The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-08-18

record tho death Of J ecob NJ. Rufner,
Adjutant, of the 18th Ohio. He. was
Instantly killed on tho 9th Of this
month, hear Atlanta, Georgia, BY a
rebel sharp shooter, eo7assts, 4.
Lieut.. Rufner was among the first
to respond to the call of his country.
lie volunteered as private in Co. y,
17th Ohio, Capt stinchcomb, on thc
22d Of April, 1864. BY his good con-
duct and bravery he won the esteem
and confidence olbOth officers and pri-
Yates. lie made several dangerous
and successful scouts in Western Vir-
ginia during the three months service,
and was among the first to re-cnlst in
the three years service after being
discharged from the three months SER
vice, and has been in the service ever
since. '#B tH.asA ISL q.
In May, 1862, in the scigc of Corinth
his Company became engaged in a
very severe skirmish in which he
showed that he was truo and brave
soldier, and for his good conduct re-
ceived special mention by his officers
in their report. He was in Ohio, re-
cruiting, at the time Kirby Smith and
Bragg made their effort to reach Ohio.
He was one of the first to respond to
the call for Squirrel Hunters" and
was made Captain Of one of the COM
panics and won the confidence of all
under his command, as well as that
of his superiors.l gEl HE G4g5
nat tho baltic of Chickamauga he
was Provost9 9MaFshal of his Brigade
and hence was mounted. About the
same time tho gallant Ricketts, fell,
Lieut.. Weakly was wounded. 1t was
at this time the right of our army gave
way; Ruffncr jumped from his horse,
mado 1t Weakly mount him, and by
this means saved himself from being
captured, Ruffncr made every oxcr-
ton to rally the men. When the SD
Indiana Regiment gave way the flag
staff was shot off and the colors fell, a
large number Of rebels rushed for
ward to capture the prize; Rather al
so rushed back to save the stars and
stripes. He reached it first by few
feet, held II in his left hand and drew
his revolver and commenced firing
He discharged six rounds, threw down
his revolver and drew the second one
and delivered five shots, when a rebel
officer called out to his men "not to
kill so brave a man as that" As soon
as the rebels ceased firing Ruffner turn
cd and ran to the 18th Ohio that had
reformed and returned by this time
lie was wounded in tho back of the
neck; had his sword struck, one of his
pistols hit twice, besides several holes
in his clothes, He stayed in the line
during the balance of that bloody
struggle for the mastery. Once in the
afternoon when our boys gavo way he
grabbed the colors of somo Regiment
and started back towards the rebels,
amid hailstorm of bullets, and called
on his comrades to follow him. He
led at least two rods, the rebels stand
ing their ground until he was within
ten steps Of them, waving the Union
flag. AT Mission Ridge he simply ad-
dcd new proof thathc was insensibe to
fear or danger. From Ringold to At
Ianta he was still winning new laurels.
For his bravery at Chickamauga he
was promoted and made Adjutant of
his Regiment, and in the army he was
known as the bravest man in the army
Of the Cumberland. He scorned any
thing dishonorable, and never was
known to use q p'ofane word or yield
to any ofthc temptations of camp life.
He is dead but his memory lives. His
comrades mourn his loss.
The Masonic Fraternity, of which
order he became q member since he
went to the army, we understand will
bury his remains upon their arrival
here. .rr.. .......-..-. ...
Lieut.. Lyman Barns, of the same
Regiment, we also learn was killed
about the same time and place.
Lieut.. Barns started in Co. A, 18th
Ohio, Capt. Buttorfeld, in Aug. 1861,
BY his good conduct as a soldier he
soon won the confidence of his Captain
who made him Sergeant At Stone
River, Hooycr's Gap and Chickamau-
ga he proved himself a soldier brave
and true. In the thickest ofthe fight
at Chicllamauga, Lieut.. Barnes could
be seen cool and firm, encouraging his 4
comrades. No Drawer soldier than he
is needed. lie too is gone but behind