Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-08-12


probably give Generals Forest and Lee more
trouble. ..,-..,..,...,-, ..,--.ft....- II
Capt Snyder has been mustered as Major Of
the regiment. Weather intensely hot 80 4
Yours for the war, ,,, j. N. LENNON, Il
r-st Is attfi s~--7 i.,-.-i- s. .- ~fl-f 4
Battles Near TupelO-OhlcIaI Report Of
Capt. ;. A. J. Snyder. II
The I'D Ohio infantry veteran volunteers, LIST
brigade, lst division, 18th army corps, under
command of Major Eugene "A. Rawson, NUM-
bering las muskets, left Lagrange on the morn
ing of July. 5th, 1864 as part of MAJ Gen A j!
Smith expeditionary force. We proceeded by
short marches and with no event Of note until
the expedition arrived near Pontotoc, Mississip4
pi, when heavy skirmishing took place between
the cavalry in advance and the rebel forces, and
the division was formed in line, my regiment
forming between the 95th Ohio on the left and
the 10th Minnesota on the right being the left
of the line. The enemy, retired upon Gen.
Mowers advance, and the I'D entered the town
of PontotOc in advance of all other infantry
troops. The regiment was then sent beyond
the town TO recoRnoitFe, and find a suitable
camping ground We went into biYouac at ii q.
m. The following day, the 18th, was spent in
obtaining forage for our animals.
On the 18th, we moved at s a. M, the Ist
brigade taking the advance of Mowers 1st)
division, the I'D the rear of the brigade. We
continued our march in the direction of Tupelo
Miss The wagon train, which was in our rear,
was attacked about II a. aIn. by the enemy in
| strong force, and great exertiOns were made to
capture it About 2 p. NJ. we were halted and
the brigade formed in line of battle faced to the
rear, on a range of hills near Harrisonburg the
I'D on the left. Wethere remained until the
wagon train had entirely passed, when we again
advanced along the road, the 10th Minnesota
Immediately following the train, and my regi-
ment following next.
The 10Th Minnesota had been ordered to
move at double quick to close up on the train
whereby gap of at least 100 rods was caused
between that regiment and the I'D The eOun-
( try being heavily timbered the 10th was entire
| ly out of sight. The I'D was advancing by the
right flank along the road through the woods,
when a large force Ofthe enemy, who were ly-
| ing in ambush in the woods to the right of the
road, opened fierce and destructive fire upon
| it, and Immediately advanced with loud yells
Here some confusion occurred for moment in
my regiment, arising from an order delivered by
Capt. Furnald of Col McMillin's staff, that the
men should not fire, stating that our cavalry
was in advance and skirmishing With the ene-
my. Col. McMillin then ordered the regiment
to fall back and form on the left of the road
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himself, and Major RawsOn, commanding the
regiment, knew nothing of it. Our line was
soon formed on the leftof the road, the regiment
facing by the rear rank, and fronting the enemy.
Meantime the enemy was advancing and direct
| ing upon us heavy fire. His right had already
crossed the road in our advance, now became
our left flank My regiment now opened fire
upon the enemy. r., s.rs
Two companies of the right wing, now be-
come the left, under command of LIST Lieut.. d.
W. Huffman, were repressed, so as to direct their
fire along the road and soon cleared the rebels
| therefrom. At the same time the regiment ad-
vanced rapidly, charging through the woods
We drove the enemy about half a mile, when,
observing that the 95th Ohio which had been
upon our right was falling back, pursued by
the enemy, thereby bringing him into our right
and rear, Maj. Rawson retired the regiment
about 100 yards and formed again behind rail
fence. By this time the entire brigade having
formed in line upon our right except the 10th
Minnesota, we again charged the enemy and
drove him entirely from our front.
The loss of the regiment during this fighting
was one killed, one officer, list Lieut.. D. W.
Huffman and 10 men wounded, and two men
missing. ,..f.. fst.s ..f,. -
| We were then ordered to resume the march to
Tupelo, where we arrived about p M, having
marched IS miles. H-si ta1a fi ol
On the 18th the lst brigade was in reserve on
1 the right of the line and my regiment did not
fire gun nor suffer any loss.
On the morning of the 18TH my regiment was
ordered to the rear of the 4th brigade of Mowers
division, as reserve, but did not become engaged.
The lst Brigade was the last to leave TuPelo,
| on the 18th, and covered the rear. The I'D fol-
lowed the 10th Minnesota, which led the brigade,
and left Tupelo about L p. H., on the New Al
bany road. f,a.e. -a ~
| We marched to Old Town Creek, some six
miles, where the advance had halted, and gone
into bivouac. My regiment had halted and
was resting, when the enemy advanced rapidly
upon our rear, driving in our cavalry, and put
ting battery into position SO as TO shell our
| train. The regiment was Immediately ordered
to the rear and into line. We formed to the
left of the II4th Illinois, with the 95th Ohio on
lour left. The line was formed on the west side
of the creek. We advanced across the creek in
line of battle, and engaged the enemy immedi-
ately after crossing, and were ordered to charge,
which was done in gallant style. Major Raw
son had Just given the order to advance, when
he was struck in the right eye by ball from
the enemy's line, and fell mortally wounded
There benign other field officer with the regi-
ment, and being the senior line officer present,
l Immediately assumed command. The regi-
ment followed the enemy about a mile at a
double quick, when the line was halted, the en-
emy being driven in utter disorder from the field.
was then ordered to return with my regiment
to point where section Of battery E, lst llli-
| tinois light artillery was posted, and TO support
the same while engaged in shelling the flying
enemy. When the regiment made this charge
many of the men fell down completely exhausted,
and several had to be carried from the field, so
tcomplete was their prostration. During this
action the regiment lost one field officer mortal
| ly wounded, one enOn-cOmmissioned officer and
two privates, wounded. gIf72 .- .if.-. .,1f-
Nothing further occurred of note, and we ar
rived at Lagrange on the morning Of the 21st
inst. During the last four days my men were
Ieompelled 10 subsist on one third ratioRs of
bread and coffee only, owing to the exhaustion
of the supply which had been taken with the
expedition, f'r' 90 t'f F.-ii71 si'a'i
The weather during the time we were out was
Excessively hot, and the reads unusually dusty,
Fortunately my men generally had plenty Of
good, fresh water, which was supplied by means
of pack mules. sa flfsriEf15-ss 'af5i.s q
The men of my regiment performed cheerful
ly and nobly all the arduOus duties of the cam
paign, and although much worn out, and with
out change of clothing for the whole time re-
turned in the best of spirits, well satisfied with
the results OF the expedition. .......
To the officers of the regiment, who were with
the expedition, | return my sincere thanks for
Etheiriprompt and efficient action at all times
Iandwarmly commend them TO the considera-
ton of their superiors, for their bravery and
full performance Of all their duties. -
OF the men'of the regimentI cannot speak in
terms of too great praise and recommendation
All came up manfully to their work, and fought
with that bravery and determination which can
not be surpassed. l@ ith'.i5 H
OF the wounded of my regiment, one officer,
Lieut.. d. W. Huffman, and three men were left
in hospital at Tupelo. Their wounds being so
severe as to forbid their removal. The others
were all brought to Memphis
A full report of casualties has been already
forwarded .,....-7. -.-.t I
Very respectfully, your obedient servant
e S.A. J. SNYDER.
Select Sentences.
See the vanity of the world and the con-
sumption that is upon all things; and love
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