The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-02-18
letter from Rev. w. A. G. Emerson.

/ the old capital prison.
letter from Rev. w. A. G. Emerson.
120th Regt o. ". I, on board Jesse K. Bell,
| Miss River, Jan. 10, 1868. {
| J. J JACOBS, Eso-My Old Friend-
Since / left home have not until now writ
ten to you to say any thing about our doings
or whereabouts, though no doubt you have
been well informed on the subject, and the
only apology 1 have to offer is, neglect on my
part.
Since We left home, we have been most of
the time on the move, and have been and now
are, far, far, from home and friends, away
| down in the land of Dixie.
We left Covington about the 24th day OF
November, and were ordered to report at Mem
phis, which we did about II days after we
left cur camp at the former place. While at
Memphi we were brigaded with the 65th Ir-
diana and 11Sth Illinois. Col Sheldon, of
Ohio, is our Brigade Commander; Gen. Nor
gan Division Commander. After remaining
at Memphis, which is quite autiful South.
ern city, We embarked for Vicksburg, in the
great Mississippi expedition. You would be
surprised to see the beauty and extraordinary
| specimens Of Mechanism and taste OF Mem
phis, af.er hearing SO much up North about
the ignorance and want Of judgment in the
South, as you would also in seeing the taste
of tie Southern planter.
In passing up and down the river, we sec
but few of the white inhabitants, especially
females, they seem to be nearly all gone and
have left their plantations mostly in the hands
of the slaves, aud in fact we do not see very
large number of the latter, only as we sec
them following the army. There are large
numbers of them at Cairo and Helena, but /
was not out at their camps Poor creatures.
it will be hard with them, unless God in his
mercy should incline the government aud the
people to take pity on them when this unnatu-
Ial war should come to close About tins
question you know my views, and need not
say any thing farther about it.
OF our attack on the Notifications of Vicks
burg you no doubt have heard, and that we
were not successful Our loss in that battle
I am not exactly apprised Of Some of our
regiments suffered considerable loss, among
them the 10th Ohio-the I20th had 16 men
wounded but none killed. 1t did its duty no
bly,, led on by its noble and gallant Colonel.
We left the Yazoo on Friday, and on the
next Friday evening stopped near Arkan
sas Post, about 5 miles up the Arkansas river
and on Sabbath, with gun boats, batteries and
IL fantry, attacked fort at that point contain
ing from four to five thousand troops, so I was
informed By one of the rebel Captains, and af-
ter few hours tremendous and incessaut
raj army. In this battle the 12Oth Ohio
took the lead. 1t advanced up to within As
rods of the fort and by the order of Colonel
French, were made to lay down, apd by SO
doing, escaped the fire to great extent from
the fort. If the men in the fort attempted to
raise high enough to shoot at them, they
would then expose themselves to the cross fire
of our own men. This successful manceuvre
was the result of good military skill upon the
| fofG GoI IL II. l. 1,
to fght bat also knows how TO take care of his
men. To the honor of the 10th, it was the
first regiment in the fort, and her colors were
the first to float on its ramparts. Gen. Nor
gan, who was the first General to enter the
fort, congratulated the regiment and sent his
respects to Col French and giving him COM
mand of the prisoners Our loss as a regiment
in this fight Was killed, 8 wounded and nine
missing. Among the killed was Mr. Brown
from Jackson township, Ashland county, a
member of company Z, Capt. Buck; be was a
brave man and faithful soldier, and loved his
country. When it was known he was killed
the remark was made by those who knew him,
zone of the best men in our company has
fallen" understand he has left wife and
seven children to mourn his loss. May God
| In his mercy take care of his wife and orphan
chifdreu, this has promised TO do, and will,
and l appeal to those who are at home to re-
member them in kindness by attending to
their wants at once
We laid them all side by side upon the
banks of the Arkansas with the rights of chris
tian burial, to sleep until the resurrection
| there they l1y in land of ST. angers, the winds
of winter and the summers zephyr, will sing
their requium, the wild flowers viii spring
over their sleeping dust, and the stars will keep
vigil over their graves until their dust shall be
raised to immortality and life. Another who
fell in the battle was young man from Hayes
vile, named Stephen Davis, a good soldier and
splendid young man. Mr.. Editor, in after
years when the passing traveller shall visit the
SPOT where our companions in arms sleep in
death, he will sigh in regret and pity, as he
will say, this is the result of nations folly.
Let me give you few instances connected
with our fight at Arkansas Post, and one in
which l was connected. On Sabbath morn
ing / mounted my horse to go up and take
some things to my regiment, which was laying
within half nile of the fort, did not 60 uE
there to fight, as you know that is not my
business, but almost without design of getting
50 close, came up in front Of the fort, tha
however would not have been SO exciting haG
not two grim war monsters, carrying each i
12o pound ball, been pointing tsseia thscates.
ing muzzes down the river. About the time
l emerged from the woods on my return, &rina
commenced in another direction, saw tha
white smoke curl up, and | tell you my ole
friend, was very we'll satisfied that thos'
large cannon to which I have referred, KEEP
j their mouths closed until got out Of the way
Another; while laying on the ground at on,
time, the firing from the fort ceased, the Col