out
30 miles beyond Mt. Vernon, when we were ordered back through Crab
Orchard, via Columbus, Ky., and Gallatin, Tenn., to Nashville. While at
Nashville we were engaged in three skirmishes while scouting and guarding
foraging trains. On Christmas day one of them occurred. We made a very
long and hard march, returning to camp near midnight with wagon trains
loaded with grain and other forage and found orders waiting us to have
three days' rations in haversacks, strike camp and march at daylight the
following morning, December 26th, 1862. This was the opening of the Stone
River or Murfreesboro campaign. Our division was the second in line of
march. Skirmishing in front soon began, Palmer's division gradually
driving the enemy's cavalry. It began raining about 9 a. m. Near night the
enemy became more obstinate, using artillery freely, and held the village
of Lavergn, fifteen miles south of Nashville. Our division moved to the
front and went into bivouac. The rain continued during the night.

In the reorganization of the army under General Rosecrans we were in the
First brigade, First division, Left wing, Army of the Cumberland. The Left
wing had the direct line of march to Murfreesboro. The center under Thomas
and right wing under McCook were several miles to our right and had a
greater distance to move, hence we were held until 10 a. m. next morning
before moving. Wood's division took the advance and our brigade deployed.
The enemy, from an elevated position and under cover of buildings, firmly
resisted our advance, and we were compelled to charge the place, losing 32
men from the brigade. Our regiment, making the direct attack, lost 28 of
that number. By rapidly driving the enemy a distance of seven miles, we
saved the bridge at Stewart's Creek and captured 50 or 60 prisoners. The
weather became extremely cold. The next day, Sunday, the 28th, we remained
in position, and Monday, the 29th, moved forward, our division on the
left, Palmer's on the right of the pike, driving the enemy to their
fortified line at Stone River. We remained in line of battle on the 30th,
while Thomas and McCook closed up on our right and formed a continuous
line. We received orders that night to cross the river, which the left of
our division joined, and attack the enemy on the following morning. While
executing this order the roar of the battle reached us from the extreme
right of the army and our movements were by orders changed and we
recrossed