The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-08-25
Letter from the 1aoth Ohio Reg,t.

San Francisco. +. d. HARTE.
Letter from the 1aGth Ohio Reg't.
Editors of the Lancaster Gazette;
l had the pleasure of receiving a
day or two ago, very interesting let
ter from my friend 1t. Col. A. W.
Ebright who has borne an honorable
and useful part in the movements and
battles Of the grand army of the Po-
tomac during the present campaign.
have allowed several friends to read
this letter, and their invariable ex-
preston has agreed with my own
opinion that the letter of Col. Ebright
well deserves to be given to the pub
lie. When it comes to his knowledge
that have taken this liberty with his
esteemed letter, which was hurriedly
written by him, and was designed on
ly for my own eye, trust he will
think Of the host of warm friends he
has left behind him in this communi-
ty, and of the great pleasure the pub
lication of the letter will afford to
them, and that in this way he will at
least excuse, if he cannot fully justify
the course have taken.
J. D. M
HEAD'Qns l2Gth REG. o. V. ]. Cd Brig. Sd Div.
9Th A. c., Camp at Hltown, Va,
August Sth, 1864.
Mr.. J. d. MARTINI
My Old Eiend:-It has
been some time since l have heard
from any of my friends at home, ex-
cept my family. concluded to lot you
know of the whereabout of tho 126th
Ohio Regiment, which has a small rep
rcsentation from Fairfield, and to give
you a short history, perhaps, Of our
doings since this campaign opened
hoping it would not be uninteresting
to you. We crossed the Rapidan on
the 4th of May, with 21 officers and
555 men, and on tho 9th we come
across the rebels in the Wilderness,
and skirmished with them until after
dark, and on the morning of the 9th of
May, our Brigade, forming the extreme
right of our army, our whole line
was ordered to charge the enemys
works in our immediate front, and at
5 o'clock A. NJ. we fixed bayonets and
went in on double quick and most
terrible yell. / led my regiment in
person, but we did not go far before
the rebels opened on us with a terrible
fire of musketry and shell. We found
their works too strong for us to carry,
and the entire line came to halt
and all fell back except my regiment
We held our ground until we received
orders from our Brigade Commander
to fall back. Ihad fine horse killed
under me in the charge. lie was shot
three times before he fell. We fell
back in the front ranks, and l could
not get my saddle off, without 1OC
chances to one of losing my life, fol
| think he had fifty bullets in him be-
fore could take off the bride. did
not like to lose my saddle, as it hat
been broken last fall by IL pount
cannon shot, and wanted to bring il
homo.
About IL o'clock NJ. we fell bach
100 yards and threw up breast works
and brigade from the 1st Division
was sent out on our right to protec
our flanks, and about 6 P. M. th'
Rebs made a charge on our righ
flank driving in this Brigade, anc
the first thing we knew they brok'
and run, and let the "Jonnies il
our rear, when there was nothing
left for us to do but get out a
fast as possible or be gobblcd up
We preferred to get out but not with
out considerable loss. We rallied
new limo short distance in the rear
and drove the enemy off the field
but we moved TO the left about siI
miles that night. Our loss duringth
entire day was 1870 men and IL officer
killed, wounded and missing. Ou
next move was toward Spotsylvanii
G. H., where we had to fight nigh
and day, not being one hour that w
were not under fire.
On the 18th my Regiment was call