Year: 1862

Columbus, Ohio. l wrote to you saying that
would soon write TO you again, but owing tt
surrounding circumstances, which have beer
unavoidable, l have not had the time to write
but two or three letters. 10 any one, since wa:
home on furlough, a. we left Ohio the next day
after l got back TO camp, and we have beer
moving from place TO place ever since; staying
but day or two at one place, and there without
any accommodations whatever. As this Regi-
ment has no means OF transportation, after We
leave it the Rail Road, only that which nature
gave us. and marching in that way we can moi
take with us our baggage, and SO we have tc
leave behind to follow up by chance. One
week ago we were ordered from Newburg
which is twenty three miles this side of Cum
berland, 10 this point, twelve miles distant
which we marched on foot, and after we arrived
here we had not where to lay our weary bodies
so the boys went to work and carried rails from
wherever they could find them, and built Oh
large camp fires, and laid down upon the
snow TO while away few hours in sweet re-
pose; and in this way we had TO camp for four
days without any shelter but the starry canopy
OF high Heaven; and the fifth night Co. c, the
color company of the 9th Reg't, minus the
eolors,) was ordered out on Picket Guard, and
there had to stay for twenty -four hours. again
without any shelter; the sixth night we had our





on the afternoon of the seventh day, we received
marching orders, TO attack brigade OF Rebels,
camped twelve miles south of this point, on the
Big Cacapow River; and, at four o'clock you
could see the field officers mounted on their gall


liant steeds riding to and fro up and down the
line of five Reg'ts of Infantry, one of Cavalry.
and two Batteries of Artillery, and in thunder
ing tones giving commands of on to victory
After We had marched about four miles, we
came to where the roads forked and we all took
the left hand road, and after we had marched
five miles on this road. it was ascertained in
some way that the rebels could retreat across
the Big Cacapow toward Romney, and the or
der came back to our Reg't which was in the
rear of the advancing column. and, also. 10 the
18th Indiana. which was in advance of our Reg
iment TO about-face-march and 60 back and
take the right hand road 10 cut off their retreat,
and follow that road until we would strike the
Winchester pike, at Big Cacapow, and there
wait for the signal of our advance which would
take place at daylight, by the attack on the
other side of the river. We reached our destin-
alton at three o'clock in the morning, and were
ordered to halt and lay down and rest the best
way we could, but that We should not build on
any fires as it was too close to the enemy's
camp. You may imagine that there was not
much sleep that night, as the boys feet were all
wet by crossing the swollen streams that run
across the road; and. besides it was too oold to
sleep without any camp fires. We laid there
till eight o'clock in the morning and there was
nosignal of attack, therefore, we were ordered on
and went about onc-halr of mile and came to
the river. then you could have seen men run
ming in every direction to see where it was the
most shallow TO cross at; some offering dollar
to be taken over without getting wet. One
Lieut.. laid down in a fence-corner and began
to cry, saying. tLat he did not want to get wet
some took of their boots and stockings and
rolled up their pants and drawers to keep them
from getting wet, but it was useless; when it
came our company's turn, our Captain took the
lead and went "ploughting" through. with
boots on. and pants down, and the whole COM
pany followed likewise. After we had crossed
the river about onc-haf of mile, we were met
with message informing us that the rebels had
been routed, and thirty three killed, fifty-six
taken prisoners. seventy wounded. and the bal
ance escaped. Among the prisoners taken was
Col. BALDWIN, general, three captains, five
lieutenants and the balance were non commits
stoned officers and priv;,tcs. We were ordered
10 halt and build on fires. to dry ourselves by;
we did SO, and made preparations for staying
there all night; but after we had got our beds
nicely fixed, and ourselves dry, we got orders
to march back to camp that night yet; then you
might have heard some tall swearing from
good many of the boys, that they had to cross
the riveragain, which was about three feet deep.
l pitied one small boy very much. as he
thought he would go where it was not so deep
and cross, and he thought that he would cross
over rifle, but after he had got about hair
way through the current was so swift that he
could not balance himself. fell down and
lost his gun. and could not find it again, and
got wet from the top of his head to the bottom
Of his feet. One old man in our company,
(HENRY ENK.) also fell down in the river,
but did not lose his gun. ] came very near
being court-mariialed, for disobeying orders
Oh that march. Before we left camp, the
Colonel told US, that who ever broke ranks
and was foand away from his company
would be arrested and court -martialed. and if It
WAS a non n-commissioned officer, would be SET
back into the ranks and receive only privates
pay; while going 10 attack. stayed in ranks
all the way, but on our return l left the ranks
and ran on ahead of our Rcg't, and also the 18th
Ind, and got back into camp two hours before
the Regt did. Some one told the Col. that
had gone ahead, and he went back and gave
our Capt. regular going over for not keeping
his men in ranks. l should not have left the
company If it had not been coming back to
camp. As far rs the men were concerned they
were very well satisfied that l had came on
ahead, for l told those that had been left in
camp TO make coffee and get supper, that the
Reg't was coming back and would be here in
about one hour. Before left the Rcg't told
Lit. Col. VoRHs that was going on ahead as it
was very tiresome for me to walk the way they
were doing. they would stop at every little
stream SO long 10 get over and then run TO
catch up, and then go slow and then stop, and
then march again, and, in SO doing. it was hard
f,gt IL
not say anything to the contrary (as he is gen.
ileman in all respecis) and therefore ] took it
for granted that 1 could go; but for all he was
not in command, but it would be a Gods bless
ing for the Reg't if he WIS.


In my last letter to you, puffed our Colonel
very much, but at that time l did not know
much about him; but now / shall countermand
all that | have said heretofore, and give him a
puff TO, but in different manner than 1 did
before. Our Regt to-day is in the poorest con-
dition of any Reg't that is in the tented field,
all owing to the management of affairs, which
the Col. Commanding is SO shamefully igno-
rant of military tactics that he does not know
how to command corporal's guard, let alone a
Reg't Of nine hundred as good men as ever left
their pleasant fresides, home and all that was
near and dear to them, to do battle for their
country. Although to-day there are not more
than five hundred fit for duty on account of dis
ability from sickness; yet they are willing and
able to do as heavy fighting as any other Reg't
in the field, if they had leader that they could
place implicit confidence in. If 1t. Col. VoR-
HIS was Col. of the Reg t, then it would be what
every man in the regiment desires; (only Col.
BURsTiNBNDER, which translated into English is
Brush maker or Brush binder;) and then there
would be new hopes, new life, and Joy beyond
anticipation, among all hands in the Rcg't from
officers down to every man that now forms this
Reg't. We have the material to make q Reg't