The Journal of Sergt. Wm. J. McKell

The Journal of Sergt. Wm. J. McKeIl EDITOR'S FOREWORD THEBE are a large number of stories written by prisoners of war describing the privations and suffering of prison life, North and South, during the Civü War. The foUowing narrative is similar in many respects to those told by others, but in this instance the author did not Uve to complete his journal. He died July 28, 1864, at Andersonvflle. The conclusion to the journal had to be written by a prisoner-companion and friend. WiUiam James McKeU, or "Jim" McKeU as he was caUed at home, was a native of ChiUicothe, Ohio. He was a first cousin of Lucy Webb Hayes, who was the wife of Rutherford B. Hayes, later the 19th President of the United States. Young McKeU's mother was Phoebe Cook McKeU, a sister of Maria Cook Webb, the mother of Mrs. Hayes. Young McKeU enlisted for three years in the 89th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on August 13, 1862, and became a member of Company D. He was appointed sergeant on August 26, when the company was mustered in at Camp Dennison, near Miamivüle, not far from Cincinnati. Enlisting with him were two first cousins, Edward T. Cook ("Ed") and Isaac S. Cook ("Ike"), both of whom served only about a year before being discharged on October 5, 1863 at Cincinnati on a surgeon's certificate of disabüity. Another first cousin of WilUam McKeU's, Isaac Cook Nelson, became second lieutenant of Company D, the day foUowing the mustering-in; four months later he was promoted to first Ueutenant and subsequently to captain of the company. WiUiam McKeU's journal was copied lovingly and carefully by his mother for her other chüdren, and a copy was given to Rutherford B. Hayes. It is now preserved in the Rutherford B. Hayes Library. Watt P. Marchman THE JOURNAL CHICKAMAUGA AND ITS CONSEQUENCES Our trip [to prison] commenced at Chickamauga, on Sept. 20th, 1863. We left our camp at RossviUe, Saturday, the 19th temporarüy attached to the Reserve Corps, commanded by Gen. G. Granger, and Div commanded by Gen. Steedman. Our regiment (89th Ohio Vol. Infty) and the 22nd Michigan, formed a temporary brigade; the colonel of the 22nd Mich. Infty, having command by right of seniority. We reached the scene of action some time before noon, when skirmishing took place between 315 316SERGT. WM. J. MCKELL our forces and the rebel cavalry on [Chickamauga] creek our skirmishers falling back under support of the batteries. Here the reb's were checked, and here we remained under arms during the night, suffering considerably from a heavy frost, and all of us being more or less wet from having waded the creek on our advance and again on falhng back. The woods being in a blaze in our rear, small squads were allowed to go back and warm themselves. Next morning (Sunday), we advanced, feeling for the rebel skirmishers, but none were to be found. Heavy firing was heard to our right, and Gen. Granger, finding the enemy had left his front, rightly concluded they must have massed on our center and that he was needed in that direction; so without waiting orders he began moving his corps rapidly to their assistance . His arrival was just in time to save the center which was then beginning to fall back. In passing to the right, we were part of the time in full view of the rebels and received several volleys of shot and shells from their batteries, which, however, did us no harm. Our brigade arrived at the summit of Missionary Ridge, on the "double quick," and as we came up, a regiment in our front was faUing back before a charge from a rebel brigade, carrying their wounded with them. We received orders to lie down allowing the regiment to pass over us. The rebels came on, flushed with their success, but were soon checked by a volley from our brigade, for which they were not looking. The lines wavered , broke and fell back, in confusion. We had a few moments then for taking care of wounded of whom we had a good number. Besides...