Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-03-05
Letter from st. Louis.
STEAMER D. A. JANUARY,
ST T.nt-ts Eah 81 IoRE

Letter from st. Louis.
STEAMER D. A. JANUARY,
ST.. Louis, Feb. 81, 1862.
Editors InfelLigencer:
To-day the 18th Ohio Regiment leaves
the State of Missouri after sojourn in it
OF six months to day. II has doue con-
slant and arduous duty, and although il
may have not performed any of those DASH
ing and brilliant feats of arms, which
would immOrtalize it in fashy headings
and enhancing verse, il has done tho real
substantial OF war, far more difficult to per-
form, far more disagreeable to endure
Years to come will only brighten the fame
won by the heroes of Wilson's Greek and
other bloody fields, while those who were
not so fortunate as to be within range of
minnie aud cannon balls will he forgotten.
So it is with tue 9th Ohio Regiment, so
far as its PTotracted visit to this State is
concerned. IL landed at ST. Louis on the
23d day Of August 1861, numbering 9sI
men, to-day il leaves the same city with
s0Oal told. Some have died, some have
been discharged, but the greater part OF
the difference are now the occupants of
Hospitals, generally improving, although
some have constitutions shattered forever.
Take the map Of the State, aud our
track over it is before you. From Ben
ton Barracks to Utica, it goes by railroad,
but after that tue common road. aud often
bride path alone marks our way
Marching to Lexington, il only came in
sight Of that fNtcd place in time for us to
hear the last gun fred in its defence, when
being unable to cope with tue vast victo-
rious hordes drawn thither by the magic
power Of Price, preCiPitHIe retreat to
Kansas City was tue only alternative left
to save us from capture or utter aunihila.
tiOn. On the advance, proper means OF
transportation were not provided, aud all
the tents had to be a6HndOaed to acccler-
ate speed, and all the time occupied in re-
treating, the men had no cover save tue
canopy of heaven.
From Kansas City the regiment started
on the great Southwest expedition, march,
ing TO Springfield, by way of Greenfield,
in fourteen days. From the former to the
latter place it marched in twenty-four
hours, by circuitous route of fOrty-iive
miles, n march not eXcelled during the
war, considering it was done on one meal
of victuals.
Remaining at Springfield week, the
line of march was again taken up, and Sc
dalia, Petlis county, was reached without
any incidents, If we except half cracker
day and beef without salt. -- . = Z
When the Blackwater expedition was
started, the 9th Ohio Regiment was along,
aud although no fighting was done, it was
the only regiment of infantry got under
arms the night of the capture, the many
seemingly truthful reports to the contrary,
Notwithstanding.
On the third day of February, after an
unprecedented hard winter, during which
the men were performing almost constant
duty, orders were received to march i'm
mediately to Jefferson City, which place
we reached on the seventh, after very
heavy march, the roads being part of the
time covered with three or four inches of
snow, and the remainder with twice that
depth of mud,
As the map shows, all this march was
beside a railroad, and the cars hourly
whistled by us as We waded through the
mud and snow with hardly murmur,
hinking-knOwing, that our weary tramp
would end at Jefferson City, where certain
" no excuse could be made to our enjoying
a ride, when two means OF transportation,
tue river and railroad, were al hand. But
imagine the sinking of hope and expecta-
ton when VIC were ordered to cross the
river and, of course, continue our march
by the hardest of roads ever seen.
On the l6tL the cars again merrily hur-
ried by us, on the North Missouri railroad,
and TO say the men did not murmur would
be doing thcm injustice, as, seemingly, we
were neglected by allin power, and-left TO
plOd out our weary existence alone, un-
thought Of, uncared for, and to bear such
treatment without protest when not de-
served is not human. Two more days
brought us to ST Charles, where, resting
one day, cars Were offered rs 10 81. Louis, a
distance of ttrenty mules, tchen zee had Just
fooled near tIro hundred beside the same con-
veyance without au offer to enjoy il. The
soldiers TO a man refused the offer, and on
the morning of the goth, crossing the
river, the road was taken 10 in the old
style and a little while after dark, beholden
to no one, the regiment entered the city
proud Of their independence, aud marched
aboard tue steamer d. D.Jauuary, PrePar-
atOry to leaving the State.
Now, having before you the irregular
circle We have Just completed, the question
arises, where is there another regiment in
the service which has done as much q
Eight hundred miles we have marched on
foot, during six months campaign, being
fifty-one days in alton the road, an aver
age Of over fifteen aud a half miles per
diem. Part of the roads were good, but
the greater proportion were very bad, be-
ing extremely dusty or muddy. aud ouly
thirty miles OF any other than clay roads
were traversed. u zssscs -.sr.--ss ,ssg
must close, but ere do so, word
about our officers. Col. John w. Fuller
was in command of the brigade from Se-
'dalia down, and the excellent manner in
which he conducted the march, 50 dificull
during such extreme weather, entities him
to honor. and he Is worthy of the thanks Of
the whole command. Henry g. Kennstt,
our Lieutenant-Colonel,e every body knows,
and finer man or more accomplished offi-
Ger is not in the service, and he is beloved
by the whole command; aud more than