The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-09-19
Our Military Correspondence.
FROM THE l05TH REGIMENT.
CAMP NEAR LOUISVILLE,
Spnt. lnlh. lS62.


met with at their hands, and The compare
lively good time which we had in pleas
ant grove near the city Of Lexington, l
have now different story to relate quite
another sorg 10 sing--one tha., tells OF
hardship and suffering endured by the
lO5ih. One week ago last Saturday, the
l05!h was drawn up in line OF battle, pre-
paralory to marching 10 the assistance Of
our troops at Richmond, or, as VIC then
supposed, TO Camp Dick Robinson. At
5 o'clock, the Regiment took up tho line
Of march on tie Richmond road, marching
until 8 o'clock the next morning, having
marched eleven miles. We all lay down
then to rest until daylight, when we were
called from our slumbers by the road.
hard crackers as we travelled. We had
gone but couple of miles when we were
ordered to form in line Of battle in an ad-
Joining cornfeld, and lie down. There
we lay, in hot, sweltering sun, until sf-
ter O'Clock, anxiously awaiting a chance
to pepper the Rebel cavalry under their
famous leaders, Metcalf and Morgan. But
these gentlemen were undoubtedly cooking
their fish elsewhere at least, we did not
get hand in the dish. Near Q O'Clock
we commenced our retreat, and reached
| Lexington at about 10 o'clock that even.
ing, and, after marching and counter
marching through the streets few times,
we we're quartered in the market.house,
laying down on a brick floor, to sleep,
without particle Of supper, and as wet
as drowned rats, having been completely
drenched by heavy thunder. shower that
, afternoon.
The next day, we were busy ir cleaning
our arms, and in our usual drill. Az dusk,
we again commenced our grand skedad-
die, marching to Versailles 10y light Tues
day morning, where we stopped for a
couple Of hours, 10 eat our supper OF hard
crackers and 10 sleep. The march was
again resumed at O clock, and ended in
Frankfort that night, at II o'clock. The
Regiment lay down on the stone pave
ment TO sleep except a few who were de.
tailed to 60 about one mile, 20 cook the
rations for the succeeding two days
! At2 o'clock, we were all reused up tc
prepare for the days work before US
| That night Wednesdav-we halted al
dusk on creek, the name of which
have forgotten, and here we obtained a
comparatively good nights rest and one
march was begun at an early hour, and
continued until / o'clock at night, and
again resumed at o'clock in the morning,
to be finally ended at noon that day
Friday---four miles from Louisville.
From Saturday until Friday noon, the
Regiment performed a march OF nearly
50 miles, and had served to them four
teen crackers, TO each MN, a few slices
Of meat, and dozen cups of coffee. All
the sleep that we had from Friday until
the next Friday, was about eighteen
hours. AS for myself, though, it a
rather small allowance for sleepy head
Some had still smaller allowance. Thi.
march was performed upon Macadamizec
roads, the heat excessive, and IN cloud
of dust. ... .... .... ......-
The above is a simple statement o
facts in the past history of the lO5th. IL
give you an adequate idea of the SUI
iering that was produced by this fearlu
march, is impossible. 1t was one Of ihos
scenes that must be witnessed 10 be re
allied. | have seen strong. stout me
fall from the ranks, sick and vomitln
from exhaustion. have seen others ia
senseless and powerless by suns;roke.
have seen men stagger into the fence
corners by the dozen, protesting thf
they could 90 no further, until they wei
, driven forth by the rear guard at the poiI
y OF the bnyon to prevent their being Il
ken by the enemy. I have seen Other
d, hobbling as best they could, with the
feet terribly blistered. 1t is remarkabI
that the men were able to perform th
; march at all; yet they have done it, and
though they have met no enemy, the
; have given sufficient evidence OF thei
grit and hardihood, and that, when the
do meet the enemy, it will be with soil
front and a polished bayonet.
There were certain officers, not Of th
lO5lh, who damned the men because the
fell out, and kicked them because they di
,, not get up. If there was any one thin
. for which the men suffered, it was watc
So famished were they for it, that. wher
> ever they caught sight Of well or sprin!
> they rushed from the ranks TO the we
V or spring. and all efforts Of the officers
stop them were utterly futile. 1t was
;, vain to threaten them with either sab'
or bayoret, for they replied with an oa'
and threat of defiance. A certain o
fcer Of high rank rode up to Geaug
boy, and ordered him to fall in, sayin
IS that he had had his canteen filled one
to-day. The answer was that it was emp
W now, and he meant to GIL it. The ord,
q was repeated with an oath. with the r
ply, "H had little of what you hay
n had good deal of, | should not want
q much water" The canteen was file
l do not write these facts or incidents 4
10 the purpose of complaining wholly, f
h the retrec / had to be efected and in a harr!
Il but cannot help thinking that the con
d fort OF the men might have been bett
% provided for during the retreat. ms
a venture to say know it, and that, to
y with less expense to Uncle Sam. UpC
4 the retreat, knapsacks, coats, blanket
guns. and everything that the men we
o obliged to carry, was thrown away. WI
. not have commenced the retreat from lie
o ington Monday morning instead fwaitil
Is until evening when the Rebel cayal