomfortably low. This same force captured and destroyed several hundred wagons between here and Chattanooga, loaded with supplies and ammunition. I think they have done their worst and that we shall have no difficulty now in keeping the road open. Gen. Morgan told me tonight that he heard that the men captured at Christiana were from the 22nd Wisconsin. I hope not.

Dr. Woolcott, from Milwaukee, the Surgeon General of the State, is here and took tea with me tonight. He is accompanied by Rev. Mr. Staples of Milwaukee. The Doctor has been to the front to look after our wounded, and lost all his baggage when the wagon train was captured. He escaped by taking a shorter road on foot over the mountains. He says that it is the general opinion that Bragg is evacuating his position in front of Chattanooga. The rebels shelled our camps there all day Tuesday, doing but very little damage, however. We have no fears of an attack here.

We are stripping this whole country of forage, many thousand animals having been sent back here to recruit; and there will be, and is already, much suffering among the people. Many hundreds have gone North, the Government furnishing them transportation, and large numbers more are going. We feed several hundreds out of Government supplies. We issue them half rations of bread and meat. The people have no coffee, sugar or salt. They beg most piteously for salt. We have none of these articles for them. You can have no adequate idea of the suffering caused by the want of salt. Some have told me that all the salt they have had for a year is what they have procured by leaching the earth in their smoke-houses. This is the more painful because these people are nearly all truly loyal, and have suffered terribly for their loyalty.

Colonel Lyons.

Stevenson, Ala., Mon., Oct. 5th, 1863.—Major Generals Hooker and Butterfield arrived here on Saturday night. I have been engaged preparing headquarters for them and their staff. They spend nearly all their time in my office, and of course draw quite a crowd around them. Gen. Hooker is in command of all the troops sent here from Virginia, and Butterfield is his Chief of Staff. These troops at present are scattered from Nashville to Bridgeport, and the General will keep his headquarters here until there is some other movement. He is located within a few yards of my quarters.

Ruger’s Brigade is back on the railroad thirty or forty miles. We expect the Adjutant down here every train. With the exception of two or three little raids across the river, up towards Chattanooga, resulting in the loss of some wagons and stores, everything is quiet about here. I wait and watch for things to settle down, so that you can come to me, but the time has not yet arrived. Your army experience will be defective unless you can make a campaign in Alabama as well as in Missouri and Tennessee. Capt. Blake is here. I find him very gentlemanly and obedient. Sickness, mostly ague, is on the increase in the regiment, none dangerously ill.

Major-General Howard, who commands the 11th Army Corps, Sigel’s old command, was here yesterday. He is located at Bridgeport. The three Major-Generals were together in my quarters yesterday, and if you are willing I will give you a description of them.

General Hooker is a large, finely built, erect man, about 45 to 50 years old, shaves smooth, has light blue eyes and homely nose, and is one of the most familiar and affable men I have ever met. He impresses you at once with the idea that he is brave and true, and as kind and tender-hearted as a woman. He is one of those men who not only commands respect and confidence, but love. He is very entertaining in conversation, and last evening gave me a history of his connection with the Army of the Potomac, from which I learned more of the operations there than I ever knew before. He is thoroughly satisfied that history will fully vindicate the correctness of his generalship there so far as he was permitted to act on his own judgment. He complained bitterly of Washington interference and I doubt not with good cause.

Butterfield is a small, handsome man, about thirty-five years old. He is quiet, unostentatious, and in manners a polished gentleman. He talks but little, but is evidently a man of great intellectual power. He labors incessantly. One of his staff said that he never rests and never allows any rest to any one about him.

Howard is a small man, and with the exception that his hair is quite gray, appears young. I do not think him much over thirty-five. He lost an arm at the battle of Fair Oaks. In manners he appears very much like Samuel D. Hastings. He has a mild blue eye, is very handsome, very affable, and is really what the ladies call a charming man. Added to these qualities, be is a very brave man and deeply pious. We seldom see three such men together in the army or in any other place.

The staff officers are all young men, and very pleasant gentlemen. Col. Fessenden, a son of Senator Fessenden of Maine, is one of them.

Colonel Lyons.

Stevenson, Ala., Oct. 2nd, 1863.—Yesterday we had a heavy rain. The dust has disappeared and today the weather is perfect. It is the first rain they have had for three months. The dust had become perfectly dreadful, owing to the immense numbers of wagons and teams that traversed the country in every direction.

The 11th Army Corps from the Potomac has all passed here within the last two days and is now at Bridgeport. It is probably 10,000 strong. The 12th Army Corps is expected to commence arriving tonight. It is a great relief to us to see these troops coming here, for the position in the front has been and still is full of peril.

All citizens have been ordered out of Chattanooga, and every preparation seems to be making for another battle. I learn that the balance of our wounded are being sent here, and that both armies are entrenching strongly—about three miles apart. My opinion is that neither side feels strong enough to attack the other. In these days it is hard to predict what a day will bring forth.

There was a collision between two trains near Bridgeport last night. Our officers were on one of them, returning home. No one was seriously hurt, but I learn that Col. Chapman had his head bumped rather severely.

Colonel Lyons.

Stevenson, Ala., Tues., Sept. 29th, 1863.—The first reinforcements for Gen. Rosecrans, a detachment of the 15th Regulars, went through here last night. They are from Memphis. It is understood that large numbers of troops are pouring into Nashville and will begin to reach here tomorrow. We all feel better. We do not expect any attack here.

Colonel Lyons.

Stevenson, Ala., Sun., Sept. 27, 1863.—No changes at the front that I know of. Our army is in a strong position, close in front of Chattanooga, awaiting reinforcements, but where they are to come from is more than I know. The rebel army is close by ours but don’t seem inclined to attack. I can not learn that there has been any fighting for several days. We do not anticipate any attack here. All the fords of the river are strongly guarded, two brigades of cavalry having just come to this vicinity on that duty.

We hear a report from Ft. Donelson that the 83d Mounted Infantry had a fight near the rolling mill with Hinson’s gang and killed George Hinson, thus cheating the gallows.

Col. Smith of the 83d is at Clarksville with one-half of his regiment. The 102d Ohio is on the railroad, thirty miles above us. Not a regiment is passing through here to reinforce Gen. Rosecrans, and there he is confronted with more than double his numbers. He may get 12,000 or 15,000 of Burnside’s men from Knoxville, but I do not learn that even these have come up yet, and when they do they will not any more than make up his losses in the late battles. I doubt whether we have another General who could have prevented that army from being totally routed and cut to pieces last Sunday. There are but few who could prevent it from being done now. He ought to have 50,000 more men today than he has to make him safe. Still, I believe that he will come out all right.

The agents of the Sanitary and of the U. S. Christian Commission are on hand to take care of the wounded, and are doing (particularly the latter) an immense amount of good. I am glad to be in a position to be able to render them considerable aid in prosecuting their good work.

All of the wounded who are able to travel, I think, have gone on, and we are rid of our prisoners, so matters are not quite as pressing as they have been for a few days past.

Colonel Lyons.

Stevenson, Ala., Sept. 25, 1863.—We are still here without any change in our situation, and without any definite knowledge of what is transpiring in our immediate front. We know only that a series of terrific battles have been fought and that thousands of wounded men have passed through here for Nashville and other hospitals.

From all that we can learn, General Rosecrans has a strong position in front of Chattanooga a few miles, and will be able to hold it until reinforced; but he is no doubt confronted by largely superior numbers. Every day we are seeing the mistake of the Government in failing to fill up the armies. Fifty thousand additional men, who ought to have been in the field months ago, would make everything secure; but now the situation is full of perils, and we may meet with reverses for want of men, that we can not retrieve in a year. That we have not enough men in the field is a terrible blunder that must be atoned for in the blood and tears of the innocent!

I think that we are not in any danger of an attack here in force, at least as matters now appear to stand. I will keep you fully advised of our situation. This morning a force of rebels attacked and scattered a new company of loyal Alabamans who were posted on the railroad near Larkinsville. Captain Norcross, with 100 of the 13th boys, has gone down to look after them. It is some twenty miles west of here. I don’t think they will get a fight out of them.

General Morgan, who commands the forces about here, is throwing more and more responsibility upon me. He is a most excellent officer and a very pleasant gentleman. I have one of his aids, Lieut. Bridges, Adjutant Scott, one clerk, Johnny, and two mounted orderlies to help me. The duty of the regiment is quite heavy.

Colonel Lyons.

Stevenson, Ala., Wed., Sept. 23, 1863.—I write often to you, for I know how anxious you are to hear from me, situated as we are so near the scene of the terrible battles that are raging day after day at the front. I am well, but have a great deal of work to do. This is the nearest post to the front, and everything going to or from the army passes through here. Tonight 1,400 prisoners and several hundred of our wounded came in, all bound farther North. All this adds to my labors. I see no reason to believe that we shall be sent forward unless the emergency is very great. None of our division are in the fights. Those who came in from the front all feel confident that General Rosecrans can hold his own, but he is doubtless largely outnumbered and we can but feel the greatest solicitude for the result.

The carnage has been fearful. We all feel ready to go whenever we may be ordered and to do our duty in this time of peril, although the fate of war may terminate our earthly career. Let us trust all these things to our Heavenly Father, who will order everything wisely and well. You can have no idea of the suffering of the people here. Absolute starvation stares them in the face; and what makes it more painful is the fact that a majority of them are loyal. It would make your blood run cold to hear of the outrages that have been committed upon them by the rebels before our army came here. Oh, my dear, how sincerely do I thank God that you do not feel this war—only in my absence; that I can bear all the suffering and peril of it without your being compelled to share them with me. Colonel Heg is dead and his body is on the way home. He was mortally wounded on Saturday last. [He was killed at the battle of Chicamauga.] He was a noble-hearted, true man, and a brave and useful officer. His loss is a calamity.