Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-10-31

tcCOnpllSu MS ODJtCN just dS Wtil llWltnOuts
lie pressed on until lie struck our picket.
Inc, aud then taking u diverging road that
our line of retreat at Campbell's
Station, lie commenced moving his masses
Of troops to our rear.
General Burnside was on the ground and
had early intelligence of the rebel Generals
lie threw out n strong force
to intercept and contest Longstreets adj
vance, and ordered our commend to imme.
ately evacuate our position. TIE ronds
then leading to Knoxville were almost inn
passable for loaded teams. The hdl rains
had made the sunken rOadbeds sluitewhys
of mud. We were ordered to Join onr bag
gage teams to the artillery teams aud de-
stroy our baggage and the quartermasler
and commissary stores of onr trains. | re-
member that out Of my baggage | saved n
sash and an extra coat by wearing two in
stead of one.
We chopped down the wagons whete they
stood, ripped up the coffee sacks, knocked
in the heads of sugar barrels, tore open
boxes OF army clothing, mixed il altogeth.
err, and then set the ruins on fire, aud il
was all done Just about as quick "a it takes
me to tell it. Then, without taking II
thought of how we might retrieve our loss,
" AO''k SNN iNNN N'Nh As'liN
street for Campbell's Station upon roads
running nearly parallel. During the bal
ance Of that long, tedious night, we strug.
gled on-horse, foot and dragons. artillery
and ambulance trains, mixed together in
an undistinguishable mass.
But in the haste and confusion there had
been serious blunder. The evening before
Lieut.. Omer 2. Norris, with Sergeanis Bcal,
Bowles, Hunter, Swinehart and 4S enlisted
men Of our Company b, had been posted
upon the picket line upon the route over
which we had Just retreated. 1t was the
duty of the officer of the day to form his
pickets into IL line OF skirmishers aud fol-
low the command. lie failed to notify
these men Of the movement of the troops
and in the gray of the morning they were
cooped up in the bend OF the river and
captured. By this bunder, we lost from
our effective force 80 ~ good men as ever
carried arms in any army.
The little village of Campbelrs Station
sits in the center of little valley, about
ten miles south of Knoxville. Upon either
side rises sharp range of hills running
parallel with the lIolston river. As we
neared the village we became enveloped in
the smoke of the battle, which was wagng
with terrible odds against us, for the pres.
ervation of the outlet into that valley for
our tired troops With but a few minutes
to spare, we passed the junction of the two
roads ahead of Longslreets advance and
then rapidly formed our infantry line from
hilltop 10 hilltop across that valley. Our
artillery was massed upon u sugarIoaf Hill
IN the center of the line, and our regiment
was advanced short distance in front and
ordered to lie down to avoid-the fire as
much as we could, coming both from front
and rear. Soon I,ongstreet's veterans Jun.
covered from the woods to the. south, and
with three lines OF battle stretching across
that valley, silently advanced to the assault
Then from twenty PARROT and Napoleon
guns, and from five thousand rifles went a
storm of shell and ball which sentthe vet.
Grams in confusion from the field. Bat we
soon found that they had only "let go to
take better hold" for now with horses
under whip and spur came battery after
battery of rebel artillery, sweeping to the
right and left Of the central line OF attack
and rapidly delivered their fire as soon as
they got into position. Then came AGAR
the rebel masses of infantry, line after line
with their hated stars and bars pictured
against the brown woods beyond. Herr
anu lUtIG llciT lllSS Ttclttl ana blHRHtTtt
under our fire, but still advanced to clos,
range, and then taking such advantage a,
the ground afforded, gave us voley for vol
ley.
You can well remember how, hack ant
forth like shuttles IN the loom, flew thos,
shot and shell above our heads, how thost
bar-shot as long as soldiers arm came on
end over end, with their rhew-Weir wheu
pew," sending sensation down your backs
as of some reptile crawling over you, anC
how II shell occasionally plunged into tn
sloping hillside among you and bursting
threw man or two sprawling in the air
how the enemy, failing to force our position
directly, sent a thanking column TO our rear
which, pouring over the hilltop, wen
charging down OblIquely upon The rear o
our line, and how surprised that rebel brig
ade seemed to be when the One HUNDRED
and Eleventh Regiment rose from the weed
in rear OF them and delivered vOlley il
their backs at easy range, which sent th
survivors over the hills in disorder. w
had been retired for that purpose just II
| the nick of time.
After stubbornly contesting every hiI
and valley Of that two miles OF battle field
until we had used up the day, we agai
pursued our retreat When we passed in
side of the entertainments around Knox
uillc, next morning, we threw our knal
sacks ON the ground, and, utterlysex xhaust
| ell, sank to sleep. For three daysgnl dire
nights you had been upon yeI4 fest; hl
man endurance could stand nol1orefitignt
For future reunion, and 10 ain ure his
torian OF your regiment | leave the NOR
important history OF your future can
paigns. o. It
| am now reminded by thiS Ccntennia
| Hall in which we have been permitted I
assemble, that you with the OTHER self-snC
riticing soldiers OF the Union Army ,brougl
this nation in unity, in peace and prosper
! ity, up TO it's one hundrcdlh anniversary
and know that you will cordially endors
that patriotic closing sentiment OF Taylor
anniversary poem
| "Land of the green ami golden robe.
| A three hours Journey for the Sun
Two oceans kris thee round the giObe%
| Up the steep world, thy rivers run
From geological ic to June
A hundred years from night tn noon,
In blossoms still like Agrnn's ol!
| The clio ks are ON the s,r ike of one
ONE LAND. ONE TONGUE, ONE FLAG, ONE Col
Centennial Bells, RING oN!''
Captain THURsrIN's address was deli
cred in a clear and distinct tone of vuic
and was most thoroughly appreciated b
the veterans and the large asscmblage pre-
ent. At its close the Captain was unan
mously chosen to continue his regiment
history at the next reunion.
BRIEF ADDRESSES
Followed from Gen. ID. w. II. DAY. Ge
|. r.. SHERWOOD and Chaplain 4. IIol
LINGToN, who were called out by their ol
comrades.
Gen. DAY recalled anumber of inciden
of camp life, and thought the true histoi
Of the war would not be written until tho
who participated in il had passed ava
lie closed with a Aattering testimonial
the citizens Of Perrysburg, especially Il
ladies, who had been so cordial, untiril
and generous in the reception OF the surv
vors of the lllth Rcg't., and propose
three cheers for the ladies aud ciIizel
which were given with will that maj
! the hall ring, every veteran rising to h
7 feet. 4
: Following, Gen. SHERWOOD said Il
I nth o. V. |. came out OF the war with