Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-04-17
From the 18th Regiment. :
- sc CunBEsLasp FokD. Kr.,
= - March 18th. 1862.


Ny FEIEsD:-I pen these lines 10 relate to
,you the late event which has occurred at Cum
berland Gap hDm Friday night until Sunday
morning. We received orders on Thursday
night to- prepere for five days absence from
camp. ouf coaks prepared Eve days rations;
and in the morning at nine o'clock we started
from camp-the 10th Ohio, 49th Indiana, LIST
Tenh. and 7fh Ky, together with two pieces of
artillery of II pounds each. We had our over
coats aad blankets with u.s. By night we ar
rived al q pointo opposite the Gap, within 300
Yards of the enemies pickets, which were driv-
en- in. 1t seems that General CARTER has an
eyeon our company, and if any important ser
wee Is to be performed, company B of the 18th
will be chosen for ii. Our company was de-
tailed on picket that night. 1t was cold, rain
ing and hailing. and we had 10 stay all night
without a FIRE ON the wet groand.f Ny feet be-
ing wet by the march commenced 10 freeze,
and in about one hour did BOT feel as if j had
feet. The night passed away, and with aRx-
ious hearts we waited what the coming day
would bring forth. We watched the enemy's
piekeis during the night. AT daybreak, Cen
eral Carrier sent an order to Capt. Edgar TO Sc
lect 25 volunteers to commence The engagement.
Capt. EDGAR camefup to the company Just as
we had built splendid FIRE. He told us that
he wanted 25 volunteers to go with him. We
then started and had 10 occupy two itile kroIls,
opposite the enemies entrepchmenfs. We
crept up onto the ridge on our hands and feet.
once in a while taking peep over log, Tor
the secesh had bloc kaded the road in fearful
manner. We finally arrived on the ridge, and
took our several posts so as not to be exposed,
and vet have a chance TO send our balls to the
secesh. We then took sure aim and away
went our bullets whizzing through the air into
the enemies entertainments. 1 peeped over
Il. al. l.1l. of @l
enemy, and saw few Of them standing near a
cannon, as il nobody could hurt them. 1 took
up my my old companion, my rife, and sent a
ball ia their midst. l saw one of them drop
and creep away. We then received reply,
and the bullets by the gross went whistlipg
over our heads. Nobody got hurt. You can
imagine how we felt when we saw The secesh
dropping and ourselves unhurt.. This lasted
about two hours. During that timeIwe conclu-
ded that they were pretty good marksmen; for
Col. Brnp, Of the lst Tenn, got his clothes cut
and his flesh slightly wounded by ball; also
a Lieut.. of the 18th. A ball struck about six
inches above my head in the limb of fallen
tree. The muskeiry was kept up about two
hours. We were then relieved, (after having
been on duty for eighteen hours), by Tenues-
see company. Just as we started, a cannon
ball came whirling like streak Of lightning
over our heads and passed down the hill. l
had no time to look around until a shell explo-
ded very near TO Us, and at the same time
grape shot came within a. few yards Of me. On
we went again, but did not go more than TWEEN
fy PAGES ~Sen another cannon ball knocked
tree all to piecesshe splinters fly ing around like
a swarm OF bees. Ry this time Col. DE- CoUR-
cEY and Gen CARTEa came up and told us TO 60
back to the fire and warm ourselves. Just as
he spoke, a "a pound cannon ball passed us and
the Col. exclaimed, "Lcok, there it goes; they
must be fools to waste their balls in that man.
ner" But now our turn came, our cannon had
to be hauled to another place, and at once they
commenced TO fire. We called them our little
.sbull-dogs," but i assure you they did some
very good barking. Allat once heavy report
was heard from our guns, and they knocked the
enemies large gun, a "a FOUNDER. from the car
riage, killing several men, All this Time our
regiment. took turn about in the skirmishing
killing many a traitor. A cannon ball came |
,fying over our heads with such force that it |
amade the very air shake, and We found 1t TO be
64 pound shell, which exploded near one of
,cannons, but fortunately doing no damage. |
snll was then sent into the epemy's camp, |
tesS down several tents. of all the scatter
ing Il Ter saw this beat. They thought this a |
little l5oSeooi for them, and we received an an
swer in the shapeof "a pound solid shot, and |
a GA FOUNDER as eontraband. The cannonading |
was kept up until o'clock. when the enemy |
ceased firing for a while, but onr cannon still |
kept playing. In about one half hour they |
commenced again, and with renewed strength |
the balls were flying mick and fast, and the IL
ring was kept up until dark.
All we had to eat was some crackers and wa
ter, whiGl used in the following way. broke |
up acf4cser, and taking lineup of boiling wa |
ter, placed the crackers therein; then adding |
a little salt it tasted very well, and was glad
TO have that. We then prepared TO sleep as we |
had not slept a wink the night before. We
slept with the idea that in the morning we |
would have TO make an attack upon the enemy's |
entrenchments. Although | laid on the ground |
and had no covering, slept sound and sweet |
dream delighted my mind. l felt refreshed |
when awoke This was Sabbath morning the |
day Of rest for The Christian people. But what |
kind of rest had we? Ready 10 go to battle, |
but not 10 attend an assembly Of worship
What a contrasd our friends at home listening
10 the music of an assembled congregation and
the word of God-we listening to the sound Of
the roaring -cannons which were opened upon
US again about sS'o'cloek. Our General, Ito his
honor be it said). did not allow that we should
disgrace the Sabbath, so the cannoHs were fixed
up and moved away. We started for camp. /
and while on the way received dispatch that
BODY of the rebels who had come out of the
Gap, occupied the road at the foot of the noun
tain OYER which we had to pass. However, We
did not see any of them. and arrived at camp
with the satisfaction of having killed at least
60 Of the rebels. Yours De-, ~
-f ei II rzfs .sse 81 Z. ZlNh