Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-01-07
Letter from the esth Reg't, o. ". l.
Cp.yrASoooA. Dec. 1rb rssa

YOU have not heard from the 9Sth Regiment,
o. v. l, lately, 1 send few lines, hoping
they may be Of interest. We have tust re-
turned from four weeksexpedition through
East Tennessee, in quest Of Longs,reet, and
having been shut out from all communica.
tioh with the world, and being required to
subsist of Of the country through which we
passed, you may imagine for US happy
time at getting back in our old winter quar-
ters again, where times are more comfort
able aud Government rations available. Ii
has been viz orous campaign, and We have
done more genuine soldiering in the trip
than in all our other campaigns together. -
Our regiment fornsa part OF Gen. Beatty's
Brigsde, Gen. jeff. G. Davis division. l4th
Army Corps, but in the late operations at
Chattanooga it has been attached to Gen.
Sherman's command.
We left camp on the oath of November,
with two days rations and one hundred
rounds of ammunition, and expected to be
gene three or four days. We crossed the
river above Chattanooga at the mouth Of
Chickamaupa Greek, on the pontoon bridge
constructed for the occasion. By evening
of the snme day our forces we're all in posi-
tion before the enemy, were on the end Of
Mission Ridge. The next morning Thomas
Corps made the attack and fought all day,
our division being the reserve. During the
day, the Eleventh Corps came up aud joined
in the attack. BY night three important
| positions had been carried but fourth re-
mained to be carried, and our objects were
accomplished. While engaged here, Look-
out Mountain had been taken, and also the
main part of Mission Ridge. by the troops
of Thomas and Hooker. At midnight it
was known that the enemy were on the re-
treat, and we set out immediately on the
pursuit. We went by circuituus route aud
came up with their roar guard about noon.
at Chickamauga Station. The first brigade
Of our division was in advance aud kept the
enemy moving rapidly, keeping up severe
skirmish fire. We killed number of the
rebels here and took up many prisoners. -
As we entered the little town the large store
house full of corn meal, bacon, and other
Commissary supplies, were burning to the
ground. There was an immense destruction
Of stores here. it being the depot Of sup
plies for the rebel army. We captured q
great quantity Of Quartermaster's stores
unharDed, and also two 81 fb cannon, be-
sides number Of cassions full Of amlnuni-
ton. We pressed on, rapidly advancing in
BY evening we had captured many more
Der of wagons loaded with ammunition
which had been abandoned. A little before
dark, the enemy made stand, and quite
an engagement ensued. Our regiment kept
steadily forward until the enemy were
forced to retreat. II was dark when the
firing ceased, and we came to count oul
loss, found it to be two killed and seven
wounded. 1t was q sad duty for US to bur,
eur two noble ones sergeant Boyer and
Private Pattcrson.) an4s~e will miss them
very much. The day had beena hard one fol
us. Tired from marching since midnight;tired
: from crossing creeks, we were kept standing
in the cold till late before coming TO camp
Fires were built, coffee made, and then fol
lowed an attempt to sleep under . singh
blanket till morning. The next morning
(the 27th,) the pursuit was continued ~ faI
as Rnggold, where Hooker's troops engaged
the enemy tor while during the day.
On tho 2Sth We moved TO parker's Gap
seven miles from Ringgold, where we en-
camped for the night. On Sunday, tn.
2Sth, We received notice that We were TO Sc
r out on an expedition, which would probabl.
last ten days, and that no rations would b,
issued, as We would be expected to foras'
our supplies from the country. We wer'
j off at daylight, passed up a large valley mt
through McDanRel's Cup, in some noun
tains, and over tolerably Iorgh countr.
y jths rest Of the way, camping ~ night thre,
miles from Cleveland. The next five day
, were consumed in marching to Morgantown
r on the Little Tennessee River, thirty mile
from Knoxville. We had passed on eoun
trysroads most of the way, as tho main road
were occupied by the troors Of Sherman
: Granger, and the Eleventh Corps. Ou
! rout lay from Cleveland to Charleston
and then to London, aud up the river I,
Morgantown. A day was consumed here !,
, building bridge, and crossing troopA. Ol
Sunday, the 9th, we started for Knoxville
r but when mile on the way received order
to return to camp, rs the objects of our ex
9 petition had been obtained, and our service
were no longer needed there. sf
Monday, Nov. 9th, we started on the re
. turn, and marched few miles bsyon,
Madisonville, county seat Of MOnIo county
: The next day, we reached Columbus on tn
!. Hiawassee River, where We lay for six days
: the reason for which we have never foun
out. On the i4th, we were moving again
n camping near Cleveland At night. Thre
more days were consumed in coming I
Chattanooga. Arriving at the wharf jus
in time to see the pontoon bridge broken b,
floating tree, occasioning us the addition
, al exposure Of laying on the wharf all tn
!, cold night without fires, az wood is YER
+, scarce in town. We are now in camp jus
in time to escape the cold weather, w6ic
is setting in. Clothing is being issued, tn
x first in our quarters that We have receive
since We came to Chattanooga. Many @
;. the men were bare-footed and withcu
blankets, and thore are very few who hav
clothes without holes in them. We wen
off unprepared for such long trip, havin
nothing along but what was carried by th
men, and only one wagon with which I
forage supplies We have demonstrate
! ono fact that has been question with som
: : Generals, that Of making long marches
! : aud subsistins of the country. The couu
: try through which We passed was series {
! valleys, divided by long. ranges Of hill
which were almost Mountains. The road
] we're tolersbly good. Many 6ne farms wer
to be seen by the way. Cattle, Sheep, an
, hogs were plenty, but great deal had bee
taken by Longstreet's men. Horses an
Mules were particularly scarce, yet ou
> Division gathered about SO during the triT
, The people were mostly Union (oT elaine