USA > Tennessee > The military annals of Tennessee. Confederate. First series: embracing a review of military operations, with regimental histories and memorial rolls, V.2 > Part 5
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Soon after this execution we were ordered into line of battle on the summit of Rocky Face Mountain, where we met a very fierce attack of the enemy, which we repelled without much difficulty, but with considerable loss to us and heavy loss to our assailants. From Rocky Face Mountain we were ordered to re- treat to Resaca. The afternoon we reached Resaca our brigade (Brown's) had been ordered to report to Gen. Wheeler, commanding the cavalry, and which was being closely pressed by the enemy while bringing up the rear of our army. About an hour before sundown we were thrown into line of battle, and fought the unimportant battle of Smoky Creek Gap. In the Thirty-second Regiment were three mischievous characters-Tom Poteet, Alex. Crawford, and George Bevil- one of whom could neigh exactly like a stallion, one could gobble like a turkey, and the other bray like a donkey. Soon the battle commenced, and the firing was "hot as pepper," when right in the midst of the fierce conflict Sergeant Crawford began to gobble, Poteet to neigh, and Bevil to bray, and continued their fun until the enemy retreated in utter dismay, no doubt wondering what manner of rebels they had attacked. Our casualties in this affair were slight. That night we passed through the village of Resaca. In a day or two the battle of Resaca was fought, and we were assigned position near the extreme right of the line of bat- tle, some distance above the village, where we had two days of hard fighting. The enemy had taken position on the opposite side of an open field, along the border of which we were formed, and had intrenched themselves back in the woods some two hundred yards from the edge of the field. They had sent a strong line of skirmishers down to the edge of the timber, and were firing across the field at us with some effect. This had been kept up for several hours when Gen. Brown ordered Major McGuire, who was commanding our skirmishers, to
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REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
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attack the enemy's skirmishers and drive them from the edge of the wood across the field, telling him at the same time that he would follow closely upon the movements of the skirmishers with the brigade. Our skirmishers moved through the open field in full view of the entire brigade, under a most terrific fire, and yet in the most perfect order and in the grandest style, completely routing the enemy's skirmishers, and inflicting heavy loss in killed, wounded, and captured. The grandeur of the movement was only excelled by Gen. Brown and our brigade, who did follow our lead. Reaching the position now occupied by our skirmishers, Gen. Brown halted the brigade a few seconds to learn the exact position of the enemy, then ordered the boys to charge them in their strongly fortified position, which they did most gallantly, inflicting a most disastrous defeat upon them, driving them in utter confusion from their breastworks, killing, wounding, and capturing many. While our triumph was complete it was dearly bought, some of our best officers and men being killed. The loss of no one of our brigade, perhaps during the whole war, was more deplored than the death of Lieut. Waddy, of McCaul's company, and Major F. C. Barber, of the Third Tennessee. No truer men or more gallant and faithful officers ever lived than these two.
Night coming ou ended the first day's fighting at Resaca. During the night some changes were made in the position of the troops of our brigade, moving about half a mile to the left, where before daylight we built pretty strong ride- pits, which proved of great service; for with the coming of daylight we moved out in front of our line about seventy-five yards to support a battery of four guns which had been placed there during the night. These guns were posted on the point of a hill which broke off abruptly into a deep hollow, and overlooked the country for quite a distance. From this point skirmishers were sent forward, and soon encountered the enemy, who had massed an immense force in our front. This brought on the fight. The enemy charged np the hill upon our guns, but on account of the steepness of the hill we were powerless to inflict any damage on them, and after a most desperate struggle the guns were abandoned and we forced to retire to our riffe-pits badly cut up. The enemy halted at the brow of the hill, which afforded them perfect shelter from our bullets. This battery hap- pened to be directly in front of the Thirty-second Tennessee Regiment, the guns being in plain view and within easy range of our ritles; so neither Federals nor Confederates could gain possession of them. They were evidently a much coveted prize to the former; for it was soon apparent that they were determined to take possession of them, and the latter were quite as much determined they should not. This struggle for the possession of the guns brought about a real "tug of war." The situation of the Thirty-second Tennessee was now one of great gravity and imminent peril; for the enemy knew they could not gain the battery until our rifles were silenced, which they would have to do by storming our position and beating us by brute force. We heard their commands-"Forward!"-and like a mighty avalanche they came in thundering charge upon us. It looked as if it would be impossible for us to withstand their terrible onslaught; but the Thirty- second was never in better fighting mood, so we had the satisfaction of seeing our assailants fall back and seek the protection of the hill again, leaving many of their number deal in plain view of us. However, in less than twenty-five min- utes they made another and more desperate effort to dislodge us, this time charg- ing to within six or seven paces of us, seeming to wish to make a hand-to-hand
480
MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.
affair of it; but again we drove them back with fearful slaughter. Frequent other assaults were made during the day, but none so determined as the first two, and each one brought heavy loss to them; for we eagerly sought every opportunity for dealing them a blow. Night closed the second day's battle of Resaca. About 10 o'clock we quietly withdrew from this most perilous position, Gen. Johnston abandoning this place and retreating toward Atlanta, leaving the four guns the possession of which had cost so many valuable lives, and which, I think, were the only guns lost by Gen. Johnston on his famous Georgia campaign.
The battle of Powder Springs Road was fought on June 22, 1864. Gen. Hood's corps, to which we belonged, marched out west of Marietta, Ga., six or seven miles, and took position in front of the enemy, whom we found strongly fortifie .!. Our cavalry, which had been watching the movements of the enemy, were en- gaged when we arrived; so we formed in line of battle under very heavy skirmish and artillery fire, which was quite annoying to ns and inflicted some damage, Col. Harvey Walker, commanding the Third Tennessee, with several others, being killed while we were forming. Our Brigadier-general (Brown) was in command1 of the division, and Col. Cook was in command of Brown's brigade. This de- volved the command of the Thirty-second Tennessee on Major McGuire, our Lien- tenant-colonel not being present. A strong line of skirmishers was sent forward from the infantry to relieve the cavalry, and they soon succeeded in driving in the Federal skirmishers and silencing the artillery which had been playing upon us with so much effect. This afforded opportunity to perfect our formation and to understand Gen. Hood's plan of attack. The Thirty-second Tennessee was the center of our brigade, and Cummings's brigade of Georgians was to the left of our brigade. Skirmishing was still heavy in our front, and our dead and wounded were constantly being brought back, showing with what desperation the enemy was resisting. The order to load and prepare for action was given, and soon came the command, "Forward!" and in a few minutes we were in the midst of one of the fiercest battles of the war. We pressed our enemy steadily back, amidst a perfect torrent of lead and iron, but our shattered ranks still urged the fight. Coming within about sixty paces of strong intrenchments, behind which the ene- my had taken refuge, we discovered that Cummings's brigade had failed, which left the enemy that Cummings should have engaged to turn their guns upon us with perfeet impunity. At this point Major MeGuire was wounded and carried from the field. What to do in our present condition was difficult to determine, for our loss in the charge had been immense. To pursue the attack farther would have been madness, to retreat impossible, as the enemy's artillery from our right and their infantry in our front and to onr left kept np an incessant and most gall- ing fire. Fortunately night came, and the firing from our right and left abated somewhat, so that those who survived withdrew a few at a time. More than half of the officers and men of the Thirty-second Tennessee Regiment were killed or wounded in this engagement. Among those wounded was our gallant and noble Col. Ed. Cook, who only survived a few days after being shot. Lient .- col. O'Neal being absent on sick leave and Major MeGuire wounded, the command of the reg- iment devolved on Capt. C. G. Theker.
Active campaigning was continued with unrelenting vigor, and Gen. Johnston was forced to cross the Chattahoocheever in the vicinity of Atlanta. About the middle of July he was relieved of the command of the army and Gen. Hood ap-
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REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
pointed his successor. Lieut .- gen. Stephen D. Lee was placed in command of Hood's corps. On the evening of August 30th we were given marching orders, and soon our corps (Lee's) was in motion, our destination being Jonesboro, Ga. Next morning we found that our enemy had again preceded us, and was in posi- tion and strongly fortified. Therefore the battle of Jonesboro was fought with great loss to us, and resulted in our failure to drive the enemy from their vantage- ground. Among the killed in our regiment were Adjutant Maj. Richard A. Irvine, Sergt. Jas. l'. Campbell, Sergt. John Van Allsup, and Sergt. Newt. Alexander. The loss of Major Irvine was a sad blow to the Thirty-second; for he was not only a gallant, faithful, amiable, and efficient officer, but a true man, and a real ex- emplar for the believers in the Lord Jesus, our Christ. Sergt. Allsup's loss was also very deeply regretted. During the night of this disastrous day our corps withdrew from Jonesboro, marched in the direction of Atlanta, and afterward rested near Lovejoy's Station. At this period (early in October) Maj. McGuire was promoted to Colonel. The appointment was promptly accepted, and he was by Gen. Hood assigned to the command of the Thirty-second Regiment.
The movement into Tennessee was next made. About November 20th our corps was marched from Florence, Ala., and the campaigning commenced in earnest. Notwithstanding our brigade was an infantry brigade, we reported to and served with Gen. Forrest on nearly the whole of this expedition. We marched in by way of Mount Pleasant and Columbia, Tenn., where we found the enemy in force. A few miles west of Columbia they made some show of fight. Gen. Forrest or- dered us into line of battle; but after some sharp skirmishing the enemy with- drew, under cover of night, to and beyond Columbia. Remaining some days at Columbia, we learned that Cheatham's and Stewart's corps of our army had marched by night around the enemy's flank and in the direction of Nashville, leaving only one corps confronting the enemy at Columbia. We kept up an occasional fire the entire day, and before night, under cover of an embankment, crossed men over Duck River in sufficient force to drive back from the river and suburbs of the town all of the Federal skirmishers and pickets. Very early next morning Lee's corps crossed Duck River, and marched rapidly in the direction of Franklin. The march was urged to the utmost endurance of the men, and long before night we could hear the roar of cannon, which told of a terrible conflict going on, and that our presence might be of the utmost importance. So we pressed on in all possible haste, arriving in the vicinity of Franklin abont 11 o'clock at night, and learned that a terrible battle had been fought that afternoon and was still going on. We were at once formed in line of battle, and ordered to "lie on our arms" and be ready to attack at dawn next morning. Those of us who remained awake learned before daylight that the enemy had retreated back upon Nashville, but not until they had fought us in one of the most desperate struggles of the war.
Next day we moved on in the direction of Nashville, and found the enemy in great force and strongly fortified. Placed in line of battle, we moved forward un- til we met the enemy's skirmishers. Col. McGuire was again, as usual, put in command of the skirmish line covering the front of our division, and was ordered to attack and drive in the enemy's line, which was instantly done. We reached Nashville early in December, and after remaining in front of that city several days our brigade (Brown's) was again ordered to report to Gen. Forrest, at Mur- freesboro.
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482
MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.
Arrived in the vicinity of Murfreesboro, we found that Gen. Bate's division of infantry had preceded us, and that Gen. Bate was in command of the infantry while Gen. Forrest commanded the cavalry. The town was strongly garrisoned, and the plan was to draw the enemy out from their intrenchments, and give battle in the open field. After environing the place for a day or two, the infantry was 'marched to the west and south-west of the town, and it was soon manifest that the enemy were under arms and in motion. We expected they were coming out to give battle, and they did. Our forces were soon in position and ready for the fray. Col. McGuire on this occasion was given command of the right wing of Palmer's brigade (Brown's old brigade), the plan of battle was explained to him, and he was told he would be held responsible for the protection of the right flank of the position. Capt. Tucker was assigned command of the Thirty-second Regi- ment for the time being. Every thing was now ready, and the enemy were in position in our front. We moved forward and were ordered to charge, and did so, driving the Federals before us. Our losses in killed and wounded were severely felt; yet the men, seeing the confusion and retreat of the enemy, were very en- thusiastic, and all felt that another glorious victory had been achieved, when to our utter astonishment it was discovered that we were enfiladed from our left. Col. McGuire's attention was called to this, and he found that the entire line of the Confederates, including the Carolina wing of Palmer's brigade, had withdrawn from the fight, and that only Brown's old brigade was engaged. How long this state of affairs had existed was not known, but enough time had elapsed for us to have fought over all the space intervening between the two opposing lines, and past the position held by the enemy, before we received their entilading fire. To pursue the fight here would have been reckless, so we too retired. .
After this the army retreated from Tennessee, went to South Carolina, where Lee's corps fought Sherman from Branchville, S. C., to Charlotte, N. C. The last battle fought by the Thirty-second Tennessee Regiment was at Bentonville, N. C., March 14, 1865, and was one in which the Thirty-second and the old brigade dis- tinguished themselves. The regiment now being very small, the old brigade was temporarily consolidated, and fought as one regiment under the command of Col. Andrew Searcy. The contest was short but sharp, and resulted disastrously to the Federals, who were repulsed with heavy loss in killed and wounded.
Early in April the army was put in motion again, and although redneed to a mere skeleton, so to speak, such was the confidence of the men in Gen. Jos. E. Johnston that the condition of the various commands under him seemed never to have been better for effective service; but it had fought at Bentonville its last fight, and the Thirty-second Tennessee Regiment had achieved its last and most complete success.
Official.] FIELD AND STAFF, THIRTY-SECOND TENNESSEE INFANTRY.
Colonel, Edmund C. Cook; Lieutenant-colonel, William P. Moore; Major, Wm. J. Brown- low; Adjutant, Calvin Jones ; Quartermaster, John T. Shapard; Commissary, Shields Wilson; Surgeon, James F. Grant; Assistant Surgeon, H. Lee Custer; Chaplain, James S. Finley.
COMPANY A. Captain, Calaway G. Tucker.
Wright, James M., k. at Chickamauga. Harper, James M., k. at Resaca, Ga.
Harrison, Geo. T .. k. at Fort Donelson.
Pige, samuel R., k. at Resaca, Ga.
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REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
Harper, Alfred W., d. Nov. 3, 1862. Finley, John C., d. Aug. 7, 1863. Murdock, Wm. N., d. Oct. 25, 1863.
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Gunter, Thomas J., d. Nov., 1863. Barnes, James P., k. in battle. Ruth, James A., k. in battle.
COMPANY B.
Captain, John M. Winstead.
Marks, Charles E., k. at Chickamauga. Odineal, A. D., k. at Chickamauga. Arrowsmith, Wm., k. at Chickamauga. Reasoner, Wm. S., k. at Chickamauga. Arrowsmith, John, k. in battle.
Dismukes, M. B., k. in battle.
Mayfield, Wm. J., k. in battle. Bunch, James T., k. in battle. Mayfield, Thomas J., k. in battle. Cooper, Jefferson, d. Nov. 20, 1861. Renfro, William, d. Feb. 20, 1862. Harwell, Andrew J., d. Sept., 1863.
COMPANY C. Captain, Wm. P. Moore.
Johnson, James A., k. at Chickamauga.
Watson, C. Y., k. at Chickamauga.
Jackson, W. H., k. in battle.
Crabb, Joseph, k. in battle.
Hamilton, G. W., k. in battle.
Johnston, Thomas F., d. at Camp Trousdale. Dickey, James H., d. Marchi 8, 1862. Flippo, Joseph M., d. April 9, 1562. Johnson, Joseph W., d. April 2, 1862. Jones Isaac T., d. Feb. 2, 1862.
Johnson, Wm., k., d. March 29, 1862.
Lumpkins, Lewis F., d. April 14, 1862. Norwood, Charles N. E., d. Nov. 23, 1862. Raper, Thomas E., d. March 15, 1862. Scott, James B., d. Aug. 25, 1862. Sparkman, Joseph A., d. Feb. 11, 1862. Springer, James M., d. Feb., 1862. Tidwell, Silas, d. March 8, 1862. Basham, Eli H., d. March 6, 1862. Sparkman, W. C., d. Oct. 17, 1863. Shores, James N., d. Jan. 8, 1864. Burns, W. W., d. April 20, 1864.
COMPANY D. Captain, Jacob H. Morton.
Wilson, William, k. at Fort Donelson. Chapman, T. F., k. whilst carrying the colors, June 22, 1864. Leath, Z. H., k. June 22, 1864.
Peach, J. M., d. May 13, 1864.
Byers, Robert A., d. March 21, 1862.
Carson, Joseph B., d. Sept. 18, 1862.
| Dotson, Prisley P., d. April 6, 1862. Johnson, Napoleon B., d. March 1, 1862. Peach, Charles N., d. March 9, 1862. Sweet. James H., d. March 10, 1862. York, Wm. H., d. March 31, 1863. Leath, J. W., d. Sept. 13, 1863.
COMPANY E. Captain, Jacob M. Bass.
Butler, Wm. R., k. at Chickamauga. Smith, Hugh A., k. at Chickamauga.
Glenn, George B., k. at Chickamauga. Wilson, Thomas E., k. in battle. McNeeley, Wm. G., k. in battle.
Cline, G. B., d. Aug. 25, 1863. Hurney, Arelius L., d. Dec. 25, 1861. Vanhoozer, Sampson, d. Oct. 21, 1863. Leatherwood, Drury M. D., d. Nov. 1, 1863. -
COMPANY F. Captain, Joseph Young.
Webb, Louis S., k. in battle. Willford, Archibald S., k. in battle. Randolph, Napoleon C., k. in battle. Nevels, Roderick M., k. in battle.
Doss, John H., k. in battle. Randolph, Carson P., k. in battle.
Shands, James H., d. Dec. 7, 1861. Nevels, Abner G., d. April 4, 1863. Cole, Samuel, d. April 30, 1863. Coble, Obadiah, d. June, 1863. Franklin, Jesse, d. April 15, 1863.
COMPANY G. Captain, Fountain P. Wade.
Long, Sidney E., k. in battle. Yarbrough, Rufus W., k. in battle. Bathune, John F., k. in battle. Breecheen, Thomas F., k. in battle. Jones, James R., d. April 20, 1863.
Harper, Samuel M., d. July 10, 1863. Jones, Joseph W., d. Nov. 16, 1863. Yarbrough, Carvey C., d. Feb. 8, 1863. Endsley, Wm. M., d. Feb. 17, :863. Walter, T. M., d. March, 1864.
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MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.
Hazelett, J. B., d. July 20, 1864.
Yarbrough, Thomas, d. May 27, 1864.
Wade, Capt. Fountain P., u. Nov. 21, 1862.
COMPANY H. Captain, Thomas Hannah.
Brady, Wm. D., k. at Chickamauga.
Anthony James C., d. Dec. 15, 1861.
Johnson, Wiley L., k. at Chickamauga.
Appleton, Thomas J., d. Dec. 11, 1861.
Cox, James, k. at Chickamauga.
Pierce, Wm. J., d. Dec. 16, 1861.
Gatlin, David J., k. at Resaca, Ga.
Hogan. John W., d. June 20, 1863.
Randolph, S. S., k. June 22, 1864.
Bass, Jesse, d. May 6, 1863.
Hopson, S. J., k. June 22, 1864.
Jones, John L., d. Oct. 6, 1863.
Griffin, Isaac G., d. Dec. 15, 1861.
Kumbrough, John J .. d. Sept. 14, 1863.
COMPANY I. Captain, W. A. Summers.
Harrison, J. W., k. at Chickamauga.
Braden, J. W .. k. in battle.
Moseley, W. T., k. at Chickamauga.
Brashier, J. N., k. in battle.
Cunningham, John W., k. at Chickamauga.
Bryan, Jesse L., k. July 25, 1863.
Summers, Abner, k. on picket.
Bowlin. Thomas G., k. April 26, 1863.
Hopper, E. G., k. on picket.
Brasier, W. M., k. Oct. 17, 1863.
Collins, Asher G., k. on picket.
Campbell, John, k. Oct. 12, 1863.
Dorris, John S., k. in battle.
Roden, J. B .. k. in battle.
COMPANY K. Captain, John D. Clarke.
Sansom, William, d. March 15, 1862.
Ikord, Capt. Elijah H., d. April 20, 1862.
Conn, Robt. D., d. June 16, 1863.
Norton, James O., d. March 4, 1862.
Wilcox, Kendrick, d. April 2, 1863.
Reed, John, d. Nov. 23, 1864.
Hays, William, d. March 16, 1862.
Dossett, George, d.
Elkins, Wm. P., d. March 20, 1862.
Parton, Geo. W., d. Dec. 4, 1862.
Bennett, James H., d. Dec. 16, 1861.
Churchman, John R., d. Dec. 16, 1861.
THIRTY-THIRD TENNESSEE INFANTRY. BY ALEX. W. CAMPBELL, JACKSON, TENN.
THIS regiment was organized Oct. 18, 1861, near Union City, Tenn., by Lieut .- col. W. M. Cason-acting under orders from Maj .- gen. Leonidas Polk-by the election of Alex. W. Campbell, Colonel; W. P. Jones, Lieutenant-colonel; and H. C. McNeill, Major.
The archives of the first and second year's operations of the regiment were lost in 1863, and the only sources of information now accessible to the writer are frag- mentary memoranda and the recollection of its surviving members widely scat- tered throughout the South and South-west.
At the time of the organization the following constituted the officers of the reg- iment. Field and staff: Colonel, Alex. W. Campbell; Lieutenant-colonel, W. P. Jones; * Major, H. C. McNeill; * Adjutant, J. C. Harris; * Surgeon, Dr. J. M. Alexander; f Assistant Surgeon, Dr. John Baxter; f Quartermaster, William E. Caldwell ;* Commissary, James Wilson .* The respective companies were offi- cered as follows:
Co. A: Captain, A. S. Howard; First Lieutenant, H. W. Hickman; Second Lieutenant, Benjamin Gray; ; Brevet Second Lieutenant, A. E. Calhoun.#
* Killed in battle. + Died since the war. ; Killed and died in service.
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Shires, W. C., k. Oct. 14, 1863.
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REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
Co. B: Captain, Thomas Saey; First Lieutenant, W. B. Manly; Second Lieu- tenant, Thomas G. Bond; Brevet Second Lieutenant, L. M. Johnson.
Co. C: Captain W. F. Marberry; First Lieutenant, James Lynch; Second Lieu- tenant, R. A. Johns; Brevet Second Lieutenant, - Lassiter.
Co. D: Captain, W. H. Frost; First Lieutenant, James R. Scott; Second Lieu- tenant, P. J. Cummings; Brevet Second Lientenant, R. N. Payne.
Co. E: Captain, Dick Hutcherson; First Lieutenant, II. C. McNeal ;* Second Lieutenant, Frank Brooks; Brevet Second Lieutenant, J. W. Walker.
Co. F: Captain, John Bedford; First Lieutenant, William Youree; Second Lieutenant, William Morris; Third Lieutenant, W. B. Jones.
Co. G: Captain, Warner P. Jones; * First Lientenant, J. F. Carpenter; Second Lieutenant, B. M. Smith; * Brevet Second Lieutenant, E. R. Morrand.
Co. H: Captain, W. H. MeWhirter; * First Lieutenant, Samuel Ridgeway; Second Lieutenant, - Killebrew; Brevet Second Lientenant, - Brand.
Co. I: Captain, James Wilson: First Lieutenant, W. E. Caldwell; * Second Lieutenant, William Jackson; * Brevet Second Lieutenant, Thomas Stovall .*
Co. K: Captain, James Bradford; * First Lieutenant, W. M. Hutcherson; Sec- ond Lientenant, S. Cochran."
Of the ten companies composing the regiment six were from Obion, to wit, companies A, D, F, G, I, and K; two from Weakley-companies E and H; one from Madison-Company B; and one from Calloway county, Ky .- Company C.
The regiment remained in camp of instruction near Union City until January, 1862, when it moved to Columbus, Ky. While in camp of instruction it had un- usual facilities for instruction in tactics and drill, except in the manual of arms, which at that time were almost unobtainable. Previous to the move to Colum- bus, only a few companies were partially armed, mostly with shotguns and hunt- ing rifles. There a few more arms were obtained. But the arming of the entire regiment was not completed until a few weeks before the battle of Shiloh, when we obtained some flint and steel muskets as a loan.
After arriving at Columbus the regiment went into winter-quarters, and while there was employed as industriously as possible in perfecting its drill in the manual of arms, by appointing different drill hours so that several men might use the same gun. The difficulties under which they labored in preparing for service seemed to excite the officers and inen to increased diligence, and before the Thirty-third left Columbus it was one of the best drilled regiments in the division.
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