The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-01-26
Letter from Chattanooga.

L CHutNHOOgQJ 4eHHt'1 Jan. D 4OOt.
EDITOR SENTINEL:
Let me congratulate you upon the sue
cess of your interesting paper, and wish
that its glory may become brighter and
brighter until it shall eclipse and leave in
total darkness all other luminaries which
have not for their motto, "Our Union
and the vigorous prosecution of this war"
Your paper comes to US richly ladenod
with all the interesting news of the day,
giving US detailed account of that which
we wish to know, viz" What they are
doing at home AMI your local column,
filed as it is with home events, is greeted
By all-for what better do we love to hear
than of " Home, sweet home" Since, Mr..
Editor, you have so kindly solicited cores
pendence from the soldiers. 1 shall eonsid-
er myself at liberty to write, for belong
to that class, which if not now considered
noble by a ce, tain clique of the human
kind = appropriately calleI eopperheads
yet we know that all loyal men and fu-
ture generations will know US with some
thing better-everlasting gratitude. The
9th O.V. L, the regiment which, have
the honor of claiming membership, is still
at Chattanooga, encamped upon barren,
bleak and "most too auful" cold hill
side, with nothing to relieve the mOnotony
of dreary camp life, except the usual
pickeriug, fatigue duty, and sitting on the
dying embers of a few stolen sticks of
wood to keep from freezing. How I do
pity all the able bodied young men of Ohio.
I have not much doubt they are freezing
poor souls, they ought to at once come down
here where it is so much warmer, for, Mr..
Editor, it can not be disputed but that it is
much warmer here than in the NOrth-for
instance, Mission Ridge, Chickamauga, etc.
rather too warm for some, hey?
We we're made glad a few days ago by
the arrival of our Colone', S. A. Bassford,
who has been absent for some time re-
cruiting. We hail his return with joy, for
he has proven himself worthy of the high
position to which he has meritoriously at
tanned, and now while we are writing we
would beg leave to state few facts about
our Colonel, which can not be disputed by
any of those who have personal i'll feel
iugs against him. As long as he was not
detached from the regiment recruiting,
he was with US in every engagement-in
the battle of Chaplain Hill, he showed
himself to be a man aud a hero-at Stone
River, he came from the hospital and was
with US from the beginning and through
the thickest until knocked down by the
conclusion of a shell, and then he only
strivel to gain strength, and was with Us
again in short time. At Hover's Gap,
where we were exposed to a heavy fre Of
shot and shell he was with US, and mani
tested coolness and ardor which only be-
long to the brave As disciplinariau, he
has not his equal. At MurfresborO, he la
bored assiduously to bring his regiment
up to the standard Of drill and discipline,
and often did we receive compliments for
our perfection from the General and other
officers, all of which he chiefly helped US
to obtain. As for his being at home SO
long, was no fault Of the Colonel's; be was
detailed orecruit by order of General Rose
Grams, and the duty of a good soldier is to
Obey-repeatedly be asked to be relieved |
from that service, but that was not granted
until within the last month, and be is now
with US again to show himself worthy of
the cause which he has sworn to defend.
As yet have not had any chance to say
much more than How do you do" to him;
but 1 intend to have a chat with him
which know will be allowed, for the Col.
onel is that kind Of q man.
Wishing you prosperity, 1 close.
Your obedient servant,
EDWARD SINCLAIR. J