The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-06-03
General Milroy and the s5th o. WI

a friend has sent us the following letter, ad
dressed by General Miroy to the officers and
soldiers Of the 25,h Ohio Regiment. As there arc
quite a number Of Wood county "boys" in this reg.
ineut We doubt not that the letter will prove inter-
csting to our readers
HvAporARrERs IN Div. srH ARMY Cosrs.l
WINCHESTER, Va, May &. 1853.
Colonel W. p. Richdrfson, aud the Officers aud Pri.
rates Of he 25h Regiment o. " l.:
was agrcsably surprised to-day by the appear
ance Of Lieutenant Colonel Charleswurth, of your
regiment, at my headquarters: and of course, being
an old comrade -in-arms, aud an houored and gal.
liant member Of your regiment, he received at my
hands most cordial welcome. Before | had re-
covered from the agreeable recolections which his
presence suggested, he presented me. in your
name, with = sword, the dress and service scab.
bards of which are richly ornamented with Jew.
ery, and sash and belt Of corresponding elegance;
aud also handed ms your 6auerng and aifectionate
letter OF presentation.
This letter is sigued by all the officers and pri-
Yates Of your gallant regiment, that were under
my command. You are all aware of my doarth Of
language, and will not, am certain, judge Of the
emotions caused in my heart by this greatest sur
prise Of my life, by the mode in which may ex-
press them.
Your regiment was a part OF the first brigade
which had the honor to command and, as part
of my command you endured the rigors of Cheat
Mountain winter, participated in driving the rebel
army from the territory now comprising West Nir-
ginia, across the Alleghanies and the Valley of
Monterey, and gallantly led the Union forces in the
battle ut Bull Pasture Mountain. As a part of my
command YOU served in the arduous campaign un-
der Fremont, in the Shenandoah Valley, and fought
with uutatering courage at Cross Keys. During
the whole time YOU served under my command, YOU
ull-oiiccrs and privates conducted yourselves
like men who had engaged in the struggle which
now convulsOs our country, from no other motive
than conscious conviction of duty Shortly after
the battle of Cross Keys, against my wish and
greatly to my regret, you were transferred to an
other command; but as you remained i'll the same
army corps with my brigade, was all eyewitness
to your fidelity and courage, in the campaign of
the Rsppahannock, and at the last battle of Ma
naSsaS.
When your regiment first became part of my
command, it was near one thousand strong. 1t has
since been strengthened by recruits, as | am in
formed, not less than three hundred. 1t now num-
bers about five hundred men, The regiment has
not, to my knowledge, been disgraCed by single
desertion, and has suffered, in consequence of its
good discipline and the strict attention of its Off
GERS, but little from the ordinary causes of mortal
ty. The great majority of the eight hundred mis-
sing from your regiment, have been disabled in bat
tie or repOse in honorable graves on the Allegha-
uies, Bull Pasture Mountain, at Cross Keys, along
the lines Of the Rappahannock, or ON the plains of
Manassas. As the sun of the Union rises with in
creasng spendor above the storm of battles it will
be consoliug to hope that those who have been
gathered to their fathers have not died in vain.
The consideration that this present is made to
me as their former commander, at the expiration of
nearly year after the severance of that relation,
by the survivors of 50 many hard contested fields,
and such heroic band, invests it with peculiar
significance and value. ! would have preferred
that the gift had been less costly, for it derives
none of its importance, in my estimation, from its
intrinsic worth.
The brief and afectionate letter of presentation,
accompanied by the signature Of the donors, is as
Il Oh
it accompanies.
Rest assured, brother soldiers, of my heartfelt
wishes that you may survive to witness, in the res
toraton of the Union Of your fathers the fruition
of your sacrifices and labors.
With feelings of admiration, gratitude and re-
spect, am, fellow soldiers,
Very truly your friend,
r. II. MILR0Y, Major General.