Letter from Orlando L. French to Lydia French

ReadAboutContentsHelp

Letter written by Orlando L. French to his wife, Lydia French, during his service in the Civil War.

This is a scanned version of the original image in Special Collections and Archives at Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vt.



Pages

p.
Needs Review

p.

Head Qrs 75th Ills Vol Whiteside Tenn Dec 3d 1863 Ever Dear Lydia I am proud and happy to chronicle the events of the last campaign It is a matter of pride to me thatI have taken my part in it and performed my duties and it is very gratifying to have our efforts crowned with such signal success As a Regt we have been more than fortunate for we have been in position to witness the whol and not be under heavy fire We have had beautiful weather easy marching brilliant victories with small loss as as Capt Parker expresses it "a very large quantity of extremely good luck" Monday morning Nov 23d we moved out of camp here towards Chattanooga = We then surmised that we were going into a fight but did not know for certain About 4 that afternoon we passed by Gen Hookers head qrs and had a sight of the celebrated "fighting Joe" and was favorably impressed with him he has a nice pink face and appearances would indicate that he is an excellent judge of good Brandy - we camped on his left for the night about two miles from Chattanooga There has been heavy fighting during the afternoon

Last edit over 2 years ago by LibrarianDiva
p.
Needs Review

p.

385 on our left in front of the town and reports reached us at dark that ^it was doubtful who would win the day but night closes the contest On the morning of the 24" we moved to the front at the foot of Lookout mountain and with us was the 84th Ills - nearly all the rest of the forces engaged in this conflict were sent to the enemys left flank and so quietly and wily was it done that before they were aware of it they were our flanked and forced to retire we lay in their front and kept up a brisk skirmish with them - Chattanooga creek a narrow but deep stream separating us we sent a part of our Regt to our right to take possession of a burnt railroad bridge I dismounted and sent my horse to the rear and while carrying orders from one part of the Regt to the other I was obliged to pass by an open space in plain view of the rebel skirmishers and several well directed shots were sent after me one striking at my feet others whistling bu so close that it seemed as though they went through me but I was unhurt We lay in this position something over an hour having accomplished all we were ordered to do to attract their attentions and hold them in position presently the firing began on the enemys left flank and so completely by surprise were they taken that they broke + run allowing Hooker to forma line of battle on their flank extending from the base to the summit of lookout and just at this juncture the artillery from a line of works in our rear extending from right to left something over a mile opened on them with

Last edit over 2 years ago by LibrarianDiva
p.
Needs Review

p.

shell- a hundred shell a minute were hurled screaming through the air over our heads and exploding among the panic striken rebels the effects of every shot was plainly visible to us and I think I never emjoyed any little serve more than I did this- presently our battle line was in sight steadily and in perfect order marching along the hillside sweeping everything before it and our battle flags and the old Stars & Stripes how proudly grandly they move along like things of life- ow we match with intense interest they near the enemys works a large fort but with scarcely a perceptible halt these Northern Vandals with fixed bayonets & with a wild yell charge upon them in their strong holds - one flag falls to the earth but is quickly raised by other hands and its folds float proudly in the breeze firmly planted on the heights of their strong hold- Ah! I tell you the old stars & stripes never in the world looked half so good to me as they did this day I was happy was in extacy At this time the line of battle had reached us & we were without orders to cross the rest of our Brigade had been moved to another field also our Brigade commands and Col Bennett & indeed all were getting very anxious to join in the pursuit and he sent me flying over the country to get permission to cross "he didnt care a damn who it was from but he wanted orders to go across could cross in a minute if he only had orders" well I soon returned with the coveted permission and away we went at "double quick" but there was

Last edit over 2 years ago by LibrarianDiva
p.
Needs Review

p.

work to be done on the bridge before we could cross and Col Waters of the 84" Ills was there one moment before us with a detail to put the bridge in a passable condition but our boys under the inspiration of the moment brought logs and timber from the burnt railroad bridge and soon had it so that we could pass in single file and we outwinded the other Col and moved our Regt over first the battle line had by this time got a half a mile by us although its left did not reach down to the mountain road and between that & the creek there was yet an unexplored country and across this one formed with skirmishers in the advance we moved on the Rebs were thick enough but they had thrown away their arms and stood with uplifted hands which means "dont shoot I want to be gobbled" and gobble them we did for in fifteen minutes we sent back over a hundred Having gone three fourths of a mile without special orders Col Bennett ordered a halt to await instructions - the fighting had now entirely ceased the Revs were on a big run whether they would evre stop this side of the "last ditch" was a matter of doubt Presently orders came in the shape of General Hooker himself who rode up to the Col + asked "What are you waiting for Colonel?" and the Col replied " I am waiting for orders General" you shall have them sirsend forward one company of skirmishers and move in column up this mountain road and dont stop until you get in sight of Chattanooga

Last edit over 2 years ago by LibrarianDiva
p.
Needs Review

p.

sheet 2 And then be talked & joked with the boys in his pleasant cheerful way and in a less time than five minutes he had the love and confidence of evry man in the Regt and would have fought for him at the drop of the hat: It is surprising to see how quick and unanimous a regt will evidence their like or dislike for a commanding General We moved up the mountain side in compliance with the Generals orders winding around huge rocks & abrupt cliffs until we reached the extreme height traversed by this road and here was one place that the road was only eight feet wide cut out of the solid rock and of this the rebels had blasted and destroyed one half of its width and right down off this at our left if a man were to fall he would travel downward five hundred feet before he would come in contact with any thing and then it would be a big pile of rocks which would probably disarrange his architecture some but no one concluded to make the trip and we went on until we come in sight of Chattanooga when we halted and presented a line of battle to the front & reported to Gen Hooker I found him only a little in our rear & he rode forward at once and as he caugh sight of the town he ordered "three cheers" and we obliged but rather feebly and as a kind of appology for the feeble cheer our old major the gallant oldscamp had to put

Last edit over 2 years ago by LibrarianDiva
Displaying pages 1 - 5 of 8 in total