The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-08-08
THE Gath OHIO.
A Hard Campaign in which the Regiment
was Conspicuously Engaged.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: 1t is a
long time since | have seen anything from
the 34th Ohio, and with my diary before
me | will try to give you a few lines of
their doings during the month of July,
1861. Our regiment had just returned
! from Lynchburg, and that portion of it
which had been mounted during that raid
turned in their horses and accouterments
and resumed their infantry tactics, when
we were ordered to the Shenandoah Val
ley, and the Ohio River being very low,
the regiment was moved TO Parkersburg
| by installments, the first of which con-
sisted of Cos. A, Il and q, under COM
mand of Maj. Luther Furney.
We left Charleston, w. Va, on July
8, on the Victor, No. g." and proceeded
taking the Ohio Valley" to Racine, where
we were transferred to the Gen. Crook"
which landed us at the foot of Burlington
Island. We then went on board the Cot
| tage, No. =, which took us to Blenner-
hassett's Island. The Julia" carried us
to Parkcrsburg. This occupied the 9th,
10th and 18th. We reached Parkersburg
at 2 p. H., drew three days rations, and
at $50 p IN. took the cars for Cumberland
where we arrived at 8 O'Clock p. M, of the
18th, and stopping few moments only,
started for Martinsburg; riding all night
lin box cars) reached Cherry Run at 3
o'clock a. m, of the 18th, where we rested
ullIl III, lUtH Oh IOOl LOT
burg, distance of Is miles, where we ar
rived at Z pm, weary and hungry. Maj.
Eurney was so i'll that he was left at
Parkersburg, and the command deyolyed
upon me.
We were now in an entirely new To-
cality, with no other Union troops in the
vicinity, and my command was kept very
busy, fully one-half being on duty at once,
and no let up. On the 10th L was joined
by Al enlisted men of Co. l, and on the
10th | was ordered to report to the Brig
ade Commander, Col. Duval (who arrived
about noon with part of the brigade), who
instructed me to bring my whole force to
town for provost duty.
| arrived at the Court House at 3 p. m,
and placed 120 guards in and around the
town. | worked hard, and was nearly
dead for want of sleep. l quote from my
diary:
Gen. Averill arrived on the 18th and
took command, and orders are multiply
ing. Lieut.. Buffers is now acting as Pro-
vost-Marshal, and Lieut.. Brunscn as Ad-
jutant of the force. No news of import
ance to be relied upon and nothing from
the regiment.
July 1S.-The rest of the regiment
came in in the afternoon and details are
as heavy as ever. The rest of the regi-
ment were paid and there are rumors that
the Paymaster will be here shortly and
pay us. The regiment was ordered to be
in readiness to move at moments warn
ing, but my four companies are to remain |
on provost duty, and at = p. III. they were
ordered on board the cars for the back |
track. BY my special request Maj. Fur |
ney was left in command, and everything
moved off well. as the Major is very
strict as ProyOst-Marshal.
July 19.-The brigade received march |
ing orders yesterday and left this morning, |
leaving Maj. Furney with his command |
IN charge of matters in town, and at 10 a. |
m. received orders to take Cos. G and | |
out to the left of town to support Capt |
Classics battery. Went out and made
arrangements to stay for the night, but at !
D p. m. Co. l was ordered back to town,
and at 80 p. m. received orders to join
Lleut.-Col. Shaw on the Winchester Pike
with my command at daybreak.
July 2O.-Started at go and at day
break Joined the regiment and moved on
toward Winchester, overtaking the
brigade 10 miles from Martins
burg, at place called Bunker
Hill. The whole force then moved
on, and at noon met some skirmisbers of
the rebels and preparations were made for
a fight, the cavalry on the TANKS and the
infantry in columns of companies march
ing by the flank to the front, and the ar
tillery massed in the center on the main
road, in which position we advanced