Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-06-28
General Rutherford B. Hayes.


In their present standard bearer the
Union men of Ohio have one whom they
may we'll be proud to follow and sup
port in the pending contest. They viii
do this more cheerfuIly and enthusias-
tically remembering the proofs Of his
patriotism given in his gallant services
and noble sacrifices as a leader Of Ohio's
braves in bloodier struggles, and on
fields contested with deadlier weapons
than the ballot. Concerning Gen. Hayes
military record during the war for the
Union the Cincinnati Commercial re-
marks that there are none better, if they
are to be rated "by brave, faithful ser
vice. The Commercial continues:
At the battle of South Mountain he
was severely wounded. The following
account of his bearing and that of his
regiment, in this battle, is from "OhiO
in the War;:
cat south Mountain the regiment
under Lieutenant Colonel Hayes, (COl-
Onel ScammOn commanding division, J
was the first infantry engaged, being
1t was ordered, at an early hour, to ad-
vance by an unfreQuented road leading
up the mountain, and to attack the em-
envy. Posted behind stone walls, the
cAlGAAAys All tlECkttAN auElN AOINGe HltAAN4
a destructive fire of musketry, grape
and canister into our ranks at very
short range and in very short space Of
time Lieutenant Colonel Hayes, Cap
tain SkiIes, and Lieutenants Hood, Rit-
ter and Smith were each badly wound
ed, Colonel Hayes arm broke Cap
tain Slziles shot through the elbow. arm
amputated Ritter, leg amputated,) and
over one hundred dead and wounded lay
upon the field out of the three hundred
and fifty who went into action. The
command now devolved upOn Major
Comfy, and remained with him from
that time forward. The enomy sudden
" opened fire from the left, and the
regiment changed front on first COM
pany. Lieutenant Colonel Hayes soon
after again made his appearance on the
field. with his wound half-dressed, and
fought, against the remonstrances Of the
whole command, until carried OIL
Soon after the remainder Of the brigade
came up, a gallant charge was made up
the hill, and the enemy dislOdged and
driven into the woods beyond. In this
charge large number of the enemy
were killed with the bayOnet. During
the remainder Of the day the regiment
fought with its division. Three bnyO-
net charges were made by the regiment
during the day, in each of which the
enemy were driven with heavy lOss.-
During the day the Twenty-third lost
nearly 200, of whom almost one-fOurth
were killed on the field or afterward
died of their wounds. Only seven men
were unaccounte0 for Rt the roll-call
after the action. The colors Of the reg
iment were riddled, and the blue field
almost completely carried away by
shells and bulletsa'
At the celebrated battle of Opequan
or Winchester, Colonel Hayes distin-
/ guished himself alike by his sound
/ Judgment and brilliant daring. OF this
affair we read in "Ohio I'm the War;
/ "After the usual amount of marching
and countermarching from the 4th TO
/ the 18th Of September, the battle of Ope-
quan was fought on the 18th. General
/ Crooks command was in reserve, but
was very soon brought into action and
/ sent 20 the extreme right of the line to
make q flank attack. Hayes brigade
had tho extreme right Of the infantry.