The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1863-07-23
Army Correspondence.
etter from the 18th Ohio Reg'r
CAMP NEAR Elk RIVER, T., !
July 18th, 1863.

noIo lor lew -uayS dIl6I Oul loHS anu
weary march, and thinking our friends
at home would be anxious to hear from
us, l will endeavor, through your val
liable paper, to give brief history of
our march to this place.
Leaving our old camp at Triune on
the 23d of June, We started for the
sunny climes of Dixie full of hope and
courage, anticipating an early engage
ment with our rebellious enemy. In
this we were not disappointed, for after
marching almost day and night, with
out interruption except by mud and
rain, we encountered the Rebs at
place called Hoover's Gap, on the Goth.
They were posted on hill with some
supported by infantry, hav-
ing the advantage of the ground and
everything in their favor. Our regi
ment being on the extreme right, was
ordered to double quick around and
flank them if possible, With shout
we started to execute this order
Crossing an open field we were expo
sed to a cross fire which was pretty
heavy, Judging from the way the shells
and bullets whistled around our heads.
1t was here that twenty-four Of our
brave boys fell Two were killed in
stantly, and one that was wounded has
since died. The remainder are doing
as well as could be expected. l have
not been able to obtain a list Of the
names of those that were killed and
wounded in the engagement. pre-
sumo you will get them, as others bet
ter qualified to give you a correct
statement have doubtless done so ere
this. ...
Since then we have met with but
little opposition, though skirmishing
has been daily occurrence A big
fight was expected at Tullahoma,
where they were strongly fortified and
reported to be in heavy force; but our
brave and noble commander (ittle
Rosy has outgeneraled Bragg who
was forced to abandon his stronghold
and seek safety in some moro congenial
cline. Isuppose l tho approach of the
Yankees so affected his nerves that he
preferred to be at a safer distance.
Judging from the looks Of the place
they must have left in great haste.
Corn meal, old blankets, tents, and
variety of almost everything was
strewn in the streets and on the road
leading from the town. A more desc
late looking place | never saw. tmay
once have been a fourishing place
Judging from its situation and the sur
rounding country; but now it is to-
tai wreck--left as one among the thou
sands that denote the existence of a
cruel war. Churches and academies
built for nobler purposes, are now used
for store houses and hospitals, or left
for the abode of owls and other gloomy
and silent visitors. We stopped here
a short time, and though we were all
weary and tired, l was glad when the
bugle sounded the forward march, for
to remain in such desolate rebel
camp was anything but pleasant. A
large majority of Bragg's army seem
to be discouraged and demoralized.
Many come to our lines and give them
selves up. They are not backward in
expressing their disgust Of Bragg and
the rebel cause.
We have had a long and heavy
march. 1t has rained almost every
day since we lett Triune, making the
roads and streams almost impossible.
Yet with the prospect of victory ahead
and with firm determination to strike
for the Union while success awaited
our advance, we pushed forward with
cheerful hearts, feeling ii our duty to
make great sacrifices for the land our
fathers died to save. AS true soldiers
we do not expect to live like "Lords'
nor shrink from duty whenever a dark
cloud crosses our path
These are times that try men ssouls
There is no middle or neutral ground
A man is either patriot or traitor
for or against his country. He who
.lcnounccs the Government in its eff
forts to crush rebellion, and does not
express a willingness to use every
available means for vigorous prose
cution of the war, is traitor of the
deepest dye, and is only prolonging
the struggle that is costing the lives Of
thousands of our brave men, and en-.
dangering their own fresides in the
North. lam ashamed to acknowledge
that there are such men in Fairfield
We know it and feel ourselves person
ally insultcd by tho treasonablC
speeches and remarks that find theil