Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-07-04
Gen. Hayes Military Record.
From the Cincinnati Daily Gazette.

From the Cincinnati Daily Gazette.
Gen. II. B. Hayes, the Republican
nominee for Governor, Is "a native of Ohio
and was bred lawyer. He has been for
seventeen years u resident of Cincinnati,
and was twice elected City Solicitor
can, and ut the outbreak OF the rebellion
he followed the bent of his convictions
by entering the volunteer force,
The 23d Ohio Infantry was organized
at Camp Chase In June, 1851, under Col.
William b. R0secrans, with Stanley
Matthews for Lieutenant Colonel, and
r. B. Hayes for Major. Before taking
the field, Rosecrans Was appointed Brig
adler General In the regular army, and
command. Hayes served with the regi-
ment through the war. 1t took the field
In West Virginia In July, where 1t at
once came into active service. 1...t
After arduous service In West Virginia
until the next season, 1t was transferred
In August to Washington, when it join
ed McClellan's army, then on the move
ment which eliminated in the battle Of
Antietam. The regiment was in the
advance ut South Mountain. The fol-
lowing account Of its part In that battle
is taken from Whitelaw Reid's forthcom-
ing history entitled "Ohio in the War"
At South Mountain the regiment,
under Lieut.. Col. Hayes, (Col. Scammon
commanding DIVISION was the first in
fnntry engaged, being the advance of the
column on that day. II was ordered ut
all early hour to advance by an unfre-
quented road leading up the mountain,
and TO attack the enemy. Posted behind
stone walls, Inc enemy in greatly superior
force, poured u destructive fire Of mus
II .ts.r x,,I. ,t..k. s.xs
at very short range, and In very short
space Of time Lieut.. Col. Hayes, Capt.
Skiles, and Lieuts. Hood, Ritter and
Smith were each badly wounded, (Col.
Hayes arm broken; Capt. Skiles shot
through the elbow, arm amputated; Rit-
tor, leg amputatod,) and over one hun
dred dead and wounded lay upon the
field out of three hundred and fifty who
went into action. The command now
deyolved upon Maj. Comfy, and re-
mained with him from that time for
ward. The enemy suddenly opened fire
| from the left, and the regiment charged
front on first company. Lieutenant
Colonel Hayes soon after again made his
appearance on the field, with his wound
half fTdressed, and fought, against the re-
| monstrances OF the whole command,
| until carried off. Soon after there
mainder Of the brigade came up, a gal
liant charge was made up the hill, and
the enemy was dlslodged and driven into
the woods beyond. In this charge a large
number of the enemy were killed with
the bayonet. During the remainder of
the day the regiment fought with its di-
vision. Three bayonet charges were
made by the regiment during the day, In
each OF which the enemy were driven
with heavy loss. During the day the
T'wenty-third lost nearly 600, of whom
almost one-fourth were killed oil the
held or afterward died OF their wounds.
Only seven men were unaccounted for
at the roll-call after the action. The
colors Of the regiment were riddled, and
the blue field almost completely carried
away by shells and bullets.
At Antietam the 23d fought with the
Kanawha division and saw hard service,
which II met with great gallantry. on
the Sth Of October the regiment was or
dered 70 return with the Kanawha
division to West Virginia. Arrived at
Clarksburg, Col. Scammon was promoted
and Lieut.. Col. Hayes was made Colonel
Of the regiment, which continued In the
Kanawia Valley during that winter and
the following summer, experiencing all
the hardships and active mafchings,
and taking part In the numerous affaira
! Of that severe service.
In May, 1884, the 23d was In the battle
OF Cioyd Mountain. Its part In this bat.
tie 10 thus related In the same book;
In this engagement the Esd was ON the
| right OF the first brigade. About moor
they wsss ordered TO charge the enemy