"September 20. This morning our brigade advanced half a mile in line of battle. We are hurried off in the direction of heavy cannonading. Upon reaching the Lafayette Road we formed in line, and one of our batteries fired several rounds at some rebels in the distance. We advanced in line on the left of the road nearly a mile. We then turned by the right flank and filed left into the road, and hurried on in the direction of heavy firing in front. Another brigade was to the right of the road, and in a few minutes we were all together, covering a considerable space, and in full view of the enemy, who, seeing our position, began shelling us. The first shot struck near my feet, the next burst over our heads. One of our batteries then engaged that of the enemy, enabling us to move out, dodging shells as we went. In this movement we came very nearly running into a strong force of the enemy, and were going further to the left than we designed to go.

“Our column then turned to the right, double-quicked into a field, part of which was in corn, and there rested for a short time.

Company F had been on picket, and now joined their place in the line. They brought two prisoners and report that they had killed four others. All remained quiet for half an hour. To our right was a thick woods, where the musketry firing began at one o'clock. We moved into the edge of the timber and halted. The firing increased to a tremendous roar and lasted several minutes. Just at this time a number of our regiments charged the enemy with a terrible yell, driving them back some distance, and then the order was reversed to some extent, and the roar of musketry increased. Our brigade moved in that direction in quick time. Now General Whittaker came down the hill and told us to go in on the double-quick, which we did. When we reached the crest of the hill, we were four or five deep, and for a brief time the utmost confusion reigned, resulting from the falling back of the 86th Illinois, through our ranks. There was a shower of bullets flying in our midst all the while, a small tree keeping one from spoiling my hide. Presently the right of our line seemed to give way, and an order was given to fall back slowly, keeping up the fire as we went. William Carpenter of my company was shot through the lungs but walked part of the way down the hill. At the foot of the hill we rallied and re-formed, determined to have the hill top in our possession. In this we succeeded, and for nearly half an hour it was comparatively quiet in our front. For a time we lay on our faces under cover of the hill. Then the contest was resumed with increased vigor. We advanced and fell back by turns until sundown, when our ammunition becoming exhausted, we were compelled to quit the field and leave many of our dead and wounded in the hands of our enemy. I confess my inability to describe a battle, and I feel that no pen can do it justice.

"I cannot say that I was much excited or frightened, although my comrades fell dead and wounded on either hand. The air was thick with smoke, and the trees seemed to bend and reel before the storm of lead and iron.

“The enemy had plenty of artillery, and he trained his guns upon us with fatal accuracy. Under all this we stood as sheep before the slaughter, only yielding when ammunition was out. Our regiment's loss is; killed, 27; wounded, 98; missing, 66. We fell back to our camp in the morning, pretty well fagged out. our Company, (E) numbered only eight men."

When we left the field

21. Our forces have fallen back, and are fortifying on Mission Ridge to impede the march of the enemy, and check him so that the shattered army can be rallied and placed in a position of defense. It is not possible to state the extent of yesterday's disaster. Our trains were sent during the afternoon of yesterday and last night towards Chattanooga. Our regimental train reached the city at four o'clock, having been four hours in driving as many miles. The road is crowded with trains and troops, all disputing for the right of way. The regiment is on the Ridge doing its part to hold the enemy at bay. Fighting continues to some extent, but no general engagement has taken place to-day. It is probable that the enemy paid so dearly for his victory of yesterday, as to be unable to follow up his advantage. We hope so.

Last night Companies E and F held the skirmish picket line for some time after the main force retired, then they fell back too, and in the afterpart of the night stacked arms with the other companies in a grove in the northern part of the city.

The wounded are being sent to Stevenson and other points in our

rear.

22. The regiment is lying still to-day. We can hear the roar of cannon in the direction of Rossville. Many reports of the enemy's movements are afloat. Moved our train across the river and parked on the bottom, half a mile from the river.

Last night

23. We are lying in double column at half distance. at ten o'clock a brisk fire occurred at the front, and we were out in line ready for action. Quiet ensued and we again slept. Late this afternoon our brigade and others crossed the river and camped on a high woody hill, called Stringer's Ridge, overlooking the river and the besieged city. We are a rusty looking army of men, having had no leisure to put ourselves and our equipments in order since we left Wartrace. No rain has fallen this month, and the dust is deep and stifling. Several who were reckoned among the killed or missing of the battle on the 20th, have come in, and now our loss falls below our first estimate. One of the curiosities of the engagement is Chatfield's blanket, containing forty-nine bullet holes.

Our animals are

24. We begin to be on short rations for the men. being fed by our own efforts in gathering grass and fodder along the river. The men get a limited supply of hard bread, meat, coffee and sugar. There is no real suffering, but the outlook for plenty to eat is not good.

26. Very little seems to be transpiring between the two armies, each seems to be watching the movements of the other.

Went down the river on a foraging trip, securing some fodder and a few ears of corn. Returned to camp with a good appetite.

27. Sunday. Quartermaster Swisher went foraging with several teams, and did not return. I spent the day liesurely. Brigham, Rannebarger and I sang a good deal in the evening. Rol. Reed and I suffered the loss of our knapsacks by having them stolen from our

tent.

28. Swisher returned to-day from his foraging trip. He had been out northeast fifteen miles, and found some corn, an article we are much in need of.

29. Took a number of teams, including two of our regimental train, and went up the river twenty miles for corn. We found a large field of good corn near the bank of the river. We began loading, but night came on, and we stopped work and slept under the wagons till morning.

30. Finished our loads and then set out on our return to camp. We came in late and it was raining briskly. After a big supper I slept well, except that the tent blew down in the night and disturbed our rest for a time.

OCTOBER, 1863.

2. We have had a big rain, converting the dust into soft mud, but it is a change which gives variety. Dr. Wilson, of the 1st Ohio Infantry, has been transferred to our regiment as Surgeon. To-day I crossed the river to the camp of that regiment and hauled the Surgeon's effects over to our camp. The new Surgeon is a sturdy bachelor.

The regiment left camp at seven this morning for Sequatchie Valley, a train of three hundred wagons having been destroyed by the enemy. Of this trip Comrade Green writes as follows:

"Marched until after midnight, and camped on the top of a high mountain, commanding a view of many miles, and above other moun

tains surrounding it. The fog below us at sunrise looked like a vast lake. It was the grandest sight I ever witnessed.

"The rebels have possession of the road by which we marched to Chattanooga last month. This makes it necessary to haul our supplies by a wagon route on the right bank of the river, which makes the trip fifteen miles further.

"The train which was destroyed yesterday was insufficiently guarded, and the rebels, finding this out in some way, crossed the river at Cotton Ford, fell upon the train, shot the mules, burned the wagons, and then recrossed to the south side of the river in safety. The train was loaded with commissary supplies on the way to our hungry army. This stroke at our stomachs will be felt many days hence. I have had but two-thirds of a cracker since five o'clock yesterday, and we must return to Chattanooga before we get more. An ear of corn in my haversack must do for my supper. I certainly think that if old Job had been a soldier he would have used cuss words.

"4. Sunday. The reveille sounded at two o'clock. We breakfasted on parched corn, ascended to the top of the mountain, and moved toward Chattanooga. At 10 A. M. we countermarched, and, returning to the valley, camped on the same site where we spent last night. Just before descending the mountain, two daring fellows of the 3d Ohio, being in an orchard at some distance from their command, were dashed down upon by two rebels, who ordered them to surrender. Grabbing a stone apiece, they told the "Jonnies" that they were not used to surrendering, and that they must ground their weapons and surrender. Strange as it may seem, the rebels complied, and were marched into camp by their unarmed captors.'

5. The troops who were sent to Sequatchie Valley came in this evening. Though they had a hard trip of it and had very little to eat, they speak of the experience of the scout in glowing terms of praise.

At the front quiet reigns in a great measure. The pickets of the two armies are growing quite intimate, sitting about on logs and discussing the events of the great battle. Sometimes they exchange tobacco for coffee and make other little trades of mutual benefit. They are anxious about the result of the approaching election in Ohio. From our position, by the aid of a field-glass, a signal flag can be seen waiving to and fro on Lookout. It is in the hands of a rebel who is signaling to the Confederate Commander, what he sees in the valley below him. Looking down into our camp from his perch above the clouds, he can see every movement, and almost count the guns in our fortifications. At 11 A. M. the enemy opened on us from their batteries on the point of Lookout, and during the day, till sunset, they paid us their castiron compliments in a very unneighborly way. A shell entered the door of a dog tent near which two soldiers of the 18th Ohio

were standing, and buried itself in the ground. One of them said gruffly, "There, see what you get by leaving your door open." Lieutenant Swisher left yesterday for Stevenson, having in charge eleven thousand horses.

7. I started with a train of twenty-one teams to Stevenson, Alabama, for supplies. Taking the down river road, we crossed the mountain, descended into the valley, camping sixteen miles from Chattanooga and twenty-eight miles from Stevenson. The train is in charge of Lieutenant John J. Mercer, 78th Illinois.

8. Passed through Jasper, a small town twelve miles from Bridgeport, reaching Stevenson at dusk.

II. Am still at Stevenson. Lieutenant George McCrea passed through here to-day on his way to the regiment. He has been on recruiting service in Ohio since the regiment was at Franklin. I am glad to see him and he is glad to be on the way to join his comrades. 13. Our train left Stevenson yesterday morning and drove twenty miles on its return to the front. We are loaded with supplies for man, and beast. I write in a sutler tent at the base of the mountain while the train drags its slow length along up the ascent. A large supply train is in our front and the steep and slippery mountain road makes our progress tedious. This is election day in Ohio. How I would love to be in camp that I might vote for John Brough for Governor. It is raining copiously: This is my birthday. I was added to the population of Ohio twenty-five years ago. The vote in Company B was for Brough, 27; Vallandigham, 7.

15. Moved on. One of our loads upset on the side of a declivity near a stream, which is now on a high from recent rain. We cannot Hunted chestnuts, butchered a bullock, dried our clothes and waited for the water to subside.

cross.

noon.

I

16. The stream having fallen sufficiently, we crossed and proceeded on our way. Began descending the mountain in the afterOne wagon upset, another came uncoupled, but all ended in our reaching the valley, where we parked four miles from camp rode on in, for I was homesick and wanted a letter from my wife. McCrea got in in time to vote on the thirteenth. I can give but little of the election news in camp. Polls were open by companies, and the voting lasted from 10 A. M. to 5 P. M. In Company E, R. H. Seely, D. H. Chatfield and J. H. Girard were chosen judges; A. M. Grafton and Isaac Green, clerks. Owing to the absence of many of the men on various duties beyond camp, only twenty-three votes were cast: Brough, 16; Vallandigham, 7. No other company of the