History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

1030 SEVENTY-EIGETHE REGIMENT. 1862
When Buell moved to the support of Grant, at Pittsburg Lancding, he left
Negley's Brigade to guard the line of communication from Nashville to the
front. The Seventy-eighth was detailed upon the railroad from Nashville to
Columbia, with headquarters at Franklin. On the 1st of May the regiment
rendezvoused at Columbia, and was ordered to Pulaski, to garrison that place.
On the 12th General Negley passed through Pulaski on an expedition against
rebel cavalry, in which the Seventy-eighth joined. After severe skirmishing
the enemy was driven, and finally escaped across the Tennessee River, at Rodgersville, Alabama. Returning, the Seventy-eighth was again stationed at
Pulaski, and subsequently was ordered to return to Rodgersville, where it was
engaged in garrisoning the town, and in guarding the passage of the river, at
Lamb's Ferry. While here several incursions were made across the river, in
which prisoners and rebel property were captured and brought off. On the
18th of July the regiment was relieved, and ordered to guard the Tennessee
and Alabama Railroad, from Columbia to Elk River. Two weeks later the
scattered detachments were hastily called in to Columbia, and the march northward commenced, the Seventy-eighth acting with the rear guard of Buells
Army in its race with Bragg for Kentucky.
On its arrival at Nashville it was assigned to Miller's Brigade of Negley's
Division, and ordered to occupy the defences of the city. During the absence
of the main body of Buell's Army, in its movement north, Nashville was practically in a state of siege, the enemy in considerable force hovering about it,
intent upon its capture, and watchful at all points for a favorable opportunity
to strike. The garrison was frequently attacked, and sharp fighting ensued.
At Lavergne, on the 7th of October, Generals Palmer and Miller attacked
Anderson's Camp, routing the rebel force, and capturing some men, with guns,
stores, provisions, and tenta, the Seventy-eighth performing a conspicuous part,
bearing off two commissioned officers of the Thirty-second Alabama, and a
number of privates. It was also engaged at Neely's Bend, White Creek, Charlottsville, and Franklin Pike, in minor encounters, which for the most part
resulted in favor of the Union arms. These were usually brought on by aggressive movements of our forces for their own security, or by sallies into the
country for supplies for the starving garrison. "While besieged in this city,"
says a member of the command, " affairs wore a gloomy aspect. Shut out from
the world, with no news for months from the army, or from home, surrounded
by a vindictive enemy, resolutely determined to capture the capital with the
executive members of the government, compelled to fight for every mouthful
of food we ate, the condition of the garrison became every day more critical.
Yet no one was discouraged, and all were determined to stand by the city, with
full faith that under the gallant Negley and Palmer, it would be successfully
held. Our expectations were not disappointed, and on the morning of the 26th
of October, we saw from our fortifications the victorious legions of Rosecrans
approaching the city."
The regiment remained at Nashville, engaged in provost guard duty, until
the 12th of December, when with the army it moved to Camp Hamilton, six
miles south of the city. Here Miller's Brigade was assigned to the Eighth
Division, commanded by General Negley. On the 26th the army entered upon
an offensive campaign and came up with the rebel army, under Bragg, at Stone
Iiver. The rebel force was drawn up a short distance out of Murfreesboro, in
a lunar shaped line, covering all the approaches to the town from the north., the