Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-10-02
From the 12lst Regiment.
isr DTv-s I2IsT REGIMENT 0. Y. l. }
Ia camp near RossviIle Georgia
Sept. Is, 1868. }

As have sOme leisure moments this eve
n:ng propose to employ portion Of the time
10 writing for your columns by the way 10
inform our many friends of your county where
we are at the present, and how we are prosper /
ing down here 10 Dixieis land.
Since my last correspondence we have per
formed soma very tough marching. We left
ShellbyviIie, Tennessee on the 20th day OF
August and went to Fayetteville, Tenn, We
enjoyed ourselves hugely while there, and lived
on the fat of the land, we're making ourselves
right at home but our equipments did not
last as long as we desired for along, with the
Ist day of September came the order ordering
Us TO Cowen, station at the foot Of the Cum
berlaud mountains; a E7ore forsaken and desc
late appearing place could not easily be fouEd
for our armies preceding US had consumed al
NEST every thing for miles around We were
there but few DAYS, when the remainder OF
our brigade Joined US and weimmediately receiv-
ed orders to march TO BridypCrt, Alabama. We
bad a very rough time of it crossing the noun
tains, for our Wagons were continually break.
ing down, turning over, and The road so rough
that they made very slow progress in advauc
ing. The uain Of wagons crossing at the
time was estimated at y miles in length, aud
there were so many troops accompanying il
that it was the most tedious march that We
ever yet have made. We reached Brilgporl
in due time and remained there but three days
when we were ordered TO cross the Tennessee
river and empty our wagons of our equipage
and load them with subsisi ance stores and am
upition. We did 50 and the following morning
received orders 10 go to Chattanooga and leave
ur knapsacks and other accountrements there,
and to leave our men who were convalesceRt
there under the charge OF a commissioned Of
deer to guard them and bring them through
when sent for We trave ed until the heat Of
be day when we halted and refreshed ourselves
by taking our dinner. but not such dinner as
We used 10 get in the "North country" which
vas perpared for US by our dear friends at
home Such as: ham, fried chicken, eggs, pies,
cakes and other fne lhings, but geRuine bard
tack" bacon" and strong coffee, aud these
tasted very good at the time for we were nnl
a little hungry having made very early start
| hat morning.
While marching along that morning we
came 10 the celebrated Nickaiack cave. One
! Of lhe great works of nature ard where the
rebels had been manufac uring 4 vast amount
Of saltpeter ere we drove them from that vi
cinily. This is very large cave arched over
With majestic rocks, and has quite a large
stream of water running through it, back
Of the entrance quite number of yards there
is declivity of something like 25 or 80 f..
and back under here is 4 beautiful lake with
Il canoe in it to step into aud sail around over
he dark appearing waters.
+! I forgot 10 mention that our Chaplin, L. F
Drake, had returned to the regiment tuai
morning, and willie resting after eating oul
llnners. he climbed mp on a large rock on ,he
hillside aud deliver d some very interesting
aud instructive remarks, and prayed aud sung
a few hymns for our benefit. A more indus
IRONS clergyman is rarely found, he supplies US
with great amount Of reading matter and
Bibles, hymn books, &C., his works do not stop
within our regiment. for be is often seen i'll
ether regiments distributing tracts, preaching
20 them. &c.
After the close of his remarks we resumed
our marching and Travelled on till dusk, wher
we bivouaced for the night, partook of oul
Scanty fare and retired, but ere the midnight
hour came we were aroused by the shriil blast
Of the bugier which announced to us that our
marching was not yet ended. We drew ra
tions, filled our canteens and started about the
hour Of ], and marched on over high hills and
through dusty valleys, till after sunrise when
we again halted to partake OF some more
hard tack" sc. &.
We then marched on through dust from :
10 inches in depth, and came in sight o
Chattanooga near noon, but passed on ant
about O'Clock found ourselves marching into
the forests here in Georgia where we bivousc-
ed, all very tired, dirty, and sleepy, and about
miles south of the boasted "rebel strong
hold" Chattanooga.
We remained here until yesterday doing
nothing. When orders came to Gen Granger
to reconnoiter the road toward Ringgolc
through Ca.ooso County, Ga, and TO bivouaC
for the night well out in that direction
Gen, j. B. Steadman was put in command
Of The accommodating party, which consisted
OF the following regiments to wit:
The 89tb, 96th, 18Th and 12Ist Ohio regi
ments, the 78.h ILL.,, and the 22d Michigan
and the Ist I'll. Battery.
About 2 O'clock p. m, our forces overtool
the pickets of the enemy on the banks of th,
Chickamauga creek one mile from Ringgolc
and drove them to the town. A portion O
|
of the battery and planted it upon hill near
he town and commenced shelling them out
they attempted to reply but their ball did moi
near reach our battery.
AS our forces could not draw them out they
started back toward camp and bivouaced fu
he night on the banks of a small stream call
4 ed Peayine, miles from camp
l should have mentioned that soon after ou
forces had started back, they followed and fir
ed iuto our regiment as it was in the rear upoI
returning, but they did us no damage and
few rounds from our boys soon made then
leave
After we had retired and all was quiet
they stole cautiously up and planted battery
as near our camp as possible, and ere we were
aware of the fact their shells came whizzins
ihroug ou' camp, and over our heads, and i
was but a few seconds before We were aroused
and formed into line of battle ready for any
emergency that might follow, but our picket.
had returned their compliments aud driven
them away without our aid, they did us nc
damage the balls passing over the camp. We
then retired again laying upon our arms the
balance o? the uight
We arrived IN camp at about IL o'clock
and but short time after the frisky whelps
were here firing at our piekets, but were soor
driven away. We learned that we had killed
and wounded few of them, and did not have
a single man injured. The boys were all high
i y pleased with their trip.
The GOODNESS and courage of Gen. Steadman
is highly spoken OF, and also that of the off
GERS under him.
Permit me here TO remark that our regi.
ment is still commanded by Lieut. Col Ban.
ning. and q more efficient Cnlnnel cnnnnt he