The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1863-11-12

We arc permitted to make the fol-
lowing extract from letter from
Sergt Slough to Mrs. Hutchins We
arc glad to hear from him again, for
he had been reported killed. Our
readers will remember Serg't S. as the
accomplished drillmastcr Of Captain
Anderson's Regulars:
PosT SERG'T MAJORS OFFICE, !
FT. HAMILTON, NY, Oct. 20, G3 {
Mrs. Hutchins Il believe, on lcav-
ing Lancaster, | promised to write to
you as soon as | joined my regiment,
which was then in front Of Yorktown,
Va. When made the promise fully
intended to keep it, but the fact is,
while on the Peninsula [ wrote but
very few letters indeed and | believe
only two to Lancaster, one Of which |
never heard from. From the time Of
joining my regiment until | was disa-
bled, l was kept so busy marching,
countermarching and fighting, that
when | did have little time to myself
| was only too glad to use it in rccrui-
ting my exhausted system.
Last summer the summer of 'G2) l
had the pleasure Of visiting and spend
ing few months in the city of Rich
mond. This is the way it happened.
On the morning of the 2Sth Of June,
(the morning after the battle of
" Gaines Mill" l awoko to find that
| had made my bed in a pool of blood,
or rather that l had lost so much blood
during the night from two wounds re-
ceived the day before, and being una
bic to move, l, as u matter Of course,
tried to change my position but try
as would, the most | could do was to
raise myself on my elbows-the sight
that then met my view was too much
even for me, so | was glad to sink back
to my old position in the sand and
blood.
have often been told that "rhere
there is uW there isa ray" but my
experience demonstrates that it won t
hold good. My WILL was certainly
strong enough to get up and leave the
battle field, but the WAY was not forth
coming.
The third morning after the battle
l was waited on by select committee
composed principally Of " Southern
Chiralry' and members of the "frst
families Of Virginia." who expressed a
strong desire to have me visit Rich
mond. AS had every reason to be-
licvc them in earnest, | could not find
it in my heart to decline the pressing
invitation. To make II long story
short, I accepted, and was conducted
with great pomp, to their imperial
city, where l was furnished with splen.
did quarters in that first class hotel
"LiJby Prison." On being carried in
TO the hotel | was struck to see SC
many guests and so few walters but
then it must be borne in mind that
this "houso" was kept on plan diff
fering entirely from that usually
adopted by all first class hotels in tho
north being on new plan it wa,
merely an experiment. They were
trying to demonstrate satisfactorily
how long "Yankee" could live with,
out eating. / believe Isaid l was sur
prised to sec so few walters. My sur
prise did not last long, for I soon dis.
corered ue ,cere all WdHcrS-waiting fol
our meals which VIC seldom received
| had not been q patron of the Home
very long when | was forcibly re-
minded of tho old ballad commencing
"still so gently DER me stealing" &c.
/ remained there until their hospi.
tality became irksome, when | bid all
a sad farewell, (what a whopper) and
returned to the North where will re.
main if | can-at least ! will not visit
Richmond again very soon if l ear
help it,
Possibly you may remem Der that in
case | was wounded | was to come
and stay with you until | got well
When I made the remark little did
think that few months would find me
suffering from the effects of two severe
and dangerous wounds Often while
in my Prison Hospital did wish my.
self in your house, but wishing done
no good, Notwithstanding the sever
ity of my wounds I was not cast dogn
for the thought that they were received
while in the discharge of my duty
was sufficient to keep my spirits from
|