Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-06-27
- From the Canton Republican.
FROM PHILLIPPI. = +
"Honor to axiom Honor is due"-Sta
naent of a Canton Boy.
PH1LL1pp1, June S, 1861. /.


~. PH1LL1PpI, June 5, 1851. )
DsAR FArHER.-To day we got . sigh,
At some Eastern papers, and were surprised
to learn that other regiments have received
the honors for the achievements of the gal
leat l4thi Ohio. If I recount the part v,
of the 18th took in tie successful military
operations in Western Virginia, you car
readily fancy how painfully the unfair ant
partial reports effect US. .5ast.ns.
In my last 1 advised you of our arriva
at Parkersburg., The banner of the Toledo
Guards, of which was member, was the
first banner planted on the soil of North
Western Virginia by Western troops
Here we remained over night, awaiting the
arrival of the 2lst Ohio Regiment. As it
did not come, however, on Tuesday four
companies of ourregiment took the cars and
proceeded some 20 miles, where we found
that the evening previons the bridge had
been burned down. This bridge was over
a hundred feet in length and almost as
many over the stream below oyerswhich il
passes. OF course we remained there over
night. In the morning, twenty men were
selected from each Of the four companies,
myself among this number to advance,
whilst the rest remained behind 10 build a
new bridge. The bridge was built by them
in less than l6 hours. The eighty men
chosen to advance, meanwhile, marched on
foot that day, in hours, about 80 or 81
miles until we reached the next burnt
bridge.
Here some IL of us. chosen by the Cap
tain left on a special mission. We took
some handcars and went forward, and un-
der the very noses of the rebels, took pos
session of several engines and all the cars
Ga the way, and returned with them to the
bridge BY day-break Meanwhile, those re-
naming behind had dragged to the spot,
With the aid of some truck cars, sufficient
lanber to constructs a new bridge. Atday-
break, on Thursday, Company B, after
marching all night, reached US, swelling our
number 10 100 men, aud together we took
q train and advanced within few miles of
the enemy, where we enealnped with the
same assurance as if we were double their
number. Ofcourse We Immediately prepar-
ed for an attack. We seized an old cannon
ia the village and eneamped On very high
bill fortifying our position as much as pos
sible. AT 10 o'clock P. NJ. We formed our
lines. had charge of the cannon, for
which VIC cast balls and cut lead to be used
as grape. The boys were very enthusiastic
and free from all fear. heard many in
therear ranks beg of those in front 10 change
places with them. But the rebels. did moi
come. Our audaciLy disconcerted them,
and, it seems they feared that we were
supported and were about to entrsp them.
/. In the meantime three companies of the
regiment were constructing the second
bridge and the balance of the regiment was
still at Parkersbnrg. However, the next
morning the three companies arrived and
the night following the balance of the regi-
ment reached us also, bringing with them
two pieces of artillery. So, on Saturday
morning We prepared to attack the enemy;
but, although double our number, they re-
treated to Phiiippi.
On the same day, the 10th Ohio aud
two Indiana regiment arrived in Grafton.
This spoilt our intended fun. Col. Stead
man received orders from his superior Off
The two Ohio, one Indiana and the
Virginia regiment were to surround the en-
emy.
Companies enough of these regiments to
make about 25eo or 5000 men marched on
Sunday night by different routes upon Phil
lippi, to surround the rebels by four o'clock
on Monday morning. In the published ac-
counts of the affair, the Indiana and Vir-
ginia regiments get all the credit for what
was achieved, and the l4th Ohio is not even
mentioned. You will Judge of the fairness
of the reports.
We of the l4th marched from Webster
to Phillippi, some Is miles, between mid
night on Sunday night and 4 o'clock on
Monday morning, during most drenching
shower, and iu mud almost knee-deep.-
We overlook the Indiana regiment, which
had two hours the start of US. At the ap-
pointed time we were promptly al our posts,
and at the precise moment our two cannon
which had been quietly planted on hill
doomed forth the signal of attack. We
were entirely exhausted, and moreover has
seen no sleep since we left Marietta, and we
seemed nearer ready to lie down to die
than to enter into battle. But the effect
of the cannon was magic, indescribable.-
II ioepirad nc with nav life end yi0or -
We rushed down to the town, about mile
distant, amid tremendous cheering and yell
ing, running faster that ever ran before.
The enemy fired two swivels and several
companies discharged their pieces into us,
(the Toledo Guards)who were far ahead of
the rest of the regiment. This we answer
ed with shout of defiance and rushed on
them so much the faster, when the rebels
took to their heels and fled in confusion.-
Had now the regiments to whom the pa
pers have given the honors been at their
posts, the escape of the enemy would hare e
been impossible, and they must have been
captured or annfhilated in twinklipg.
We were on the North, the 18th Ohio
was psomptlv at IFS post on Inc nasi, uui
the Virginians, instead of being on the
South, appeared on the East side, and by
some unaccountable blunder, not recogniz-
ing the banner of the Toledo Guards, the
former fired several volIevs at us as we rush.
ed past them. This they came near pay
ing dearly for. Our artillery, already point
od THAR piococ al thom ond uo unra ohnySf