Detailed Murfreesboro Letter

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Union soldier’s letter written by “M(ilton) B. Chamberlain who enlisted 10/7/1861 as a 2nd Lieutenant and was commissioned into "I" Co. OH 4th Cavalry . He resigned on 3/6/1863. The 5 page letter to his mother is datelined Hd. Qrts 1st Cav. Div., Murfreesboro, Tenn. Jany 6/63. In part, “the whole army left Nashville to drive Bragg from this place .. Eleven miles from Nashville our advance encountered the enemy and from this point forward it was all skirmishing until the Battle began. the first day was principally by cavalry ... At lavergne the day was ended by severe fight, shells falling ... December 31, our army had united the night before ... being at Rosecran’s Hdqrts when word was brought that McCook was giving way ... In the afternoon found the Colonel who had rallied and drove the rebel troopers ... there was considerable cavalry fighting on the right ... Col. Millikin was killed there. ... later in the day they made several attempts to reach our trains but were driven off each time ... Brig. Gen. Sill, Col. Garesche, Cheif of Staff to Gen. Rosecrans, Colonels Fred, Jones, roberts, Forman and others were killed. Wherever the fight was the thickest, there was Rosecrans encouraging trooops. January 1st, things looked a little better. Still confident that Rosecrans would whip Bragg today. ... January 2, battle opened early this morning with artillery and musket. ... about 2 1/2 PM when a terrible fight began and was continued till dark with pour troops driving the enemy back ... The rebel loss was very great ... the rebel General Hanson was killed, 3 guns captured. ... January 3rd, a little skirmisyhing ... about 11PM Rosecran’s Division drove the rebels out of their entrenchments but retired for want of ammunition. On Sunday it was supposed that the enemy had evacuated Murfreesboro ... this was confirmed by reconnoitering. ... Yesterday we entered the town and found every house had wounded in it. Our loss is quite heavy and the rebels equally so. Theor force was 42,000 and ours 40,000. ... the Kentuckians and Tennesseans in Bragg’s army are very much disheartened ....”

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