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3 “OurRegimentIsCompletelyDestroyed” JANUARY— JUNE 1863 A ssistant Surgeon Bennitt, through his conscientious medical work, continues to be in demand at the divisional hospital at Nicholasville and is ordered to Lexington to assist at the General Hospital in treating the wounded from the December 1862 Battle of Murfreesboro. The divisional commander, however, who wants to retain Bennitt’s medical services, succeeds in having Bennitt reassigned to the 19th Michigan. At the beginning of March, part of his regiment, while reconnoitering south of Franklin, Tennessee, with the rest of the brigade, is cut off and surrounded by Confederate cavalry and forced to surrender; twenty days later, the remainder of the brigade, along with Bennitt, is captured while guarding a railroad bridge and sent by the Confederates to Richmond. The regiment spends a few weeks as prisoners of war, and by mid-April all of its soldiers are released on parole. Bennitt and the rest of the 19th Michigan subsequently spend a few weeks at Champ Chase in Columbus, Ohio, where the regiment is reorganized and waits for word of its official exchange. Bennitt describes in rich detail many events that he either witnesses firsthand or hears about, including the Battle of Murfreesboro, how the post hospital in Lexington is managed, the attack of a Confederate cavalry force on Fort Donelson, and a CumberlandRivertriponanarmytransportinthecompanyof aKentuckyregiment he characterizes as a “rough set of characters.” At the beginning of January, Bennitt hears of the birth of his and Lottie’s daughter , who will be named Hattie. Bennitt finally receives some military service pay, but he continues to ask his wife to try to collect money from those in Centreville who are still in arrears. Although their house has been lost in the process, Bennitt’s attorney notifies him that the family’s indebtedness has nearly all been settled. Between the time of his release as a prisoner of war and his reporting to Camp Chase, Bennitt is able to see his wife and family for a few days. 85 45 Hospital of 3rd Division Army of Ky At Nicholasville Ky, Jan 3rd 1863 My Own Dear Wife: Yourmostwelcomeletterof 28th &31st werereceivedyesterdayandIhastentoreply before another mail.— I had just sent a letter enclosing $2000 which I hope you will receive. I can get money as much as is necessary now, & pay when paymaster comes so thatIcansupplyyouwithallthatisneedful.—Supplyallyourwants&getallthecomforts you can. I will send you more as soon as I hear of the safe arrival of the last. I am most happy to know of your comfortable condition, & that you & the stranger are doing so well.1 Give my love to her, in as large proportion as necessary. I have not any partic[ular] preference for name just now but you can call her baby for a while & the little girls can call her the little sister for the present. If I could [see?] her & you I would be a great gratification but that pleasure I must forego, for the present. May the time be short that separates us. The accounts by telegraph are that the Rebels have been very severely handled & thoroughly whipped at Murfresborough with large Slaughter on both sides.2 Brother Norris’3 Corps was in the fight but I have heard nothing from him. I have some hope that this war will close before another year shall have passed. My love to the dear daughters—Tell them to write me every two days for I want to hear all about the little sister. Most Affectionately Yours John Bennitt I know nothing as yet of how long I shall be here yet. You may send letters to me marked with my name & then the title thus: (1st Asst Surgn 19th Reg’t Mich. Vols) In Charge of Post Hospital Nicholasville Ky. with this, letters will come here without any delay, & then should I be ordered away, will be sent to the Regiment, & will find me in regular time. 86 Chapter 3 1. Lottie gave birth to a daughter, later named Hattie, on December 23. 2. The Battle of Murfreesboro (or Stones River) in Tennessee was fought between Rosecrans’s 47,000-man Army of the Cumberland (14th Corps) and Bragg’s 38,000 Confederates from December 31 to January 2. A particularly bloody battle, the two armies suffered approximately twelve thousand casualtieseach.WithRosecransreceivingreinforcementsfromNashville,Braggwasforcedtowithdraw. 3. Lieutenant Norris S. Bennitt was in Company K, 44th Indiana Infantry. It formed part of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division in Major GeneralThomas L. Crittenden’s Corps at the battle. [18.119.17.207] Project MUSE (2024-04...

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