The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-01-21

stock, etc. The town was submerged. and
our command rescued numerous residents
from the upper floors of their dwellings,
whittier the risen waters had driven them.
From Oct. 1 to 81 our company was on
duty as guard for men engaged in put
ting up a telegraph line from Point Pleas
ant to Charleston service we greatly
enjoyed.
November 4. 1861, 500 men of the 18th
Ohio left Charleston and went by boat to
the mouth of Loup Creek, marching
thence over trails-there were no roads
transporting our supplies by pack trains.
The weather was cold and heavy rains
continuous. We were soaked to the last
stitch, as were our blankets, and we suf-
fered much from the cold and the wet.
our pack train was delayed, leaving US
without commissary supplies.
Floyd had been forced by the foods 70
fall back toward his base of supplies, and
Gen. Benham, in spite of the disparity in
numbers, so much in the enemy's favor.
pursued Floyd and came up with part of
his force at McCoy's Mill, when an en-
gagement ensued. We killed the Confed-
crate Colonel, st. George Croghan, of the
I'd Ga. Cav, and wounded few of his
men.
SEVENTIES OF THAT SERVICE.
At midnight, Nov. IA, we were ordered
to return, and by the severest march of
our experience reached Cotton Hill on the
night of the 18th and went into bivouac
covered with mud and wet to the skin;
yet worn that we slept-and when VIC
awoke on the morning of the 18th. found
that we were snugly blanketed by about
four inches of soft snow that had helped
to warm us.
That night we slept on a steamer that
carried us back to Charleston.
Nov. % we received our first pay
which was Sill month.
Dee. 10 we went by steamer to Park
ersburg, thence, by rail to Green Spring
Run, where We drew Sibley tents. Dec
Is we marched to Romney, joining Gen
Kelley. Loaded as We were, the march
Of Is miles pretty well wore us out, and
ii was with gratitude that yet endures
that we accepted the invitation of the 5tn
Ohio to take supper with them. We
were brigaded with them for years, and
found them everywhere brave and an hon.
or TO the State and the volunteer army.
Romney was an important strategic
point and difficult to guard, and while
we were there picket service was severe.
! Numerous posts existed, those held by in
fantry extending to five miles in every
direction.
There was a fourishing mill at Hang
ing Rock Pass, 10 miles from Romney.
There was small force of rebels there,
! using the mill. On Jan. 6, 1862. at mid
% commanding about 1000 men picked from
the 4th, 9Th, 9TH, Sth Ohio, LIST w. Va.
18th Ind, and cavalry and artillery, start
ed for Hanging Rock Pass, which we
reached about daylight. We utterly de-
stroyed the enemy, killing, capturing or
dispensing them to the last man and Sc
curing two guns and all their supplies.
WERE SOME ACTS OF VANDALISM.
Col. Dunning ordered that the mill and
the hotel be burned, and they were; but
some of the men fired other houses /
must say that l came nearer being
ashamed of my uniform on this occasion
than / ever did at any other time or place.
am glad to say that the acts OF pure van
dalism that / saw perpetrated on this
expedition l never saw repeated.
We evacuated Romney, Jan. 10, and
marched through Springfield and Frank
lin to Patterson Greek, and camped i'm an
unhealthy location, from which the army
suffered.
The command, now under Gen. Lander
moved on February 5, IL miles by rail;
then by an ali-night march in direction OF
Winchester road, caused Stonewall Jack
son TO evacuate Romney and march to
Winchester. We then turned back, and al
Phillips Crossroads were storm stayed
seven days without shelter, save such as
we could make from cedar boughs, with.
out tents. The snow was heavy and the
cold severe.
sa Feb. 10 we marched to Paw Paw. on
the railway, and camped there till March
3. On March the 7th Ohio was eseor;
for the body Of Gen. Lander who died
on the I'd. Gen. Shields then became our
commander The Paymaster visited Us
March 8. and this time We received $1a
month. On the Sth we left by rail for
Sleepy Run, and the next day went on
to Bear Greek. March IL we marched to
Martinsburg, and on the - TO within fou.
miles OF Winchester, which was then oc
cupied By troops from Banks's Division
On the 18th Shields moved through
Kernstown to Cedar Greek, where Ashby
had burned the bridge On the 10Th we
crossed the creek and pushed Ashby be-
yond Strasburg, to Fishers Hill, returning
on the 10Th to our old camp near Winches
ter. Ashby followed us closely, and on the
ed attacked Shields's pickets near
Kernstown. Gen. Shields went to the
Col. Kimball, of the 14th Ind, took com
mand of the division.
AsHBY MIsLED JACKSON
Banks had moved from Winchester ex.
cept four regiments, and Ashby supposed
that these four regiments were all the
Federal troops left. He so advised Jack
ture them. On Sunday, March %, guns
were heard toward Kernstown, and we
were ordered forward and were soon en-.
gagged. The JOhnnies had the fences.
Ii was pretty sharp work. but i'm time
we had Stonewall Jackson's men in
disorder. 1t was rout, and Stone
wall Jackson was well whipped
That was something that did not
occur again, and never occurred
before. He was able to stop at Newtown.
Jackson lost in that fight 80 killed, 375
wounded, 263 missing; total, 71S. The
Federal loss was killed, 11S; wounded,
$50; missing. %; total, 500. Our com.
pany lost three killed; none wounded,
none missing. There is no doubt that we
greatly outnumbered Jackson, who was
hisled by Ashby's report that we were but
four regiments.
On March "a we pursued Jackson, going
on the 18th to Strasburg. While in camp
here | was promoted to Corporal "for
good behavior at Kernstown."
April / We moved to Edinburg; 18th
to Newmarket: May o, exchanged Sibley
for shelter tents. to our great Indignation
subsequently revised to approval Of the
change
May ~, 1852, our division left New
market and marched across the Massanut
tan range, crossed the South Branch oil
the Shenandoah, and proceeded to Luray
Gatn