Daily Archive

August 20, 1864
By Private Miles O’Reilly

THREE years ago today
‘We raised our hands to heaven,
And on the rolls of muster
Our names were thirty-seven ;

There were just a thousand bayonets,
And the swords were thirty-seven,
As we took the oath of service
With our right hands raised to heaven.

Oh ’twas a gallant day,
In memory still adored.
That day of our sun-bright nuptials
With the musket and the sword’:
Shrill rang the fifes, the bugles blared,
And beneath a cloudless heaven
Twinkled a thousand bayonets,
And the swords were thirty-seven.

Of the thousand stalwart bayonets
Two hundred march today;
Hundreds lie in Virginia swamps,
And hundreds in Maryland clay;
And other hundreds, less happy, drag
Their shattered limbs around.

And envy the deep, long, blessed sleep
Of the battle-field’s holy ground.
For the swords—one night, a week ago,
The remnant, just eleven,
Gathered around a banqueting board
With seats for thirty-seven;

There were two limped in on crutches,
And two had each but a hand
To pour the wine and raise the cup
As we toasted “Our flag and land!”

And the room’ seemed filled with whispers
As we looked at the vacant seats,
And, with choking throats, we pushed aside
The rich but untasted meats;

Then in silence we brimmed our gl*****,
As we rose up—just eleven,
And bowed as we drank to the loved and the dead
Who had made us THIRTY-SEVEN.

Abstract from tri-monthly return of the Army of Tennessee, General Braxton Bragg commanding, March 10, 1863; headquarters Tullahoma, Tenn,

[See chart in OR]

Polk’s Corps

Hardee’s Corps

Jackson’s Brigade

Post Tullahoma

Artillery reserve

Wheeler’s Cavalry

Bragg’s escort

Shows number of Officers | Men and Effective Total

• Polk had 17,302 men
• Hardee had 12,621 men
• Jackson had 1,360 men

All total the Army of Tennessee reported over 80,000 effective troops for Bragg.

O.R.– SERIES I–VOLUME XXIII/2 [S# 35]
Correspondence, Orders, And Returns Relating To Operations In Kentucky, Middle And East Tennessee, North Alabama, And Southwest Virginia, From January 21 To August 10, 1863.
CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE. ETC.–#3
Page 680

CHAPEL HILL, March 10, 1863.
General POLK,  Shelbyville, Tenn.:

GENERAL: There are at this hour (11 o’clock) several citizens and some soldiers who have come in from the vicinity of Caney Spring and Raleigh Hill, giving the information that the enemy camped last night in strong force at the latter place. (Colonel Battle and Major Winn amongst the citizens, one of Van Dorn’s soldiers and one of mine that was with him in his last fight amongst the soldiers.) All report the enemy pressing Van Dorn very hard, and advancing on this place from the north and west of us. The force at Raleigh Hill supposed to be going to Lewisburg. I am instructed by General Van Dorn to hold my position as long as possible, and shall do so to the best of my ability.

Very respectfully,
P. D. RODDEY,
Colonel, Commanding.

O.R.– SERIES I–VOLUME XXIII/2 [S# 35]
Correspondence, Orders, And Returns Relating To Operations In Kentucky, Middle And East Tennessee, North Alabama, And Southwest Virginia, From January 21 To August 10, 1863.
CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE. ETC.–#3
Page 678