Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-10-29
18th Ohio Battery
HD-Q'Rs 4th Dry. D. OF w. TENN., I
Bolivar, Tenn, Oct. Sth, 1862
OUIiFdI, ItIIH', OON. OVIIJ HVU-'
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 1l2.

Officers and Soldiers of the Fourth Di
vision-Comrades in Battle! partakers o.
the weary march and the long watches
/ by your discipline and courage the victo
nv has been won and the title of the
Fighting FOURTH - earned at Shiloh, ha.
been FURNISHED with additional splendol
on the Hatchie.
( We were ordered on q forlorn hope tc
the aid of our beleaguered brothers ir
arms at Corinth. The march was ardu
ous-the undertaking desperate. Ny or
ders were to reach Rosecrans at all haz
ards and relieve him or perish.
By the blessing of the God of our Fa.
thers and our country, the forces which
assailed the indomitable garrison at Cor
inth were scattered and broken by their
invincible courage before our turn came.
But there was yet work for the "0ld
Fourth"
The heavy mass of the enemy were re-
treating by the State Line road, when,
after crossing the Muddy, we met them.
Each arm of this Division calamity CO.
operating with the other, Cavalry, Infan-
try and Artillery-over a rough and dan
geRous country over hill and through
ravines forest, thicket and desperate
enemy made no breach in the serried adj
vance of this command. Aided by your
brave comrades of the 68th Ohio and 10Th
Mich, from Gen. Ross command, field
after field was swept; position after posi-
tion seized and occupied, until the crown
ing struggle of the day came on for the
occupation of. high grounds east of the
Hatchie. The bridge across that stream
was carried at charging step, the work
of the artillery was done; that of the In
fantry commenced in deadly earnest.
Major General Ord, stranger to you,
b4t to whom the Division by its well won
reputation was no stranger, and who had
hitherto led the advance, was struck at
the bridge and disabled: the command
then devolved upon your old comman-
der. ..... -t.--.i
By misapprehension of the nature of
the country across the Hatchie, large
portion of the Division had been massed
on impracticable ground on the right of
the road and exposed TO a terrific fire of
canister, at short range. That you bore
it without the possibility of actiye return,
speaks well for your discipline.
Knowing the ground, l Immediately
determined to throw out the main force
to the left, crown the hillside and flank
the enemy. And it is among the proud
est moments of my life when | remem-
Der how promptly the several Regiments
disengaged themselves from their tempo
rary confusion and extended to the left,
and with what a will they bent them
selves to conquer the hill. In twenty
minutes all was over, the crest was gain
ed and held, the artillery rapidly in
place, and the field Of Matamora was won.
The broken fragments of the Confeder-
ate Army recoiled before your solid adj
vance; their main line of retreat was cut
off and their troops forced over the bro
ken ground east of the Hatchie.
Our duty was accomplished. Our woun-
ded, the bloody witnesses to the despera-
ton of the fight, were to be cared for; al
ready the victorious column of Rosecraps
was laundering on their rear. it was my
duty to bring in the forces that remained
to me.
You have returned to camp No col
ors lost, not a man or a gun missing. 1t
is a triumph, and you, and | for YOU, have
a right to be proud
With you in this achievement were as
sociated the 6Sth Ohio and 18th Mich.
regiments they were worthy to be with
YOU, and their conduct receives the praise
of their commanding officer.
And now the necessities of the service
removes me from the immediate COM
mand of the 4th Division. A promotion
won by your courage and discipline re-
moves me to a larger command.
| wish you to understand from these
my parting orders that | know full well
thai no regiment in my old Division de-
sired to be under my command when We
met at Donelsol (; the reason why-I
know Well-but care not to tell now