Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-03-19
Letter fromthe 98th Regiment

fH"'"i Notf oNscuSe oi thr beifnont Chronicle.
/ eFRANktfH, TENN., March 7th, 1863.
The past few days have been fraueht
with excitement and interest On Wedhes-
day last thel9th Michigan, 22d Wisccnsin
33d and S5th Indiana and l24th Ohio Rsgi
mcnts of Infantry, and I'd Michigan and
9th Pehnsylvasda Cavalry, under Colonel
Coburn Of the SD Indiana, left Franklin 10
the direction si Columbia. 1t was known
that the rebels, under Van Dorm, in con.
siderable fore, were at or near Sprisg Hill,
about ten miles South, on the Columbia
pike, their scouts and pickets had been en-
countered by our scouts and recounoiterng
parties for several days, much closer than
this to town and had been driven back by
them. 6
The above force left franklin about 10
o'clock, A. N. aud marched out five or six
miles, drove 10 the enemies pickcts and
bivouacked for the night on the ground oc.
cupied' by the enemies outposts. On
Thursday morning our forces we're again in
notion, and spsh speountered the enemies
pickets who, fellbsok without offering much
resistance. IL was soon discovered that the
rebels hud taken strong position on a
high ridge commanding the pike, and when
our forces were in the valley, opened upon
them at short range from batteries that had
not been previously discovered. Eotwith.
standing this disadvantage Of position, our
men acted bravely aud clambcred up the
face OF the hill, driving the enemy from one
Of his batteries, although they were met
near it by. regiment rising up from be-
hind stone fence. Whilst our men we're
advancing on the rebel battery, the enemy
was throwing his forces forward onthe right
and lett Of the ridge, completely Aanking
our small force on both sides, and complete
ly cutting off all hope of retreat. The
fight contiuuedyntil aboutl o. clock. when
the greater part ofthe 10Th Michigan, 22d
Wisconsin, ssd, aud s5th Indians Regiments,
with commanding officer, Col. Coburn, were
taken prisoners. The 18th Ohio battery.
which had done good service, and l24th
Ohio, which had been with the wagon train,
returned s,felv,to Rr,,tl;r o. - ""'
a., =, ST..
pou' - c'oce on thursday the long
roll beat in Franklin and the gStb, l2lst
and l24th Ohio Regiments, with MilIer's q
battery. were oromntly ,,rm.d ma s,a,,oa
an, ,ho ro.a .L ''''''u
1"' '"o 'oau' "'"' Aoou' ,o"r miies' met a
large number OF wounded and strsgglers,
with the iniormation that our ferees had
been routed aud a large uort;on NJ ,han
,.La, nr;so,or, o" " 'Ien
p'''o,'''' Ouf fee'"e'ns anu Dat
terry were PhceG 30 position to cover the
re'rent ana check the enemy, II he should
advance on the town. We remained here
unIil ABOUT CLOCK when, no enemy ap-
peanhg ana our 1orces not captured having
az passed ~, We were ordered, 70 return =
Oar loss ln x.iie4 yes " wounded l20, and
Prasoae,s ,oS sy ns enemy men acknowledges q
'osS nv "a Iso s',eo.enu ooo wounded.
jne reoeis nhye not since disturbed us
auu W., t liners ID no asnker rom them now.
!. W. have oeen aIsc'y re inio!ced since, and
!. wli, o. ou. = very short m time before
ni."'h ho'1men. wiz :'sNe pace, Inc rebels have
!. a,'o,1eeu reill.oiscut ana every thing seems
- ,"aoa,e lnhI os ush' VIII come Oh in
spirit as well as in numbers, aud th. mem @
rn,,,lv f,r ..nu sarv,ca ,ho,, -. L