Milton

Haburn

 

 

Murfreesboro Tenn

March 22^nd/63

 

Miss Mary Wood                                                

Upper Alton Ills

                                                                                   

Friend Mollie: I recd yours of the 7^th the 16^th I also recd the one you wrote in Feb.

 

            It has seemed almost a task for me to answer the letters I have rec'd in the last two months. Not that I have recd so many, but then we have been half if not a great portion of the time out on scouting expeditions & forageing trips. While in camp we have had to drill six hours in the day. One not acquainted / with camp life might suppose that we had plenty of time to write but there are many things continually transpiring to prevent

 

            Well Mollie its not because I did not want to answer your letter but because I did not feel like doing so sooner. I have some four or five to answer which I shall try and do today. It has been with difficulty that I have written home once a week.

 

            The 18^th a portion of the four Reg'ts of our Brigade numbering about 1200 Infantry with two pieces of Artillery & a portion of Cap't Blackburns Co of Cavalry started on a four days scout to Liberty. About noon of the 19^th we double quicked into a little town called Statesville. Started about 40 Reb Cav killed one & took four prisoners. From them we learned that Morgan was at Liberty with / with a large force. From there we crossed to the East Liberty Pike. Here we rested while our spy went forward. He ascertained the Rebs were in force between us & Liberty. We then came back on the Pike to Auburn a distance of two mi.

            Our advance fired on a squad of Rebs just before going into Auburn. Here we camped for the night. The Rebs were in sight of our pickets all night.

 

March 20^th Just as we were falling in line our pickets fired on a squad of Rebs but the distance was too far to do any good. About day light we were on our way back a few Rebs discernible in our rear. We marched through Milton 5 mi from Auburn and 14 from Murfreesboro. We were out of town but a few minutes before the rebs commenced advancing in & we commenced shelling them. Cap Blackburn charged in but fired / only a few rounds when he had to withdraw. He only had about 25 men. Six of these were dispatched two at a time to Murfreesboro for reinforcements four were captured two only getting in

 

The first gun was fired about ten O'clock Half after ten Morgans brag Reg't the 10^th Ky. came through town and passed round to our right for the purpose of drawing our attention in that direction and getting possession of the crop-hills in our rear. Our Regt was ordered to prevent this move. We started off in a run; for half a mile the Rebs moved parallel with us at a distance of about 400 yards from us

 

            All this time a column of them were passing through town & round our left. The remainder of our forces were moving back to the hill & getting a position. We got to the timber on the hill before the Rebs did formed a line in the edge of the timber & then gave them one volley, broke their line routed them completely killing ten & wounding about 30. 

 

We then moved to the top of the hill took a position behind a couple of fences that formed a narrow lane. By this time the rebs had dismounted and charged on our left. The fight had now commenced in earnest. The 123 Ills held the front the 101^th Ind the left the 105^th Ohio supported the two pieces of Artillery & put out two Cos as skirmishers. Five of our Company were held as a reserve. Co B & K were thrown out to protect the right & the other three deployed to protect the rear. The battle by this time was raging in earnest the 101^th was driven to the top of the hill. The Rebs were makeing a desperate attempt to take our Artillery Two columns of rebs were pouring a cross fire on the 101^th and had nearly succeeded in flanking them when our reserve was called upon. (The drum was now beating for us to fall in to go & see our dead buried. We brought the dead & wounded in with us.) The 80^th run over the hill hurrahing & yelling as loud as their lungs would let them. The other Regts commenced shouting & the Rebs commenced retreating so fast that our Reg't only got to fire one or two rounds

 

            They supposed when the hollowing commenced that we were being reinforced. They retreated back to the town, but about 1 O'clock they were reinforced and their column commenced moving on us again half after one they opened on us with 5 pieces of Artillery. Their Cavalry continued coming through town & moving towards our left (the cedars hiding them from view) till / about half after two. We were expecting them to charge on us every minute untill about three, when they commenced moveing back again. They had got news that reinforcements were on the road to us and thought best to retire. A little after four 800 of our Cavalry came up & passed on after them but could not overtake them. Four Regts of Infantry came up about dark with one Battery. We thought they would come back the next morning but they kept clear of us

 

            Now for the result of the engagement, that is to the best of my knowledge. Not a man of our Regt was injured but out of the brigade we lost six killed & 40 wounded. A Rebel surgeon estimated their loss at 300 killed and wounded. You may think this is big talk & that our Regt could not kill & wound 40 at one volley but it is so. The Reg't we fired on were so confused they dident fire a shot at us. I had almost forgot to mention Cap Blackburn He saw us fire on the rebs & after they broke he started to charge on them with only 14 of his Cavalry but was ordered back by our Col. He afterwards fought two rebel companies that attempted to cut off our mules that were in the rear. He had been watching them for some time hid himself and men & when they came up fired on them killing 15. Cap is only 20 years old a fine manly looking fellow & his men will follow where he goes. The rebs have got his father in jail at McMinnville & he swears he will fight them as long as he can rais his sword

 

There was fighting near here while we were out. It is reported that a number of prisoners were taken. I presume you will see it all in print soon. Please write when convenient Your friend W^m H. Clayton Co B 80 Reg't Ills Vols Nashville Tenn

 

[margin upside down]

Sarah

            Wood

Cornelia

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