Slavery and four years of war : $b a political history of slavery in the United States, together with a narrative of the campaigns and battles of the Civil War in which the author took part, 1861-1865. Vols. 1-2Keifer, Joseph Warren
History
Slavery and four years of war : $b a political history of slavery in the United States, together with a narrative of the campaigns and battles of the Civil War in which the author took part, 1861-1865. Vols. 1-2
Keifer, Joseph Warren
Slavery -- United States; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns
The casualties in Grant's army were 22 officers and 478 enlisted
men killed, and 87 officers and 2021 men wounded, total 2608.(22)
The loss in the navy under Foote was 10 killed and 44 wounded.
The Confederate killed and wounded probably did not exceed 1500,(23)
as they fought, in most part, behind intrenchments. The capture
of Fort Donelson was thus far the greatest achievement of the war,
and won for Grant just renown.
The writer's regiment, as we have stated, went into camp in December,
1861, at Bacon Creek, Kentucky. The winter was rainy and severe,
the camps were much of the time muddy, and the troops underwent
many hardships. It was their first winter in tents, and many were
sick.
Colonel Marrow, on one pretence or another, was generally absent
at Louisville, and the responsibility of the drill and discipline
of the regiment devolved on Lieutenant-Colonel Beatty, who was
quite equal to it, notwithstanding Marrow said and did much to
prejudice the regiment against him. The writer also had the
Colonel's displeasure.
On his return to the regiment, January 28th, Beatty handed him, to
be forwarded, charges relating to his disloyalty, unmilitary conduct,
and inefficiency; whereupon he decided to resign and the charges
were withdrawn. Beatty became Colonel and I Lieutenant-Colonel,
February 12, 1862.
Buell's army commenced to move southward February 10th, Mitchel's
division in the advance.
The high railroad bridge over Green River at Munfordville had no
railing or protection on the sides, but it was safely passed over
with the teams by moonlight. The scene of the crossing was highly
picturesque, and attracted much attention from the troops just
starting on a new campaign.
The march of the 14th developed much of interest. There were
evident signs of loyalty at the houses of all who owned no slaves,
and where slaves appeared they exhibited the greatest delight to
see the Union soldiers. All slaves had the belief that we had come
to free them, and there was much difficulty in preventing them from
marching with us. The country through which we passed was cavernous,
and the surface had many bowl-like depressions, at the bottom of
which was, generally, considerable water. Springs and streams were
scarce. The Confederates on retiring drove their disabled, diseased
and broken-down horses, mules, etc., into these ponds and shot
them, leaving them to decay and thus render the water unfit for
use by the Union Army.(24) The troops had no choice but to use
the water from the befouled ponds. We shall hear of them again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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