REPORT.

There has been contributed by the regiment during the period covered by this report, the sum of $582, which, together with $41 given me to commence with, makes a total of $623. During the same period there have been distributed 5,450 copies Tract Journal, Christian Banner and American Messenger; 720 copies Christian Times, 520 N. W. Christian Advocate, 1,586 Chicago Journal, N. W. Evening Post, and Army & Navy Journal; 536 copies Harper, Atlantic, Continental and Eclectic Magazines, 200 copies Christian Press, 2,000 Tracts, 300 Soldiers' Books, 7 Soldiers' Libraries, 800 Hymn Books, Testaments (English and German), and a large quantity of miscellaneous books and papers, English, German and Norwegian. At the same time there have been held 76 public services with the regiment, 119 prayer meetings, 55 Bible classes.

Not a few of the most pious men have laid down their lives. It is sad to know that only two days after I bade them farewell on the banks of Duck River, they were again found in the thickest of the fight and slaughter at Franklin. Among the killed was Lieut. Col. Olson, the brave and beloved Commander, and among the wounded, Lieut. C. F. Case, the no less brave and beloved Adjutant. To these were added a long list of gallant names, which has not yet been fully received.

Should the eyes of those brave few who still survive of the "old 36th "behold these lines, let them be assured of the deep and brotherly sympathy of one who has been with them in the perils and toils of more than two years, and whose remembrance of their patience, their fortitude, and their devotion to their country, can never be obliterated.

May our Father who is in heaven, have them in his gracious keeping, and, if it can be, shield the little remnant from future slaughter. But if it must be that others also shall lay down their lives in battle, that any of their eyes must close upon this loved land ere the object for which they have fought shall be fully attained, O that it may be with them all that by a timely seeking of the precious Savior, those eyes, when they grow dim and dark to earth, may open upon "the better land."

CHAPTER XL.

SPRING HILL.

EFINITE information that Hood's army was crossing Duck river in force, moving rapidly northward, on roads parallel with the Columbia and Franklin Pike, and from two to four miles distant, was received from Col. Post, who, with his brigade, had been sent up the river to reconnoitre and watch the enemy's movements. Thereupon the 1st and 2nd Divisions of the 4th Corps, commanded respectively by Gens. Kimball and Wagner, were directed to proceed to Franklin with the baggage and ordnance trains, as well as the reserve artillery. At eight o'clock A. M. of the 29th, the trains were drawn out upon the pike and the march commenced, interrupted only by the little halts inseparably connected with the movement of a long wagon train. The 2nd Division was in the advance preceding the train. The roads were in fine condition, the troops marched well, and rapid progress was made. Four miles north of Columbia the road crosses Rutherford's Creek, an affluent of Duck river. Here Kimball's Division (the 1st) was halted, and took up a defensive position on the south side of the creek, fronting east to cover the crossing, it being apprehended the enemy might make a flank

attack somewhere in that locality for the purpose of cutting off the retreat.

The 2nd Division, to which the 36th Illinois was attached, continued its march up the pike in advance of the train. On approaching Spring Hill, a small village and courier post twelve miles north of Columbia, where a detachment of cavalry was stationed, the head of the column was met by a badly scared trooper, who, hatless and in an otherwise demoralized condition, represented that he was making his escape from a force of Rebel cavalry, which in great numbers were menacing the town, the garrison of which was quite too small to contend successfully with the overwhelming numbers preparing to sweep down upon

them.

At that moment a rattling fire of carbines heard in front confirmed the trooper's story, indicating clearly that the enemy by a forced march had outstripped Gen. Stanley's command, and by moving rapidly north on a converging road had struck the line of retreat at Spring Hill and had nearly gained possession of the town.

Orders were given to advance rapidly to the assistance of the detachment then hotly engaged in the eastern suburbs of the place. The 36th took the lead, and being incited thereto by the noise of small arms in front, and by the personal presence of Gens. Stanley and Wagner they double-quicked two miles, arriving in time to meet the enemy and rescue the town and its small squad of defenders from capture.

Opdyke's Brigade passed through the village a quarter of a mile in the direction of Franklin, deploying as they advanced and formed to the right of the road and parallel with it, on elevated ground. Clouds of Forest's cavalry were hovering near, and forming in line of battle not more than a quarter of a

OPDYKE'S GALLANT DEFENSE.

633

mile away, preparatory to a charge upon the position held by the 36th. Not long had they to wait, for like waves angrily rolling upon a storm-washed beach they dashed across the fields, raising great clouds of dust, and charged impetuously upon Opdyke's lines with a yell. But his men were all inured to the turmoil of war, and to them this sudden dash of Rebel fury had no terrors. A few rounds of musketry, poured with damaging effect into the Rebel squadrons, checked the charge. But the marshaling of battalions, the yell of combatants, the clangor of small arms and the rumbling thunder of charging squadrons, never divested the Federal troops of their presence of mind. Courageously they maintained their position, reserving their fire until the enemy was near enough to render it effective, then delivering their volleys with fatal precision, laying many of Forest's hard-riding cavaliers in the dust. Checked in the assault, they finally gave way, and broken and dismayed, retreated in confusion.

Soon after, Opdyke's Brigade was again threatened by cavalry, which was seen forming in the edge of the timber, less than half a mile distant. A Confederate general officer and his staff, whom we subsequently learned was Gen. Cheatham, at the head of his corps, was observed reconnoitering our position. His command was just coming up, and formed in reserve, with the apparent intention of supporting the cavalry. A cannon was wheeled into position and tossed a few shells in that direction by way of a complimentary salute, but he showed a want of appreciation of the intended honor by hastily taking shelter behind a belt of timber.

Observing bodies of cavalry massing in the open field east of the town, Gen. Stanley directed Gen. Wagner to deploy his division at once, in such a manner as to hold the place and protect the trains then being parked. Accordingly Gen. Bradley's Brigade was sent to a wooded knoll, about three-quarters of a mile

east of the pike, which commanded the approaches in that direction. Lane's Brigade was deployed nearer the town, partially in rear of Bradley and at the right of Opdyke, covering the trains then being parked in his rear. Opdyke occupied his first position on the left of the line. At the time these dispositions were made, it was not apprehended that heavy forces of infantry were near, and it was supposed that sudden dashes of cavalry were all that had to be guarded against. In front of Bradley, heavy lines of what at the time was supposed to be Rebel cavalry were advanced. Their numbers were certainly being augmented by troops hurrying up from before Columbia, and ere long, from the steadily accumulating mass of men seen both in the fields and bordering timber, it became evident that much of Hood's army was confronting the detachment holding Spring Hill. This opinion was confirmed by a dispatch from Gen. Schofield, stating that the eneny had been crossing Duck River, with their trains passing around his flank, and marching northward on roads converging at Spring Hill. This left no longer any room for doubt that Gen. Wagner's Division was then confronting a largely superior force of infantry as well as cavalry.

Very soon our whole line was assailed, and skirmishes of greater or less severity continued at intervals during the afternoon. While Bradley's veterans on the right were manfully combating and successfully resisting the solid masses hurled against them, Opdyke's Brigade on the left was not entirely idle. Forest's Cavalry was on the alert for opportunities to deal effective blows, and on detecting an apparently weak point in the line, a column of his hard riders was sure to be hurled against it.

The position of the 36th, crowning an elevation overlooking much of the field, disclosed the enemy's movements and enabled it to be prepared for any emergency. Cavalry dashes upon our