Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-02-05
8elmnnt Ghrnmitle.
sr. CLAIIssvILLE, OHIO .
rHunsDAY, FEE. 8, 1903.
Tho Killed and Wounded of Com
pany e, 18th Regiment, at Muir
freesboro.- A bout The PrIsonnra

pany IL, l5th Regiment, at Muir
freesboro--About the Prisoners.
We take the liberty of printing the fol-
lowing private letter of Capt. Danford,
18th Ohio Regiment. Although the letter
was not written for publication, there are
many things in it that will iutsrSst the
friends Of Go. II: an ritea
CAMr SILL WEAR MrRraEEsBsno',
..f.r lQt us Iull Tenn, Jnn. 20h, 1863
]. B. LoNGdLrY--D Dear Sir. 1t was not
my fortune to be in the battle of Stone s
River, having been detained in Kentucky
by Morgan raid from the 25:h Decem
Der till tho Sd inst. do not propose to
give you any account of the engagement,
and to say but little in relation to what took
place there. Ihaye been over the field, how
ever, aud was shown the position occupied
by our division. At the time it was attack
ed, the 18th were in position land so placed
| am told by the officer commanding the
division with their backs directly to the
front from which the attack was made,
whilst a full brigade of rebel infautry aud
also a full brigade of rebel cavalry were on
their right flank. In this situation they
were surprised and shot down whilst taking
their guns from the stacks, with their backs
to the enemy. The whole division was in
this situation, and were shot whilst getting
into position to fight. And although thus
surprised and overwhelmed by four rebel
divisions they were from I clock to l2 in
falling back two miles to the pike. Had
the right wing been in proper position when
attacked, they could have held the enemy in
check, in all probability. Some one is ter
ribly to blame for this state of things, and
in the second division thore is but one opin
ion as to who that one is. Our division was
on the right, aud it being thrown into con
fusion, led to the disasters of that day.
You have before this, no doubt, received
a list Of the casualties in Company 4. o.
our wounded, Lieut.. Hills has gone home
| understand, and can report for himself -
Sergeant VIM. G. Maln aud privates Smitf
Gardner and Isaac E. Dillon have beer
heard fiom at Nashville. They are al
severely wounded, but in no danger. Th,
Two last have probably been sent to Louis
vile, and no doubt but their friends will
hear from them directly Fernando w
Shackleford is in field hospital, unable t.
be removed. His wound is bad one, tn
bone Of his leg being shattered, beside
severe flesh wound in the arm. But still
good hopes are entertained Of his recovery
George w. Ashton is in hospital in Muir
fressboro, wounded in the facets getting
along finely, and will be well in II few weeks
CALVIN Etzler, and Oliver Henderson wer
known to be wounded-Etzler in the arm
and Henderson in the hand They are mis-
sing, and are no doubt prisoners. job,
FeDton, wounded in the foot, and Georg
Billeb in the leg, are probably in hospita
at Nashville; but We have heard nothin
from them. Their wounds were not danger
ous John L, Pickering, slightly wounde
in thesfoot, is with the company, and wi
soon be able for duty.i .t...I b..
OF our long list of missing, it is hope
that many Of them are unhurt. Some ar
known to be, whilst of others nothing
known other than that they are missing
Stephen Bury and Alf Powell were in ho
ptal as nurses, and taken from there, III
hurt. Charley Hall, of Wheeling, was tt
ken, unhurt. .ap..I.. Id .....
The ground was gone ever by some men
bers of the company after we got possei
sion of it, and it is thought if any had bes
killed their bodies would have been foun,
Friends of the missing, however, will ha,
to wait until the prisoners are heard fret
before they know the truth. 1'n.
John W. Danford and John B. Dysa
have died of their wounds Dysart on II
18th and Danford on the l4th January
They were both good soldiers, and their 10
is deeply felt by the company. | can ST
nothing that will be consolation to the
parents more than that they fell in the d
a barge of their duties as good soldiers The
were buried upon the battle field, where tn
sleep the sleep that knows no waking
the things Of this life. i.fl ern76 2,
!. Il "oh, II there be. this earthly sphere,
y a boon, an Offering Heaven holds dear,
rIis the last libaton liberty draws
From the heart that bleeds and breaks in her caus
The boys present are well and in co
I. y Portable camp, la amlU H nt.
y hn* ~slsr* n
L II II m,