PREFACE. Our object, in writing the History of the Fortyeighth Ohio, was to preserve the record of a Regiment whose services, extending over a period of nearly five years, had gained for it the reputation of having done its whole duty, whether in camp, on the march, or in the trying hour of battle, as attested by its Brigade and Division Commanders. We began arranging and compiling the material, consisting of our old army letters, diaries, company record, official reports, etc. etc., in 1870, and had it ready for the press in 1873; but owing to various causes we have delayed its publication until the present time. We were both present with the Regiment, from the time we joined it at Camp Dennison, in October, 1861, until one made his escape from prison, in August, 1864, and the other, until mustered out in January, 1865; therefore we were eye-witnesses to, and participated in, the varied events narrated. The record, from January, 1865, until the final muster-out, May 10, 1866, was furnished principally by Lieut. James Douglas. We are also indebted to Lieut. W. J. Srofe for many items covering the same period. In conclusion, we will say to the surviving members of the Regiment, that we do not claim any merit for this volume as a literary production. It is simply a narration of events, as seen by us, and was written at intervals, as the time could be spared from a busy life. Should it meet the approbation of our comrades, and be the means of perpetuating the deeds and memory of those who gave up their lives for the cause for which we fought, we will feel ourselves fully compensated for our labor. J. A. B. AND T. M. LYNCHBURG, HIGHLAND CO., O., June, 1880. CONTENTS. The Fall of Fort Sumpter-President's Call for Vol- Organization of a Company at Lynchburg— Leaving Lynchburg-Arrival at Camp Dennison - As- signed to Quarters - Drill - Uniforms - Tents - Vis- its of Citizens of Lynchburg— Presentation of Swords -New Quarters First Payment - Full Companies - Marching Orders Steamboat Ride Down the Ohio- Paducah- Without Arms - Rumors of an Attack - Armed with Austrian Rifles - Up the Tennessee - Fort Henry Hog Mountain · First Shot- Savannah Captured Orders for Strict Watch Battle Immi- nent The Attack of April 6th - Long-Roll-In Line of Battle -To the Support of the Pickets - Counter- March - Second Line of Battle-The Rebel Charge - - Camp of the 81st Ohio-Arrival at the Landing- Advance to Support a Battery- The Rebel Charge- Battle of the Seventh-The Final Rout Reoccupying Our Camps-The Battle-field Burial of the Dead - Following the Enemy on the Eighth - The Attack on the 77th Ohio - The 48th Ohio to Their Support - Re- turn to Camp-Our Dead and Wounded - Extracts from the Cincinnati Dailies - The Battle No Surprise - Loss in Both Armies - Extracts from Gen. Sher- man's Official Report - Arrival of the Sanitary Com- On the Road to Corinth - Order to March-Joke on Sergeant Reed - First Earth works - Second Advance - Camp Number Six - Engagement at the Russell House - Talk with the Rebel Pickets-Separation of Mother and Child Last Line of Earthworks - Evac- On to Memphis - Visit of Thomas Peale, Esq., of Lynch- burg Return of Lieut. Col. Parker - La-Grange- Moscow-Lafayette -- Newton and the Snake - Return to Moscow March to Holly Springs and Return Contrabands - On the March to Memphis - White Station Memphis Camp at Fort Pickering — Maj. Wise and Lieut. Fields Resign - Return of Absentees |