Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-12-03

4no loilOnlhS leblcI Eplu OOl- nan was
not intended for publication. 1t was
written to F. P. Green, of North Bloom
field, but as some stories respecting Col.
Hall have been ahoat, as an act of justice
to him, and his regiment, the gallant
l05th, the letter should be published.
HEADQUARTERS 33d BRIGADE,
MUNFORDsvILLE, KY, Nov.5,'62.
Dear SOL have delayed writing to
you for a long time solely for the want of
an opportunity. 1t has become apparent
10 you, no doubt, before this, that neither
myself or my regiment has had much
leisure since we left Cleveland so sudden
and unexpectedly. From the letters |
am receiving l am inclined to believe
that the people at home have been most
fully, if not faithfully, informed of our
doings, treatment, sufferings and general
condition. 1 propose in this letter to
speak of the lies that have been told, but
briefly, trusting as l do hat with the in
telligent and good they will work their
own correction. 1t is not to be disguised
that l am annoyed by their stories, not
on my own account, but for my dear wife,
who thought she suffered enough in the
fact of my absence alone. She writes me
that there are, at home, men who claim
to have been taken prisoners and paroled
on the retreat from Lexington, telling the
most horrible stories of my cruelties to
my men, and making the most alarming
statements of their individual suffering.
| propose to speak of these men, and |
wish first to say, that had really gallant
men who were taken prisoners in Lexing-
ton being then in Hospital. These sto-
ries have not come from them. On the
25th of August We arrived at Lexington
by railroad and lay in Camp 3 miles south
on the Nicholasville pike till the night of
August Both, when we were ordered to
march Immediately, by forced march to
the relief of our forces at Richmond, &c
miles east of that city. We marched IA
miles to the Kentucky River by daylight,
learned that our forces were all captured,
and then formed in line of battle to
prevent the enemy from crossing. We
stood to arms till 3 P. NJ, when we were
ordered to cover the rear, on the march
back to Lexington. When we faced for
Lexington the enemy advanced. We
reached Lexington late in the night, and
by a personal visit to Generals Gilbert and
Wright l succeeded in getting my writ
ten orders so changed as to take my regi-
ment off from picket hat night, Ia very
rainy onel and sheltered it in a market
in the city.
At s o'clock the next morning | was or
derered out on the Nicholssville pike, to
protect the city, till the Quarter Masters
stores could be moved and the town evac-
uated. On the Richmond road skirmish-
ing took place all that day and the 9th
Ohio lost some so men, the enemy was
pursuing as fast as they could, and threw
a force of cavalry around to the north of
Lexington to get between US and Yer
~sailles. All that afternoon the evacuation
was going on, and the last regiment or
dered to leave was, mine and we passed
through the city at eight P. NJ, and
marched all night, covering the rear
There was an immense train in the col
umn, a large drove of mules, and horses,
very deep dust and great lack of water,
as it had not rained west of Lexington to
any extent. Every man in the command
knew of the Richmond defeat, knew that
we we're retreating from an advancing en-
envy flushed with a great victory, the or
ders given us were of the strictest charac-
ter to permit no struggling or falling to
their rear, as all such would be captured
by the enemy. To effect the execution
OF this order a heavy rear-guard was or
dered to bring up all stragglers, the Sur
geons and commanding officer of each
regiment, and company, marched in rear
of their respective commands. The men
were notified of the danger, of the orders,
and directed not to leave their companies
without the permission of the Capt. and
the Captains we directed to give every
fatigued or sick man a written leave TO
fall behind, till the Surgeon came up; the
Surgeons examined every man so report
ed, or who fell back in sight of the col
umn, and if he need to be carried. teams
were ordered to be pressed to carry them
all. And this was done without excep-
ton. for every man who reported to the
Surgeon as he was ordered. Not one of
them was left behind. But there were
those who knew if they could hide from
the Rear Guard, they could be taken pris-
onerS in a few hours. be paroled and go
home, and some 20 men of the Regiment
in the night marches, hid away in this
manner, and deserted us. Deserted us
too, when it was expected every day,
that a fight would take place. Gone
home in singing disgrace, these eO,0ards
and sinks, have sought to cover their dis
honor by lying about their officers. This
march was a hard one, one of the hardest
known to this rebellion, it was conducted
and ordered by three Generals, Gilbert,
jackson, and Terrill, and brought up the
rear, no pleasant task, but one that had
to be performed at all hazards, with Sur
geons at either hand, / made every man
march whom they said was able to march,
and transported every man they decided
o need it.
Many a man came back to that rear
guard who said, he could go no further
but when the Surgeons said, ''he gives no
evidence of exhaustion" l made him trav-
ell on, and kept my transportation for