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Camp the Field Columbia, Tenn. Nov. 23, 1864 Dear Mother, We are now stationed at this point. We have been here some five or six days doing provost or picket duty. We are now expecting an attack from Hood or Forrest, we are not certain which, or may be both combined. They are but a short distance from here. Our cavalry has been fighting with them, but they cannot stand their ground, and are falling back to this point. The advance of their army will probably reach us this evening or tomorrow morning. And if we are not reinforced by that time, we will stand a good chance to see the inside of some southern prison, as thare is only three Regiments here, and small ones at that, so it will not take a very large force to take the place and us with it, but we hope such will not be the case. We are having quite cold weather just now. A few days ago we had quite a little snow storm. It lasted most all day, but we have plenty of wood and so we manage to keep comfortable at least part of the time. I think I like this country "if it is colder" much better than the one we just left. It looks more like civilization, the country is settled much more, and much better houses than thare is in Miss. It puts me in mind of N.Y. state than any other I have been through. As it is growing dark I must say good night. 24th We received heavy reinforcements lastnight and this morning. What troops they are I have not learnt. The day opens with heavy skirmishing about a mile from us a little to our left. I expect it is with the advance guard of the enemys forces. I do not think the full force has arrived yet. Our regiment is getting ready to fall into line of battle so I must stop for the present. Noon: We have been in line of battle all the morning. Have done nothing yet. Skirmishing has entirely ceased so we are allowed a few moments for dinner. Cannot tell what the afternoon may bring forth. Night. All quiet. We are in Camp but have to sleep on our arms with one eye open as the saying is.
25th afternoon: Thare has been some very brisk cannonading this afternoon. Our Regiment has not been called on yet. We are building fortifications as fast as possible. What damage has been done this afternoon I cannot tell. The firing has almost ceased. I expect we will have a general engagement tomorrow. Morning 26th We have retreated back some five miles, forces are too much for us. Dec. 2nd We have fell back as far as Nashville with the enemy close upon us. We had a desperate fight at Franklin, eighteen miles from here. Our Regt. loss is heavy. The most I regret is we lost our Battle Flag, but honorably, as we was the only Regt that stood our ground. We are expecting attack every moment so I must stop. I'm all safe as yet. Will give you a more minute description of the battle when I write again. Love to all. Your Affect. Son Edward
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Nashville, Tenn. Dec. 10th 1864 Dear Mother, I have not received a letter from you since I left Vicksburg, Miss. I have written several to you since leaving thare. I would like to know if you received that traveling bag and the fifty dollars I sent you per express from Cairo, Ill. We have seen very hard times of it for the past six weeks. The weather here is very cold. It is as much as we can do to keep ourselves from freezing. We have nothing to cover us but little shelter tents and they are open at both ends, but then thare is no use of grumbling. We will have to take it as it comes this winter. Our Regiment is in the Advance so we have not the chance to make ourselves as comfortable as though we was in the rear. The enemy's works are only about a mile from ours. We can see them quite plain from our picket posts. They appear in considerable force in our front. What they intend doing is hard to determine. One day they act as though they intended making an attack and the next they do not show themselves. I think it is the intention as soon as it grows warmer for us to attack them, but I hope not. The Battle of Franklin was almost enough to suit me. Our Regiments loss is one hundred and fifty-eight killed and wounded. I would like to give you the particulars of the fight, but it is too cold. It is as much as I can do to hold my pencil my fingers are so cold. Thare is some cannonading on our left this morning. Well I must stop. Love to all Your Affectionate Son Edward P.S. Do write soon as you receive this. E
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Camp Near Columbia, Tenn. Dec. 20th 1864 Dear Mother, Your letter of the 8th has been received. The others have not been received yet. We attacked Hood's army on the 15th and have driven him something like forty miles. We have had some very hard fighting. The loss is heavy on both sides. We have captured forty eight artillery and about six thousand prisoners. I expect Hood will give us battle again today at Columbia which is four miles from here. If he does it will be a hard one as we have to cross Duck River before we can get at him. The weather since we left Nashville has been dreadful. It has rained all the time and the mud almost knee deep. This morning is the first time I've been dry since the 16th. It looks very much as though we are going to have fine weather now but cannot tell as it is so changeable. Our Army nevertheless is in good spirits and we think in a short time Hoods followers will be numbered with the thing that was. I wish you would send me a Chicago Tribune with an Account of the Battle of Franklin in it. I think it was in the issue of the 10th, and I wish when you write you would send me a small fine tooth comb. Send a small but strong one. I expect we will start soon so I must stop and pack up. Love to all. Your Affectionate Son Edward
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time until July 4, when the rebels capitulated, the Seventy-second did its duty among the foremost in the siege, and, on the capituliition were among the first to enter the city, On July 12, the Seventy-second embarked for Natchez, Miss., where they landed the succeeding day, taking possession of the town, capturing a large number of prisoners, pieces of artillery, confederate government stores, and 5,000 head of Texas cattle. Here they remained until October 17, doing provost duty, with the exception of a couple of skirmishes at St. Catherine's Creek, Miss., September 1, and at Cross Bayou, La., on September 28. October 18, 1863, they went on provost guard duty at Vicksburg, Miss., where they remained until October 30, 1864. During this year of comparative inaction, they only went on two expeditions. The first of these was to Benton, Miss., on May 7, 1864, where they had a short, but pretty severe fight with a body of rebels; and the second was to Grand Gulf, Miss., on July 18. October 30, 1864, they were ordered to report to Major General Howard, command Army and Department of the Tennessee, then with Sherman's Army; and, in pursuance of this order, arrived at Nashville, Tenn, on November 18. They there found themselves too late to join Sherman in his great "march to the sea," and were ordered to Columbia. Tenn., to join Major General Schofield's command, which they did, on November 21, when Hood crossed the Tennessee River, and seemed coming down, "like a wolf on the fold." Schofield's Army found it convenient to retire towards Nashville. On November 29, they evacuated Columbia, and the Seventy-second was in a severe skirmish with the enemy at Spring Hill, on the road between Columbia and Franklin. On the succeeding day they arrived at Franklin, and hastily threw up some light earthworks. About 4 o'clock that afternoon Hood attacked them, and the battle raged from that hour until midnight, with terrific fury. In that fight the Seventy-second lost 9 officers out of 16 engaged, and 152 men, who were either killed or severely wounded. That night they left their works and retreated towards Nashville, which they reached on December 1; and here the Seventy-second was thrown on the extreme right of the Federal lines enclosing Nashville. under command of General A. J. Smith. On December 15, the whole Union Army was moved outside its works to give battle to Hood, and on that and the succeeding day the great battle of Nashville took place, resulting in the complete whipping of the "Rebs." From that time until January 3, 1865, they were engaged in the pursuit of Hood's Army, following it up closely as far as Clifton: but Hood managed to escape across the Tennessee River. From Clifton, the Regi ment went, by boat, up the Tennessee River, to Eastport, Miss., arriving there January 13, 1865, and there remaining in quarters until February 9, making, in that time, but one expedition, and that a fruitless one, to Iuka and Corinth, Miss. February 9, they started for New Orleans, where they arrived February 21. Until March 21 they remained in camp eight miles below the city, and then they were embarked and taken across the Gulf to Dauphine Island, Ala., where they arrived on March 17. The next day the Brigade, which included the Seventy-second, crossed over to the main land, on the western shore of the Mobile Bay. Here they remained a few days. skirmishing with the enemy, when, having accomplished the object of the expedition, which was merely a feint on Mobile from that direction, they rejoined the army at Fish River, near Smith's Mills, Ala.
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On March 26, the Corps to which they were attached moved, and on the morning of the 27th, appeared in front of Spanish Fort. From that time until the night of April 8, the Regiment was actively engaged in the siege. At 5 o'clock, on the evening of the 8th, the Union troops were ordered up into the first line of their works. The attack began, and at near midnight the First Brigade (including the Seventy-second) and the Third Brigade, Sixteenth Army Corps, charged on the enemy's works, and carried them, capturing the fort. The next morning they moved out on the road to Blakely, when their Division was held in support of the other Divisions charging the enemy's works at that place. The place having been taken, the command went into camp here until the 14th, on which date they moved forward on the road to Montgomery, Ala., marching over the 200 miles to that place in exactly eleven days. At Montgomery they remained in camp until May 23, when they were ordered to Union Springs, Ala., 45 miles from Montgomery. There they remained, doing post duty, until July 19, when they started on their homeward journey. On August 6, they were mustered out of the service, at Vicksburg, and thence marched directly home to Chicago. During their term of service they received some 450 recruits, and when ordered home they transferred 270 of these to the Thirty-third Regiment Illinois Veteran Volunteers, at Meridian, Miss. They brought home 22 offIcers and 310 men. In an attack upon some of the Regiment by a gang of drunken rebels, at Yerger's Landing, on their way home, private Levi Derby, of Company E, was killed, and Sergeant Major Blake was so seriously injured by a pistol shot that his life was endangered.
The following little table of statistics is furnished by the Adjutant of the Regiment, and gives some idea of what their service has been:
Number of officers belinging to Regiment at date of muster-in 27 Number of emlisted men belonging to Regiment at date of muster-in 930 ----Total.............................................................................................. 967 Number of officers returning with Regiment Number of enlisted men returning with Regiment Total.............................................................................................. Number of officers killed in service Number of men killed in service Number of officers died of disease 22 310 ----332 7 78 3
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Number of men died of disease Number of officers wounded Number of men wounded Number of officers taken prisoner Number of men taken prisoner Total.............................................................................................. Number of battles fought Number of skirmishes Total.............................................................................................. Number of miles traceled since entering service Number of days under the enemy's fire
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