The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-07-21
History os tho laOth Regiment Since
..U. May Ath.
CAMP OF THE l2GTH o. V. I.,)
NEAR PETERSBURG, VA, :
June 9th, 1864. !

June zFtb, 1854.
!. Editor of Lancaster Gd.ettc-,Su -
Permit me, for the information Of those
interested, to place on record brief
history of the record and doings of the
10th o. V. L., and particularly of
Company | since the summer cam
paign began.
Before daylight on the morning Of
the 4th May, the regiment left its win
tor quarters, and that day crossed the
Rapidan at Germania Ford. Next
day we marched to the front, and late
in the evening formed the extreme right
of the third line of battle, on the ex-
treme right Of the army; in an advance
upon tho, enemy's left brisk fight
between our front line (the 9th Mary
land and 1O0dth Ohio and the enemy
occurred after dark, without impor-
tant results, save in killed and wounded
We laid on our arms that night with =
out much change of position, and by
morning two lines were withdrawn,
leaving but one, Of which the l2Gth
formed the extreme right, with which
to make an advance upon the enemy
announced to take place on the morn
ing Of the 9th. At about 8 o'clock A.
M. we advanced through a thick for
est, and soon became hotly engaged.
The regiment fought gallantIy for
more than an hour, when it was with
drawn in good order, but with heavy
loss, Company having three killed
and eleven wounded--other compa-
MES about the same number. The
loss of the regiment was % men killed
and 124 wounded. In the evening
Just about sunset, the regiment occu-
pied position in the front line con-
nected on the right with Gen. Shalcrs
Brigade Of the l4th Division, which
had been placed there soon after the
mornings engagement. A dense
thickct Of undcrhrush lay in the rear
and on the left, while in front and on
the right was an extensive wood. All
at once the enemy charged through
the wood in great force upon the right
flank of our line, completely turning
it, doubling Shalcr's Brigade upon
our regiment, rendering it impossible
for us 10 fire shot at the enemy who
all the while poured into us de-
structivo fire of musketry. We could
also tell by. the fiendish yell of thu
rebels that our rear was rapidly being
gained, and it became evident that VIC
must fall quickly back toward the left
or be captured. This could not be
done in good order through the dense
thicket, with the men OF Shaler's
Brigade among us but goodly num-
ber of those who escaped rallied at
the first rallying point, and aided in
driving back the enemy. Lieut.. ]. c
Watson, of Co. I, made himself con.
spicuous in urging the men to rally
round the old flag, but met the fate o.
a prisoner thereby; others had passec
before any successful effort was made
to form line. The whole regimen
was assembled the next morning, save
those who were killed or captured
Four of Co. wero wounded and foul
missing; of the regiment B officer:
and Ga mon. Col Smith of tho 126th
was called on to surrender, but escaped
through shower of bullets.
J, On the night Of tho 7th and 9Th W,
marched to tho vicinity Of Spottsylva
mia G. H. where our army again con
fronted the enemy and threw up riff,
pits. All day of the 9th the skirmish
/ ing was exceedingly severe and with
out moments cessation. Many wer
, killed and largo number wounded
Late in tho evening 100 of our moi
were sent out to support the skirmish
crs (of the I'd Division) in front of on
, Brigade in advance of the limo, t
t ascertain if the enemy were fallin!
0 back. In this affair Capt. Lamps, Q
Co. II was killed, 3 men wounded, ant
+ 1 missing.
f On Ito morning of the 1st, in
n heavy rain, the Corps was moved t
v the left and posted in front of the en-
,. cmy's rifle pits, in three lines of battle
Our Brigade had scarcely got poste
. in front of the enemys rifle pits, unit
;. the regiment was detached from tn
a Division and at once sent to the iron
d of General Whcatons brigade of tn
n I'd Division, to relieve n regiment tho
$ had been engaged and had retired eS
a hausted of ammunition. We move
o within one hundred yards of the enc
A my's rifle pits, as measured the neH
r, day. a thick pine covered the spac
D between us and the enemy, and e2
I. tending to tho rear of our position
C We had no protection save the sma
pines before us, and the cnemy's bu
}. let's rAked tho very earth beneath II
3 Here we laid down, the men loading
d raising on their knees and firing.
,s There was no running to the Eea
rs except to carry back the wounded
!. every man seemed inspired with un,
IS sual courage. Men rose to their te
|. and stood until their 30 rounds wei
s. shot away. l could see men takir
id deliberate aim, and so well directe
at was our fire that that of the enem
{. was at times almost suppressed.
!. this place we remained till our ANN
n. milton was exhausted, waiting TO
te relieved. The enemy's fire grew ho
,e ter as ours sIackened. | saw mt
10 take cartridges from the boxes Of DEF
r. men, using some aud distributir
b. others; still no relief came. Final
n. the enemy advanced to a nearer rang
of when Captain Hoge, of Company
- H. ,,,l,