Camp cripple creek
tennessee
18 january - 24 june 1863
The Battle of Stones River (or "Stone River" as it was called in 1863)
Cripple Creek
the battle of stones river
31 DECEMBER 1862 - 2 JANUARY 1863
1 - 17 january 1863
PRELUDE TO CRIPPLE CREEK
The Calendar accounts come primarily from letters, diaries, and memoirs of the men who would call Camp Cripple Creek home from 18 January until 24 June 1863.
Cpl. Robert T. McKee Pvt. Orlando P. Cutter Pvt. Robert Walker Pvt. John Chilcote 1 Sgt. William Busbey
31st IN, Co. B, Aged 28 1st OH LVA, Aged 38 90th OH, Co. H, Aged 22 90th OH, Co. H, Aged 22 1 KY, Co. C, Aged 23
THUR. 1 Very cold
Birthdays:
19 -- Sgt. Charles Caddy (90 OH C)
21 -- Cpl. Bradford Lott (90 OH H)
23 -- John D. Marshall (31 IN A)
23 -- George W. Miller (31 IN I)
28 -- Adicus C. Engle (31 IN I)
28 -- Jean Iss (1 KY I)
29 -- RQM Jacob Orman (90 OH F&S)
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FRI. 2 Cold; Misty rain begins after dark
Birthdays:
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SAT. 3 Rained furiously all day and night
33 -- William Beecher (90 OH D)
Busbey
...Remain stationary, the lines quiet till night. The rebels making a
sortie are repelled by the East Tennesseans and a battery...Night
very disagreeable. Troops moving all night from the left to the right.
About 3 o'clock [Sunday morning] the clouds break away. The moon
shines and we have the rare phenomenon--a rainbow at night. A good omen.
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SUN. 4 Morning cold and rainy, but rain replaced by sunshine
Birthdays:
Busbey
...About noon tis found that the rebels have abandoned their advance lines. Squads sent to bury the dead find all unburied but all the wounded removed. The rebel dead collected but ours still as they were shot down. Nine from our regiment buried...Our troops on the right find Murfreesboro evacuated.
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MON. 5 Very pleasant
19 -- Samuel Graham (90 OH A)
22 -- Frank M. Ward (2 KY D) FULL MOON
Busbey
...[Cyrus] Black found near the rebel breast works dead. [Samuel] Duff, [Asa] Wiatt & [William] Toy sent to bury him. He had been carried from where he fell to this place. Pockets were rifled, buttons cut from his coat, boots pulled off. Our advance moves beyond Murfreesboro. The town one grand hospital for wounded of both armies. Rebels move toward Shelbyville. Our division moves to the railroad camping near Davis...
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TUE. 6 Rain overnight; Day clearing and pleasant; Night very cold
19 -- Samuel J. Price (90 OH E)
26 -- Anton Simon Schweitzer (2 KY E)
Busbey
...Finish burying the dead...Rebel surgeons left in charge at Murfreesboro.
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WED. 7 Pleasant throughout day
Birthdays:
Busbey
...About 9 o'clock move from camp. Cross the River on the Nolensville Pike.
Equalized [?] the companies march in style through town and about 3 miles
out the McMinnville Road. The town apparently deserted by citizens but nearly
every house filled with wounded. Rebel surgeons in splendid uniforms of grey
move about with our own [?] in blue giving comfort.--Our regiment without
supplies sent on picket. Meet Genl Rosecrans who talks to us as if we were
his children. A remarkable meteor, very brilliant, passes through the sky.
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THUR. 8 Day tolerably pleasant; Evening stormy
21 -- Martin Neff (90 OH A)
22 -- Samuel Crawford Scott (31 IN E)
Busbey
...Relieved about 4 o'clock by the 110th Ill[inois], having lost 137 men.
Hurry to camp and have a vexacious time finding our knapsacks and
putting up tents. Majority of the men find their things safe. [Cyrus] Black's
knapsack cannot be found. Sleep for the first time since leaving Nashville
in one tent and enjoy it hugely...
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FRI. 9 Very pleasant
24 -- Jesse K. Kendall (31 IN B)
McKee
...Went in to camp 1 mile east of Murfreesboro [with] orders to move
to morrow morning at 4 o'clock
Busbey
...Ed Fee sent to town to nurse one of our wounded. Our co. changed
to the right of the regt. Afternoon our Division moves back about a mile
camping in a beautiful grove. Receive orders for one brigade to move to
Readyville at Daylight in the morning. Our wagons all being in Nashville
for provisions the order is countermanded, the 19th [Hazen's Brigade]
taking our place...
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SAT. 10 Conflicting weather reports: McKee says drizzling, Busbey says a beautiful day
20 -- Jeremiah Hatfield, Jr. (31 IN H)
McKee
...order to Move Countermanded...
Busbey
...Our camp being arranged Col Hazen's Brigade moves to Reedyville [sic]...
[Cyrus] Black's Pocket Bible and his Poems found and treasured up...
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SUN. 11 Another beautiful day
20 -- Milton Thornton [alias Tift!] (1 KY D)
28 -- Frank Yeckley (1 OH LA)
Busbey
...Quarters policed and men dress for company inspection...At night a
large train arrives from Nashville bringing clothes, grub, and papers...
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MON. 12 Warm and balmy as Spring
27 -- Josiah J. Bragg (90 OH G)
Busbey
...Start about 10 o'clock [to] go through Murfreesboro and about 6 miles out the Nolinsville [sic] Pike to Wilkinsons Cross Roads after forage. Every house along the road a hospital. Have a good view of the battlefield. Trace the line of McCook's advance and retreat for miles by marks of carnage[.] Hundreds of soldiers['] graves, dead horses, &c. line the road for miles.
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TUE. 13 Warm and pleasant
Birthdays:
Busbey
...Did not return from our trip yesterday till after dark, tired and hungry...
day made out a report for Dec...Gum blankets issued to our Brigade.
Skirmish drill in forenoon. Many persons visiting the battle field yesterday
searching for friends. The forests splintered, houses burned, fences destroyed,
earth torn up make the scene repulsive.
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WED. 14 Rainy and disagreeable
20 -- John S. Plymesser (1 KY D)
22 -- Taffey Van (1 KY I)
Busbey
...Toward evening the rain increases to a storm. Go on Picket
at 4 o'clock to the right of the Lebanon Pike. On account of the
rain[, we] station our riders in an old stable. Rains steadily,
drearily and dismally all night. Horses, cows, and soldiers in
one stable--A good picture for Leslie['s Weekly Magazine]. Do
not sleep any till nearly morning then pile in among some corn
blades and have a good nap. Have a big fire in the stable but
can't keep dry.
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THUR. 15 Rain changes to snow in the afternoon
23 -- Albert E. Kernan (1 KY H)
Busbey
...Sleep nearly all the forenoon...Relieved at 4 o'clock by the
31st IN and return to camp to find it in part overflowed.
The Lieut[enant]s['] stove in our tent. They stay with us and
all are comfortable.
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FRI. 16 One of the coldest days of the season
23 -- Richard Carr (1 KY A)
Busbey
...In the evening Dress Parade in spite of the cold. At night over to
see Daniel, sign the proper papers and receive of him $15.20 for
extra duty in the Commissary. Buy a can of butter and have a
most-excellent supper. Night very cold. (The rebel ladies visit and
comfort the rebel wounded in town but not a smile or word for our
poor boys.)
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SAT. 17 Clear and sunny but very cold
20 -- Silas A. Gardner (1 OH LA)
22 -- George Lane (90 OH G)
30 -- William Meredith (1 KY C)
34 -- Samuel Earl (1 OH LA)
Busbey
...About 3 o'clock receive orders to move but after getting
ready the order is countermanded till tomorrow morning...Stove
moved out to day and the tent not quite so comfortable.
Brig-Gen William B. Hazen
18 - 31 JANUARY
THE BRIGADE ARRIVES AT CRIPPLE CREEK
SUN. 18 Morning quite cold (heavy snowstorm during night of the 17th), but clear and beautiful
32 -- Osborne Monroe (31 IN A)
Busbey
...Move at 9 o'clock from camp. 6 miles out the McMinnville Road
to Cripple Creek. Camping on a beautiful cedar clad ridge. Before
our wagons our regt sent on picket leaving men to pitch tents and
take care of knapsacks...
Cutter
...We pitched our tents on a hill overlooking the surrounding country,
and near the creek. The place was very rocky, and covered with
young cedars. The trees, rocks, and stumps were so thick that it
was almost impossible for a wagon to get through. But the men
went to work, and soon had the ground sufficiently cleared to pitch
the tents. This camp was on the McMinnville road, and eight miles
from Murfreesboro. We had passed the place several times previously.
Busbey
...Pleasant till night. No fires are allowed and we suffer from cold.
Sleep impossible. Keep moving to keep warm.
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MON. 19 Raining and drizzling NEW MOON
23 -- Sgt John N. Arehart (90 OH D)
26 -- Elisha M. Baker (1 KY F)
31 -- John North (90 OH B)
McKee
Raining and Drisling [sic] Commenced Building fortifications
Round Camp on Cripple Creek...
Cutter
...all hands went to work cleaning up the ground, felling trees,
and building breastworks and fortifications. This occupied several
days. The weather was cold, with frequent rains, which rendered
our condition rather unpleasant.
Busbey
...Awake long before daylight. The boys tramping (?) around
furiously to keep warm. Slept last night with [Sgt. Samuel] Duff
on outpost. Go early to the reserve and send report to camp.
Ordered to camp to make the bimonthly report. Get to camp
about 9 o'clock, make the report, fix a bed of cedar boughs and
take a nap. The boys relieved at 1 o'clock...
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TUE. 20 Still raining; Damp, cold, disagreeable
Birthday
McKee
...Regt on Picket
Busbey
...Our company go early as train guard to Div Commissary.
The train in charge of [Sgt. Charles M.] Roberts [of Co. A].
After loading the wagons return to the place where a part
of the 72nd Ind is on Patrol. A part of the regt on guard.
The other part is on duty as a patrol between our camp and
town. Have a rough ride to camp arriving before dark. The
road well patrolled by Cavalry...
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WED. 21 Damp and cloudy
22 -- Henry B. Cord (31 IN I)
23 -- John F. Miller (1 KY F)
McKee
James Pickard Started home before we came in of[f] Picket
this morning
Busbey
...Details from the companies building breastworks, a complete
line around the camp...A train of 30 wagons said to have been
captured by the rebels on the Liberty Pike. Our regiment at last
supplied with oil blankets and socks.
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THUR. 22 A very pleasant day; Night cold and frosty
22 - John M. Brunnell (1 KY C)
McKee
All quiet Round camp
Busbey
...Reveille early and the regiment formed in line of battle.
Busy all day, making out an annual report of Casualties.
Our regiment on Picket at 2 o'clock. Our company posted
to the right of where it was before; our reserve posted on
the creek--2 posts along the lane. Night cold and frosty
and no fires allowed. Not very comfortable but [Sgt. Samuel]
Duff and I pile down on some rails and manage to get some sleep.
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FRI. 23 Cool and bright
Birthday
Busbey
Morning cool but the day becomes bright luxurious dream of lazy splendor. The stream last night full and rolling is this morning almost dry. The water running beneath the rocks. Relieved at 2 o'clock by the 90th [OH]...The 10th Brigade passes camp in the evening toward Woodbury. Rations drawn at midnight ready to move...
McKee
Orders to march tomorrow morning at 5 o'clock
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SAT. 24 Rained nearly all day
24 -- Sgt Benjamin Yoakum (90 OH A)
28 -- Washington Miller (31 IN A)
Hooker takes command of the Army of the Potomac
McKee
Marched 6 1/2 hours o'clock [6:30 AM.] Got to Reedyville [sic] 10 o'clock[.] 5 companeys [sic] Left to Gard Bridge at Reedsville [sic.] Skirmishing before Woodbery [sic.] Rebels routed
Cutter
...the entire brigade made a reconnaissance towards Woodbury. On reaching Readyville, were joined by General Hazen's brigade [19th Brigade--41OH, 110 IL, 6 KY, and 9 IN--stationed at Readyville], and then proceeded as far as Woodbury, where a skirmish ensued with small Rebel force. Our troops repulsed and drove them from the town. Our brigade returned to camp the same night.
Busbey
Reveille very early but no definitive order to move. About day-break the 1st [KY], 2nd [KY], and 31st [IN] with two sections of the battery [1st OH--Standart's Battery] move quickly 4 miles beyond Readyville as support to the 10th and 19th Brigades moving on Woodbury. Our forces admirably disposed to resist attacks from the town. Rain is nearly all day. The expedition successful and we return to camp very tired.
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SUN. 25 Pleasant
21 -- John Leiman (2 KY C)
McKee
Regt on Picket
Busbey
Tolerably pleasant. Sleep till late. Company inspection
at 10 o'clock...Rebel cavalry said likely been inside our
Picket line last night. The two advance brigades yesterday
had quite a skirmish with the rebel cavalry under Wheeler.
Killing several, among them a Rebel Colonel. 8 or 10 of
our men severly wounded. The 19th Brigade camped on
the hill to the left of Readyville--camp well fortified.
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MON. 26 Sunny and pleasant
20 -- Samuel Mack (31 IN A)
23 -- James M. Waldrip (2 KY A)
McKee
All quiet
Busbey
Pleasant--full of sunshine. Reveille early--Roll call and to bed again. About 9 o'clock start a foraging expedition going up the creek valley, riding in the wagons, going through dense Cedar forests and over the roughest roads I ever saw. Wagons soon loaded at the different farms. The boys stripping the farmers of chickens and geese in a manner extremely disgusting. This morning a Brigade of cavalry passes coming from toward Readyville.
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TUE. 27 Rain changing to snow
18 -- Solomon Soliday (90 OH D)
22 -- Pvt (soon-to-be Sgt!) James "Kim" Jones (90 OH B)
Busbey
Waked early by Reveille to find a strom of rain and
snow making everything gloomy. Line of Battle formed.
Capt [James W.] Mitchell [of Co. G, 1 KY] commanding.
On Picket at 2 o'clock with a steady driving snow. Build
big fires but can't hardly keep comfortable. Papers received
in camp giving full particulars of the Battle of Stone River.
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WED. 28 Cold and stormy
24 -- John William Smittley (90 OH H)
30 -- Adolph Mayer (2 KY K)
Busbey
...Relieved at 2 o'clock. Returned to camp and
find a mail awaiting us...Thos. Farrar, [Patrick] Carr,
and [Peter] Stone return from Conv[alescent] camp
at Nashville. Reported that the brigade is to be
mounted on mules.
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THUR. 29 Clear, but cool
21 -- Henry Hassel (1 KY B)
36 -- William Bateman (90 OH A)
Busbey
...Read today the rebel accounts of the battle of Stone River. Exaggerated but respectful in its tone...
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FRI. 30 Pleasant and sunshiny
21 -- John Henry Hoelscher (1 KY A)
22 -- John D. David (I OH LA)
Busbey
...In line of battle early. Make the regular Monthly
Report. The 2nd KY go foraging and we on Picket
in their place. At our old Post. Night beautiful moonlight.
Signal lights discovered on "Pilot Knob" a high hill in front,
developing gradually into a brilliant display...
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SAT. 31 Morning cloudy, afternoon rainy
Birthday
Busbey
...[Capt. Andrew] Hogan [of Co. I] acting Major. [Cpl Jacob]
Miller receives a box of food from Charlseton. Much spoiled
but we have -_____ cherries for supper on Picket. Genl [John]
Palmer leaves for home [on leave]. Genl [Charles] Cruft
commanding the Division, Col [Thomas D.] Sedgewick the
Brigade. Companies A, K, and ___ to Pilot Knob as guard to
the Signal Corps. The Knob a permanent station. Relieved at
2 o'clock by the 2nd Kentucky...Received Republics [Springfield,
OH newspaper] of the 12th and 15[th] (yesterday). At the Battle
of Stone River Dec 31 our division was over on the Left our Brigade
joining Negley on the right. When the right wing swung back we
by remaining in position were exposed to double fire and almost
crushed by the onset--made by the Rebels. Col [David] Enyart
behaved ______ and the regiment, through [though?] meeting with
"seven ______" (80 percent lost) was soon formed on the new left.
[Cyrus] Black (Corpl and color guard) killed outright... [Absalom]
Bishop has since died. [Wesley] Quigley and [John] Manyan recovered
from their wounds. [Cpl. Charles] Rice, [Cpl James W.] Crouse,
[Joseph] Croak, [Philip] Foreman and [Patrick] Flanagan still suffering.
[Sgt Arnold] Pfister still a prisoner.
Gen. Joseph Wheeler
Signal Corps Station in the
Rutherford County Courthouse
Signal Corps Station atop
Elk Mtn., MD--similar to the one on Pilot Knob
The Readyville Mill
Sgt. Samuel Duff
(Sgt. Busbey's Tent Mate)
