Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-01-31
oRS. scHoEFFF rRrEs TO BRiso Hra BRIG
ADR INTO THE rr0HT.

GEN sCuoEFFF TRIES TO BRING HIa BRIG
ABE INTO THE rI0HT
Gen. Schoepff's brigade was somc ten
or fifteen milCs from the battle ground when
the ight commenced; they tried hard to
@havc hand in" but failed, We trust they
may havo better luck next time.
THEY HEARrHE FIRST BOOM OF CANNON.
Sunday morning came, dark and rainy
a fit day for a Sabbath battle. At six min.
utes before eight o'clock we heard the frst
boom of cannon. We had frequently heard
what VIC imagined to be artillery firing be.
fore, but always found out it was distant
thunder, or something similar in sound; but
there was no doubt as to this. The imag.
ination may mistake other sounds for can.
non, but there is little danger of ever mis-
taking the heavy boom Of artillery for any
thing else. The battle was evidently raging
somewhere near Gen. Thomas camp. Yet
il was so unexpected to us that We could
scarcely believe the evidence Of our own ears.
That the enemy should leave his entrench-
ments 10 attack us in the open fold, SEEM
cd almost incredible. Major Coffee, Of
"Wolford's Cavalry" was the only one who
could offer any solution of the mystery. He
knows Maj Gen. Crttenden personally, and
remarked, "George is drunk, as usual, and
comes out for fight"
scHoEPFF RECEIVES NEWS OF THE REBEL
ATTACK AND REFUSE.
About noon Lieut. Col. Moore and went
over to headquarters to see if we couldn't
get somo information. Just then VIC saw
coming ever hill opposite, at full speed,
Major Lawrence, Captain Hewett, and a
third person with the inevitable Wolford's
Cavalry bluuderbus slung over his shoulder.
He and his horse looked like an incarnation
Of the demon who may be presumed 10 pre-
side over mud. If there was one square
inch on their several bodies visible through
the surrounding crust Of earth and water,
my eyes failed TO perceive it. But his first
words were decidedly those of a man of like
passions to those of other mortals. "Hur-
rab, Zolly's dead !" He sought the Gener-
al while the Major stopped to tell US that
the rebels were routed and our men were in
full pursuit of them toward the river. In a
moment out rushed Gen. Schoepff, bare
headed and jubilant. "Munoz, 90 and tell
the 17tb, 35th, 3sth and S1st to prepare to
march instantly" "Instantly," he repeat
ed in his quick, decisive way. We hurried
back to camp. The boys had not eaten
their dinners yet. They we're tired with
Saturdays march. They had no meat for
breakfast. There were no crackers, only
corn meal TO make bread of, and no time to
prepare it. But it made no difference
The only anxiety was lest Thomas should
drive the enemy over the river before we
could get down. Boys sick in the hospitals
hurried out to get their muskets. Our reg
iment which could not have brought out
three hundred men for dress parade, march
ed five hundred strong to battle, and one
company gone to repair the road to Stan
ford. 1t was the Same with all the rest of
the brigade. Coils. Bradley and Vandevier
left their sick rooms, where they had been
lying dangerously i'll for weeks, to head
their regiments. l did not see the latter,
but Col. B. looked as the Cid Campeador
must have done when the Spaniards placed
his corpse at their head to lead them once
more to victory.