Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-11-06
(Army Correspondence Delaware GOZette-)
~ From the l2Ist Regiment.
HEApQUxRrERs l21sT REemEsr, o. Y. /

HEADQUARTERS 121sT RE6MEST, o. v. /
CHATrANooeA, Tenn, Oct. l6, '63.
Mr.. ED1roR:-In perusing your paper of
Sept. 25Ih, which arrived in camp on the l4th
inst, / therein found that you had received
my letter which was written day or two pre-
vious to the bloody battle Of Chiekamauga
Valley, and as you therein hoped that bad
passed through it uninjured, concluded !
would write you again and inform you that
passed through it safely, and also give you a
brief sketch Of the operations Of the regiment,
The election returns OF the regiment, &c. 1t
is needless for me to commence at SO late an
hour to give you an account of the battle, as
Il has been written ard published so much
that all have become familiar with the whole
proceedings. However, viii give you the
operations Of the 12lst o.. v. l., on. thai,
bloody Sabbath, Sept. 10th. 90 that morn
ing our regiment was ordered from point on
The Ringgold road 10 the support of General
Thomas, who was some miles to our right.
After marching about tWo-thirds of the dis
tanee, The enemy opened battery upon us
from the woods on our left, which at one time
caused your humble servant to quickly dis
mount in order o escape the deadly iBessen-
gers which they sent flying at us, one of them
passing, ere had scarcely reached the earth,
barely missing my saddles They however did
us no damage, as their shells passed over our
heads and exploded some distance from u.s.
Our battery came up and engaged them FOR a
short time, which drew their attention from
us, and we marched on and formed junction
with Thomas, who. commiaptled the center
Corps. Hardly had we got into position ere
we were met by boldcbarge from the enemy;
but with that 6rmness that would have done
homer to veterans, our boys handsomely check
ed them and soon sent them flying back. Sew
eral' 'AuccessiYe assaults ere made upon our
/ front, whichSNerel Hkewisst bFayeIy met and re-
pulsed. The regiment at 6nelIims charged on
ihe 22d Alabama and captured their colors
and drove them froIns:he hiII-a On the coIors
we're inscribed a22d Alabama Regiment, Shi-
lob and Murfreesbore.r They have been sent
to Gov. Tod to be deposited with the Ar
ehieves Of the. State. We also captured an
other stand of .colors, but the man who was
carrying them of was wounded and they were
left with him upon the field. so 81
We went into the engagement with q coin-'
missioned officers and 2l4 uon-eommissioned
uficers and privates, and had greatly superior
numbers TO contest with during the whole time
We were engaged. am proud to say thai
every man proved himself hero, and bravely
stood to the work, with unfinehing frmness.
Let me here especially mention the gallantry
and bravery of our Lieul. Colonel, Il. B. BAN
ming, whose braYely led the regiment into the
action While making charge his4horse
was shot and he was severely stunned by the
fall, so much so as to be compelled to remain
behind awhile Bot as soon as he had some.
what recovered be- joined the regiment again
in their bloody work. During his delay our
Adjatant 4 @. Fitchs horse was shot; but,
notwithstanding this, onofoot, with sword in
hand, he gallantly led the regiment on. He
has shown himself to be worthy of a higher
position in the regiment, which he no doubt
will obtain at the first opportunity that offers.
We held our position during the entire-en-
gagement, and after exhausting the last round
in our cartridge boxes and all that could be
gathered from the boxes of our dead and
wounded comrades, and night had begun to
throw her sable garment around Us, We retired
ID good order. 9a uea8 .gs
will now change the subject to that Of the
election. As our former friends of your coun-
", 'who style themselves Copperheads, But
ternuts, &C" !" have been anticipating so much
from the vote of the soldiers, | will add that
We enjoyed the privilege of voting on Tues
day, and all went off as quietly as if there was
nothing in progress in camp, for it rained So
very steady that day that all were obliged to
remain within their dog, nests" as the boys
term them, and could scarcely find time when
they could prepare their meals or vote with
out drenching. believe the l2lst is one
Of the strongest Democratic Ohio regiments
In the service; hence you must not judge the
soldiers vote by ours. I will give you the re-
turns: We polled 2lO votes in the regiment,
Of which l64 were Union and 46 Democratic.
Brough received l62 votes, VallaDdigbam Al;
Anderson ! 64, Pugh 46; which gives BrOugh
III majority over Vallandigbam; Anderson
l1s over Pugh. am glad to say that my
company d. did not give VallaTdigham =
single vote. We had 30 men in our company
and in hospital b ere, and of the 30 votes but
Two names of the whole were erased. The
18Th Ohio polled 23O votes, of which 20 were |
Tor ValIandigham. The Ssh Ohio gave VAL
landigham but votes, and there were other
here that did not give him single |
vote.
There are some beings, eve can't term them
men" (aHd a few such in the army who are
SO lost to patriotism and honor that they
would see our glorious old Uniop severed and