The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1864-02-25
[eoRREsroSpEScE OF THE TRIBUNE. ]
A SOLDIERS LETTER.
ARMY OF THE PoToMAc, slh o. V. IL
Feb. Sth, 1864.

ARMY OF THE PoToMAc, sih o. VA
Feb. Sth, 1864.
EDrroR TRBUSE;-A good many in
teresting ceremonies, and movements,
have transpircd in our part Of the army
of late.
On the Sd inst, the 7th Virginia regi-
ment, having re-enlisted and being about
to return to Western Virginia, presented
a sword and watch to its gallant Colonel
Lockwood This occasion was a very
interesting one. All the officers Of the
corps and nearly all the men were pres
ent, and a fine array Of ladies, officers
wives, graccd the occasion. The arti-
cles presented are said to have costa
large sum Of money, and were really
magnificent, Capt. Fisher, on behalf of
the Regiment, presented them in a neat
and most appropriate speech, to which
Col. Lockwood replied in speech of
great humor, wit andgcnuinc good sense.
Gen. Hays, Commanding the Division,
who was master of ceremonies, then call.
ed on Gen. Owen, who commands the
3d Brigade, and who responded in neat
thrilling and eloquent appeal. lie was
frequently chccred, and sit down amid
vast enthusiasm Of the audience.
Col. Frank Sawyer, Sth Ohio, was
then loudly called for, and came forward,
and was introduced by Gen. Hays, "as
the hero Of many battles" The Colonel
is one of the best speakers in the army,
and never fails "to hold his audience -
His wit, oloqucnce aud cocuiion, carry
ing captive all who were within tho
sound of his voice. Uprorious laughter,
cheers, applause, and greeting nearly ev-
cry sentence. He paid the most hand
scme compliments to the West Virgin.
ians, and rukcd down the dilapidatcd
chiyolry or"Old Virginia. in the most
mmeasurcd terms of ridiculc. Altcr the
speeches, Col. Lockwood spread before
his guests the best of "commissary."
On Saturday morning, we had orders
t. move, and move we did. At about
IL o'clock we found ourselves at Nor.
toms Ford, on the Rapidan. General
Owens Brigade had crossed and we were
ordered to follow, which meant, to wade
broad, rapid and very cold river. The
boys plunged 10, aud soon were all form
ed on the opposite banks aud in shape to
support Gen. Owen.
About dark the rebels opened on us
with cannon shot, shells, grape aud mus
kctry. The "od Slh' was in reserve,
but no sooner than the fight began, the
reserve played cut, and Col. Sawyer at
our head, took us rapidly to the front, un-
der most horrible fire Of shot aud shell,
himself greatly exposed, but never daun-
ted, moving along at our head most gall
lontly. We held the exposed point, un-
ill lines of battle could be formed and un.
til the "JOhnies" in front showed their
backs to US, when we fell back and join.
cd our Brigade. aud at about 10 O'Clock
ut night, re.crosscd the river.
We lay on its banks until Sunday night
when we came back 10 camp.
There wac considerable loss in our d.
vision, but luckily none IN our Regiment,
although greatly exposed. Col. Sawyer
received severe confused wound in the
arm, and Lieut.. Koons, Co. C, in the alb.
domen. Very often the she'll struck in
our midst, covering us with dirt, and ma
ny of the men had their clothes torn,and
pierced with the rebel missiles. The re-
conpoisance is said to have been sue.
cess at every point.
Capt. David Lewis, Of Bucyrus, has re-
Gently been appointed Division Inspec-
tor, on Gen. Hays Staff. | presume
great many of the citizcns Of TiiTin are
personally acquainted with him, he hav-
ing been in their midst, as recruiting Off
Ger, during last October and November.
Great preparations urc being made to
celebrate, properly, the 22d of February.
The arrangements for the military are
said to be on grand scale, while u great
many of the officers wives being in camp
it is said that tho trip Of the "light fam
tustic toe' is not to be neglected.
The weather is very pleasant, and our
camp delightful. We are looking for an
early Spring, aud of course an early
campaigl.
Yours,