Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-02-26
From the goth Reeiment-Letter
from Lieut.. Downs.
OK BOARD STEAMER EMPRESS.

ON BOARD STEAMER Express
Mss. RIVER, Feb. Is, 1862.
Editors Chronicle Your Il bave
no doubt wondered why they get 50 Iittle
information through your columns of tbe
Goth Regiment, o. V. U. s. A. The reaS.
on IS, that until recently, there has been
very little otlmportance transpired in con-
nection with the movements of the Goth,
further than its usual daily routine OF
guarding batteries that have command OF
the approaches to Cincinnati, Covington
and Newport. So long have we been en-.
gagged in guarding batteries, that we found
we were not to have a hand. directly.
in lifting from the dust the emblem of our
nationality, and We had become almost
Spoiled for a fight" On the Ilth inst.
we received marching orders to 90 to Pa:
duca, KY, which was to US "tidings OF
Esre2: Joy" making the hcrs almost crazv
with delight. At s o'clock, eight compa-
MES were on board the steamers DR..
Kane and Emma Duncan, lone company
being down the river at Warsaw, and one
left in Cincinnati, to guard the batteries
for a few days until relieved,) and start
ed down the river. We stopped at War
sawand took on board the company that
was there, and at 6 o'clock P. NJ, on the
18th, we reached Paducah. Our trip thus
far was a very pleasant one. On arriving
there, our former good feelings were very
much elated to find an order to join Gen.
Grants division in an attack on Fort Don
elson, about 10 miles from aducah. up
the Cumberland river. That night, al y
o'clock, we started, and at 5 o'clock, P.
VI Epi1au uo ,aoaIzl A. 49, 4
Fort Donelson. The engagement had
already taken place, the day before we
arrived, Thursday at 4 o'clock, P. NJ,
and when we came up, four of our gun
boats were playing sharply upon the reb-
ell batteries, and the shot of the rebel
guns were lighting in the water closely
where we landed. Saturday morning we
started to the scene of action, our position
being on the right of the right brigade,
commanded by Colonel Macarthur. We
reached u position at 10 o'clock, A. NJ,
having performed a circuitous march of 10
miles. Soon after we arrived. the wound
ed of troops engaged early in the morning
commenced coming in. They were hor-
rible to look at, by one unaccustomed to
witness the horrors of a battlefield. At
IL o'clock, A. NJ, there was q general en-
gagement OF gun-boats, batteries, and sew
eral regiments of infantry, making one
continued roar of artillery and musketry,
which lasted for one hour. We were
drawn up in line of battle, expecting eve
ry moment our turn would come next
The shots whized through the air about
us, but fortunately zone of US were hurt.
The boys of the Goth, were as cool as if on
dress parade. We remained on our arms
all night anxiously waiting the signal to
begin. To our surprise, the next morn
ing the intelligence came that the Fort
had surrendered. The forests for miles
around rang with deafening applause
from the thousands of soldiers who were
gathered for a hand in the conflict. 1t
was a hard fought battle, but a most bril-
liant achievement, a victory that has no
precedent in American history, The reb-
Ell forces numbnred from ii, 900 to 10000,
under Generals Pillow, Floyd, johnson,
and Buckner. Only about half of our
forces were in the engagements. We had
on Sunday morning in the field, 10000
troops, with a reinforcement of II, 900 on
the way up the river. Johnson and
Buckner surrendered, with 1900 troops
prisoners of war. Pillow and Floyd, with
the balance of the rebel forces escaped
the night before. We have all the arms,
equipments and stores, of those that sur
rendered. The killed on each side is be-
tween 300 and 400, and the wounded on
each side 500, as near as 1 can judge
The wounded are not many of them fatal.
Nearly all the killed of the rebels were
shot either in the EYE, or near the centre
of the forehead.
The 9th and 4lst Illinois, and the 31st
Indiana, suffered the most of any of the
regiments engaged. We have lost in the
killed several prominent company field
officers. We are now on the way to st.
Louis with the prisoners, our regiment
being one to guard them to their desti-
nation.
Co. A and II are guarding prisoners
They are poor miserable looking objects,
without uniform, the most of them, and
poorly clad, and their blankets are most
" pieces of carpeting. The prisoners are
and a majority of them appear glad to get
out. of the rebel army, and many of them
have told me they were anxious to take
the oath of allegiance. Very many Of
them were drafted soldiers, and were fore
ed into rebellion contrary to their wishes.
Shortly before we left Cincinnati, Capt.
Powers resigned and returned home. 1t.
VIM. Rogen of Co. A, takes the command
of the company by Seniority of rank. He
is from Knox County, Ohio.
On Sunday morning last, private Dan'l
r nn1.Sat, BY an accidental discharge of
his pun. nearly shot off the thumb and
f~ore=fnger of his left hand. The latter
was amputated at the Knuckie JOINT
Thomas Gilmore and VIM. Oil, of Trum-
bull Co., have been unwell for some time,
but are with US, and are slowly improving.
Wesley Craig and Alex. Longmore, of
Warren, and James ]. Stanly, were left
at the general Hospital in Cincinnati
They are well cared for and were recover
ing when we left. The company has been
remarkably healthy since we left Cincin-
natl. We are all of us badly in want of
some pay, and earnestly hope Uncle Sam
has not forgotten us.
Yours, respectfully, E. DOWNS.