The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-03-25
Our Military Correspondence.
FROM THE lO5Tn REGIMENT.
RINGoLD, Ga, March 9Th, 1876

recent events IN this Department, WHO the
special correspondents" of the press have
afforded you very many particulars, both
actual and ideal. of the recent operations
Of our and tho oncmy's forces near Tun-
mel Hill. On tho 22d of February, tho third
Division Of tho 18th Army Corps, under
Brig Gen. Baird. left Chattanooga, in light
marching order. duly armed aud equipped
for active warfare, accompanied by tho we'll
known and efficient l0th Ind. Battery, COM
manded by tho brave, fighting Capt. Harris +;
the whole force taking tho Eingo'd road.
Passing Rossvillc, they nearod tho banks of
tho Chickamauga, where Davis Division
(thc 2d,) had been encampcd, but, having
lief: that morning, following Johnson's Di-
vision, (the lst.) towards Ringold. Thus wb
discovered that the whole 18th Corps were
going somewhere. evidently with some mis-.
chcvious intent towards o certain nation
whose proportions have been growing beau.
iifulIy less for somo time, and known as
the "Confederate States of America" That
night Baird's and q portion Of Davis Divis-
ions bivouackcd noar Ringold. Johnson's
Division, however, passed through Rockers
Gap that day. The next morning. at an
carly hour, to tho lively music of several
brass bands, tho troops oute.cd the town,
passing through Itookor's Gap hat aftor-
noon, aud again going into camp for tho
night, where tho Third Division remained
until sunset tho next day, when wo re
sumed tho march, reaching Tunnel Hill at
about in the evening.
At 4 A. M, tho succeeding morning, We
wore again on tho move in q north .casterly
direction, and, by sunrise, were upon the
left, tthe cnemy's right,) having made a cir.
%cuitous rcuto of six or seven miles, at pace
which clearly indicated that we wore in
something Of a hurry, that wo were after
somebody, or that our immediate presence
was needed by Crafts Division. to tho east.
ward ofa ridge known as Buzzard's Roost.
Here, after some littlo maunuvring, the
Third Division was, at about 0 O'Clock A. NJ,
got into position on tho right Of Craft, and
commenced moving slowly upon the enemy.
Two regiments of each Brigade depIoyod
in limo of baltic, with two lines of Skin.
mishors thrown out in front, tho balance
of the Brigadcs marching in tho rear,
at n proper distance, in close column at
kalf distance. At shout 10 o'clock, Skin.
m%ishing commenced quito heavily in front,
continuing quito spirited throughout tho
day. Turchin's Brigade, at about 2 p. NJ,
became holly engaged for a short time,
losing heavily in charging a bill upon which
tho enemy woro strongly posted, 1t was
horo thar the bravo Col. S!ocum foil, while
leading his men to tho assault. The enemy
fought stnbbornly. yielding ground only af.
ter tho contest, and then with yells of de-
fancc. During tho day, thoir skirmish limo
gave back over q mile, evidently to their
strongest position, as al! efforts of our skir-
mishors to drive thom any further proved
futile and useless. They seemed to DO
calmly awaiting a general attack. But the
demonstration of Turchin showed that the
enemy wore in force, aud that a general on
gagoment would cause great slaughter, with
doubtful results. Our every movement was
made with great caution, Evidently our
Generals did not intond to have their COM
mands caught in n trap, to be slaughtered
at will and, although the ~alluring bait of
Dalton was only three miles distant, our
Generals could not be tempted to bite tho
bait, as yot.
Gradually, as night spread its dark man.
Ito over tho earth, tho sound of shots died
away, and entirely ceased. Groups of men
gathered around the scarcely. burning camp
hrcs, discussing, as tho soldier always does,
tho events of the day, specializing upon tho
probable events of the morrow. And, though
jokes arc free, and tho laugh is merry, the
common soldier knows that there IS no light
duty resting upon him that tho whole
country is looking to him as its guard and
shield and ho resolves to betray no trust.
and forfeit no honor, and, casting q pardon.
able glance upon tho happy days of the
past, he filings them from memory, throwing
care atter thom, and passes the merry Jest
around the littlo circle. Thus the soldiers
of tho two armies confronted each other on
the evening of tho 25th of February, not
many doubling but that, on tho coming
morning, many of their number must look
their last upon tho rising sun. Bat it was
not thus to be, for, during tho night, tho
enemy commenced moving their forces, or
rather n portion Of them, around upon our
left, with the manifest ~intentioG of closing
on our rear, and, to use army phrascology.
'gobble us up" or "tako us In out of tho
wet" u proceeding which did not at all suit
either our fancy or convenience. But, to
avoid any trouble about tho matter. it hay
ing been discovered that the place was
neither conducive to health nor longevity.
5 tho Third Division pulled up stakes and
loft, moving as silently as possible, but at a
r ratio which implied that this time somebody
might possibly BIO after us.
r The 10Th Indiana and IO5th Ohio guarded
f. the rear, tho l05th being the last to leave
tho fold. We left tho fold at IL, midnight,
/ and reached the vicinity of Hooker's Gap
by sunrise, having marched some twelve
O miles. At noon of tho same day, the ThirS
A Division moved nm IN TunnoI nan .uo;.