PREFACE.

To the soldiers of the Army of the Cumberland, and to their friends at home, the author presents this volume of portraits, sketches, and incidents,    a work undertaken at the solicitation of many friends, with the view of affording pleasure to our soldiers and imparting information to the people, and, if it may be, to secure a fund for the erection of a monument to overlook the battle-field of Stone River, Tennessee, where rest, " unknelled, uncoffined, and unknown," hundreds of American citizens.

This work is not intended as a history of the Rebellion, in a general sense, nor even as a detailed account of events occurring in the history of the Army of the Cumberland.   It is simply a collection of sketches and portraits of many of its representative men, and a narration of many interesting events which have transpired within its lines. The more important of its military operations are given up to the time of going Cto press.   The various departments are sufficiently described to illustrate their practical operation, at every fireside; and in the grouping together ifof incident and anecdote, and of spy and smuggling events, the author has aimed to give life and zest to the volume.   The work is issued almost regardless of cost, and is intended as a souvenir that shall remain when |this army shall have been disbanded and these stirring times and scenes Jhave passed away,   one which, it is hoped, the soldiers of the Cumberland     will prize as their booh, to be preserved by succeeding generations as a household treasure, its pages to be scanned by the descendant, while "glorying in the deeds of a patriot sire during the dark days of the Great Rebellion.

The author has endeavored to bo modest and impartial in his meed of \ praise,   a most difficult task, where so much can be truly, said of so many. ''The thousands of noble men in the Army of the Cumberland, who have left homo, friends, fortunes, and high position, to brave the perils of camp and battle-field, all merit mention in such a work.   Especially was it

desirable that many particularly daring deeds of our officers and privates

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