Civil War letters at Middlebury College

341 In this position we lay for twenty hours when Col Post ascertained that the right of our army which was just across the ridge east of us had fallen back + that we were four miles in advance of our other lines + that there was a road open by which the Rebs could cross + get between us + Chattanooga - Learning this we made a quiet + hasty march towards Chattanooga for four miles where we were placed in position again where we remained until 8 oclock A.M. being then only three miles from the said town - all this time no communication had been had with Gen Davis sine the Capt returned Sunday night - an attempt was now made to do so + we ascertained the fact that we were cut off from Chattanooga + that we would have to fight our way through we moved up the valley by Regt in 4 parallel collumns left in front Soon the point of the mountain on our right came in sight + just from the other side of that the enemy began

342 to (in a playful way) thru shells into us Some of which struck uncomfortably near we were here put in position and one Regt put out to skirmish with them and find out this strength - skirmishing was continued for an hour + some shells were thrown but they did not get the range + no damage was done It soon became evident ^that they did not intend to begin the engagement + Col Post ordered the Brig forward in line of battle + they evidently over estimating our strength cut dirt + run after setting fire to the bridge across Chimunga Creek running between us + the town but that was discovered + put out before it had made much progress + we soon landed within the breast works + found that the whole army had fallen back to this place- We felt very much relieved for we were in a pretty tight place as we had only forty rounds of ammunition and had they known it they could have forced us back over the mountain

sheet 3 343 I have said that the whole army had fallen back to this place while our wounded of the two days hard fighting were left on the field - a deplorable state of things but it is almost a miracle that our whole army was one annihilated as Rosecrans fought 3 times his number - Our Brigade is now larger than the rest of the Divis while either Brig was larger than ours before the fight-The 2nd Brig now numbers only six hundred men + they have but one field officer left such a slaughter was never known before yet the army acknowledge to a much greater loss in proportion We were immediately sent to the front to skirmish with the enemy + it was yet expected that they would press down on us + endeavor to crush us - we were placed in line of battle + in connexion with others formed a line or a half circle from each bank of the river South of the town + we all stationed skirmishers in the advance + went to work throwing up breast work + digging rifel pits- The enemy were in sight and annoyed us somewhat + just at night a slight attack was made on our

left which lasted for an hour during which several were wounded-firing by the skirmish-ers was continued all night The nex day we thought sure they would make an attack but all was quiet until 4 oclock two Regts of this Brig were sent out to make reconnoiscance which wakened them up beautiful + a sharp skirmish was kept up till after dark by the whole line and up to this time our position has not been changed + every night we are arroused from sleep by some sharp attack but it soon becomes quiet again but we have to be constantly on the alert- they have only fired on us with two parees of artillery Sept 30th There has nothing of importance transpired except to deliver up to us our wounded - it was arranged by flag of truce that we should send our ambulances to their lines + they put drivers ^on and give them back loaded with wounded for several nights the rebs have got into a habit of throwing shells into our head quarters we have fallen back to the 2nd line of entrenchments and are making our head quarters in

a house + the rebs keep pegging away at us several have struck very close It is very funny music to hear these little balls and big shells come whistling by our ears and I have heard them enough to demonstrate one thing + that is that I can face them with as little fear as any of them + with less flinching than most of them but I am not sorry that we kept out of the big fight The reports that some have written of the result of the fight is shameful- It is true that Rosa was forced to fall back to this place but it was worse than useless to have fought the whole confederacy any longer but if he had been reinforced as he expected to be he would have whipped them and as it is they are about as badly whipped as we are -and the story that McCooks + Crittendens Corps acted disgracefull is entirely false it was written by Gen Thomas blower + strikes The enemy have been silent for three days except an occasional shot and it is the opinion here that they are going to lay siege

Head Quarters 74th Ills Vols Chattanooga Tenn Oct 3d 1863 Dearest Lydia Well my darling I believe I have nothing of more importance for this evening than writing a few words for you Above all things would it please me to behold the light of your countenance to take you in these arms to look into your eyes and talk to you even for one short hour would I think be the happiest hour of my life Little did I realize when we were together how much I should ever long to see you so true it is that we do not appreciate blessings while they are in our possession but I hope the lesson may be useful in after life

My dream of happiness for the future is centered in a little quiet home of our own freed from the contentious and annoy-ances that usually embitter life and that have in a measure sound our own past life and some legitimate means of earning a livelihood other than by hard manual labor and my own cherished Lydia to love + protect Unambitious is it not yet will it be consummated I am pledged to a warfare with my kindness my trade is to kill - my duty to stand up bravely and offer my own life - it is no better than others - on every side they fall brave + good men - fond + loving hearts are torn + lie bleeding in agony - and possibly the loved one for whose eyes these lines are penned may next learn that the writer

too has fallen but Lydia even it were thus and so vanish all dreams of happiness in this world it were better than submit to the rule of tyrants + unprincipled men- a national freedom purchased by a million such lives were cheaply bought and in these efforts sucess must attend us or else this happy dream of home with all its en-dearments is but a dream + can never be realized Our enemy fight with the utmost desperation they are terribly in earnest These thoughts are not called out because I am discouraged or have gloomy forebodings for I am cheerful + as happy as any one can be in the same kind of business and I am looking forward forward to the time when you will see

me coming and with outstretched arms shall welcome me home- God speed the day when peace shall cover the land and we be restored to our family I have no news of importance to write except that our wounded that were left on the battle field are being brought in as fast as as they can - yesterday one thousand came in No demonstrations have been made on the line for several days and this Brigade has been moved back nearer town + within the inner line of retrenchments We have had a beautiful rain of 24 hours which has chaned everything finely but the nights are very coldWrite me good long letters + I will write often - while I remain ever your loving Husband Orlando L French Lieut [?] 75th Ill Vol

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