Old Scotland Presbyterian Church

I have been absent from home so continuously and so much engaged during the Late War, that I have not found the time to keep up my Journal, though the events fullness the times have furnished __(?) material enough to fill volumes. I do not propose to say anything of the causes of the war. Everything connected with it is now a matter of history. I merely wish to preserve some personal recollections and Incidents as they occurred under my observation and some account of my own connection and that of my company with the events of the times. I kept note during the war of things I thought worthy of preserving, but they were lost in the latter part of the war in Lafayette,Ga.
In ____? 1861 GW Foster raised the 1st Co. of Infantry troops, that left the county during the war. They were accepted by Gov A. B. Moore and ordered to Fort Morgan. I was requested to accompany them as Co. Surgeon, as was the custom before the troops were organized, which I did. Embarking with the Co. at Claiborne I remained with them until they were transferred into the service of the Confederate States, and thought sometime of joining the Co. as a private soldier but I did not. I returned home and pursued the practice of my profession, although there had not been a shot fired since the surrender of Fort Sumter, and many thought the differences would soon end. Some politicians offering to drink all the blood that would be spilled. Still it was thought best to be prepared for the worst. The citizens of the neighborhood met and organized a military Co of which I was chosen Captain. I knew nothing of Military tactics, neither indeed did any member of the Co. We met weekly for drill, I had a considerable practice, but found better to read Hardie. Frequently however drawing on the hours which should have been devoted to sleep for that purpose. The Co- "The Scotland Home Guard" numbered about 60. We drilled weekly until the latter part of July when the intelligence of "The Battle of Manassas" reached us. The terrible excitement which thrilled the whole country at that time is indescribable. No longer was there any doubt that we were to have a bloody battle. No one could tell how fierce and terrible a struggle.
At the request of about 30 members of the home guard, I commenced to raising a Co of INF and in about 6 weeks completed it, and were accepted by Col. Thos. H Watts, as he was authorized by the Conf States to raise a regiment of Infantry for service during the war. On the morning of 24 September 1861 we bade a tearful adios to our loved ones at home and left for Evergreen on the Illinios Fla Rail Road.A great many of our friends accompanied us and a few even to Montgomery. At Evergreen we took the cars and arrived in Montgomery on the morning of the 25th at 8 o 'clock. Col. Watts met us at the depot and invited the whole Co to breakfast at the Exchange Hotel. After breakfast we marched to the fairgrounds and proceeded to organize the Co. I was elected Captain by acclamation and the rest of the officers and noncommissioned officers were voted for via voice, all having opposition.

The following is a list of the officers and men of the Co at the organization viz,
Officers:
WW McMillan-Captain
RM Andress-1st LT
AB McCorvey-2nd Lt
TS Wiggins-Brev 2nd LT
Jas. M Davison 1st Sgt
BF McMillan 2nd "
WH Richerson 3rd "
HC Bloxom 4th "
Hugh M Andress 1st Corporal
R Perry 2nd "
Jas. M Black 3rd"
WR Andress 4th"
Sam McL Cummings -Musician
SA Johnson"
Privates: Jas Andress
GD Andress
WJ Biggs
James Black
John Black
WJ Boyles
JW Bradbury
WT Brent
NB Brown
OS Burnett
CM Carter
JW Carter
SJ Cummings
JN Davison
WM Davison
WM Deason
CH Deese
GA Doggett
JB(or R) Eddins
FM Eddins
RH Eddins
HS Fountain
PC Fountain
JJ Gordon
Malcolm McMillan
WH McMillan
JS Jenkins
Ralph Jenkins (amatuer)
L Johnson
TF Lewis
WT Newberry
JE Preston
BS Rives
JH Rives
TH Raines
HM Rumbley
TA Rumbley
EM Roberts
Henry Powell
NC Stevens
GW Salter
JC Salter
Simon Salter
NC Thames
GW Tolbert
Henry Terraptin
James Sinquefield JT Wiggins
NJ Wiggins

We remained at the fairgrounds that night and in the morning went to Shorter's Depot on the Mont. and West Point Railroad where the Regt was gathering. The Regt was soon organized, the CO's filling rapidly. The field and staff officers were- Col TH Watts, Lt Col RC Farrish
Major VS Murphy
Adj. WM Moore
WR Jones (?) Surgeon
BF______? "
?? Tinchenor Chaplain
JR Benson- commissary
CC Lloyd Qtr Master
Non Commissioned Staff were- SJ Cummings Sgt Major
?
SGT Hall - Hospital Steward.

The regiment was known thereafter as the 17th Alabama Infantry. I was ninth in rank among the Captains. The regiment reunited at Shorter in _? County, organizing and drilling until the 14th of November, during which time the fight at Santa Rosa Island occurred. We were then ordered to Pensacola and attached to the brigade of Gen Gladden, afterwards commanded by Brig Gen John K. Jackson, Brig Gen Jonestete?. We encamped on Big Bayou about 3/4 of a mile to the rear of Fort Barracus. Here we drilled in Infantry, also in Heavy Artillery at the forts and batteries which were occupied by the 1st Ala Regt. On 21 November I heard my first gun. Dr. SC Jenkins, a member of my Co. and myself had been visiting some men who were sick with measles at the Naval Hospital We had just left to return when the steamer Time from Pensacola was fired into from Fort Pickens, and I for the first time heard the shrill shriek of a shell, a noise which I was destined to become familiar with. I was a mere spectator of the bombardment as our Regt had charge of no batteries. It was a grand scene, particularly at night. On the night of the 21st, I was detailed with a hundred men to make repairs Ft.McRae, which had suffered pretty severely during the day. The firing was kept up on 22 nearly all day. The Navy Yard with nearly all it's splendid buildings was destroyed. Our loss was only six or seven killed, and the damage to our own forts soon repaired. Another Bombardment occurred on the first of Jan 1862, but not as extensive as that of Nov. On 7 March 1862 our Regt. which had been at work day and night, dismounting guns preparatory to the evacuation of Pensacola was ordered to Corinth Miss, where Beuregaurd was concentrating all the forces in the West. We reached Corinth via M&?? Railroad on the 14th and were ordered to Bethel Station, Tenn. From Bethel Station marched to Purdy, McNairy County and from this time our experience as soldiers really began. At Pensacola we had comfortable cabins and the furniture saved from the Navy Yard at it's burning, enabled us to fix up in a style of elegance. The weather was splendid and vegetation was putting out freely. When we arrived at Bethel it had been raining two or three days; the creeks were swollen, and the mud, as mud can only be where troops are marching, and to add to our discomfort, the wind was blowing and soon commenced sleeting. We bivouacked in some old fields. No tents, no cooking utensils, nor indeed anything to cook. We remained in this condition for days.
When we returned to Bethel, where we met our baggage. We remained here a day or two and received orders to proceed to Corinth. The weather was still very inclement and we were ordered to proceed without baggage, and the result of the trip to Purdy had been about 100 added to the sick list, Col Watts refused to go, his subordinates sustained him and the Regt. did not move. All the officers were placed under arrest by Gleddin ?, our Brig Gen, but the next day were released and the Regt. with its baggage proceeded to Corinth , where we were attached to the Brigade of Brig Gen J K Jackson, Withers Division, Bragg's Corps. All the field officers and Capts. were again put under arrest by Glidden, our Brig Gen. Now we had been guilty of downright mutiny, but in our undisciplined condition and utter ignorance of military affairs, we were ignorant of the fact. Col Watts remained over a week in close arrest, during which he had rec'd the appointment of Atty. Gen of the Confederate States. Our field officers were released upon making public acknowledgment of their mistakes. Maj. Murphy being in feeble health resigned. We were encamped about 2 miles east of Corinth in the Purdy Road for about 2 wks. It was a disagreeable fortnight. On the 3rd of April, the order 'to cook three days and prepare to march' was given. We filed off in the direction of the Tennessee River, reaching Monterey that night. The next day we were only about 5 miles camping near the Mickey House. On Sat 5 we moved forward about 5 miles. During the afternoon Hardie's Corps had passed us and we were awakened early on the next morning by sharp picket firing in advance. The Sun rose clear and the beautiful Spring Sabbath day suggested thoughts of church bells ringing-but such thoughts were soon dissipated by the deafening roar of artillery, for Hardie's Corps had surprised them in their camp. A sharp fight took place, but the Yankees soon fled in confusion, leaving their breakfast smoking and half eaten. Here Gen A. S. Johnson rode down our line and informed us that we had now had a great victory. We felt mortified that Hardie's corps had all the glory, and were really sorry that the fighting-as we thought was over. We were starting in line when a shell from a field piece came bearing through the trees a few feet above us. We were ordered to 'lie down' and for nearly a half hour patiently bore the infliction, but Girandy's battery which was attached to our brigade, finally came up through the woods, took position and silenced things in a few minutes
We were then marched out by the right flank taking position on the right of Hardie's column, which was nearly all the time engaged. About ten o'clock our brigade came on the Yanks thoroughly posted among some small hills. A stubborn fight in the Open Fields lasting about two hours ensued. We then Charged them and continued to drive them through the day. They stopped though at every available point, and contested the ground. And later in the evening, we had a desperate fight, lasting about a half hour, in which our brigade was repulsed for a few minutes. It was at this place that Prentis' Brigade was captured and the 17th&18th guarded them about 15 minutes until some cavalry came up. We then went forward again and soon came under the fire of the gunboats in the Tennessee, their shells however did little damage. We had now driven the yankees under the river bank and around Pittsburgh Landing, and it is said might have captured the whole of Grant's army if we had pushed forward. This might have had an influence on the afterwards celebrated Ulysses, but __?!! I think it probable they might have been captured, as they must have been badly disorganized after retreating all day. We wasted the precious time until night, in a useless cannonade. Buell arrived during the night, Our men were straggling over the Yankee camps which were rich with booty. Buell and Grant combined, attacked our forces at daylight on the 7th. Our shattered and scattered column retired slowly, fighting like heroes-and during the day lost as much ground as we had gained the day before. We fell back that night to Monterey. It had rained considerably, and the mud was awful, but on the 8th we were behind our entrenchment at Corinth. Our brigade Jackson's was ordered too Monterey to get back on Picket. The Yankees never advanced a foot after we left there. Our Regt. lost 125 killed and wounded. My Co lost killed-Corp. HM Andress and Private EM Roberts. Wounded- Lt. AM Andress, Private JH Rives, BS Rives, TF Lewis, Jas Black, HM Rumbley and James Andress. Private Lewis? was captured. This ended our participation in the Bloody Battle of Shiloh. Remaining at Monterey a few days on picket, we returned to Corinth where we were engaged in fortifying. Our regiment was engaged at Farmington on the 10th of May and lost only a few men. Evacuated Corinth on the 29th of May, falling back to Tupelo. Our brigade again did picket duty at Clear Creek and fought the skirmish at Blackland. Our regiment, however not being engaged, as we were making an effort to get in the rear while the fight was going on. We then went on duty at Tupelo, and remained until the 5 of July when our Division to S __? on the M&O Railroad. We had been suffering for the past? Months for in the prairies of Miss for water. At S__? we found plenty of excellent quality. We remained here and drilled until Aug 1st, when the whole army had gone into KY, we followed but the 3rd, 17th, 18th, and 21st Alabama Regiments were stopped in Mobile and placed in the Brigade of JH Forney? Here our Regt. was placed in charge of Pinto Island, Spanish River, and Bay Shore Batteries drilled in Heavy Artillery as well as Infantry. My Co had charge of Bay gate on Bay Shore Road. The battery consisted of one 10inch and one 8 inch columbiad and 1 smoothbore 32 pounder. After the fortifications were finished, Redoubts took the place these batteries and I was placed in command of Redoubts 1&2 on the Bay Shore Road near the foot of St. Lawrence Street., and was called Camp Forney in honor of our Brigadier Gen.
We remained there just one year, and were camped during the winter of '63 near Springhill. Whilst stationed at these places we were twice sent up into Miss. Once to meet Grierson's raid and again when Sherman invaded the state. We also made a campaign through Conecuh Co, which walk I shall always charge to the acts of Alfred Holley Esq., a renegade from Covington Co. During our stay in Mobile, we were commanded by the following Generals, in the order which they are placed--Brig Gen JH Forney, afterward Major Gen., Brig Gen Cummings, Brig Gen L.E. Slaughter, Maj. Gen Buckner, Maj. Gen DH Maury, Brig Gen Jas Canby?. During our 18 mos sojourn in Mobile we were very pleasantly situated.The duty was light and we had comfortable quarters, and generally tolerably well fed, besides many of us were near enough home to have a great many necessaries and luxuries from there. Our friends could visit us and we could also go home occasionally.
In March '64 we marched out of camp in Mobile and went to Pollard where we were thrown into a brigade composed of 17th Ala, 21st Ala, Col CD Anderson, 29th Ala>, JF Conalley and 37th Miss, Col AS Holland, so with Reynold's Brigade of Tenneseans formed a new division commanded by Brig Gen J Cantey. Our Brigade (Canty's) being commanded by Col VS Murphy. During this time many changes had taken place in the Regt. ?????, after the battle of Shiloh_______? cannot read 4 more lines ``Major Murphy whose resignation was received by Gen Bragg, saying that the War Dept. refused to accept his resignation, and had appointed him Col. of the Regiment. We attributed this move went to the influence of Atty. Gen Watts, who was not on the friendliest terms with Gen Bragg. Col. Murphy reported to Gen Bragg a few days before we evacuated Corinth, and was immediately placed under arrest, for having resigned on account of ill health as Major_____? After arriving at Mobile Col Murphy was released from arrest and took command of the Regt. Captain Burnette was also promoted to Major, and SJ Cumming was promoted to Adj., Wm Moore resigned. No changes of any influence took place in the Regt while at Mobile. Capt. White, who had been in prison and returned, took his place as Capt. of Co E. Lt. Harrel of my company was elected Capt. of Co H 58th Ala Regt. Lt. Robinson of my company was promoted and WH McMillan elected 2nd Lt. On the 20th of April 1864, our brigade was ordered from Pollard to Atlanta, GA, where we only remained one day, when we went to Rome, where we remained about ten days & were ordered to Resaca, which place we reached on the 5th of May., We bivouacked about 1 mile below the town on the Ostenaula River, until the 9th of May, when Hookers Corps, having passed through Snake Creek gap, attacked us. We had a brisk skirmish with them, but Reynolds brigade From Below & Vaughn's from Dalton joining us during the fight, we repulsed them, and remained at Resaca fortifying until the 12th when the enemy having flanked Johnston at Dalton attacked us again. We however now constituted the left of Johnston's line and participated in the fights of the 12, 13, 14& 15 of May. Lt. Parker of Co B was killed/Lt. Col Holcombe was severely wounded by a fragment of shell. Sgt Newberry, Privates, Hornback, Hudson, Monahan, Raines and Rives of my Co were wounded. Lt. Andress was struck, and Lt. Robinson painfully wounded in the shoulder while on picket. On the 16th we retreated to a point a short distance below Calhoun. On the 17th went to Cassville via Adairsville. At Cossville I was engaged in a heavy picket fight, and barely escaped being killed and captured. From here we retreated across the Etowah River to Altoona Mtn, where we remained three days, and went to New Hope Church arriving too late to participate in the fight of the 25th May 1864. We however were engaged every day after that until the 3rd of June, when we fell back first to "Lost" and then to "Pine Mountain ". Col Murphy, who had been commanding the brigade since we left Pollard, went to the rear sick, so also Capt. Cumming who had been acting as Adj. Col EA ONeal of the 26th Ala, which was now attached to our brigade took command. Gen Cantey also went to the rear sick, and Gen EC _____? took command of the division which was afterwards known as _____? Division. In the absence of our surgeon, I was detailed to act in the medical department temporarily. I acted 1 month and then took command of my On the 15th of June we occupied Kenesaw Mountain and remained until the 3rd day of July, fighting a skirmish every day. On the night of the 3rd we passed through Marietta and entrenched on the railroad at Vi???? Station. Here I was attacked with dysentery and left the Regt on the 5th and was absent until the 28th of July. During my absence the Regt was engaged in the Battle of Peach Tree Creek on the 20th of July. Here my company lost Lt. RM Andress, Privates NK Chisholm, CT Deese, H Templin, ML Wiggins and a number wounded. It was a pretty bloody fight. I judge from what I heard. I reached my company about 10 or 11 O"clock on the night of 28th July and was guilty of lying down listening to the men relate their hairbreadth escapes on the 20th when we were ordered to 'fall in'. We were then occupying Atlanta, to which place they had fallen back during my absence. We marched by the left flank until we reached Lickskillet Road where the entrenchments crossed it, and passed out through the entrenchments. We now thought we were going to make a reconnaissance, but soon the order to 'double quick' was given, and a few minutes afterwards I heard brisk firing from small arms. We marched and counter-marched very rapidly and now it seemed that the Gen was satisfied with our position. The heat was almost intolerable, the firing in our front was now very heavy. We were ordered to lie down as the bullets were very thick, but as the line was in an open old field with nothing to shield us from the sun, we suffered intensely from the heat, especially as we were fatigued by our previous marching. I felt the heat more seriously as I had just returned from the hospital and was suffering from weakness from my recent illness. Maj. Burnett commanded, Capt. Ragland acted as Lt. Col, and I as Major. The Brigade, Deas I think, which was in our front was repulsed and our brigade commanded by Col EA ONeal was now ordered forward. Our line charged them but found them strongly posted behind piles of rails, and in a good position. We were also repulsed but falling back about a hundred yards continued to fight until our brigade was almost decimated. Capt. Ragland, Lt. W H McMillan Co. H acting Adj. and Lt. Harrison were killed. Major Burnett was seriously injured in the shoulder. Capt. OBrien lost a leg. I was painfully wounded in the hand. Corporal JM Davison and privates NJ Robinson and D. Faulkenberry of my Co. were killed, and many others wounded. This was the battle of "The Poor House". It was a shocking affair and I think our Generals were ashamed of it, as I noticed very little was said in relation to the affair. After dark we fell back behind our works and kept up picket fighting until Sherman flanked us on the left and we retreated, (on the 1st of Sept I think), to Lovejoys Station about 30 miles South of Atlanta, remaining at Lovejoys until the 18th of September when we moved around via Fayetteville to Palmetto on the Atlanta and West Point Rail Road. We entrenched there but on the 27th of Sept we crossed the Chatahoochee and commenced flanking Sherman by the same route by which we had been flanked out of Atlanta. We moved around cautiously and struck the Rail Road at "Big Shanty", a station above Kennesaw Mountain, and tore up about 9 miles of the road and captured the 80 man garrison. We then marched by way of "Lost Mountain" where we encamped. Here rather a remarkable incident occurred: The brigade reached the base of the mountain about dark, as we had done after the fight of New Hope Church 5 months before, and marched up to the top of the mountain and encamped, and next morning like, "The King Of France With Ten Thousand Men, Marched Up The Hill And Down Again". After Major Burnett was wounded, I was thrown in command of the Regt and continued to command it until the 3rd day of October, when I was relieved by Capt. EH White. From Lost Mountain we continued our march via New Hope Church& Pumpkin Vine Creek around Rome, crossing the Coosa River at Coosa and again stuck the railroad. Col EA ONeal, relieved of the command of the Brigade about this time by Brig Gen CM Shelly. We had captured Tilton above Resaca, Dalton and Tunnell Hill, and about 1000 prisoners, 800 of whom were negroes and tore up 10 or 12 miles more of rail road. Passing through Dug Gap (?) we marched via Subligna, Lafayette,and Gaylesville to Gadsten, from there via Summerville to Decatur. Here we remained two or three days, skirmished with the garrison and gunboats and passed on down the line of railroad via Leighton , Courtland,ect. to Tuscumbia which place we reached on the 31st day of October. Here we remained in camp two weeks and moved over to south Florence and encamped five or six days, and on the 20th of Nov crossed the Tennessee River. Nothing remarkable happened but old and fatiguing marches across the mountains of North Alabama and Tennessee. We passed Mt Pleasant, the Polk neighborhood and the residence of Gen Pillow and arrived at Columbia on the 26th of Nov. Skirmished with the enemy, on the 29th flanked them, crossing Duck River above the town, and striking the Nashville R. Road. at "Hiring Still". Here occurred the famous "faus pas" of allowing the enemy to march by after having him, as it were, completely in our power. Who was to blame? The commanding officer of the Army, surely, though I could willingly attribute it to someone else if I could, as he has sins enough to bear. I think he should have been on the ground when a point of so much importance was to be gained, and not trust it's performance to any subordinate entirely. Doubtless the subordinate was also much to blame (Cheatom). He commanded the Corps that was supposed to cut off the enemy's retreat, he failed and ought to have lost his reputation. Hood commanded him and failed to see his order executed, and we lost a battle-an Army-perhaps a nation! Nothing was left for Hood to do on the next morning but follow up on the flying Federals. We came up to them at about 12 o'clock at Franklin, where they had strongly entrenched. Lee's Corps had been left at Columbia, but Hood began immediately to make dispositions for an attack. This was to be my last battle in the mighty war which we were engaged an I approach a description of it with a heavy heart, as the recollection of it will ever call up sad feelings to my mind, as it was also the last battle of one whom I loved more than all else in the world, my dear brother Ben- He was instantly killed, or I suppose so, as he was struck with several balls, one passing through his head. No nobler spirit, no truer man offered his life as a sacrifice on his country's alter than Ben McMillan. There were few braver-None better. It was about 4 o'clock I suppose before the troops were in position, and ordered to charge. Never did men fight better- united they seemed to be desperately and ____? brave. They rushed upon the first line and swept the enemy before them and with loud hazzas? approached the stronger and inner works. They were met by a murderous fire of shell grape and musketry but still they went on. Hundreds going down before the tremendous hailstorm of lead and soon the works were reached and captured in some places, but the Southern troops were finally repulsed. I had gotten within about 10 paces of the works, and so thoroughly excited that I had forgotten the surrounding danger and was thinking of what I should do upon reaching the ditch. I had concluded to pick up one of the muskets lying around and use the bayonet on the blue coats, when I was struck on the left thigh with a musket ball, making a severe wound, about ten inches in length, but not breaking the bone, although completely paralyzing the whole limb. I was running at the time and as the ball struck me, I fell, my head striking the ground. My first impression was that I had been struck by a cannon ball, as I was near in front of a piece, constantly firing. I knew that I was past locomotion and my professional instinct led me to place my thumb on the femur artery, as I thought my thigh was torn all to pieces and I knew if so, I must soon bleed to death. With the other hand I proceeded to examine the wound and satisfying myself that I was in no immediate danger, and being unable to walk, I stretched myself on the ground with my head on my arm to rest, as I was exhausted from the race in the charge. While laying in this position, a ball passed through my right hand or wrist, inflicting a painful wound, cutting the ulna artery from which I lost a great deal of blood. Another ball passed through my blanket and grazed my ribs, and another glanced my left shoulder, but neither of the last two did great damage. I lay in this position the whole fight with my teeth firmly clenched. I looked at the stream of fire under the headlogs expecting every minute to be my last on earth. Besides the balls that struck me, others were constantly striking the earth near enough to throw dirt in my face. A kind providence had decreed that I was to be spared. Yet while after the repulse of our men, they fell back to the outer line, which had been captured, and still kept up firing, I had a mortal dread of being captured and determined to keep my position until dark- it was then about sundown- , and crawl back to our line, but as the firing grew slack, the men behind the yankee ditches began to peep over the breastworks, and seeing me alive, ordered me to go over, threatening to shoot me if I did not. Nothing was left me but to comply and as I was crawling over the breastwork, a cowardly little scoundrel who was afraid to risk his head high enough to see what he was shooting at, fired his piece in my face, burning me considerably with the powder. I abused him for shooting a man after he had surrendered, but he disclaimed any intention of shooting me and about that time-our men offering a brisk fire, I was hurried to the rear an Irishman under each arm supporting me. I was carried through the town and across the Harpseth River, and placed under guard together with 20 or 30 others. I found several of my Regt. and among them my Sgt. Jas. M. Davison. I fell very much exhausted from fatigue and excitement together with the shock of my wounds as well as the loss of blood. The yankees had no stimulants or opium, or at least they would give me none, and would not allow us to build a fire, for fear of attracting the fire of the Southern Troops. The ground was wet and the weather cold. Davison spread his blanket on the ground and we both lay on it and covered with mine. But it seemed I would freeze. I do not think I ever spent a more miserable night than that of Nov on the battlefield. About Midnight all who were able to walk were sent back to Nashville, the guard was drawn for the rest, and it was evident they were preparing to retreat, The last of them set fire to the R.R. bridge. The squad of disabled men, among whom I was, were in the rear of the bridge and in the line of fire. The shells burst uncomfortably near to us, but with Davison's assistance I crawled a few feet and got behind a ledge of rocks which protected me from further harm. After daylight, Davison, who was always an indefatiguable? forager, found coffee, sugar, coffee pot and some cups: indeed he had a pretty respectable start as a commissary collected around us from the debris of the yankee camp. Some of those who were best able built us a fire, and under it's influence of the genial warmth and the ____? stimulus of the coffee, to which we had been a stranger for a long time. We almost forgot the terrors of the night before and were comparatively comfortable and happy. Our men were engaged in burying the dead, and collecting the wounded on the other side of the river. It was near night on the 1st of Dec, before I was taken to town and cared for, but even then I only received a drink of whisky and a dose of morphine, passing the night on a hard floor surrounded by 20 or 30 wounded and moaning men. We had no hospital stores, but the generous citizens of Franklin opened their doors to us, and fed and nursed us. On the morning of the 2nd Dec, the surgeon from our Regt. found me and moved me to the hotel of Mr. Crutcher, where I remained until the 25th Dec. I am deeply indebted to Mr. C and family for their kindness, which could not have been exceeded by my own family. I would have been other than human not to have appreciated it. I had heard of my brother's death, and was suffering from my wounds, but the idea of being in the houses of our people, and kindly cared for, went far to sustain me in my trials. The Battle of Nashville had occurred on the 15th&16th of Dec. Hood's Army had been routed. He had retreated across the Tenn and I was again a prisoner. On the morning of Dec 25th I was sent by R. Road to Nashville, where I began an existence as miserable as it is possible for a man to experience. Although I had two ________? wounds and required nutritious diet, I was placed on a cracker and water 3 times a day. We were quartered in the 3rd story of a building, formerly used as a female school, near the river and with the exception of the systematic process of starvation pursued towards us, were tolerably well cared for. But O! the ____? of hunger! I remained at Nashville until March 1st 1865, by which time I was able to walk on crutches. I was then sent to Louisville, Ky and kept in the military barracks for 10 days, from there I was sent to Camp Chase , near Columbus, by way of Indianapolis, Ind. I remained there only 7 days, when I was paroled and sent to Richmond by way of Baltimore. After being paroled we were given nearly as much as we would eat un readable for 5 or 6 days I ate a pound of raw bacon and 1 1/2 pounds of hardtack daily. Arriving at Richmond a few days before it's surrender, we rec'd a leave of absence for 30 days and started home. At Chester, South Carolina Rail Road communication had been broken by Sherman, and I proceeded by Newberry C.H. thence by Rail Rd. to Abbeville, thence private conveyance again to Wash., Ga. I there had uninterrupted Rail Road conveyance with the exception of a short gap near Atlanta. Ga, to Opelika, where I met Wilson's Raid, which had captured Selma and Montgomery. I then went to Columbus, Ga, expecting to go by way of Union Springs to Montgomery, and get in Wilson's rear, but he reached Columbus soon after our train did, capturing the place on the 16th of April. I now went back to Macon, Ga from there to Eufaula, Ala. Here I got a wagon and proceeded to Troy in Pike County , where I heard of the fall of Mobile and that the whole of South Alabama wass covered with the enemy. Some gentlemen of Wilcox arriving there. Dr. Frank Hamilton, and Augustus Powell?were running their horses and negroes out of the way of Steele's Army, as they passed up to Montgomery they gave me a horse and I helped them outflank the enemy at Greenville and we reached Pineapple without further adventure. Powell sent me to Priceville and SD Andress a member of my Co sent me from there home, to which place I reached on May 3rd 1865, having been over 30 days on the route from Richmond. Lee and Johnston had surrendered their armies. The Confederate States ceased to be one of the nations of the earth, and my life as a soldier for the time being was ended.

Paroled Prisoners: The following list of 30 officers of the Confederate Army were all wounded, most of them at the battles of Franklin and Nashville, and were paroled at Camp Chase Ohio on March 18,. 1865. We were companions in "Voyage" in a box car from Columbus to Baltimore, and on the deck of a steamer down the Chesapeake and up the James River to Richmond, Va. Here some of them left the party but the greater no. traveled together to Chester, SC where Capt TH Smith and myself set out alone. At _____? Capt Smith returned as the Yankees had captured Montgomery, the point of his destination.

NAME RANK CO REGT
CP Wiley Lt. H 9th Tenn
Hasken Page " F 18th Ala
WC Thompson Capt. H 6th Miss
SP Seaberry Lt. F 20th "
RT Benson " G 16th SC
GW Ralston Capt. ? 9th Ark
TP Shaw Col 19 SC
JS Madden Capt. D 32 Miss
RW Crawford Lt I ?? SC
HR ?????? Capt JJ Ja???? ADC Cleburne's Staff
Louis H???man Lt H 1st Ark
GE ?????? Lt ? 10th Conf Cav
?? Andrews Lt K 24th SC
?? Davis Capt ? 30th Miss
?M Potts Lt ? 12th La
???????? Lt E 2? Miss
RA Allison Lt H 5th Ark
JA Laxon Lt G 4th ??
D? Owens Lt H (or A) 33rd Tenn
TH Smith Capt H 49th Tenn
HH Ferguson Lt C 33rd Ala
JB Kennedy Capt H 15 Ark
EA Brown Ensign 1st Ark
BF Hargrove LT ? 12th La
Dan Oppenhimer LT I 10th ?? Cav
WL Applewhite LT F 27th Miss
JE Richards Capt D 2nd Ark
Thos M Good??ght LT I 6th Knty Cav
WW McMillan Capt H 17th Ala

We had been starved in prison until we were as ravenous as wolves. The thirty wounded men and four yankee sentels occupied a single box car and in order to sleep at night it was necessary to arrange ourselves something after the order of sardines in a box, though not quite as close. After being paroled a sufficing of hard tack and bacon was issued to us and as we had no means of cooking the meat we ate it raw. I ate my pound usually before night and as one or two of the party were sick, I occasionally secured one of their rations and ate it also; and strange to say, it did not make me sick. I however did make myself sick eating before I lost the appetite which I acquired during my sojourn at Nashville, Louisville and Camp Chase. Some of the above named officers were real gentlemen whom no circumstances could change others though; during the severe trials we were called upon to undergo, displayed a selfishness and depravity truly disgusting. Among those who I am indebted most particularly for acts of kindness Lt. Page who's goodness of heart and extreme kindness can never be effaced from my memory. I am also indebted for acts of kindness to Capt. TH Smith, Capt GW Ralston, Lt CP Wiley, Lt BF Har???, Capt WC Thompson, Lt RC Benson, Lt D Oppenhimer, and Lt Thos. M Good""ght. I earnestly hope I will never be called upon to undergo the sufferings which I experienced during my captivity, in the hands of a nation generally supposed to be civilized, aye even Christianized.

William Wallace McMillan
Sept 10th, 1867

Tunnel Springs, Monroe County, AL