The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-07-26
Letter from One Of the Geauga Rifles .-'
The Battle Of Rich Mountain.

We have the permission Of Mrs. Crane
Of this village, 10 publish the following
private letter from her husband:
CANT BEVERLY, July Is, 1861.
BY the all.wise care Of God, am en-.
abled to write few lines 10 you, after the
bloodiest battle ever fought on our free
soil Of America, since the Revolutionary
War. We arrived at wha. is called Rich
Mountain. on the 9th Of this month, within
three miles OF the Rebel batteries, and
laid there two days, to recruit up before
our attack, for we had marched, on the
9Th, all day through the most incsssanI
rain ever saw. The mud was before
night knee deep; SO you see we must
have suffered some, for we all had shoes
on, and every step il took us over shoe
deep. About dark we arrived at our
camp, pitched our tents and go, supper,
and il was IL O'Clock before We went 10
bed but s o'clock found US on our feet
once more, as keen as ever, only IL little
sore from exposure. Nothing happened
more than usual. save the arrival OF troops
and artillery. cannot tell the extent OF
oui force there, but should think some
twen,y.f five thousand.
On the night Of the 10Th, the Cincinnati
Regiment started up the mouniain to see
if they could get good place TO put our
cannon. but they had not gone more than
one mile when they were fred into by the
enemy's picket guard, and had one man
killed. They killed two and took three
prisoners. The prisoners said il would
be impossible for us to take them, for they
had very heavy breast. orks and 40, ZOO
men. But we received orders in the
morning TO advance on them, and you
had be,or believe some Of the boys hair
stood up on end /; but 60 we must. How
many Of us would return God only could
tell. We did not know anything about
the general intention, but after we had
gone about one.half mile on the road
were filed off in'o the woods, and irav-
elled over the mountains some nine miles,
where l do believe no man ever put foot
before, for there were rocks where we
had to lift one another up. We started
abou. 5 o'clock in the morning, and did
not get there until afternoon so you can
imagine the roads.
The first FIRE between our forces was
about half past l2 o'clock, when one OF
the Rebe! picket guards fired. and killed
captain out Of one Of the Indiana Regi-
ments, who was in advance, and then,
about one.half mile from them. the fight
opened. and il was kept up unit! after 4
o'clock. The 18th Indiana Regiment
was in advance Of us, and We had Regi.
ments in the rear so you see we were
in the thickcst of tie fight. We ad.
vanced TO within about one hundred yard,
Of them before we fred at all. and then
we gave them FIVE volleys or rounds, and
charged on them with bayonets. and
drove them out of their breastworks.- -
They retreated over very high hill,
The Indiana Boys lost Ii killed and
20 wounded; but, my God what de
struction we made with them We have
buried over 200 already, and probably
there are SO more that have crawled oil
and hid, and died for we are finding
some all ;he time. We have taken. ID
all, over 900 prisoners, 800 stand o.
arms, and large brass cannon also
600 head Of horses and mules, beside,
wagons and tents. We are here will
the prisoners and everything. and
think we shall leave here for home, with
our prisoners.
But did not tell you our loss. W.
had but one man wounded in tho whole
Regiment, and we did not have a man
killed. l cannot tell how il was, for III,
balls flew around my head like hail stones
Corwin Parsons had one ball strike hi,
gun and knock il out Of his hand.
think that was narrow chance.
l think will be at home in two OF
three weeks. You need not be afraid
OF my going for three years. foI
| have had enough Of the war;
l cannot tell when we will leave this
place. but probably no, for day or two
Our boys are all well except Clark, who
has been sick for some time.
JAMES CRANE