The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-07-21
Letter from the ITth Reu,me,t.
CAMP l7Tu REC. o. Wv. L., !
NEAR THE CHATTAHoooHEE,
July 9Th, 1864.

LWo' uUNCttO '-'SiA'O N"J " h"'N
now elapsed since we struck tents at
Ringgold for the war path and the
larduous duties of active campaigning.
During al these weary days and toll
some nights tic gallant 18th has been
at the post of soldierly duty and was
twice baptized in blood for tho holy
cause Of religious liberty and union
forever, fully maintaining its splendid
: reputation for bold, manly, heroic dar-
ing upon the fields ofsanguinary strife
|, where mighty armies arc wont to
wrestlc in bloody combat for the mas
terry. NobIy, indeed, has this reg't
borne its part in rolling back the host
of Johnsons army from ono ontronch-
cd position TO another, from mountain
to mountain, and from hill to hill, till
the thunder of our guns, trained by an
army all heroes, is heard at the very
gates Of Atlanta, to laurum the depart
ing glorics OF tho realm of Davis. We
have spanned rivers, wadod streams,
have climbed over rugged mountains,
sloping hills, and lofty elevations, mid
way between mountain and hill, semi
hill and scmi-mountain, properly ncith-
CT; have crossed plains and sterile
, wastes, fighting the cncmy at every
step, and in the end have been crown
cd victors.
,, In all the magnificent and success
/, full operations Of this campaign, the
18th, has won reputation Of which
none need be ashamed, and of which
fathers and mothers, sisters and broth
crs, the loved and loving ones at home
may be justly proud.
The rcg't participated in the battle
of Rcsacea, on tho memorable 14th of
!. May. While ;tho conflict was raging
0 tho 1st brigade was ordered into line,
f and led by the daring Turchin, moved
off TO the position designated, passing
: over other lines of battle Having
gained the summit of tho hills lying
D westward of Sugar Valley, (sincc sig
: niicantly called The valley Of death, y
the encmy's position was in plain
+, view on tho farther side of the valley,
5 or terminating it. Heavy lines of in
!, fantry strongly cntrcnchod and well
=, supported by artillery, dciiantly con-
y frontcd the brave defenders of our ma
). tional unity. Fix bayoncts was the
c signal for a grand charge, and despor.
: ate undertaking. Yet the 18th only
: knows to obey, whether it bc on tho
y drill ground, at the dress parade, or tc
charge under sheet of shot and sholl
n Forward! doublo-quick ran along
h the line, when with the customary vel
! they start forward down, down the
y hllsides into the valley, on, on they &C
while the grape, canister, solid shot
1t shell, and tho lcadon hail from thou
% sands of small arms pelt upon then
T" in one relentless destructive storm
Other lines have quailcd; not so The
lst Brigade. On, on it goes, still on
ward, passing other troops that have
y sought shelter. Oh, how that storm
6 Of death roars around them cvon now
d their way is strcwn with the dead, the
J. wounded and the dying, Look again
l. they have gained Sugar Creek, anC
Il but half their heavy task is done
d Not gun to support them, their in
s. Nntry support, too, failed to advance
n two batteries cnfladc them, rebel in
&c lantry pour vollcy after vollcy int
1t them, solid shot buzzing through tn,
air fall about thcm crushing many
'c brave, shells screaming like q thousant
l. furies explode around; grape and can
y mister are thinning their ranks, bu
i they have gained the other bank o
II the strcam-'ts madness togo farther
" ahalt is ordered and refuge sought
u Could the heroes Of Sparta, the irwin
ciblcs of Greece, the veterans Of Rome
q or t he famous Guard of Napoleon hav,
!, done more? Thecommand afterward
a. fell back in obedience to orders anC
E without panic, not in line, however
the reason for which is so evident a
TO need no explanation.
On tho Sth Of Juno the Regimen
~ again took tho advance apd steadily
y drove the cncmy's sliirmishers till tn,
~ whole grand Army of tho Cumberland
IL took up position confronting the enc
D. my posted upon tho giddy heights o
,e Kincsaw Hills. For fourteen success
sivc days and nights the 18th held Tho
. advance, and never have troops bcer
u exposed to moro harrassing, calling
At fire. Lying at tho foot of KinesaW
N frowning Notifications looked dowl
upon them, from whose cmbrasures
o. trippled- -tonguod flames Of death sho
lc forth with appalling roar of the mur
L. derous guns. Sharp shooters con
10 ccalcd behind rocks and trees wcr,
W ever on tho alert TO pick off any WHIT
10 might unwarily expose himself Fo
H. four days it was almost certain deatl