Field Hospital Chattanooga Tenn Sep 26^th 1863

 

            Dear Parents

                                    I do not know as I shall be able to send a letter from here for several days but as I have a little spare time I will write a letter to you and send it as soon as it will be taken through with safety. I wrote to you last when we were at Bridgeport making preperations to cross the Tennasee River at that place. In the afternoon of the 2^nd Sep our Corps crossed the river on pontoons and with Thomas^s Corps moved south across the mountains and in three days reached Trenton Ga from there we passed through Falling Waters, Alpine and Lee^s Mills then taking a north east course we formed a junction with Crittenden^s corps on the 19^th Sep at the foot of Pidgeon mountain near Chickamauga Creek where a battle was then in progress and it continued untill dark our Army holding its position against superior numbers but the next day (Sunday) saw the great strugle. Our Army fought bravely but had to fall back which they did slowly and in good order. Our Brigade has suffered as much and probably more than any other in the Army. Our Brigadier General (Gen Lytle) killed and many other of our best officers. The 36^th went in to the fight three hundred strong and now as far as we are able to ascertain the / loss in our Regiment in killed, wounded and missing is one hundred and thirty four which includes in killed some of our best Company officers. Our Lieut Colonel, Major, Adjutant had their horses shot under them.

 

            I was with the Regiment when they went in to the fight to repel the rebel charge but surgeons and their wounded were ordered to report as quick as possible to Chattanooga with their ambulance trains of wounded.

 

            We were on the extreme right of the battle field from which our right wing fell back and all of the wounded and surgeons of that wing came verry near capture but Dr Pierce and two or three other surgeons with myself took our ambulances the six miles to Chattanooga in safety.

 

            I reported there late that night with about one hundred and fifty wounded from several different Regiments in our Division. I got them in as good quarters as could be had and while I was seeing them unloaded I found our cousin W H Pierce wounded by a round ball that had passed through the upper part of his leg. I found him as good quarters as possible and dressed his wound that night. when I left him to take care of others he was feeling quite comfortable. He has been sent to Bridgeport or farther north and I think will soon be able to walk.

 

            The late battle has made work in abundance for all surgeons here but now most every thing is cleaned up in better shape. I am now to work in our Division field Hospital where our worst cases are left the slight / wounded and some quite serious having been sent to take the rail road at Bridgeport.

 

            I have got most through here and will probably go back to my Regiment to night or in the morning. our whole Army lays south of this town about a mile holding a strong position and are is in line of battle. We have no expectation of giving up Chattanooga but I think our position here depends upon another general battle. In the late fight our Army took between three and four thousand prisoners and many were from Longstreets Corps of Lees Army who said they were in the battle of Gettysburg. some were from Mobile, some from Charleston some from Pembertons old Army. Somebody is to blame for letting the whole strength of the enemy concentrate against us. We have fought them bravely although we are not victorious they have not gained their object in that is taking back Chattanooga which is the key to East Tennasee and to Kentuckey. Things looked verry gloomy for a f two or three days after the battle but every body is feeling much better now. Our present position is a good one and our loss is not as heavey as at first supposed. The Aurora Company in our Regiment has lost its Captain and (Campbell) and acting Lieutenant (Hitchcock) who are both in the hands of the enemy and seriously wounded. Dan Roberts of your town has a similar wound to the one he received at Perryville. He is doing well now and has been sent north.

 

            My health is verry good and I am able to do my part in these exciting times but think I would enjoy a good nights rest at the old home where I could see you all Ottie among the rest. Write to me soon, from your Son J A Hatch

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