Feb. 7, 1864, in winter quarters at Scottsboro, Ala. 213-14 -
This has indeed been a day of rest. More like a home Sabbath, than the Lord's day often seems, here in the "show business." None of my company have been on duty, and as the day has been bright and warm, the men have been all out in front of the quarters; all looking natty and clean and healthy, sunning themselves real country-Sunday fashion. ... The boys brought a fiddle in with them yesterday from our Lebanon march, and as nearly all of them play, "more or less," it has seen but little rest today.
Adjutant General's Report, 103rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry http://civilwar.ilgenweb.net/history/103.html
September 28th we received marching orders, and the next day the Fifteenth Corps was on the road and arrived at Vicksburg, taking transports for the North as fast as they could be furnished.This was the beginning of the Atlanta campaign.
The One Hundred and Third arrived at Memphis on the 11th, at 9 A.M., drew new arms (we had heretofore been armed with old fashioned "69" Harper’s Ferry muskets), and at 11:20 were marched out of Memphis to the tune of "The Girl I Left Behind Me".
We arrived at Iuka about the 20th, having made two considerable detours from the direct line of march from Memphis. Here we received pay, transferred some men to the Invalid Corps, refitted the command, and on the 27th crossed the Tennessee River at Eastport, arriving at Florence the 29th, and began fortifying the place.
The 3d of November we again moved out, striking the N. & C. R.R. at Cowan about the 12th following the railroad to Stevenson and Bridgeport, where we arrived about the 18th.
An attempt had been made by General Corse, commanding, to mount the Brigade, and enough horses were picked up to mount the Fifteenth Michigan, and two companies - C and G - of the One Hundred and Third, who were then detached from, and did not rejoin the Regiment until the last of December, at Scottsboro, Ala.
On the 20th we left Bridgeport, and crossing Sand Ridge moved southeast so as to strike Trenton, near which we camped the night of the 21st. After building numerous and extensive fires to mislead the enemy, about midnight we quietly withdrew, marching towards Chattanooga, arrived at Wauhatchie the afternoon of the 22d, crossed the Tennessee at Brown’s Ferry, and moved up back of the hills near to the place where Sherman’s army subsequently crossed.
The morning of the 24th, with our Division, we crossed the river on the pontoon bridge and began the attack on the north end of Missionary Ridge. By 3 P.M. we had assisted to take the first of the hills, which we securely fortified, and at night drew up by hand the guns of Richardson’s First Missouri Battery and placed them in position.
The next hill, the one through which the tunnel passes, was the strong point of the Confederate right, and was accordingly strongly fortified. On the 25th our Brigade charged these works, and had it been possible, would have taken the point. Captain Walsh, of Company B, was killed within fifty feet of the rebel works, as were a number of men. After doing all that could be done General Corse ordered us to retire, which we did (part way down the hill) and fortified, expecting to try it again soon. In the meantime the rebel left and center had been crushed, which relieved us of further serious fighting. The eight companies at the beginning of the engagement mustered 237 men, of this number, one commissioned officer, Captain Walsh, and 19 enlisted men were killed on the field, and 68 wounded, 5 or 6 of whom died of their wounds.
After the engagement we followed Bragg for nearly two days and then went to the relief of Burnside at Knoxville. Arriving within 20 miles of Knoxville, we learned that General Longstreet had raised the siege and "fled to the mountains".
‘Having rested, we set out on our return to Chattanooga, which place we passed through about the 16th of December, arriving at Bridgeport the 19th, many of the men being literally barefooted.
Being newly clothed and paid the 24th, we marched to Stevenson, Ala., where we remained over Christmas. The next day we started for Scottsboro, Ala., but a heavy rain setting in we did not reach that place until the 28th.
In 91 days since we had left Vicksburg we had been transported 500 miles, marched over 1100 and participated in one of the most glorious victories of the war.
While in Scottsboro, nominally winter quarters, few days passed on which we were not called out for forage or scout.
Companies C and G returned to the Regiment, and Company F was again detailed to the commissary department.
About the 8th of February 1864, we were ordered to report at Cleveland, Tenn., which we did on the 14th. Here we were attached to a Provisional Brigade composed of nine regiments drawn like ourselves from the Fifteenth Corps, Colonel Dickerman, of the One Hundred and Third, being in command.
On the 23d we left Cleveland, Division commanded by General Chas. Cruft, and marched to Catoosa Springs that night. Here we joined General Palmer, commanding this detachment of the army.
The 24th we occupied the valley west of Tunnel Hill. During the night of the 24th moved to within three miles of Buzzard Roost Gap. The next morning formed the advance line and moved forward to wake up the enemy, which being accomplished, we were placed in reserve.
US Gazetteer > Alabama Gazetteer > Alabama Cities > Lebanon, AL (DeKalb County)
Lebanon is a community or populated place (Class Code U6) located in DeKalb County at latitude 34.366 and longitude -85.816 (Lebanon Panoramio Photos). The elevation is 735 feet.
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