Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-03-04
FROM Captain Downs COMPANY.

nj newed VISor even unto the end
IA
lis FROM Captain Downs Company.
IN MENPniS TENN., Feb. Sth 1868.
or Chronicle FTieEds:-It is several montl
i'm since last addressed you, but neverth
I less you ale not forgotten. Our exper
Y ences since my last communication hay
to been such "a to very fOrciblv remind Il
n OF those we have left behind us and pal
O. ticularly so the comforts that eluste
II around our homes. 1t is not my inter
l. ton TO go into a minute history of all ou
st experiences since last wrote, for spac
! will not allow. We were a part of tn
If army under General Grant that advance,
IF INTO Mississippi and had the honor of be
c ing the extreme advanced guard of tn,
= whole Infantry force, and were five miles
Il further south than any other Infantry
If ana when the troops Withdrew to the
l. north OF the Tallahatchee our brigade Ie
manned south of the river as a rear guard
= until another movement northwest com
q menced.
i The NEST noticeable of our experiences
: during the trip southwark was ten dars
short rations most of the time only half
rations, and toward the last less than !
rations except what We could forage in
the way of corn. Our principal living
during that time was mush and parched
corn. The reason of this was the dis
graceful surrender of our Stores at Holly
Springs by Col. Murphy. never shall
forget my Christmas dinner 1t consisted
OF corn coffee, corn bread, corn mush and
parched corn, and limited supply at
that. The first full rations we received
made the men act as if they were tolera-
bly, we'll filed with the ''critter."
We arrived at this place on the 10th of
January and have since been waiting for
supplies OF Clothing, Camp and Garrison
/ equlpage, of which we had got very des-
tItute. Many of the men had become
entirely bare-tooted. The manner in
which the men bore themselves under all !
the hardships and priyations of the march |
was noble and ought to shame those at |
home who are in varions ways hindering \
the speedy progress of the war. We are .
now well provided with clothing and /
equipage, and expect in day or two to
leave this place for Vicksburg. The
transports for our Division are here and
the supplies are all loaded and ready for
US to 60 aboard.
Sergeant J. NJ. Wonders. who was home
recently, has joined us and brought
with him large box of boots, stockings
&c, which add greatly to the comfort of
the men. He sent us some time ago
most excellent recruits. They were with
US in time to accompany the,expedition
south and they stood the march first rate.
Allow me before going further to mention
an affair that happehed to some of the
men under my command.
Corporal Lorain Rugelellha been en-
ployed as scout ~ our brigade and di- l
VISOR commanders since last July. His
movements and disclosurs were such as
to greatly enrage the pretended loyal 5
citizens and they hit upon plan by which I
Corp. Ruggles, Sergt. W, Ct, Downs, Corp. {
y. ". Huxley and several privates were e
put under arrest by the provost Marshal T
charged with acts that were in the high g
EST degree sh9mefal. had the fullest
confidence in the men and was confident u
rom their first arrest that they were iu- a
nocent of the charges, and on the other
hand were desiring of praise for their
daring and successful efforts in ascertain
ing the whereabouts of numerous Ciuer-
'illas. IN vain did use my influence to
bring on trial. Evidence all the time
in their favor At last Gen
eral Mcpherson became convinced thai
Inc men We're wrongfully held without n
my prospect of orr immediate trial and n
ordered their release after confinement =
y % days. Their long confinement in "
creased rather than diminished them in e
aYOr With the officers and men of the Y
whole brigade. Ruggles is now in the Il
scouting service of the Government by O
of Major General T. S. Grant u
The friends of those that We're under ar "
'est have my assurances that they were 4
..t.reLl innocent. Trumbull county has =
reason to be proud of her representatives ,,
n the goth Ohio. Not man of them y
has ever done thing in the least dis grace "
ul to the cause for which we are lighting, !.
md on the other hand their faithful and =
prompt discharge Of duty and good SOL [
lierly bearing is deserving of the highest g.
,rdise. Ruggles is from Summit county =
lhio, and has a sister residing there, who :,
las not heard from him since the first :
migration to Pixies Peak commenced, to =
which place he went. | found him at !,
Columbus Ohio, on his way home, and " "
nduceG him "a enlist, and he entered the h,
rmy without ever going to visit his ~
riends. He has proved himself one of =
he most servicable men in tho army and -
S worthy of the place he now occupies. te
The health of the company is good. :;
Sot man in the company is on the sick 81
ist. Only one is unable for duty and ~
hat one is Corp. j. Lodwick, who is OPS -
f the brigade blacksmithg, and is at -
resent unable for duty, on account of n
prain received in shoeing mule. think -
Ie will be ready for duty again in a few
lays. We are at present in the I'd BRIG
de Col. NJ. ID. Leggett commanding, Sd pC
division, BrigadieF General John A. Lo- Sc
an commanding, 18th army corps. Major in
ienerai j. D: McPheaTson commanding, in
of the Tennessee, Major Gen OF
raj U. S. Grant commanding. al
Yours Respectfully, II
f. c. DOWNS. OF
Captain, 20LL Ohio Regiment te