The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-08-12
Correspondence Of the Jeffe.soninn Democrat.
The l25th 0. v. I. in the Spring and
Summer Campaign Of 1894

Correspondence OF the Jeffe.sonion Democrat.
The l25th 0. " I. In the Spring and
Summer Campaign Of 1894. y
CAMP NEAR ATLANTA, Ca. July l4sb. "a.
FRIEND CONVERSE :-- "a, .y..s w. ,s.r
Not through willful neglect have / thus
far failed to fuflI my promisc, made to you
last winter. viz, that would keep you post.
ed as to the actions Of the l25th, during the
present campaign now propose 10 re.
deem that promise, as far as may be, by Civ.
ing you an historical account of those scencs
through which we have passed, which will
be OF the most interest to readers. BY the
aid Of most renorseless aud unmerciful
conscription, the rebel Goueral, johnson,
had collected u strong army in nud around
Dalton, for tho purpose Of resisting the pro.
gross of Sherman into Georgia. Having
completed ell tho arrangements necessary
to tho moving of his immense force, and to
the conducting Of long and active cam
paigp, General Shorman gave that order,
which we have 90 steadily and constantly
obeyed e~er since the order of Forward
The l25th had boen. for some time, on.
camped near Cleveland, Tenn, but, on the
morning of the Sd Of May, we struck our
tents, and entered upon one OF tho most SO.
we're campaigns known In rnodern warfare.
Though the regiment had lately been large.
y recruited, yet, through the unceasing and
constant efforts of Col. Opdycke, Lit. Col.
Moore and Major Brougb, it was almost per.
feet 10 drill, and gave bright promise of thai
success which it has since realized. We set
out, 10 tho commencement of our history 90
q regiment, with the motto our Colonel gave
US, "Gorious Victory or an Honorable
Graves" and our bright record and dep,oted
ranks show that it is our motto still. On
the morning of the sth of May, General
Harker was ordered by General Howard tu
send the best regiment in. his brigade to dis.
lodge a portion oil the enemy FROM the po
sition be had taken on high. and precipi'
tous bluff, called Rocky Faced Ridge Tho
difficulties attendant upon the assault
ing of this position were enough to appal
the stoutest heart; yet Con. Harker knew
opon whom to call. Tho I25th was select
I'd to storm and take the Ridge. Col. Op.
dycke, having formed the regiment by divis
ion, with a line of skirmisbers in front, led
on bis men TO the attack. Steep as tho up
right wall of house was tho face of the
Ridge 10 places, while overhanging rock,
and trees seemed to threaten with destruo
tion all who should approach, or offered SO
curity to concesled foe. We. ascendod
from hiehtto hight along the only pass OF
road on the west side of tho Ridge, which
was 90 steep that our field officers were
obliged to dismount and lead their horses
Evor ashting. but advancing still. on VT
won't, up, up, right in the face aud eyes o
the enemy. Nothing could daunt or checl
the upward march of the l25tb, and WI
drove tho enemy from their fancied sccuri
ty. When We. had gained possession of tn.
Northern part Of the Ridge we were aston
ished at our success; for we wcre cortair
that we could have held It against any force
of the enemy and yet the l25th alone and
unassisted, bad wrested portion of it from
a really superior adversary. The top of tb.
Ridge was not more than two rods in width
and in some places not over ten feet. will
huge rocks piled up on either side, forming
most stroug and impreguable natural for
tifica,ion. After taking the north end o
the Ridge, we drove the enemy along 1t
summit; and our skirmishers advanced al
most to their works on Buzzard's Roost =
We threw up rome hasty works across th
summit of the Ridge, aud bivouaced on th
place We lost in killed four, and wound
ed eighteen. 60 highly pleased was Con
Howard that be issued a sp ecial order high
ly compIimentirg the l26th for thei
bold and daring exploit. and their success
in overcoming and conqueripg the comb
ned opposition of nature and the enemy.
During the following day. the Cab. the re
mainder of the Brigade came up, and it wa
determined to make an assault. upon the en-
emy. who lay secure behind their works. .
Their Notifications were built so AZ to op
pose any approach from Whatever direc,io,
land on the crest Of q prolongation OF tb
ridge we already held. At four p. NJ. th
charge was made, the l25th being the sec
ond regiment, and in rear OF the Gath o. V,
who led the way. Part Of our regiment wa
deployed as skirmishers, while tho. remain
der was led to the attack, moving by tn,
flank, for so narrow was the way along tn,
ridge that four men could scarcely marcl
abreast. Under most murderous fire wa
the column pushed to within a few feet o
, the frat line of works. when SO destructiv,
was the leaden torrent that the regimen
in our front could staud il no longer, ant
came rushing, crowding back through sh
l25ih. and actually forcing some of our mel
over the rocky ledge. In tho effort to oheol
the flying regiment. and to hold our own
It. Col. Moore was badly wounded. f'
i To succeed in pushing through the mar
row gap, in the face of such fire, aud witt
q panic-stricked regiment forcing itself bac
through our ranks, was Impossible. Tn
whole Brigade fell back to tho works whic
the, ,l26th had built the night before.-
From deserters who came in tha. night, "
: learned that Buzxard's Roost was held b