Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-05-08
The Ohio Regiments.

1t is stated that the list regiment Ohio
volunteers has been deprived of its colors
and the 77th disbanded and sent home, for
cowardice at the battle near Pittsburg Land.
ing. We do not think that this is justice.
These regiments were fresh ones, and, with
some raw recruits from other States seem
to have been assigned an advanced position,
which was insecurely guarded by the usual
precautions of pickets and outposts. 1t has
been asserted and not denied that some of
them were totally without ammunition, and
that others had never been on regimental
parade since their organization. What
could have been expected from them, when
the shameful surprise on the morning of the
9th inst. was permitted? Veterans could
not have withstood the vigorous assault of
Johnston and Beauregard had they been
placed in similar fatal position. 1t is a
very easy matter for army correspondents
who write thrilling narratives of battles
which they never witnessed, or for editors
hundreds of miles away from the scene of
conflict to charge cowardice upon these sac
rifced men, but every drop Of their blood
cries aloud for a strict and searching inquiry
into the causes of the disaster. When that
is instituted, we think it more probable that
the verdict will strip epaulets from some un.
worthy shoulders, and restore the colOrs OF
the disgraced and disbanded Ohio regiments.
The criminal neglect of that fatal morning
can never be expiated, but the errors may be,
the faults of commanders who sacrificed SC
many loyal lives cannot be overlooked, but lei
the Ohio regiments have chance to redeem
their tarnished honor. A breath has passed
over the fairmirror Of their State s chiyalry
but its may pass away, and from its bright
surface may be reflected long panorama OF
noble, gallant and historic deeds.
We Of Kentucky will never join in any as
persions upon the Ohio volunteers who tal
tered at Pittsburg Landing. The routet
regiments at Bull Run, then updisciplined
have since proved tho best soldiers Of ou
: army, won imperishable laurels, and beef
pronounced the finest soldiers in the world
Ohio does not breed poltro0ns OF. towards
i Mcclellan, Buell., Mcdowell, Rosecrans
> w. T. Sherman, Mitchell, Garfeld, Woods
Schenck, the McC looks, Steadman, Ammon
s Fyffe, ,Vanderyier, Harris, Dickey, Connell
DeCourcy, Stanley, Beatty, Whittlesey
D Norton, Walker, Sill, Bradley, Cranor, Gil
q son, Matthews, Applsr, Forsythe, Haskel
+ and scores Of Others, many of whose mob
r regiments have been the saSiors OF keI
9 lucky from the devastation Of the Confedel
! ate armies The brave men who boast ta
!. maternity Of Ohio, or who are her sons !
adoption, stood shoulder to shoulder wit
! Kentuckians in the deadly conflict, and n
cognized the full effect OF our State motto
y Limited we stand, divided we fall. a
+ honor to them, and all honor too to the iucl
y less list and 77th The latter may DO Gel
;. sured BY those TO whom their defeat is CO
y tainIy attributable, but they eyinced Il
j; right spirit when they volunteered uhd
Al Col. Mason, at Troy, and Col. Hldebran
At al Marietta Give them . fair change al
. a short period Of discipline and we will Q
3, gage that they will make as fine soldiers
T. cravens who would seek to degrade them u
der the circumstances Of their unprepare
ness at, Pittsburg Landing and their com
IN ouent panic. Retribution, speedy and {
ii served, upon those whose criminal carele
or] ness brought upon them the horrors and
:, carnage Of the 9th of Aprif.tuig ~ 10