Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-07-01
Let.er from the 111th Regiment.


fourteen days, with your permission, vii
drop few lines to the 'sdear ones at home
through the columns of the Journal" On th
25th day of April we were comfortably quar-
tered at Moss Greek, Tenn, with everything il
perfect apple-pie order, to suit the fastidiou
taste of Brig. Gen. H. NJ. Judah. commandin,
I'd Division, and for aught could see to tn
contrary, we were to remain there for an indefi
mite length of time Eight O'Clock the mex
morning found us in column, marching towar,
Chattanooga, to join the great expedition int,
Georgia We emarched one hundred and fiv
miles in five days, halting half day at Knox
vile, making the whole distance inside of fou
and half days, marching time. This, whe,
you take into consideration the fact that If rain
ed more or less during every "a hours of ,tb.
time, was as good marching as has ever beer
made by any body of troops on foot, during til,
war. We halted a day or two at Charleston
Tennessee. and then moved forward to Rec
Clay, Georgia, where we had another short rest
If had time, | would like to speak at length
of the country between Charleston and Knox.
vile, particularly the Sweetwater valley, which
surely possesses the finest natural advantages
of any country / ever saw. After recuperating
little at Red Clay, we were ordered to leave
all our baggage behind except what we could
carry on our backs, after having filed our hav-
ersacks with four days rations. This order
looked Sharman-iike, and seemed to mean work.
We have since found that the indications were
not at all deceptive. Our men have had but
one opportunity to wash and change their
clothes since that time. They were under fire
eleven successive days, during which time they
were not allowed to sleep with their shoes, or
even their cartridge boxes off, We have made
and resisted some terrible charges, the Reei-
ment having suffered severely in killed and
wounded. My company, (G, although in
what is generally considered the most exposed
position 1.-THE Color company, has passed thro'
remarkably safe. Out Of some seventy killed
and wounded In the Regiment, only lost one,
Brady Gould, severely wounded but not
mortally as was supposed at first. The enemy
had made charge on our skirmishers and front
line, and were driving them back in confusion
when Col Bond, who commands our brigade at
present, ordered us to charge upon them and
drive them back. The order was scarcely re-
peated by 1t. Col. Sherwood, before we were
''going for them" with such impetuosity and
force that it seemed as if nothing could with
stand the shock. twas too much for the s'best
bloOds." We advanced the centre some fifteen
or twenty rods ahead of the right and left, max
ing the angle of square with the apex out
This was done in conformity to the nature ofthe
ground. Our right struck an open field. and
the left wagon road running obliqely to our
line of battle making it necessary forit to halt.
We dashed ahead in the centre, broke the rebel
lines and sent them scampering back like flock
OF frightened sheep. We were within six rods
of their lines when we halted and poured vol
ley after volley into them, causing MANY of them
TO faint by the way-side." / had nv bows
drop fiat on the ground to load, and the rebel
bullets passed over them as harmlessly as
shower of snow fakes. Col. Sherwood kept
with the centre, watching and directing things
as cody and deliberately as Presbyterian par
son would deliver thoroughly studied and well
written sermon. Gen. Haskell, our present
Div. Commander, spoke in the highest terms of
the gallant bravery and efficiency of the llIth.
The boys of Co. G filed my expectations. This
will do. l generally expect enough.
Since writing the above, we have learned that
the Rebs have evacuated their works In our i'm
mediate front, and are once more retreatine pre-
cipitately for Atlanta. Their works were yerv
strong, but our flank moves rendered them
worthless. We have been receiving reinforce
ments enough, l learn, to all the place
of all that we have lost in killed. wounded
missing and sick. So you see that Sherman is
ready to move on with full as strong force as
when we first entered Georgia. Everything
seems to work harmoniously. Sherman is a
host within himself; and when backed by such
men as Thomas, and our own little McPheason.
he is perfectly invincible.
l have no gloomy forbodings with regard to
the final result of things in our Department
We are lOOsing great many men-good and
true. But such is the inevitable results of war.
The losses of the enemy, SO far as can learn.
are far greater than ours. know that in eyery
where we have taken a part, such
is the case. Our Division lost heavily at Res
SAGA, it is generally believed, by Gen. Judah's
or gross neglect of an order. He
was relieved of his command Immediately fol-
lowing It We have paid them up with inter-
est compounded, since that time.
We get our supplies from Acworth. on the
Railroad now. Thomas and Mcpherson are
moving around to our left to-day. Wewill pro-
baby move tomorrow.
Go. A has not been as fortunate as INV COM
pany. 1t has had eleven men wounded some
ncrtally-none killed. Below
you viii find list, with explanations, so far as
known. The first seven were wounded at Res
SAGA on the skirmish line-Lt. Charles Baker
The others were wounded near
this place:
John Evens, severely; Edward Myers, Sc
Verely; Isaac Baughman, slightly; Elias Aus
an, leg amputafed; Mason Clark, slightly;
Charles Flowers. slightly; Lucien Ewing,
slightly; John Scanlon, arm fractured; John
Farber, in head, severely; Corp. Joseph Swarts,
severely; Richard Smith, slightly.
We have made aud resisted SO many charges
have taken part in SO many fights and skirm-
shes during the last thirty days, that to give
detailed account of all, would take more time
han can devote to it at present and. no doubt.
more space than you have to spare. / spoke of
he one charge particularly, because it was the
,nly time that any of my boys were touched.
It is amusing to hear the boys comparing notes
'ince we have found breathing spell. One
las his blanket perforated; another his hat, this
me his canteen hit, and that one his frying pan.
)ne's life was saved by the ball striking his
vaist-band buckle; another by the ball striking
lis gun-stock and glancing away from him, and
70 on to the end of the chapter. Nearly every
me has receipt for some narrow escape
At one time when we were undera sharp fire
rom rebel artillery, and had been ordered to
lie down the better to protect ourselves from the
anne, Col. Sherwood, not being suited exactly
With our position, ordered us TO rise and move
Onward about twenty feet We had scarcely
inished the move, when solid shot struck a
arge lllno directly over the spot we had iust
eft. 1t was cut off as if but "a twig. and came
iovn with crushing force, sufficiently strong
o have destroyed whole company. AS good
uck would have it, we were all out of the way
md no one was hurt. Atanother time lust as
We had finished barricade, which we had built
lnder perfect shower of grape, canister,
hells, minnie balls, and an occasional solid
hot, one of the latter missiles came bowling
long, striking the top log of our barricade,
hivering it into thousand pieces, one of which |
truck 1t Brown, who sat near me, wounding
lis leg slightly, This was the only damage it |
lid; but if it had struck the same place five
minutes sooner, it would probably have killed |
lalf dozen. These are few of the most strik- !
rg examples. | might name hundreds.
My health is good, never better The boys |
Who are with me are well generally. Some |
wo or three of them are complaining little, |
tut think all they want is a few days rest to /
ring them all out right again.
l have scribbled this off hurriedly If you /
onsider it worthy of place in your columns
insert it; if not, all right.
Yours Respectfully,
HI. McCoRD.
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