the river. General Bragg, during the day and night of the 30th,
had moved the bulk of his army so that it reached far past our extreme
right, and early commenced doubling our lines back from that flank; our
regiment was placed in the line of battle to the right of Hazen's brigade,
this being the point where the retrograde movement in our line ceased.
This position, on an open plain, without protection, we held for several
hours, repulsing three seperate and distinct charges, exhausting our 60
rounds and being repeatedly supplied by details sent from company. Thus
for hours we held the key position of the battle, until a new line was
established at nearly right angles with us. We spent the last night of
1862 on the battle front until near morning. In the reestablishment of the
line we were placed in the reserve and remained there during January 1,
1863. On the morning of January 2nd we occupied a position, the left of
the regiment joining the Nashville and Murfreesboro pike, in an artillery
duel fought by several batteries and an equal number of the enemy. In the
forenoon we were in the direct line of shot and had several casualties in
the regiment. This was the last day of heavy fighting, Bragg retreating on
the night of the 3rd. Company E still retained its good luck, losing its
commanding officer[3] killed and six wounded, out of a total loss from the
regiment of 102 during the campaign.

The company, during the year 1862, from deaths, discharges and
resignations, lost in all 27 men, leaving on the roll of the company 63.
We remained camped at Murfreesboro until June 24th, drilling daily from 4
to 6 hours, when not on other duty. We were on several foraging and
scouting expeditions during the time. By the President's orders the army
under General Rosecrans was named the Army of the Cumberland and the parts
that had formerly been known as center, right and left wing, were changed
to the 14th, 20th and 21st army corps, remaining under the Commanders
Thomas, McCook and Crittenden. The brigade and division numbers were
changed to conform to the corps organization. The 26th Ohio was part of
the First brigade, First division, 21st army corps.

In the Tullahoma campaign we failed in coming into direct contact with the
enemy, Bragg retreating before we reached his lines, and our division was
stationed at Pelham and Hillsboro, at the west slope of the Cumberland
Mountains, until August 16th, 1863, when the advance over the mou