The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1862-07-16
From the 4srd Regiment.
CAMP CLEAR CREEK,

hear something OF the 43rd Ohio and lis
whereabouts, l take this occasion TO write
you Few lines, something ] have several
times promised myself to do, but unfortu-
nate!y, not being newspaper correspondent
and but poor scribe, accounts for my long
silence.
will not 90 back and attempt to give a
detailed account of our soldering while in
the State Of Missouri or Island No. Ten, or
our fOtilla excursion down the Mississippi
river to to Fort Wright, although remem-
brances Of many incidents that transpired
while engaged in this service gives us pleas
ant reflections, but there are many, at the
same time, we would rather not call to mem
ory-such as crowded transports, being ex-
posed to all the rain and storms Of the sea-
son, three days fight with the "bloody"
musquitos, &c. At the close Of the third
day, while the musquito fight was raging in
ell its fury, we received orders, and hailed
them with joy, to be ready to move up the
river to Pittsburg Landing; and up the river
we steamed in grand style, with colors fyirg
and bands playing sectional Dixie and ma
tional Yankee Doodle with transports
crowded with our little army OF 10000 men.
We arrived safely at Pittsburg Landing in
due time, and at Hamburg Landing, four
miles above, we disembarked and went into
camp in order OF battle. Every division,
brigade. regiment and battery got into posi-
tion, threw out Our pckets and took every
precaution necessary, not knowing what mo-
ment Beauregard would come down upon us
as he did upon Grant, at Shiloh. Shiloh
was as heavy loss as he could stand. |
thought to myself that now would be good
time to get sick-get weak in the uuder-
pinning or something OF the sort, but no
use talking about or trying that game. Our
health is good and our underpinning in good
order, especially on double-quick (retreat.)-
There was no chance lett but to stand up to
the work. cant say positively that any Of
Gen Pope's command became afflicted with
any of the above maladies, but one thing |
do know, our sick list increased very rapid
ly iu few days, but perhaps it was on ac-
count of the change OF climate. We re-
manned here in camp for several days. Roads
had to be made and bridges built before we
could move forward. Slow and cautiously
we advanced upon Corinth. Camp after camp
was established and left in the rear. AS we
neared the city the more excited and expec
tant we became, but nothing Of importance
to impede our movements except the bad con
dition of the roads. True, we would have
occasional sklrmshes with the enemy, but
this did not amount to much on either side.
When we intended to advance our position,
we usually sent toward our whole force as
a reconnaissance in force, and if we met with
no trouble from the. enemy, we would select
our camping ground, and await the arrival of
our baggage tram. remember at one time
4 we went forward on reconnaissance, but
came back without selecting new camp
We got too close to Corinth TO be comforta-
BILE, being within one mile of the enemy's
works and in advance ofour last position be-
fore that place. Capt. Morse's battery paid
our respects to them, and then We retired to
camp in the rear Of Pennington. The rebels
did not like our boldness on that occasion,
and in few days they came out to see what
zoe were about. Then took place the fight
at Pennington, where we drove the rebels
back, and would have whipped them nicely
il we had not been ordered to retire by Gen.
Halleck, and not to bring on general en-
gagement for he was not ready; but before
we did retire we made many rebel bite the
dust. All say that that was the time for us
to strike, and, as it has proved since, we
let our best opportunity pass. But the or.
der was to retire and we must obey. John
Pope was mad that day--he wanted to move
forward. Some say that he swore little
which. don't doubt. This was the only
! time we met them in force until we advan
t ced to our last ditch in front of their works
when they met us with considerable force
+. but we drove them back after brisk little
t fight, mostly with artillery. We gained ou
position and held it. planted our batteries
and made all preparations for the expected
+ battle. The next day passed quietly, anc
, we were not disturbed while finishing ou
Q works except from the fort on our left. Nigh
r came on, and with it surprise that we dit
: net have general engagement: We dit
!. not dream that they would evaeuate. Tha
s night about ten o'clock, numerous train
came in, cheer after cheer went up. and W
> . supposed they were getting reinoreements
signal guns were fired during the night, an,
{ we felt confident Of fight the next day.
! But you can judge Of our surprise when W
= found out they had evacuated. The 27tl
: Ohio went to the fort that they had fred a
IS US from the day before, and found no on
). there. They planted the Stars and Stripe
Q on its works and started for Corinth. /
: was the first regiment to enter the place
s Bully for Ohio! We were disappointed
we expected to have heavy fight and man,
y would have fallen in our last ditch befor,
= = that place. 1t does seem to me that tn
place, situated as it was, with all its adyan
! Itages, must have been impregnable. W.
a might have fanked them, but to storm ithei
Il works, with swamp OF half q mile and al
d abatis Of one fourth Of "a mile, would be Al
impossibility. But it was too true; they ha'
J left and we must fOllw them, Gen. Pope il
. the direction OF Boonville and Grant an
' Buell. in other directions: We came up with
good many stragglers and desertsrs, but di
g not overtake their main force. They thre'
q oil impediments in the way Of our advanc
y --felled timber, burnt bridges--but all thi
10 prscaution was unnecessary, as they Away
d run too fast for us anyhow. We foflowe