Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-01-29
LETTER FROM THE 111Tn o. v. l.


HARDWOOD.
LETTER FROM THE 1f1TH O. VI.
Correspondence Of the Journal.
bTRAwBKRRV PLAINS, Camp of the
lllth OWL Dec 27th 1863.
FRIEND KEELKH;--I almost fear that will bo
liable TO the suspicion of aspiring TO the honor
OF being classed among the regular corresponds
ents of the Journal" Such is not the case how.
ever. Knowing that many of lis readers are
more than anxious TO learn of the whereabouts
of the 1lltb, Thought that perhaps few lines
from me would not be deemed an intrusion.
We have been passing through series of trials
and hardships for the last six weeks, which has
put the courage, patriotism and power of en-
durance of the boys TO the severest test. lam
happy TO state that they were found equal to
the occasion. never doubted the pluck of
the boys belonging to company @, and / must
say IN justice to them, that they did even better
than anticipated. To name the particular
ones who showed great degree of personal cour-
age, would be TO name the whole company in
detail. Company G was in the two battles Of
the 18th and 10th of Nov, at Huff S Ferry and
OampbelIs Station, and in nearly all the skirms
ishing in front of Knoxville, and strange to say,
all passed through without scratch. AtCamp-
bells Station, while supporting a battery, we
were ordered 10 lie down under most CALLING
fire of some is rebel guns. Fortunately for us
their range was a little too high. Their shells
and balls literally showered us with the limbs
from an apple tree under which we lay. While
retiring from this position, many poor fellow
butthe dust. Myselfand company were sprink-
led with dirt from shells striking near us at sew
eral different times. Some passed so near me
that could feel their force upon the atmos-
Phere One knocked Sergt. Dalton down and
almost buried him, without touching or hurting
him. never saw the company behave them
selves more coolly on battalion drill. We lost
80 men killed, wounded and prisoners from our
regiment. had one man taken prisoner Geo.
s. Gum. He enlisted with me in Toledo. and
had not been with us but little of the time since
we have been out--was not with the company
when he was taken
We have passed through one of the severest
camraigns, probably, that any army has since
the war began; and to prove that their courage
and patriotism undated, and their whole
hearts and souls are in the cause, here state
that every one of my boys present with the reg
iment, have reenlisted as veteran volunteers for
the war. We are all to return to our first place
of rendezvous (Toledo) and then have fur
Tough of 30 days to reorganize and fill M our
regiment TO a maximum. l have my doubts
about this thing working. Notwithstanding We
have had letter from Governor Tod asking us
to accept the proposition. We will know all
ahn e ~
as Longstreet ceases to menace us in front lam
not reporting one man sick at present, and have
one of the largest companies for duty in the reg
iment. This speaks well for a company that
pas reported "played out" more than year ago.
q We had to burn our transportation wagons,
|othcers baggage and all, when we were falling
back from London. This looked hard but was
absolutely necessary to save being cut off from
Knoxville, which would have necessitated ter
rible conflict on our part, if it had not proven
disaster. We had barely got in position at
Campbell's station, when the rebels came up on
the Kingston road and attacked u.s. The result
was that they got badly whipped, while we sui
fered comparatively, little / lost nearly allmy
! baggage-a whole trunk fuli-but felt when the
days work was over, that it was cheap sacrifice.
We arrived in Knoxville on the morning of the
l7th of November, aher marching and fighting
almost incessantly day and night from o'clock
of the morning Of the l4th, and this on quarter
rations. The boys would fall asleep as they
were marching along and drop to their knees
could lie down on pile of rails and sleep as
sweetly as ever did on feather bed NY bows
all came through and stacked arms together
that morning.
Our regiment has not been under fire since
the rebels raised the siege of Knoxville. The adj
vance has had some sharp skirmishing, which
has resulted generally in our favor. My opin.
ion is that Longstrset viii never hazard a gen.
eral engagement in East Tennessee Ifhe does.
predict repetition of Campbell's Station and
Fort Sanders on an enlarged scale Longstreet's
forces are composed of the best fighting men in
the rebel army. They expected IL would be
but play spell to take Fort Sanders. They
were told that Gen. Bumsides army was made
up ofra troops, who had never been under FIRE,
(Which last part was true to great extent, and
all that was necessary their part, was to make
determined assault, and our men would scam
per like flock of sheep The prisoners said
they were most wofully deeeived--that thew had
been in many close contested, hand to hand
fights but had never seen such perfect human
slaughter in so short time, and that all on one
side, in their lives. They didn'tlike Burnside's
system of telegraphing.
We were sorry, indeed, TO loose General Burn.
side from this department He was a general
favorite with officers and men, The boys in
company A arc all right. They have the lare-
est company in regiment for duty at present.
Yours, DC, II. j. McCORD.
The Chicago Workingmen's Association have
passed unanimously a resolution to expel ftonl
their society all who may h.v. '.,,,,l;aJ 60 '.I