Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-11-21
Army Correspondence Delaware Gazette.
FrcE TIE 121st Regiment.
CAMP REID, NEAR PERRYvLLE, Ky.
~ l. 81 Toea


wrote you last. Since then the I2lst hai
been " put through" of which, no doubt, yor
and the readers of the Gazette have heard thro
private sources, if not through the papers
I Fer two weeks after the battle we were with
out mail and no news, save rumors. We wert
an anxious set of fellows. Finally large
mail came the countenances of many were
/ frightened; the letters made the well feel hap
/ py and the complaining feel better. The next
mail brought papers from the respective coun-
/ ties in which the companies were raised-Del-
aware Gazettes and Standards included. These
we're read with eagerness and delight, passed
on and read again, and went from one to an
other till they were read b pieces. What few
papers that find their way into the army ought
to be printed on parchment
Perryville is an insignificant little place on
Chaplin Greek. This stream has solid lime
stone bottom, fact which reminds one of the
Oientangy. The bed of this creek is rs dry as
the steeples on the churches in Delaware ever
were, and all the creeks in the country are in
the same sad condition. Perryville contains,
as the citizens claim, six or seven hundred in
habitants. l think that a census would dimin-
ish the number at least % per cent.
The l2lst is the only regiment here. Col.
Reid has command of the post, and Lieutenant
Colonel Irwin command of the regiment
Colonel Reid carries his characteristic energy
with him in military affairs as well as at the
bar. His success at the bar viii doubtless be
eaqualed by success in the field.
L can add very little, if anything, to what
has already been said of the battle of Chap
lin Hights. 1 was not with the regiment or
the day Of battle, my duties being with the
wagon train, which was delayed at Maxville
that morning. About 10 o'clock the train
was ordered to take another road, so as to save
the wagons In case we should suffer defeat.
We halted that night at Springfield, about Is
miles from Perryville. The train laid there
six days, anxiousy waiting orders to join the
regiment; and the boys were equally anxious
that we should, az we had all their blankets
and camp kettles with us.
l passed over the battlefield d few days
since. notwithstanding all the dead were bur
ried, the horrors of war We're plainly to be
seen. Dead horses were strewn thickly over
the ground, and in one place / counted ten, all
touching each other. Near them was buried
a rebel with his arms pretruding from the
ground. Close TO these is where Gen. jackson
fell. 1 counted on an ordinary sized oak tree,
fOrty-one bullet marks. Here was a terrible
conflict, Of which almost numberless graves
gave conclusive evidence This was near the
Z" Russell House" which had the top of its
chimney blown off with a common ball. On
another tree, less than eighteen inches ia diam
eter, counted twelve shots within three feet
of the ground, two of which l chopped out
and have them as trophies of the battle. l
might mention many similar sights but these
will suffice 10 give the reader some idea OF the
thickness with which the bullets flew
1 was conducted over the field by Captain
Sharp, who is well known in Delaware county.
Capt Sharp had command OF three compa-
MES in charge Of an ammunition train. He
seized gun from one of his men and gave the
rebels a number of rounds. He conducted
himself with great coolness and bravery
These three companies were Go. D, Captain
Sharp; Co. G, Capt. Gone; Co. Z, Captain
Lloyd Most of these men shot full forty
rounds, and others called for more ammunition.
Lieut.. Arthur, Of company g, was wounded,
and Capt. Lloyd was taken prisoner.
From Surgeon Williams [ learn that the
regimental hospital contains forty eight pa
tients, all doing well. Some of them were
severe cases of typhoid, or camp fever, but
mostly protracted diarrhea. Doctor Williams
spares no time, avoids no labor, shuns no duty.
to the detriment of the regiment. BY his en-
ergy and activity, on the march the l2lst had
less stragglers than any regiment in the brig
rde In Cincinnati. he secured an ample sup
ply of medical stores. After the battle, he
turned most Of them over for general use in
the hospitals, and part of tue remainder hav
ing been stolen, left him partially destitute
He has since been TO Louisville, however, and
received new supply. The Doctor appro-
priated very fine residence of a secesh for
regimental hospital. l was through the hos
pital to-day. Everything is in good order
Everything is done for the comfort of the sick
that can be done under the existing circum-
stances.
DIR. Hill, Assistant Surgeon, has not been
with the regiment since we left Cincinnati
He is on duty in The hospitals in Louisville.
Among the sick in the hospital, are Captain
Martin, Co. B, Lieut.. Arthur, Co. G, and Lieu
tenant Jones' Go. l.
l am now writing at o'clock, ?. NJ. Or
ders have just been reccived to prepare three
days rations, and be ready to march at 3 o.
clock in the morning. This necessarily puts
an end to my writing more at present.