The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1864-01-01
FRIEND HIRAM:

FRIEND HIRAM
After so long time, I will attempt
to answer your very welcome letter, bearing the
date of November l2th. was glad to heal
from you, but was sorry to learn that youl
wound had proved to beso serious. Your letter
found me. us this leaves newell. received ii
while on forced march from Chattanooga tc
Knoxville, and now is the first time that l have
had an opportunity to answer it, 20 hope that
this is sufficient apology formy delay.
Hiram, on the 25th of November we (thp ar.
my of the Cumberland) won one of the most
brilliant victories of the war American history
can't produce any account of such charge as
was made up Missionary Ridge, on the afternoon
of the 25th, the rebels had all advantage OF II"
in positions, The hill is nearly 400 feet in height,
and an ascent of As degrees, and in shape it re-
sembles semicirce.
The rebels had "a pieces of artillery placed
around the circle in such position MS to rake us
with fianking cross fire from the time we came
in range of their guns, until We reached the foot
of the hill. The signal was given forthe whole
corps to charge by firing six guns from our bri-
gade battery. We had mile and quarter to
charge over an open corn-feld before we reach
ed the foot Of the ridge, then they opened on u'
with the infantry Hiram, thought we would
never make it. looked for every man of us to
be killed or wounded. Hiram, just imagine you
can gee Ga pieces of artillery pointed at you,
and You can see them all belching forth their iron
hail every ten seconds at you-but the line NOV
ed steadily onward, and not Il man finehed-
The rebels stack behind their breast works un-
til we pushed them out with our bayonets then
| tell you, they siedaddled. We took great
many prisoners in their worko--a great many
threw tneir guns away, and came over, right
through our fire Our corps took "a pieces OF
artillery, and about $500 prisoners.
We were only ordered to take their first breast
works, but we paid no attention to orders, but
took the hill. Old General Which, | thought
would so up. Says he, you disoboyed orders
but you shall not be court marshAlled for IT,
The next day we started for Knoxville, with
three days rations They run out, and we have
subsistod off of the country ever since. We have
not drawn anything from the Government for q
long time. We have not drawn full ratons sine,
before the battle of Chickamaugs, Lots of the
bows are barefootcd We are all as ragged anG
dirty as beggas, but I hope we won't be so al
WAYS. There is talk Of us going back to Chatts
nooga.
Since the battle of Chattanooga, this army
has seen the hardest times it ever has since l
was organized should like to be home lit
tie while, and have some gay old times witt
you, but don't think will come home unit
nv time expires, for all the boys that have beel
home are as home-sick as they can be. Ipasset
those around to the Wyandot boys, you sent me
They are all just like me. They don't think il
constitutional for the soldiers to vote, for it viii
keep the Berry family out of office. and tina
won'tdo, you know.
The city of Knoxville, is d splendid place
l was in town the other day. | saw Palsol
Brownlow's residence and printing office, ant
took dinner with Union lady. | was in tow
all day and a good part of the night. staye'
and attended the theater. The people of thi
country are, principally, for the Union, an,
they stand almost everything from the soldiers
They divide everything with us they have.
am, as ever, your friend,
GEO, j. OGG.