The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-07-08
LETTER FROM KENTUCKY.
CAMP OF 2ND OHIO CAvALRY,l
SoMERsET, Ky. J une 1863.

Editor De fioeEats IS - - -iS.#s - fs5-f
Nothing of importance has transpired in
this Division since my last letter, with theex-
ception of recent Cavalry dash of which
some particulars may not be uninteresting.
Col. Kautz Of our regiment with 900 men
and two sections of Lieut.: Laws Howitzer
Battery, left camp on Monday June 9Th, at 4
O'Clock, P. NJ. crossing the Cumberland river
at Stigall's Ford, and camped for the night
some two miles below, meeting with no OPP
position except the rugged cliffs with which
nature has bound in this stream on either
side. Tuesday morning they pursued their
course. coming upon the rebel pickets and
driving them, together with their supports,
"over the hills and utof sight, The force
pushed on some five miles, and passed the
/ small village of Steubenville, where the reb-
els we've found in position. Here something
of a fight was was predicted, and preparations
made accordingly. A few shells from the
yelling howitzers, and slight demonstration
on the part of the Cavalry, soon faced them
toward Dixie, and a running fight was kept
up until reaching Monticello. The rebel
forcedid not stop.here, but tookrefuge in the
mountainous hills south of the place, where
Col. Kautz was informed they had several
rif1ed cannon and large body of infantry
n lot caring to follow them further, and having
accomplished the object of his visit in OBJ
tanning valuable information, regarding their
strength, disposition, &c. Col & commenced
his return. No sooner did the rebels discoy-
er that our boys were falling back, than they
commenced a pursuit which was followed up
with :, pertinacity truly astonishing, when we
remembered how their coat tails futtered in
the morning. Late in the afternoon they fell
upon our rear guard and for time threatened
serious consequences, but the hewitzers soon
got in to position, and the whizzing of shells
and whistling of bullets made merry music
for all concerned. The End East Tennessee,
having been sent to-our relief came up with
a bold front and entered the woods with \
shout. 1t is truly gratifying to know how
these men fight. Driven from their homes
by the lawless outrages of these same fellows,
they now had the opportunity of paying
them in part for cruel treatment to themselves
and families in days past. and well did they
improve it. The well directed shells from
Lieut.. Laws guns soon drove the rebels from
behind the stone wall, where they had formed
a line. tals af7
Night was fast coming on, and the rebels
/ began TO fall back, having suffered severely in
killed wounded. Our troops slept near the
. spot where the conflict took place. and the
following morning recrossed the river with
out further moestation. am unable to give
: an accurate list of the killed and wounded in
our command except as to the 2rd. The
following casualties occurred in our regiment,
Lieut.. Frank Case, Co. H., shot through right
lung doing well; 1st Sergt. D. P. Beaton
Co. NJ, shot through right ankle, leg amputa-
ted just below the knee Corp. Gordon, Co. Fl,
flesh wound. right fore arm Corp. Laundon
Co. H, flesh wound, right leg, above knee
Privates, Andrew Bishop, Co. H, flesh wound
near right elbow Frank B. Hale, Co. H..
shot through lett leg near thigh, doing we'll {;
Anson Chapman, Co. H, shot through below
left lung-since died; John W. Delvin, Co.
1 H, shot through the abdomen, since died
: Corp Braman, Co. K, left foot; privates,
Hartman and Schenck, Co. K, slightly woun-
ded in neck and thigh. The killed and
wounded in the 18th o. V. 1. amount in the
aggregate to about the same as ours. We
T. know of ten rebels who were killed, and as
: many again wounded. The precise damage
that our artillery did them we could not learn,
: but many shells are known to have burst in
their midst, as there was general scattering
among them when the reports were heard
4 Doct. Smith who was left back with Lieut.
e Case, returned to-day ard reports that the en-
enny sent flag of truce on to the ground res
e terday morning, thinking that we still held it
This proves conclusively that they were Sc
e vcrely punished and did not care to renewthe
e sport
: The pontoon train which has been here
: nearly week moved down to the river to.
: day, and think it probable that the whole
IS force will soon follow, when if anything oc
Q ours you will hear again from your correspon
IS dent. KENTUGK-