The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-06-01
LETTER from the Isoth RECIPIENT
IN THE PINE WooDs OF VIRGINIA, !
Anril 10 I9G5

]
results Of future operations in other
parts Of our army, permit me to place
before your readers, few OF the scenes
| passed through by the l26th Regiment
o. V. l., and Of events, received in our
midst since last writing 10 you. On
the 18th of March, the regiment led Il
charge upon the eneny's strongly. en-
trenched picket line, and our starry
banner was placed in defiance on il, in
less than Is minutes attcrthe coinmund
forward was given. In the affairIsreal
Miller, q resident Of Pleasantv,iIe, aud
member Of Co. l, was instantly killed
by a 32 pound she'll and Scrg't ".
S. Johnson, slightly wounded in the
nose. Early on the morning OF the
"a Of April, the division commanded
by. Brig. Gen. Seymore, was taken out
in front Of our works, and massed in
the form Of letter V, for the purpose
OF assaulting the enemies works -
About one hundred and fifty Of the
l26th Ohio, (the remainder being on
pickett, and the 9Th Maryland , ols.,
formed the advance or assaulting col
umn. Preparatory to the signal for
advance, and white laying in line OF
battle, imagine the feelings that stole
over US; imagine the bloody work as.
signed US to do. In moment, the
recollectiOns Of mother, Heaven, home
sweet home, and all It's dear inmates
came thrOnging 10 our memories. A
silent prayer was breathed to Him,
who has 50 often taken us safely thro'
past conflicts, and given to us the vic
tory. The signal gun was fired the
command forward was given, and il
must be executed. Onward we went,
the iron hail-the messengers OF death
piowing through our ranks, but ali ol
no avail. An army determined to
conquer or die, forces its way through
all distractions scales the dreaded
works, and plants the old flag thereon.
For while hand to hand fight cn.
sues; but ere long, the enemy flies in
disorder, leaving his works, forts, guns,
flags. killed, wounded and prisoners by
the hundreds, in our possession. -Four
successive forts and guns are ours
but at the latter the enemy rallies, and
comes upon US in overwhelming mum.
bers.
For q while our line wavers, and
gives back but the presence OF Gems.
Wright, Seyinore and Kefcr, inspires
US with unusual courage. Again we
push forward again the emblem OF
liberty plants in triumph, and sweep.
ing down the line, aided by the 24th
Army Corps, every thing IS ours the
entire length of the line to Hatchers
Run. Pen cannot point, or language
express what here Tell in our posses
sion, and | will not attempt it.
Our casualties were not 30 large,
considering the opposition met with
Each and evory regiment did mobly
but TO the 9th Maryland is given the
honor of being the first to break the
lines and plant its flag in triumph
there. Major Prentiss of that gallant
band of heroes, fell mortally wounded
in the affair, aud in taking him of the
field his last words were, III die say
to tho world that MY regiment and the
l26th Ohio planted the first flags upon
the enemies works.
Our work being completed here, We
now moved to the right in three par
allcl columns and formed in. line Of
battle to try our skill on the inner de.
fenses of Petersburg. Again we i'd.
vance but the poor discomtitted rebels
decline battle, and fly like chatI before
the wind The oath A. c. on our left,
met with more resistance. Fort Greg,
st;ong work; was stubbornly (be it
said), defended by the rebels. 1t was
here | think L witnessed the blOodiest
work Of the day.
Our boys advanced (among the num-
Der the gallant cd Ohio), bayonetS
and butts of muskets came in contact,
hag-statfs were used rs spears by our
color bearers, and four stands planted
on the work, at least fifteen. minutes
ere the enemy surrendered. We re.
mained in line of battle all night " ith
the expectation ofengaging The enemy
in the morning, but conceive of our
disnay---hc was gone Petersburg
was ours, and our line of skirmishers
already in the town. We at once took
up our march in pursuit OF the retreat
ing foe until the 9th, when the regi-
ment was detailed to guaLd a batch of
1900 prisoners to City Point.
Their condition is beyond descrip-
ton, and fully three-fourths OF them
will take the oath Of amnesty. Got
aboard the carsat City Point on the
18th, travelling on the S S. r. r, and
on the 10Th joined our Bi igade at this
place, Burksville Junction.
Casualties up to this date are two
killed and thirteen wounded-Lieut.
cnant and acting AdjutantC. G. Craw-
ford wounded in the thigh severely; A.
j. Campbell wounded in hand severely;
and Sergeant W. S. Johnston in ankle,
slightly; all of Company l. Will Crist
accidently fell from car and hurt
himself severely, but is now out OF
danger. Our last duty prevented us
from being present at the surrender Of
Gen H. Il. Lee and his demoral7ed
army, but all would like to have wit.
messed the affair.
Yesterday l visited Burksville june
tion to soc portion Of the captured
property, Small arms by the cord
were to be seen, and l counted over q
hundred cannon of every description,
that had been gathered in, and were
still coming. The sight reminded me