Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-05-26
The f26th Ohio Volunteers.
Letter from Capt. Hoge.
. HEADQUARTERS Co. B, l26rH !
ONO Vols, I'd Brig, Sd Div, 9th ;
A. O. NAV II. 1864

To the Editor Of the Beimon. Chronicle:
SIR: Permit me, for the information
Of those interested, to place on record q
brief history of the record and doings Of
the l26th Ohio Volunteers, and particularly
of company b.
Before daylight on the morning Of tM
4th inst. the regiment left its winter quar-
ters, and that day crossed the Rapidan at
Germania Ford. Next day it marched to
the front, and late in the evening formed
the extreme right of the third line Of battle,
on the extreme right Of the army, in an ad-
vance upon the enemys left. A brisk fight
and 10th Ohio) and tho enemy occurred
after dark, without important results, save
in killed and wounded We laid on our
arms that night, without much chasge of
position, and by morning two lines were
Withdraw, leaving but one, of which the
l26th formed the extreme right, with which
to make an advance upon the enemy, an-
nounced to take place on the morning of the
9th. At about oclock A. N. we advanced
through thick forest, and soon became
hotly engaged. The regiment fought gal.
lantly for more than an hour, when it was
Withdrawn in good order.
The conduct of Col Smith on this occa-
sion was noble, and elected the admiration
Of all who beheld it. He rode continually
along the line, cheering on his men and in
spring them with courage. The men would
follow him anywhere, SO great is their con.
fidence in his cool bravery and military skill.
The command ofthe brigade had been taken
from him and given to Gen. Seymour but
the day before. The whole brigade, if left
to choose, would now select COL Smith as
their commander. His military education,
experience, bravery, and good qualities
should have long ago made him Brigadier
in fact as he has been for more than year
in act but he is not the man to intrigue
for place, or press his claims-and merit Of
itself is slow to win where there is striving
competition and scrambling for place.
Lieut.. Col. Ebright behaved with much
gnllantry.
The loss of the regiment in this action
was Lieut.. Hills, mortally wounded, and
Lieuts. Moore and lIixson, severely wound
ed about % men killed, and l24 wounded.
Lieut.. Hills was good officer, and his
good social qualities made him large num-
ber of strong friends, who mourn his loss.
He was doing his duty as a true officer when
stricken down. and died as faithful soldier.
Sergeant James was among the killed. -
He fell shot through the head. He was a
very industrious, faithful, and useful man
to the company. He was scarcely able to
keep up on the march, but was determined
to be present when the trying hour should
come No truer soldier has laid down his
lille for his country.
In the evening, just about sunset, tho
regiment occupied position in the front
line, connecting on the right with General
Shaler's brigade. of the lst Division, which
had been placed there soon after the morn
ing's engagement A dense thicket of un-
derbrush lay in the rear and on the left,
while in front and on the right was an ex
tonsive wood. All at once the enemy charg-
ed through the wood in great force upon
the right flank of our line, com pletely and
suddenly turning it, doubling Shaler's brig
ade upon our regiment, rendering it impos-
sible for us to fire upon the enemy, who
was all the while pouring into us, through
that brigade, destructive fire of musketry.
We could also tell by tho peculiar rebel yell
that our rear was rapidly being gained, and
it became evident that we 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' 5
brigade among us; but large portion of
those who escaped rallied at the first rally
ing point, and aided in driving back the
enemy. Others had passed before any sue
cessful effort to form line had been made.
The whole regiment was assembled the next
morning, save those who we're killed or cap
turod. My company, being on the left, was
the last to leave the line, and remained till
| ordered it to retire. Five of the company
are known to have been wounded, and s
are missing, supposed to be captured. The
missing OF the regiment is 2 officers and 64
men,. Gen. Seymour was captured, and
Col. Smith was called on to surrender, but
escaped through shower of bullets. Capt.
Lyons was killed, Capt. France mortally
wounded, Capt. McCready and Lieuts. Nc
Kinnie and Kerr wounded, and Lieuts.
Watson, Harrison and Kelley missing.
On the night Of the 7th and on the 9Th
we marched to the vicinity of Spottsylvania
Z. H., where our army again confronted
the enemy and threw up rifo-pits
All day on tho 9th the skirmishing was
exceedingly severe and without moment {
cessation, Many were killed and large
number Of wounded brought in. Late iu
the evening 100 men, including my compa.
ny, were sent out to support the skirmishers
(ot the I'd Div. in front OF our brigade in
an advance of the line for the purpose Of
ascertaining whether the enemy was falling
back. Tho line advanced many fell back
our men took their places and finally tn
whole were deployed-we advanced through
dense pine forest hotly resisted till we APP
preached within sight ofthe enemy's works.
1t was now after dark and the firing upon
us terrible. Capt hampton Of cur regi.
ment was killed and 3 men killed, wound.
ed aud one missing, besides others lost be.
longing to the cd Division.
Finding our position Of the line further
advanced than the right or left, and the Ma.
jor commanding the line absent. l ordered
the line to fall back. In this rash sbirmish
Joshua q. Howell was killed. He was q
brave boy, loved by all, and many tear,
were shed for him. Cope Reynolds was
wounded. an,
On the morning Of tho 18th, in q heavy
rain the corps was moved to the left and
posted in front Of the enemy's rife pits in
three lines of battle. Our brigade had
scarcely got in position when the regiment
was detached from the division and at once
sent to the front Of Gen. Wheaton brigade
Of the ID Division to relieve regiment
which had besn engaged and had retired,
exhausted Of ammunition. We moved to