Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-10-09
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
From Captain Drake.s Company.
CAMP NEAR SHAnrsnunGH.
Washington Co., Md, Sci t. Goth leG2

nb!e apprehension is felt by those at home as to
the fate Of their friends who may be or have been
connected with that portion Of the army of the
Potomac, which hds recently been marching
through Maryland md driving out the lawlcss in.
yadcr from the South. Well may that apprehcn.
sion aLd fear to hear the entire report be felt, if
reports Of the recent engagements have found
their way amongst the popuacc which they sure.
ly have when the public mind is grnsping at eve.
ry it m Of consolotary and hopeful Information in
regard to the rebellion. The results Of the late
contest arc unqucStionubly victory to the national
arms, and rout, ruin, and panic to the vile hosts
Of jeff Davis But then it has cost us the lives
Of many brave and loyal patriots who now have
fought their last fight, and who lay inferred, peace.
fully sleeping that long, last slumbcr, on the
bloody fields of South Mountain and Anti tam
creek The Division of Ohio troops which was
transferred from the kanawha in the latter part
Of August, were sent tc Eastern Va, and for
s,mc days in front Of Washington, at the time the
jaded army of Mcclellan and Pope feel back from
its advanced position toward Richmond, with the
main part of the Sou. hcrn army pressing hard on
its rear.
ed his plan of operations, aid had wittdrawen
his forces from the front of Washington, and
was determined to make a raid into loyal
territory a large force under Mcclellan was i'm.
mcdiatcly place in motion to drive the invaders
from Mary land. and prevent his reaching Pennsyl.
yaiia. The Ohio Division was included in this
force, and two weeks ago the army moved to the
north side OF the Potomac, and then took north.
west in the direction of Frederick City, al.
ready occupied by the principal invading force;
and which was reached on the 18th, without any
occurrence Of movement, save IL slight skrmsh
and cavalry charge near the city upon an occupa.
ton of it.
1t now became evident that we would have
come fighting ere many days, although, at the
time, the rebels were retrcating, leaving in their
rear a strong guard Of cavalry and artillery to
hatass us, and impede our rapid progress. The
object Of their rctrOgride movement was to get
nearer to their base If supplies, if they possess
any; to prevent communication being cut Off,
which surely would be, if we would but ascend
the Potomac, a force sufficient for which we pos.
scssed; and to secure AMI take advantage Of the
excellent and formidable positions furnish by the
Blue Ridge which runs from the Potomac north,
and divides Eastern and Western Maryland. On
the morning of the 3th our advance kept up an
artillery firing for hours with the rear guard
of til rebels, some tirce miles west of Frederick,
which course they had taken with their entire
force, in the very face of their brIggadocio dec
larations to the people that they weie dctcrmn
ed to invade Pennsylvania, and make the free
States feel all the horrors of this civil war; and
visit upon it all the attendant dire calamitcs Of
such warfare.
At noon, our troops were in motion w st.wari
having made every possible preparation, so as not
to be taken unawareS, in the event of a fight
Three miles west of Frederick, we attain the
summit of the first ridge, and from there VIC can
obtain of the best views Of the country it has
ever been my fortune to witness. To the cast is
the slightly rolling country surrounding Frederick,
we'll watcrcd by the beautiful MonocaCy, and to the
west the wide valley of MiddletowN, dotted every
where with the best of farm houses and residences
aud bearing on its face the marks of fertility and
productivcncss
Descending the west slope Of the mountain
gradually, four miles further brings us to Middle
town. which our troops had taken possession of a
few hours previous, but not before the rebels had
fred the bridge spanning the stream a short dis
tance west of the village, but, the water being at
a low stage, this vandal act did not hinder us in
the least.
We cncampcd at Middletown for the night
and carly on the morning of the 18th were again
on the move, and three miles west Of Middletown
ve encountered the enemy posted on the ridge of
South Mountain, and occupying strong natural
position. The details of the engagement would
not enter into even if | were conversant with
them all, as it would be a useless repetition of
zhat will be found in most newspapers in the
country. 1t is sufficient TO say that the result Of
that days hard lighting was success to our arms.
and an utter defeat of the rebels, but it cost us
the lives OF many good aud gall Mt men.
observe that some totdyng E E,stern report r,
said to be with the advance of Gen. McClean's
army are taking special pains to brag on men of
their own particular section of country, with
so much as noticing the Ohio troops who bore so
conspicuous part, and so Gaantly charged upon
superior forces of the enemy occupying an advan.
tageous position. SO far as | have heard, al.
fought well that were engaged, and no dlscrimlna
ton should be used other than proper credit for
ndivida acts which would entite the performer
10 such consideration Any unbiased person who
will Tor once trouble himself to examine the re-
spcctivc positions of the combatants, and the
ground gained by an Ohio Brigade charging
against two f the enemy will unhesitatingly ac-
cord more than passing notice in report.
The opening infantry fire was made by the 23d
o. Rcg't., which occupied our extreme left, at
minutes before Q A. NJ. Before noon, the Ohio
Division had made two seperate charges, aud TAX
en- the cnemy's strong position on the ridge, with
n large number of prisoners, and great loss to
them in killed and wounded. Many of our brave
boys fell, likewise. The second charge was re-
al one, where the bayonets of combatants were
crossed, and cold steal did great execution -
With such impeuosty did our troops charge on