Diary of my Ozark Campaign

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Ambros Tremel
Posts: 35
Joined: Sat Aug 14, 2010 2:27 pm

Diary of my Ozark Campaign

Post by Ambros Tremel »

Diary of the soldier Ed Harris (in the Ozark Campaign, played by Ambros Tremel LtGen VI.Corps)

30. September 1862
My name is Ed Harris. I was a carpenter before I was coming 1862 to the Union Army. I´m serving in the 2/9th Wisconsin under Col Charles Salomon. We are marching to Newtonia, a little town in Missouri. We got a small breakfast and a smaller meal at 12.00. Now it´s 4.00 pm and we are standing on the hills north-west of Newtonia. Artillery is firing to the town and we are waiting. Our sergeant tells us, that we will attack if Col George Hall arrives from east with his militia brigade, so we can attack Newtonia from 2 sides and destroy all rebs there. But Hall should arrive 1hour before and nothing from him is to see. The sergeant comes again, crying: “Get your arms, make ready, we will attack now!” I ask him about Col Hall and he cries: “Hall doesn´t come. We must make the job alone.” We are confused and I feel fear, but our sergeant bring us in formation and we are marching on. First south and than through a wheatfield east. Cavalry is securing our flank. Rebel gunfire begins, but the rebs shooting is not dangerous. We begin our attack of Newtonia, but reb cavalry counterattacks very hard and we are falling back. My rifle is hot by shooting and I need new ammunition. Some of my friends are wounded. Where is Col Hall?
Finally! We hear union trumpeter signals from east. And we hear rifles and muskets. Hall has arrived and is attacking Newtonia from the other side. The rebels are going back and we are attacking again now. The sun is going down and we can´t see anything from Halls militia, but we hear them. They are fighting as well as we, but we can´t break their lines. We all hope Hall can do it from the other side.
Night has fallen down. The battle is over. I´m now sitting on a campfire and can eat from the delicious meal what our cook has found in a rebel supply-wagon. Halls attack from east was successfully. His men have brought the rebel defense in great difficulties. He have not captured all objects he should, but he has made so many rebel prisoners, that our Col Salomon is speaking from a minor victory here in Newtonia.

28. November 1862
Some nice days are behind us. After our victory in Newtonia we have repaired our clothes, our rifles and our equipment. We got one day free to have a drink in the town, but there were no women who want to see us, only a fat barkeeper with a very very bad whisky. Looks like destilled in a stable by one of the farmers here. Than Col Charles Salomon orders a church service. An old prayer talks us more than 2 hours about Jesus and why he is an union soldier. I can´t believe it. God does not want that we kill another. Later the union post has brought me a message from home. Mother has send a letter. They are all well and hope I´m home at Christmas. I hope too, but I can´t believe.
But today we are marching on. Col Charles Salomon want to attack Cane Hill, another little town in this region. Brig General Blunt is in front with cavalry and some guns, coming from west and Col Cloud is attacking Cane Hill from North. We hear the gunfire and rifles, and we are marching on. The ways are not the best and our column can´t make faster. I have seen Salomon on his horse, crying: “Faster, men, marching on!” and my neighbor says: “He can good cry, sitting on a horse, but we with our bad shoes…”
It´s 11.40 a.m. and we are now near Cane Hill. We can hear General Blunts men. A courier is coming behind to us: “Victory! Victory! The rebels can´t stop us! We have captured and wounded over 500 men and loss only 150 of our own. We overrun tham.” This are very good news, because maybe, if we march not so fast the battle will be over before we arrive.

Really - as we reached Newburg and Boonsboro the battle is over. The rebels lost some of their Generals and their men surrendered. Without made one shot, we are going into our tents and sleeping very well.

7. Dezember 1862
Seems the rebels got new units. Our Sergeant comes in our tent and give us a cick: "Hurry up, men, we got a new job." It´s cold before the tent and our clothes can´t make me warmer. Cavalry scouts have heard about nearly rebel units, but we don´t know really where they are. We should take our package and make ready. I hope our scouts made a mirror and there are no rebels, because than we can sleep again, but it seems they are right, because our Sergeant is crying again and we must marching on...
mperrenod
Posts: 50
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2010 7:31 am

Re: Diary of my Ozark Campaign

Post by mperrenod »

Thanks, Ambros, for the interesting chronicle. Can't wait to hear what happens at Prairie Grove.
Gen. Matt Perrenod
The Blue Ghost
1/2/VIII Army of the Shenandoah
Superintendent, Union Military Academy
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