Page:1861 vs 1882. "Co. Aytch," Maury grays, First Tennessee regiment; or, A side show of the show (IA 1861vs1882coaytc00watk).pdf/229

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BATTLES IN TENNESSEE.
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men, had died game on the gory breast-works. Gen. Adams' horse had his fore feet on one site of the works and his hind feet on the other, dead. The General seems to have been caught so that he was held to the horse's back, sitting almost as if living, riddled, and mangled, and torn with balls. Gen. Cleburne's mare had her fore feet on top of the works, dead in that position. Gen. Cleburne's body was pierced with forty-nine bullets, through and through. Gen. Strahl's horse lay by the roadside and the General by his side, both dead, and all his staff. Gen. Gist, a noble and brave cavalier from South Carolina, was lying with his sword reaching across the breast-works still grasped in his hand. He was lying there dead. Gen. Granberry, from Texas, and his horse were seen, horse and rider, right on top of the breast-works, dead. All dead! They sleep in the graveyard yonder at Ashwood, almost in sight of my home, where I am writing to-day. They sleep the sleep of the brave. We love and cherish their memory. They sleep beneath the ivy-mantled walls of St. John's church, where they expressed a wish to be buried. The private soldier sleeps where he fell, piled in one mighty heap. Four thousand five hundred privates! all lying side by side in death! Thirteen Generals were killed and wounded. Four thousand five hundred men slain, all piled and heaped together at one place. I cannot tell the number of others killed and wounded, God alone knows that. We'll all find out on the morning of the final resurrection.

Kind friends, | have attempted in my poor and feeble way to tell you of this (I can hardly call it) battle. It should be called by some other name. But like all other battles, it, too, has gone into history. I leave it with you. I do not know who was to blame. It lives in the memory of the poor old Rebel soldier who went through that trying and terrible ordeal. We shed a tear for the dead, They are buried and forgotten. We meet no more on earth. But up yonder, beyond the sunset and the night, away beyond the clouds and tempest, away beyond the stars that ever twinkle and