The National tribune., 1885-06-04
FROM THE 25th OHIO.
A Correction rs TO Gettysburg, and Sketch Of the
Closing DAYS Of the War.


10th Ohio, is mistaken in saying that Gen.
Schimn,elpfennig commanded a brigade at the
battle of Gettysburg, consisting of the 10Th,
55th, 10Th, aud 10th Ohio, and 18th Conn.
The 55th Ohio did not belong to the brigade at
all, as it was transferred to the Second Brigade,
Second Division, in the same Corps tthe Elev-
enth), a few days after the battle of Chancei-
lorsviile. The other regiments named, COM
posed brigade at Gettysburg-the Second Bril-
gadc, First Division Brig. Gen. Adelbert Ames
commanded the brigade and Brighten Francis
c. Barlow, the division. During the first days
battle Gen. Barlow was wounded, when the
command of the division devolved upon Gen.
Ames. Col. Andrew L. Harris of the 10Th
Ohio being the ranking officer, although
wounded quite seriously, commanded the bril-
gade during the remainder of the battle. Col.
Meyer, of the 10th Ohio, was really the rank
ing officer; but, while / dislike to call atten-
ton to the matter ut this late day, truth COM
pcls me to say that Col. Meyer left the field
djsgracefully, early in the engagement and
did not turn up until late the next day, when
we were behind the stone fence on Cemetery
Ridge He reported personally to Gen. Ames,
and / heard the latter say: % Mr.. Meyer, SO
long as l have Sergeant left to command the
Second Brigade your services will not be re-
quired. Your place is in the rear"
THE CLOSING DAYS.
Serg't Clay also wants some comrade to tell
him what we were doing on the 21st of April,
1865, on Singleton's plantation in South Caro-
lima. As it will be of some interest to many
of the soldiers of the old Brigade who fought
side by side through the campaigns of Virginia,
to know just where they were during the clos
ing days of the rebellion, in fact, after the sur
render of johnson and Lee will give a short
extract from the Regimental History of the
25th Ohio, as yet unpublished, referring to
Gen. Potter's raid from Georgetown, s. G.:
1.-THE next morning, April II, 1865, the 25th
Ohio had the advance, and skirmishing COM
menced as soon as we broke camp. No halt
was made however, until we reached the last
swamp between us and Camden, where the
rebels had thrown up quite extensive works
and We're in considerable force. Maj. Culp,
with Cos. E, K, G and B, waded the swamp
some distance to the left and struck the enemy
on the flank Col. Houghton at the same time
charging the enemy in front with the balance
of the regiment The rebels fed in disorder,
and at 3 o'clock p m. we marched into Camden.
The inhabitants were pretty thoroughly sub
jugated and i'll favor of peace upon any terms.
They were not particularly in love with Sher-
mans army, and had some pretty hard stories
to tell. As mentioned before, the object of the
expedition was to destroy the rolling stock and
railroads i'll Eastern and Central South Caro-
lima. The greater portion of the rolling stock
belonging to several roads, was now on the
Camden Branch of the Manchester & Whining
ton Railroad. We had destroyed the road at
Manchester, and now had the cars between us
and that point, and expected considerable fight
ing before getting to them.
AT Z o'clock OH the morning after entering
Camden, our main force marched on the pike
towards Statsburg, while the 10th Ohio march
ed down the railroad. We met no serious OPP
position until we reached Swift Creek, five
miles from Camden. Here the enemy were in
strong force and behind good works. extending
through the swamp when the nature of the
ground would permit, and upon the hills on
the opposite side of the river Our skirmishers
were advanced to the edge of the swamp, but
found the water too deep to wade. The 10th
Ohio, 54th Mass. and 102d U. S. c. T. were
sent to the right some distance with col
ored man, native of the section, to pilot
them through the swamp. The 25th Ohio was
moved to the edge of the swamp and gained
possession of some rebel works, constructed in
anticipation of our march to Camden by that
road The light of the regiment rested on the
railroad, and were to charge across the treste-
work as soon our thanking regiments made
their attack. We lay in this position several
hours, and then came the cheers from the other
regiments, when we charged in front, the rebels
retreatng in disorder. After marching several
miles through a drenching rain, we encamped
for the night.
"On the morning of the 10Th we marched
early, expecting to meet the enemy in force
AT RAFTING CREEK;
but we were barely out of camp when we struck
open fields, and found the rebels posted back of
rail brcastworks and with some artillery. The
18th n. Y. took the left of the road and the
25th Ohio the right, the balance of the division
forming close support The two regiments adj
vanced in line, driving the rebels before them,
until higher ground was reached, where, sup
ported with considerable artillery, they intended
to make strong resistance. There was no
waiting, however, for supports. The two regi-
ments made gallant charge, driving the enemy
across Rafting Creek. Our usual thanking eX-
pedient was resorted to and with the customary
success, the rebels being driven from their po-
sition with considerable loss. The rebels made
another stand in the swamp near Salisbury
but were easily driven back. In fact it had by
this time become hard work to keep up with
them. Without much more opposition we
reached Singleton's plantation, having marched
% miles in seven hours and almost constantly
under fire, and with the loss OF only three men
wounded.
There never was better marching or
skirmishing, and for our reward we had the
rebel rolling stock safely penned. The next
morning, April 20, the 18th Ohio was sent
to the railroad, where for two miles the
track was crowded with cars, including 81
locomotives The cars were loaded with cloth
ing, ammunition, provisions, etc. The regi-
ment was bivouacked some distance from the
anu iuSu uttdilcu W uIc tnc ITdiii CSN-
eral cars We're loaded entirely with POWDER and
in other cars were thousands Of loaded shells.
THE EXPLOSIONS WERE TERRIFIC,
and for several hours it seemed as if heavy
battle was being fought. After this dangerous
duty was performed the regiment returned to
SiDgleton's plantation, where the balance of the
division was in camp. The rebel cavalry still
lowered about, firing into camp continually,
but without much damage. On the 21st April,
1865, the date Serg't Clay inquiries about the en-
tire division marched from Singleton's planta-
tion toward the Santee River, the 18th Ohio as
ar-guard. While marching past Gov. Man.
ning's plantation, and within sight of his man
sion, the rebel cavalry made an attack upon the
two companies acting as rear guard. The regi-
ment was forced quickly to the rear, and the
rebels driven back with some loss. The wide
veranda of Gov. Manning's house held several
interested spectators of the skrmish, several
ladies among them. swamp being in our
front. Gen. Potter ordered halt. While wait
ing developments in front, negro boy, serv-
ant of Maj. Culp, came in from a cornfield bring
ing several bottles of fine wine, which he had
found secreted Upon his stating that more
was there, Sergeant and squad of men were
sent and brought in a good supply of old Ma
deira.
"While the wine was being sampled Col
Rhett, of Gen. Beauregard's Staff, came to the
rear guard under white flag, and stated that
he was bearing dispatches to Gen. Potter from
Gen. Beauregard, announcing the fact that both
Toe and Johnston had currcndcro3 ond fbat