Annals of the Army of the Cumberland : comprising biographies, descriptions of departments, accounts of expeditions, skirmishes, and battles, also its police record of spies, smugglers, and prominent rebel emissaries : together with anecdotes, incidents, poetry, reminiscences, etc. and official reports of the Battle of Stone River and of the Chickamauga camaign

Front matter

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Preface

To the soldiers of the Army of the Cumberland, and to their friends ", home, the author presents this volume of portraits, sketches, and icidents, — a work undertaken at the solicitation of many friends, with le view of affording pleasure to our soldiers and imparting information > the people, and, if it may be, to secure a fund for the erection of a tonument to overlook the battle-field of Stone River, Tennessee, where rest, unknelled, uncoffined, and unknown," hundreds of American citizens. This work is not intended as a history of the Rebellion, in a general ense, nor even as a detailed account of events occurring in the history f the Army of the Cumberland. It is simply a collection of sketches ,nd portraits of many of its representative men, and a narration of nany interesting events which have transpired within its lines. The nore important of its military operations are given up to the time of going o press. The various departments are sufficiently described to illustrate heir practical operation, at every fireside ; and in the grouping together >f incident and anecdote, and of spy and smuggling events, the author ias aimed to give life and zest to the volume. The work is issued almost egardless of cost, and is intended as a souvenir that shall remain when his army shall have been disbanded and these stirring times and scenes lave passed away, — one which, it is hoped, the soldiers of the Cumberland jvill prize as their book, to be preserved by succeeding generations as a lousehold treasure, its pages to be scanned by the descendant, while glorying in the deeds of a patriot sire during the dark days of the Great Rebellion.

The author has endeavored to be modest and impartial in his meed of praise, — a most difficult task, where so much can be truly said of so many. The thousands of noble men in the Army of the Cumberland, who have teft home, friends, fortunes, and high position, to brave the perils of camp and battle-field, all merit mention in such a work. Especially was it desirable that many particularly daring deeds of our officers and privates

4 PREFACE.

should find record within these pages ; but the original limit of the work has already been greatly exceeded, and prudence restrains from a further advance.

Although intended as a picture of our army, it is far from being complete. We have used but a small portion of attainable matter and portraits ; and many of our best and most notable generals — as Crittenden, Reynolds, "Wood, Granger, Mitchell, Morgan, Turchin, and other high officers — we are unable to properly present in this volume. Ample material is left for a second volume of the "Annals," should its publication prove desirable.

To many friends in the army the author is indebted for assistance in collecting material, and with them any credit arising from the work is duly shared. The composition of such a volume amid the incidents and excitement of the camp will, we trust, constitute some apology for literary deficiencies. All responsibility respecting misstatement of fact in military movements, or of dulness or exaggeration in estimating individual character, rests with the author. Brief outlines were furnished, in some instances : for the rest, we have garnered here and there, with these pages as the result.

This volume is published under peculiar circumstances ; and, in behalf of the officers of our army, — whom it represents, — the author tenders acknowledgment for its successful presentation to the public, as a work of art, to Messrs. Illman Brothers, the contracting engravers, for the surprisingly faithful likenesses of the portraits, — to Messrs. L. Johnson & Co., and to their admirable proof-reader and critic, for elegance of typography and correctness of diction, — to our publishers, Messrs. J. B. Lippincott & Co., for their encouragement, enterprise, and generous expenditure of capital, — and to all connected with the work, for despatch, it being issued within a period of ninety days from the commencement.

Should the work prove sufficiently successful, the monumental idea will be carried out, and a shaft will be erected upon the battle-field, similar in design to that upon our title-page, — not of a boastful and vainglorious character, but simply to proclaim the story of the conflict and to transmit to posterity the moral of civil war.

Tullahoma, Tenn., August 10, 1863.

Preface To The Fourth Edition

The author, in behalf of the officers of the Army of the Cumberland, makes his grateful acknowledgments for the nattering reception given thua far to this volume. To the public press of the country he is especially grateful for their most liberal, and to himself gratifying, mention of the work.

The present edition contains additional matter of much value, viz. : an account of the campaign of Chattanooga and the consequent battle of Chickamauga, with a map exhibiting the strategic operations of our army, With this addition the work is complete as a history of the Army of the Cumberland under Major-General W S. Rosecrans.

This work having attracted unexpected attention, and its authorship having been questioned, and attributed to various persons in order to injure them by an implication of self-praise, the author, in justice to those gentlemen, appends his name to the title-page of this edition. His only motive for withholding it was a desire to avoid any notoriety in the connection, as book-making is not his trade.

The author desires to assure the public that the work originated solely in the desire to do good, — to cheer and encourage the army, to enlighten the people at home, to advance the Union cause, and to erect a stone upon the first great battle-field of our army. This latter idea will be faithfully carried out if the work be sufficiently successful. If, however, the scheme shall prove inexpedient, owing to unquiet times in Tennessee in the future, or from other cause, the fund accruing from the sale of the volume will be directed to some charitable purpose or channel for the benefit of the invalid or crippled soldier of the Union, his widow or orphans.

The Author.

Chattanooga, Tbnn., Not. 25, 1863.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

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Major-General Rosecrans .Frontispiece

Monumental Design Vignette

General Rosecransvs Officers of Staff 40

Major-General Thomas and Staff 56

Major-General A. McD. McCook 73

Major-General Rousseau and Staff 79

Major-General Negley and Staff 91

Major-General Palmer and Staff 119

Major-General Sheridan and Staff 140

Brigadier-General Johnson and Staff 152

Brigadier-General Davis and Staff 158

Brigadier-General Van Cletb and Staff 174

Brigadier-General Morton and Staff , 180

Colonel Innes and Staff 192

Major-General Stanley, Colonels Minty, Long, Stokes, and Captain Otis. 199 Brigadier-Generals Hazen and Carlin, and Colonels Wilder, Heg, Stough-

ton, and Burke 219

Colonel William Truesdail, Chief of Army Police 346

Field Hospital at Murfreesborough 289

Army Mail Escaping Guerrillas 309

Mass upon the Battle-Field 327

Kidnapping Negroes near Nashville 510

Strange Descent of Rebel Cavalry Boots 5gf

Guerrillas Burning Steamers on the Cumberland 0X5

Gathering Contrabands while at Church gig

Impressment of Vehicles, etc., at Nashville 632

Destruction of Railroad-Train by Bushwhackers g43

Siihoflntphs,

Map of Stone River Battle-Fields 381

Map showing General Rosecrans's Strategic Advance from Murfreesborough to Chattanooga, and Plan of Battle of Chiokamauga 459