Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-08-25
CAMP 25TH REG'r ONO vEr Vol. !
INF'Y, HURON HEAD ISLAND,

1
CAMP 18th REa'r ONO VET Vol
INF'Y, HILToN HEAD ISLAND,
s. G., August s, 1864
Editors Intelhgencer.
/ encloseyou the salutatory of Jere
Williams, on his assuming the editorial func-
| tions of the Spirit of Democracy, the Cop
sincerely hope you will give it place in your
| columns, go that no disgrace may be cast
upon the regiment when ii is said that Jere
Williams was formerly its Lieut.. Colonel
l will not attempt Mr.. Editor, to answer
the traitorous and cowardly article, but
merely give an. outline of Jsre Williams
conduct. while with the regiment, to show
how much he is entitled to write the frst
paragraph in his "salutatory," and how
we'll his pusillanimous career in the army is
transferred to the editorial chair. =
he entered the service with this regiment
as Captain Of Co. Go, from Monroe County.
Before the regiment left Camp Chase be
was reprimandod in the presence of several
officers, by Col. Jones, for using seditious
language and threatened with summary and
disgraceful dismissal from the service, on
repetition Of the offence.
Although his sentiments were we'll known,
his friends hoped that by good conduct in
the field he might yet retrieve his lost char
acter and it was not until his absence from
several engagements had been noticed, his
beastly intoxication at "Bull Pasture Noun
tain, which completely unified him from
taking part in that battle, and his barefaced
cowardice in the presence of officers and en-.
listed men at Cross Keys, that this last hope
was given up. .f-..
How in the name Of Heaven he was so
soon afterwards promoted to Major, none of
the present officers Of the regiment can ex-
His whole after career was but repetition
plain. ..., .''''..'
Of his contemplate cowardice and treason.
able preachings At the battle of Chan
cellorsville our gallant Colonel (Richardson)
received severe wound, leaving Major
Williams in command Of the regiment, when
he (Williams) disgracefully tore off sstould-
er sfrdps, and ran o,oay from the regiment,
leaving it under the command OF Captain
for over twenty four hours. When be re-
turned to the regiment he was minus should
er straps s,cord and beh But, strange to
say, he soon afterwards sported Lieut.. Col.
onePs straps, to the manifest surprise of
most'ef the officers in the brigade. As he
was in command Of the regiment, he proba-
piy forwarded his own Recommendation.
Owing to the rapid changes in BRIGADE
uJs-
Williams remained in command of the reg
iment, although several officers resigned on
that account, and petition, signed BY near
~ all the remaining officers, was forwarded
to the Governor for Captain to be promo
ted over him. Williams commanded the
regiment until the first days battle of Get
tysburg, when, thank God he was taken
prisoner by his friends, to the undoubted
beneht OF the regiment and the service. His
stay at Libby was heightened into months.
and he did not return to the regiment until
last June. Notwithstanding the sufferines
he said our Union prisoners were enduring
at Richmond, he was more venomous and
traitorous (if possible) in his sentiment,
than ever and immediately commenced his
old system OF sspouting vile coppcrheadism
and swilling whisky. But patience had long
ceased to be virtue and during one of his
denunclations Of the war, in which he said
tnat ne would consider it an honor to be dis.
gracefaiy dismtssed the service, notes we're
taken OF his language and witnesses called
but fortunately for him, he had rendered
his resignation; and you can judge how
honordby he went out of service when saw
that his resignation passed through brisade
and division headquarters, with the endorse
ment that " IL ,oould be a benefit to tie ser
usce Jh's officers resignation ,cere accepted"
Such, Mr.. Editor, is the thing that now |
circulates his salutatory" to the Conner. |
heads Of his section Of the country, later
three years service IN the army" and I |
presume he is but fair type of Ohio Cop.
perheads generally, and especially of that
class who leave tho army to do the dirtv
work Of their leaders. But perhaps VIII |
liams is influenced somewhat by gratitude
as from remarks he made here it would seem
that he is considerably indebted TO one or
more gentlemen from, Ohio F" for the Rbertv
from rebel prisons which he no1 enjoys. wv"
DO not think, sir that his example has
had bad influence over the regiment. Had
ne been anything but the pusillanimous
coward ne is, his preachings might have
had had some effect; but as il is, his mem
CRY Is an exccration, and it makes but little
dinerenco to the regiment whether thew
hight Copperheads or rebels.
Yours, truly, AN OFFIoER. 4
We, the undersigned, commissioned off.
Gers OF the 26th Regiment, o. v. v. I.
FULLY endorse the above letter, and know the
ststsments contained therein to be true
we are ready to prove the same, and even
more, ii called upon to do SO. -. ~
n q dhsSssnoS, Ssn e.I aI'st-co0nsl ss.A Rsss ov WI
Geo N holcemb, Ii, ROMA, -."
O. Arehbold, LIST Ii. Idjr"
H. hEyers.aG let It. Co. A.
John " kehn, LIST Il. Co l.
Oliver w. Williams, I'd L. Coo" H.
9, 2. Randall, Capt Co @,
X Hunt Capt cs. r e. Il
John Z wsod, Capt. Co. r.,
Meconaashy, IsiLL Co. E,a
William 4. Scott, iaL. Co, K" ia