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Excerpted
Mr. Varker thinks that there will no drafting done but his thoughts about it did not keep me from coming. It was because it looked too much like a coward and rather than to be called a coward, I would remain even if there was danger of being drafted. It is but for nine months at any rate it is no weak cause, no disgraceful one. I am willing to give myself to my Country, that Country for which my fathers bled and if necessary let my blood be shed. It is for no disgraceful cause but it would be an honorable death to die.
There seems to be but a short distance to the Christian between the battlefield and heaven. Why then should we so dread to go? But it is a solemn subject. It is a serious matter. Many are gone unprepared and many must fall the same. Let us weigh the matter well and be not hasty. I will not lengthen on this subject. I am willing to go, willing to remain and risk the draft but if my parents are opposed I will not go and if it is their wish I will return home. If you wish me to come and if you want anything from the City, some of you had better come and I will return with you.
from William Augustus
Aug 27th, 1862
Excerpted
Mr. Varker thinks that there will no drafting done but his thoughts about it did not keep me from coming. It was because it looked too much like a coward and rather than to be called a coward, I would remain even if there was danger of being drafted. It is but for nine months at any rate it is no weak cause, no disgraceful one. I am willing to give myself to my Country, that Country for which my fathers bled and if necessary let my blood be shed. It is for no disgraceful cause but it would be an honorable death to die.
There seems to be but a short distance to the Christian between the battlefield and heaven. Why then should we so dread to go? But it is a solemn subject. It is a serious matter. Many are gone unprepared and many must fall the same. Let us weigh the matter well and be not hasty. I will not lengthen on this subject. I am willing to go, willing to remain and risk the draft but if my parents are opposed I will not go and if it is their wish I will return home. If you wish me to come and if you want anything from the City, some of you had better come and I will return with you.
from William Augustus
Listed on eBay July 2007
NASHVILLE, August 27, 1863–1.25 p.m.
Major-General ROSECRANS:
I have not failed to telegraph you daily. Many messages from your headquarters are six hours old. Mr. Dwyer reports the wires overloaded. On the 23d I telegraphed that Stokes reached Alexandria at 8 a.m. the day previous. On the 24th I advised you of Morgan’s arrival at Columbia, with one brigade, and that he was ordered to commence work on Duck River bridge; that McCook’s brigade was between Franklin and Columbia repairing the railroad. On the same day I received orders to stop work on Duck River bridge and throw Morgan’s brigade forward to Athens. I immediately sent the order, and directed him to report his arrival directly to you. Late last evening I received your order signed by Captain Thoms, and at once sent orders to Stokes to draw ten days’ supplies from Carthage, “and hold himself in realness to move. Ordered McCook’s brigade to cease work upon the bridges and march to Athens, leaving one regiment at Columbia until the arrival of the Thirteenth Wisconsin from Fort Donelson, and Twenty-eighth Kentucky from Clarksville, when the regiment ordered to remain at Columbia would rejoin McCook, leaving the two regiments above named at Columbia. I ordered the latter to clear the country as they moved. They will reach Columbia about the 31st. I sent you by this morning’s mail a report received from Steedman of the whereabouts of his command.
My forces are now disposed as follows: Two regiments of infantry, detachment of cavalry at Alexandria; one regiment of infantry at Carthage; one regiment and detachment of infantry and battery at Gallatin; one regiment of infantry and battery at Clarksville; one regiment of infantry and battery at Fort Donelson; two regiments of infantry, a portion of one of which is mounted, en route from Donelson and Clarksville to garrison Columbia: one regiment of infantry at Franklin; McCook’s brigade at Columbia under orders to march to Athens (will start to-morrow); one reamcut of infantry at Fayetteville; one regiment, one battery, and Galbraith’s cavalry at Shelbyvlle; one brigade of infantry, one battery, two battalions Tenth Ohio Cavalry, under Morgan, en route for Athens; Steedman’s division guarding railroad; Ward’s brigade, except one regiment, and Doolittle’s brigade, except one regiment, with the Tennessee cavalry, and detachments at Nashville.
G. GRANGER,
Major-General
O.R.– SERIES I–VOLUME XXX/3 [S# 52]
CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY, SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA, TENNESSEE, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH ALABAMA, AND NORTH GEORGIA, FROM AUGUST 11, 1863, TO OCTOBER 19, 1863.–UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.(*)–#8
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