The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-03-06
"a Leltsr lEpnI Capt.- s.laeheomh.

Inc iOho"lnB IelteT from capt. 6tineh.
comb. written 10 G. r. Howe, Suporin.
ieadsnt Of the Stats Farm. has beed Kind.
" furnished asIsf publisaliOu. NoCOm.
DenIs are necessary from us---tho lettsi
speaks for itself. jObh bOgan was no.
BILE soldier. The State Farm has sent
forth many such. Mr.. Howe informs hs
tba, he has no parents--no relatives. He
was sent from the Ohio Peniie mildly a,
sbOut cage of II, 10 Ihs STATE Farm,
where he enlisted two years afterward
with Capt Stinchcomb.
JoHS DoeAS, Co. B, 17th O. v. U. s.
A., died Of abscess in the head, at the
hospital in Danville, Ky. Between the
10Th and 99d Of February, 1869.
/ found John on the State Farm in Aug.
ust last. He was a member of my com,
pany, and l can truly say. I never saw a
soldier do his duy more willingly and
cheerfully. At the battle OF Wild Cat,
80 Of my company were thrpvuiin the
advance one half mile, 10 The brink oi tbe
hill. occupied by three companies Of the
l7th. and one Of the 40 was John. This
brought them within 25o or 300 yards
of the enemy when the first battle was
fought, and whilst the battle was raging,
the enemy changed bis position SO that
his balls passed over the heads Of our
boys Immediately engaged. and fell thick.
est where Dogan wa, stationed. yet I
am told by 1t. Asbbrook, who was pass
ing around to see his line. that Dogan was
one OF the few who sought no cover; bit
there he stsod on the edge of the rock
that overlooked the deep yale below, to
notify his comrades of the first approach
OF the enemy. He even threatened to
shoot member Of another company Tor
falling back and getting behind tree. i,
He was left behind at Danvile 10 the
hospital whenwe vent to Somerset, but
on learning that We were about to have
fight there, he reported himself we'll to
his physician, who knowing bis disease
refused to discharge lin. John deserted
the hospital at 4P. M. and al s P. NJ.
next day joined his company, having car
ried his napsack and gun and made 43
miles-passed over 100 well soldiers on,
the way-fOund us drawn up in battle
line, expecting an attack. l shall never
forget the delsrminationgof that nob,e boy
as he reported himself to me for duty and
fell into line. l I-ordered him to quarters,
feeling satisfied he was unfit for duty; but
when he looked up and said, "Captain, L
come tofgM !psI lsthim stay in ranks |
The morning We started to Mil Springs
he was determined to go, although be had
scarcely been able for several days to hold
up his head. and when told him he could
not be permitted to attemptit. with a tear
in his eye. and sorrow. deep subdued sor-
row depicted in every emotion. he re-
marked "that Nj. Howe had told him he
must always be in the 6ght," and "Iwant
to co. He got on to the portico and
watched the Regiment until it was ou. of
sight, and I am told by the boys at the
hospital that he paced the portico back
andiforthinearly all day, and az every
boom of the cannon he would stop, turn
towards the report, listen for while and
thea start of again.
Friend Howe by some means had Ia
ken a deep hold on bis affections and his
lessons were never forgotten. found
him a stranger and yet six months had
given me such attachments for him that I
confess cannot pen his death without
tears. l want Mr.. Howe to wtit6 to his
parents if he knows where they sre.- I
have said this much about him as I knew
him TO bea stranger, except to the State
Farm boys and for their encouragement
l have given them short history of bis
conduct while with me.
a am unable .otelr yon The day on
which he died as the boy who brought
the news did not know,
: "a fA
| am Yonrs truly,