Historical Documents & Artifacts (Continued):

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The Civil War Letters of Capt. Alvah Philbrook, 24th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry (1862-1864) PART II: Chapter 2: Stones River – Part I. This letter is an account of the battle of Stones River (Murphysboro) by Alvah to his brother. Alvah was busy after the battle writing not only his family to let them know he was still alive but also to the families of the men who were killed during the battle. Those letters will be profiled in our next issue in Part II of the Stones River campaign. Camp on Stone River, Jan 30th 1863 Dear Brother, I have just received your letter of the 11th and I can assure you that I was glad to hear from you for I had began to think that I was to hear nothing more from my Friends East. I wrote a letter to mother immediately after the battle but she may not have received it. I am still alive and doing my duty. It is now a month since we fought the bloody battle before Murphysboro. I will give you a little account of the part we had in the scrape. We left our camp 6 miles out of Nashville on the morning of the 26, Caroline and Caddie Alice having spent Christmas with me in camp for they had been on a visit for 3 weeks previous. I parted with her at sunrise on the road, as our Army was on the move. We had not gone over 3 miles before we run (___) of the Rebel Pickets. Our skirmishers commenced firing and our Artillery open upon them as often as they could (see?) a squad together. It commenced raining at the same time and in this way we moved Friday and Saturday. (___) little while we would deploy a Brigade to the right or left of the road, form in line of battle and expected an engagement. But the enemy was not in force strong enough to stop and fight us, so they kept on a move and kept out of our way. By burning bridges they managed to give us the slip and on Sunday and I suppose join the Rebel army at Murphysboro. About the same time we got there the force we drove in before us numbered about 10,000. Sunday we rested, Monday we took a crossroad and went to the Murphysboro Pike. Got there about dark and now we began to see that a great battle was pending; our cavalry had been ahead and seen the Rebs drawn up in line of battle ready to receive us. They had been fired into and had a number killed and wounded. Some we met with saddles on their shoulders their horses being shot, horses without drivers, Ambulances filled with wounded men. This is the first indications of a fight. The Cavalry men hail our Men and say, "Boys there is fun ahead for you." We passed long lines of Infantry stretched out on each side of the Road drawn up in a line of battle. It was raining at the time and not a fire was permitted to be used by anyone. Our Division passed through the whole Army and took our position in front, sleeping in a cornfield that night. At day break we built small fires and cooked our coffee and there commenced moving forward to meet the Rebels which we did about 10 a.m. They commenced falling back before our sharpshooters and Artillery. This day, Tuesday [Dec. 30 – RP], was mostly devoted to Artillery Duels. We were supporting Bush’s famous batteries [4TH Indiana Battery, Capt. Asahel K. Bush commanding – RP]. We lay at their right and rear on the ground while they were (___) on the Rebel Batteries. The Rebel shot and shell came thick and fast and fell all around us. We were kept moving from our position to another all day long. We lost some men by their Artillery, and all of us had some very narrow escapes. The trees were all cut to pieces where we lay. One of my men who laid between my legs had his Lt. coat cape cut in two and his blanket all torn to pieces by a shell, afterwards bursting, covering us with dirt and leaves. Many a Ball struck the ground ahead of us and bounced over us. It is a fearful place to lay for hours supporting a battery without anything to occupy your mind but the chances of the next shots and all the time expecting an Infantry charge from the other side. I tell you I was not sorry to see the sun go down that night; but our Batteries done some fearful work that day, they completely demolished one Rebel Battery at a distance of 500 yards but he lost 6 of his men killed besides his wounded and many of his horses. That night we slept on our Arms directly in front with the sharpshooters of both sides between us; who kept up a continual crack of musketry. We could see the Rebs’fires. I see them passing before their fires all night. At daybreak [Dec. 31 – RP] we stood in line ready for them, but we were not expecting an attack but everything in war does not go by our calculations for the Enemy had concluded to attack our lines. We saw them advancing out of the woods 5 columns deep, and they advanced in splendid style, our Artillery would cut fearful gaps out of there Ranks but they would close up and keep moving in on our lines. We opened fire on them as soon as they came in musket range but did not stop them until they got within 75 yards of us. There the Balls whistled thick and fast round our ears. At the same time they flanked our right and opened a battery on us from the left. So our General gave an order to retreat and we had to make a retreat of it for some 3 hours through a cedar swamp, the Enemy pressing us right and left all of the time. In fact they had us nearly surrounded but we would give them Hell any chance we could yet they shot all the horses on some of our batteries and they got our guns but we finally got with our Army again and still kept chasing. With our batteries supporting it when necessary and when night came we bivouacked about 5 miles from the battlefield having been ordered there to help retake our wagon train that the Rebel Cavalry had taken. It done me good to see our Cavalry charge on them and to see our Guns scatter the Devils to Hell as they were trying to get out of our way, our turn had come now and the tide of battle had turned. That night we had but 250 men in our Regiment some 100 were killed and wounded, many taken Prisoners and some cowards skulked away to where there was no danger. I buried 4 of my men including my 2nd Lieut. [Christian Nix – RP] and hence some 10 men wounded and still missing. I had but 47 men in the fight. Long marches and exposure had reduced me down to about _ of my number before the Battle including details which they are always making from companies. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we did not participate in the fight but built breastworks and lay behind them awaiting the Rebel coming. We had directly in our front 30 (___) (pieces?) and the woods were full of Sharpshooters in our front. Now and then our men meeting the fate of a soldier. It was exciting to see them skulking behind trees and get their shot in when they could. I used to go out amongst them at times to see them (___) but the Final fight was made on our Left. We stood in line of battle while it was raging expecting any moment to be ordered forward. We could hear them yell on both sides as they charged and recharged the cannons kept up a continual roar and suppose there was never a harder fought battle for the time that this Fridays afternoon fight was. It lasted about 1 _ hours and 100 cannon were roaring all the time and nothing but darkness kept the whole Army from being annihilated but they concluded to leave the place to us. We are now encamped 3 miles on the other side of Murphysboro but we have lost many a brave soldier to take this place, thousands lie wounded all the way from here to Louisville they send them north as fast as the boots can take their feet. I wish I could relate many of the scenes I have seen and passed through I have seen 1000 of the Rebels wounded, seen them die and (___) of like dogs to be hurried. Such suffering I have seen among our own wounded for they must (suffer?) after we have done all we can for them. I will write no more of this. I was at Nashville with a train last week and saw Caroline, she has gone home now. This soldiering is enough business. Last week we went to Nashville and marched back. It is 34 miles. We went out with a Forage Train 7 miles in the enemy country and there done 24 hours picket duty with it raining most of the week. That was our week and so it goes most of the time. I tell you they are bound to use this western Army as long as they last. Give my respects to Mr. Clark and Bidwell tell them we are going to clear out Tenn. before April. We expect another big fight before long and I think our Gen. Rosecrans is enough for them. Give my love to George (Fern?) and (___) I hope this war will end soon and then I am coming to see you. Write often. From your Brother, A. Philbrook Capt Co. D 24th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers (This letter courtesy of The State Historical Society of Wisconsin from the "Alvah Philbrook Collection." Robert W. Philbrook has edited Letter for clarity and unknown words are noted by parentheses.) Additional notes from "The Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, Series I., Vol. XX, Part 1."