Coshocton County, Ohio - War of the Rebellion - Continued (2 of 2 so headed), 1881

THE One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio was recruited in the counties of Muskingum, Morgan, Coshocton and Guernsey. The Coshocton complement consisted of two companies, viz :

D and G, and were recruited mainly under the supervision of Captains Benjamin F. Sells of Company D, and O. C. Farquhar of Company G. The muster rolls of these companies at enlistment were as follows :

1862, at Zanesville; Companj- C, October 3; G, October 5 ; F, October 6 ; and Companies I and K, and the field and staff officers, October 8. On the 23d of October, the regiment left Camp Zanesville, with an aggregate of 927 men ; embarked at Zanesville, on the steamers Powell and Patton, descended the Muskingum, and encamped at Parkersburg, Virginia. It moved by railroad to Clarksburg, and became a part of the second brigade of Milroy's division; the brigade being composed of the One Hundred and Tenth, One Hundred and Sixteenth, One Hundred and Twenty-second, and One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio regiments, Carlin's Virginia battery, and one or two Virginia companies of cavalry, and being commanded by Colonel Washburne, of the One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio. On the 15th of November, the regiment moved by railroad to New Creek, and on the 5th of December was temporarily assigned to the first brigade of Milroy's division, Brigadier- General Cluseret, commanding.

The brigade was ordered on an expedition up the valley of the South Branch of the Potomac, and, in a blinding snow storm, the regiment began its first march. The column advanced by way of Petersburg, in Hardy county, and Wardensville, and struck 'the valley pike at Strasburg. The train accompanying the expedition was guarded by a detachment from the One Hundred and Twenty-second, and was attacked by McNeil's guerillas at Wardensville, but they were repulsed with some loss. The regiment was ordered to Wardensville to keep open communications, but lest it might be overpowered by the combined forces of Jones, Imboden and McNeil, it was ordered to Moorefield, and moved from there, with Milroy's command, toward Eomney. McNeil attacked the train just north of the ford of the South Branch, and captured the teams and teamsters of eleven wagons and four men of Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-second, who were guarding that portion of the train. Passing through Romney, the regiment entered Winchester on the 1st of January, 1863, and, with the One Hundred and Tenth Qhio, constituted the garrison of thg place.

Ohio regiments which had composed the second brigade of the old division, were organized into the first brigade of the new division, in connection with Carlin's battery and some cavalry, under the command of Brigadier General Elliott. The regiment was on scouts and expeditions, either as a whole or in detachments, to Newton, Front Royal, Summit Point, White Post, Cedar Creek, Millwood, and the Blue Ridge. During General Hooker's Chancellorsville campaign the One Hundred and Twenty-second, with other ' regiments, was sent up the Shenandoah valley to capture the town of Staunton. The expedition moved on the 4th of May, and advanced to New Market, when it was ordered back to Winchester by General Schenck.

On June 13, Companies A and F, of the One Hundred and Twenty-second, met the advance of J. E. B. Stewart's raid on the Strasburg road, and after a brisk skirmish retired to Winchester. The next day the entire regiment was engaged, and at night, it, with other troops, forced a way through the rebel lines and marched to Harper's Ferry. The regiment lost several officers and men captured, some of whom were not exchanged until April, 1865.

The regiment spent one night on Bolivar Heights, and then crossed the Potomac and became a part of the garrison of Maryland Heights. , Upon the evacuation of Maryland Heights, it accompanied the heavy gun's and public stores to Georgetown, District of Columbia; moved through Washington City, and thence by rail to Freds'- rick, where it was assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Division, Third Army Corps. The brigade at once marched against Lee, crossed the Potomac at Harper's Ferry, passed Loudon Heights by the road around their northern base; marched southward along the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge, passed through Manassas Gap, and on the afternoon of July 23, marched in line of battle, as Ewell fell back from Wapping Heights. The next day it returnetl, passing through the Gap and through Warrenton, encamped about the 1st of August near the Kappar hannock.

quarters. In Septembei; it rejoined the brigade, in camp on the Eappahannook, and marched to Culpepper Court House. During the fight at Winchester, about 100 officers and men of the One Hundred and Twenty-second became separated from the regiment, and moved with the One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio to Cumberland, imd thence to Bloody Run. They were attached to the command of Major-General Couch, and following his movements through the Cumberland valley, formed a part of the garrison at Martinsburg. This detachment joined the regiment .at Culpepper, in the latter part of September. The One Hundred and Twenty-second moved from Culpepper to Centerville in October, and held its election for Governor and State officers while in line of battle, on the afternoon that Warren so roughly handled A. P. Hill, at Bristow Station. Returning toward the Rappahannock, it crossed the river November 8, and took part in the skirmish at Brandy Station. On the 26th, the regiment was again on the march, crossed the Rapidan, and fought at Locust Grove. It returned to Brandy Station, December 3, occupied -ground on the farm of J. Minor Botts, and constructed winter-quarters. In March, 1864, the the third division of the Third Corps, became the third division of the Sixth Corps.

On May 4, winter quarters were abandoned. The next day the brigade guarded the road leading up the south bank of the Rapidan until noon, when it marched to the front, in the battle of the Wilderness. The regiment maintained itself well through the fight, losing on the first day over one hundred and twenty men. During the subsequent movements to Spottsylvania, to Guinea Depot, to the North Anna, and across the Pamunkey, the regiment performed its full share of picket and skirmish-duty, being under,, fire almost every day; Arriving at Tolopotomy Creek, May 30, it was placed on the skirmishline, and on the 31st aided in capturing a rifle-pit from the enemy. The regiment moved to Coal Harbor, and was engaged in a general assault on the rebel works, taking and holding those in its front. On the 3d of June it again advanced, and occupied a new position. The regiment moved foirward by regular approaches, being continually under fire and sustaining considerable loss, until June 12, when it marched to Jones' Bridge, on the Chicahominy, and thence, via Charles City, C. H., to Wilcox Landing, on the James; ascended the river and reported to General Butler, at Bermuda Hundred.

Here a detachment of eighty conscripts and substitutes joined the regiment, and, on the 10th, it crossed the Appomattox and marched to the lines in front of Petersburg. After a few days' rest it went into position on the extreme left, and, after heavy skirmishing on the 22d and 23d, obtained possession of the Weldon railroad. It was held until a portion of it was destroyed, when the rebels, having received re-enforcements, regained it. On the 29th the regiment marched to Ream's Station, fortified, destroyed a mile or two of railroad, and returned to Petersburg July 1. On the same day between fifty and sixty conscripts and substitutes joined the regiment, and, on the 6th, it moved, with the division, on steamers via Portress Monroe and the Chesapeake to Baltimore. The One Hundred and Twenty-second was divided, and, owing to an accident, one half of it did not arrive in the Patapsco imtil July 9, when it, with the Sixth Maryland and Sixty-seventh Pennsylvania, started by rail for Frederick. On that day the other half of the regiment, with remainder of the division, fought the battle of Monocacy Junction. The troops on the cars arrived in time to cover theretreat, and the third division marched to EUicott's Mills, and moved thence by cars to Baltimore. The third division proceeded to Washington, and from there through Tenallytown across the, Potomac, below the mouth of Goose creek, and joined the corps near Leesburg.

The regiment followed Early through Snicker's Gap to near Berryville, and then returned to Tenallytown. It soon after advanced via Rockville and Monocacy Junction to Harper's Ferry. On the 30th of July the army recrossed the Potomac, and concentrated near the junction, where the regiment enjoyed a few days' rest, for the first time since the opening of the campaign. On the 7th of August the army moved to Halltown, and on the 10th marched via Clifton, Berryville and Newton, to "the front of Early's works at Fisher's Hill. After various marches and skirmishes, on the 19th of September Sheridan moved down to the crossing of the Opequan, between Berryville ^nd Winchester, drove in the rebel pickets, and by 10 o'clock a. m. the Sixth Corps was formed in order of battle, two and a half miles east of Winchester. In the battle which ensued the regiment bore an important part, and in entering the town it came upon the old camp ground which it occupied in 1863 under Milroy. Before daybreak the next day the troops were again on the march, and soon after midday came up with Early at Fisher's Hill. On the 22d five companies of the regiment, with other troops on the skirmish line, -drove the rebel skirmishers into their main works, and occupied the hills close to Early's intrenchments.

As soon as Crook was known to have gained the enemy's flank, the second brigade pushed over the breastworks, captured three guns, and assisted in driving the rebels from their position. The regiment pursued Early as far as Mount Crawford, and returning to Strasburg, rested a short time, and then moved via Front Eoyal toward Alexandria. When the head of the column was - approaching the Shenandoah, opposite Ashley's Oap, it was overtaken by an order to return to Cedar creek, as Early was coming down again ; and on the 14th of October the Sixth Corps was in position along the hills bordering Cedar creek. On the 19th the regiment was actively engaged, and assisted in driving Early across Cedar creek.

Sheridan's army went into cantonments south of Kernstown, November 10, and on the 3d of December the Sixth Corps moved by cars to Washington, and thence by boat to City Point. A few days later the One Hundred and Twenty-second was in the lines before Petersburg, holding the " curtain " between Forts Keen and Wadsworth, just west of the Weldon railroad.

In January, 1865, it moved with the corps to the left, when Grant extended his lines beyond Hatcher's Run, and was placed in position near Fort Fisher. On the 25th of March, with the brigade, it captured and held the rebel pickettrenches.

At four o'clock a. m., April 2, the Sixth Corps advanced against the enemy and drove them from their fortifications. Marching in pursuit, the corps struck Lee's flyitfg army, with the One Hundred and Twenty-second on the skirmish line, ajid broke the rebel columns. It was present at Lee's, surrender, and afterward marched to Danville, Virginia. It returned to Washington City in June, and was reviewed by the President and members of the Cabinet.

The following letters from different members of the One Hundred and Twenty-second, who^ were enlisted in Coshocton county, give, besidespersonal reminiscences, more directly the part taken in the various battles of the regiment by the Coshocton companies.

In regard to the Winchester battle, having been for four months previous thereto detailed from my regiment as judge advocate of our general court martial in the Second Division of the Eighth Army Corps, I was ordered to report for field duty on General Milroy's staff, in which position I acted during the engagement, on Saturday at 10 o'clock A. m. The One Hundred and Twenty-second was not engaged outside the forts until MondS,y, and up to that time had lost but few men and had only twelve wounded ; but on Monday its loss was heavy, as the regiment was ordered to assault a rebel battery in the woods, having a severe fight and making a gallant charge. The sensation produced on one after being under fire for awhile is very different from what I expected. I felt, after the first hour or so, all right. Monday morning I was sent to some place on the field with an order, and getting cut off from the main body, had a hard ride to keep from going to Richmond. The force attacking us was Jackson's old corps, under Bwell, about 30,000 strong; our force was about 8,000 effective men. At 2 o'clock on Monday, we spiked all our guns, leaving wagons, baggage, etc, I lost everything I had except what I had on.

Captain Barger is still a resident of Coshocton county and a prominent member of the bar. At the time when the above letter was written Captain Barger was First Lieutenant of Company G, One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio. He was promated to the captaincy, and commissioned, March 26, 1864, and resigned from the service October, lB64.

The One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio was near the front during the advance of the Army of the Potomac. Colonel Ball telegraphed -from Brandy Station that all the officers were safe, but that the regiment had lost six killed and thirty-two wounded, of whom twenty-two are seriously hurt. The killed are : Edward Green, JohnMorling and William A. PhilUps, of Company C; Solomon Thompson, Company E; William K. Tudor, Company I; John Hawkins, Company G.

And in the Age, of date January 23, 1864, the following from Captain B. F. Sells, of Company D : Camp Near Bealton Station, Vieginia, Dec. 25, 1863.

I have just received official information of the death of another member of my company. Private Robert Marshman died at Second Division Hospital, at Alexandria, December 21, from a gunshot wound received in the fight at Mine Eun, the 27th day of November, 1863. Private Marshman was a prompt and efficient soldier, always ready and willing for duty - ^he had no superior and few equals. B. P. Sells.

The One Hundred and Twenty-Second O. V. I. - This gallant regiment has suffered severely in the Virginia battles. From a long list of casualties we copy the following of Coshocton companies :

Company G - Killed, Corporal E. Polan. Wounded, First Sergeant William Gorsline, Sergeant C. C. Meyer, E. H. Axline, D. B. Myser, E. Eiggler, William Ward, J. W. Einehart, Lewis Smith, W. King, Es. Polen and H. Moore. We have noticed Captain Work's death in a previous issue.

Quite a number of the citizens of Coshocton county enlisted in the Seventy-eighth Ohio, who were not credited to Coshocton. While not enumerating any, except' such as have contributed personal reminiscences, it would not be just to omit a consideration of the regimental history of the Seventy-eighth. It was raised under special authority from Governor Dennison, issued to M. D. Leggett, Esq., of Zanesville, Muskingum county, Ohio. M. D. Leggett, afterward appointed brigadier general, was well and favorably known in Coshocton county, and his popularity accounted for the enrollment of a large number of those citizens whose homes were in the adjacent townships of Coshocton county, making Zanesville as near a point of rendezvous as Coshocton,

The first man of the regiment was enlisted on the 30th day of October, 1861. The organization was completed on the 11th day of January, 1862f and the regiment left by cars for Cincinnati on the 11th day of February, where steamers were found, on which it embarked for Fort Donelson, on the Tennessee river. This point was reached on the 16th of February and the regiment went into position on the battle-field, but too late to take part in the action. Immediately aftei: this battle the regiment saw its first field duty, that of taking care of the rebel prisoners and stores.

On the 1st of March the regiment marched across the country to Metal Landing on the Tennessee river, where it went into camp awaiting transportation. About the 10th of March it moved with the national forces to Crump's Landing, and thence to Adamsville, on the road to Pardy, to guard an exposed flank of the army at Pittsburgh Landing. Nothing of interest transpired .here except a few slight skirmishes with the enemy.

Early on the morning of the 6th of April picket firing was heard by the troops stationed at Adamsville. The whole command was immediately drawn up in line awaiting orders. Eeceiving orders at twelve o'clock m., -the Seventyeighth, with its brigade, marched to the battlefield, a distance of fourteen miles, and reached Pittsburg Landing at eight o'clock in the evening, in company with General Lew Wallace's division. The fight being over for the day the regiment went into camp for the night on the extreme right of the national army. At daylight on the morning of the 7th the regiment went into battle on the right and was under fire throughout the day, with, however, but slight loss, only one man was killed and nine wounded. Eetaining its position on the right, the Seventy-eighth shared the movement on Corinth. In guarding the right flank of the army the regiment was frequently engaged in reconnoissances and skirmishes with the enemy.

where it was detached and sent with the Thirtieth Elinois, under command of Colonel Leggett, to Jackson, Tennessee. The town was found in possession of a small rebel force, which was driven ofi, and the place occupied. At this place the regiment had the honor to raise a national flag on the pole where the first rebel flag was raised in Tennessee.

At Jackson, the Seventy-eighth was transferred from Lew Wallace's division to General Logan's division. From Jackson, the Seventy-eighth, with the Thirtieth Illinois, were again sent, under Colonel Leggett, to Grand Junction. It reinained at this point one month, and then returned to Bolivar. While there the regiment made several important and arduous reconnolssances, in which a number of skirmishes were had with the enemy. On the 30th of August, the Seventy-eighth and Twentieth Ohio, one company of the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, and a section ofthe Ninth Indiana Artillery, had a brisk engagement at Spring Creek, sixteen miles from Bolivar. While the engagement was in progress, four companies of the Second Illinois Cavalry, under Colonel Hogg, reported and took part in the fight. Colonel Hogg was killed. On the day before the fight, a force of mounted infantry was improvised from the Seventy-eighth and Twentieth Ohio, by selecting three tried men from each company. This force under command of Lieutenants G. D. Munson, of the Seventy-eighth, and Ayers, of the Twentieth Ohio, was sent on a reconnoissance the night previous, and discovered the enemy in force. After capturing the rebel outposts it fell back to its main body. On the the next day this " mule cavalry " performed excellent service, and to them was attributed largely the successful result of the fight. In this afTair the loss of the regiment was slight.

When the rebel army, under Price and Van Dorn, moved on luka, the Seventy-eighth marched, with Logan's division, to that point, but did not participate in the battle. Returning to Bolivar it joined Grant's forces in the movement toward Grenada, Mississippi, and was near Grenada in advance of the whole army, when, in consequence of the destruction by the enemy of Holly Springs, it fell back with the national army on that place. Immediately thereafter it accompanied Grant's forces to Memphis, Tennessee,, and thence by steamer to Lake Providence, where it was employed in cutting the bank of the Mississippi, and opening Bayou Jackson for the purpose of overflowing the country below. While lying at this point the regiment, with its brigade, went to Eagle Point and up Mud Bayou to aid in saving some gunboats surrounded by the enemy. Milliken's Bend was the next point to which the Seventy-eighth was sent, where it joined the national army, under General Grants then concentrating for the march on Vicksburg. On the occasion of running the blockade of Vicksburg with transports, twelve members of the Seventy-eighth Ohio Were selected as part of the crew of one of the boats of this detail. Sergeant James McLaughlin and private Huffman occupied themselves during the trip in playing cards by the light of the enemies guns. Crossing the Mississippi river at Bruinsburg, the regiment marched with the army to the rear of Vicksburg. On this march it participated in the battle of Raymond, on the 12th of May, 1863, and lost in killed and wounded about eighty men.

On the 16th of May it was engaged in the battle of Champion Hills, where it lost 116 men killed and wounded. During these battles General Leggett was commanding the brigade having received his commission as Brigadier General on the 29th of November, 1862. On the 17th, 18th, and 19th of May, the investment of Vicksburg was completed. On the 22d of May, the Seventy-eighth participated in the general charge of that day on the enemy's works, with slight loss. About the 25th of May the regiment was joined to a force sent up the Yazoo river, under General Frank P. Blair, to look after a rebel force reported to be moving to the relief of Vicksburg, under General Joseph E. Johnston. Johnston having changed his line of march to a point further south - toward Jackson - the command returned to Vicksburg, and the Seventyeighth Ohio resumed its position before the, city. At this point General Leggett was transferred to the command of the first brigade of General Logan's division. On the 22d of June the Seventy-eighth was again sent with a force to prevent the rebels under Johnston from crossing the Black river at Bovina. The regiment remained at Bovina until after the surrender of Vicksburg. On the 4th of July the Seventy-eighth joined Sherman in his march on Jackson, Mississippi. It was left at Clinton, whereT on the 7th of July, it was attacked by rebel cavalry, which attack it handsomely repulsed. On the return of the national forces to Vicksburg, the regiment accompanied them and remained there vmtil the latter part of August. It then marched with McPherson's expedition, to destroy the rebel mills, near Canton. Coming back to Vicksburg, it went with General Logan's division to Monroeyille, Louisiana, on the Washita river, to look after a force of rebels reported to be in that vicinity.

On the 5th of January, 1864, the Seventy-eighth re-enlisted for the war. Immediately thereafter the regiment marched with General Sherman on the Meridian expedition, and on its return was sent home on veteran furlough. The regiment returned on the 1st of May, and rendezvoused at Cairo, lUionis. The division was re-organized at this point, and moved by steamers up the Tennessee river to Clifton. From Clifton it marched over the Blue Mountain Ridge and joined General Sherman's army at Acworth, Georgia. It was immediately placed in position on the left, and commenced its part of the campaign at Atlanta. ,

On the 17th of June, the regiment took part in the attack on and capture of Bushy Mountain. About the time the order was given to move on the mountain a heavy rain storm commenced. General M. D. Leggett, commanding the third division of Logan's corps, dashed up the slope and captured" the rebel works, turning its guns on the rebels as they fled. By reason of the driving rain, the other division* that were to co-operate in the affair, did not perceive General Leggett's movement, and supposed the rebels still held the mountain and were firing on the national cavalry, directed their batteries on Leggett's division, and shelled the mountain until a staft officer was sent to undeceive them.

On the 27th of June the regiment participated in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain. The regiment, with the Army of the Tennessee, then swung around the mountain to the extreme right of Sherman's line, extending to the Chattahoochie, at the mouth of the Nicojack creek, thus flanking the rebel forces Vnd causing them to evacuate the mountain. From the 5th to the 6th of July the regiment was engaged in an almost continuous skirmishing and artillery duel. During this time,' at intervals, it was almost impossible to prevent the privates of the two armies from affiliating. On one occasion a large boat was procured and placed in the middle of the Chattahoochie river, in each end of which a hostage was seated, and a squad of either party placed on the banks to shoot the hostage' if treachery was practiced. Brisk trade and card playing then commenced and continued until discovered and stopped by some of the officers.

On the night of the 15th of July the rebels evacuated the nortlt side of the' Chattahoochie river, and, on the 16th, the regiment, Avith its brigade and division marched to Rosswell Factories and crossed the Chattahoochie at that place. While the Seventy-eighth was on its march to this point, an affecting incident occurred. Major James Reeves, the surgeon of the regiment, while walking, through a clump of bushes, was accosted by a citizen of the country with a request for a national surgeon to administer medical aid to his sick daughter. The doctor at first demurred, but on reflection concluded to go with the man, who took him down in a valley and into a cave. In this secluded spot were congregated about 200 Union refugees,' hiding from the persecution of the rebel authorities.

From Rossville the regiment moved directly on Atlanta. On the 21st of July, the regiment participated in the attack on and capture of Bald Knob, a position commanding the city of Atlanta. The rebels occupied it in force, behind strong works. In carrying it the divjsion suffered severely. This position being carried, shells were at once thrown into Atlanta by the national artillery. This position was considered so important by the rebel commander that in his anxiety to retake it he, on the next day, threw his wBole army on the left flank of the national lines and a terrible battle was the result, costing the life of the brave McPherson. The Seventy-eighth Ohio suffered severely. It lost 203 officers and men killed and wounded. At a critical moment the Seventyeighth and Sixty-eighth Ohio held a line near Bald Knob, on which the rebels made a deter- mined attack. A hand-to-hand fight occurred in which desperate valor was displayed on both sides. Of thirteen flag and color bearers of the Seventj'-eighth Ohio, all were either killed or wounded. On one occasion a rebel was about to capture the flag, when Captain John Orr, o± Company H, seized a short sword from the ground and almost decapitated him. For this the Captain received a gold medal from the board of honor of the Army of the Tennessee.

The Seventy-eighth participated in the subsequent movements of the Army of the Tennessee till the fall of Atlanta. It then went into camp near Atlanta, and remained there until about the middle of October, when it was sent up the Atlanta railroad to the vicii^Hy of Chattanooga, to guard that line of supply. When Hood left the railroad and marched toward Decatur, the Seventy-eighth returned to Atlanta, by the way of Lost Mountain, reaching that place on the 13th of November. On the 15th, it started with General Sherman's forces on the March to the Sea.

After the taking of Savannah, and the march through the Carolinas, up to the surrender of Johnston's army, the regiment accompanied the national forces through Richmond, Virginia, to Washington City, and there participated in the grand review.

From Washington it was sent by rail and river to Louisville, Kentucky. On the day of July it started for Columbus, Ohio, and on the 11th was paid off and mustered out o! service.

The Seventy-eighth passed through a series of battles and skirmishes that involved an immense amount of fatiguing duty and severe exposure. One of the saddest results that followed this taxing service, finds an illustration in the person of Hamilton Caton, from one of the best families in Coshocton county, and who is still living under the care of relatives in the county, incurably insane. WiMiam Caton was a faithful soldier, a private in the ranks of the Seventy-eighth; he did not shrink from any task, and met any amount of exposure with a truly Spartan fortitude; the result of this physical drain, combined with the impressions produced by the horrors of war, was to becloud the mind of this patriot- and soldier with the dark shadows of the insane, and though long years have elapsed since the war, and he has been through them all, the recipient of a grateful country's bounty, he still tramps over swamp and through thicket, and digs trench, and stands picket, ever hearing,' day and night, the shrieks of shells and the dying.

Coshocton still retains as a citizen, another prominent member of the Seventy-eighth, in the person of A. W. Search, who, entering the service as a private, at the organization of the regiment, was promoted to the first lieutenancy July 1, 1863, and to the captaincy January 11, 1865. While holding the position of lieutenant. Captain Search was assigned to fluty as adjutant of the regiment, and -^as also appointed judge advocate for the Third Division, Seventeenth Army Corps. Captain Search has for quite a number of years edited the Coshocton Age, and has been a prominent citizen in his influence in' the county. Within the first three months the year 1881, he has retired from the more public life of a newspaper man, to that of mercantile pursuits. ^

The Seventy-eighth had a few of tliat class in her private ranks, who were mighty men and brave - in words - and who continually boasted - in camp - of the prowess tbey would manifest upon the field. A shrewd colonel, having overheard their warlike speech while the division was on the march from Crump's Landing to Purdy, concluded it was bad to keep them waiting, and detailed a small scouting squad, taking in every man " of words " from the various i companies, at midnight, to go ahead on a corduroy road and be vigilant and brave, and ndtify the main body if the enenxy was found. A staff officer was sent after them to sound the recall in a short time, who in leading his horse over the corduroy road and trailing his sword thereon so frightened the scouting squad of braves that they fled incontinently, minus guns, hats, and sometimes coats. In going to La Grange, Tennessee, the regiment made a forced march which told so heavily on the boys that only a few men out of each company showed up when the regiment first arrived, the balance coming on behind exhausted and spent. At La Grange there was a seminary .located, the president of which, like Horace Greeley, prided himself upon "what he knew about farming " and gave good evidence of it, in a large field one side of his residence which was crowded with finely growing sweet potatoes; the boj's of the Seventy-eighth immediately took possession and commenced digging them out with their bayonets.

The professor came out and ordered them off, and, not a man giving the slightest heed, he then pompously asked: "Is this the manner in which you come to defend a down-trodden country ? " and was answered by a shock-headed Coshocton county farmer in this wise : " Not much, boss ; this is the way we dig taters." The professor surrendered and retired. On the Water Valley campaign an interesting incident occurred, showing the advantage of being the possessor of ingenuity. General Logan's division came to the banks of a stream too deep to ford, the bridge over which had been burnt by the rebels. General Logan rode to the front with his engineer, and inquired how long it would take to put a bridge over. The engineer said, " Three days." Captain Wiles, of Company C, Seventy-eighth, spoke up and told General Logan if he would furnish three reliefs, of a hundred men each, he would have it ready the next morning. The men were furnished, the bridge was built, and the division was over according to agreement, although the engineer swore it could not be dorie. It was managed by tearing down a cotton gin on the banks, and by cutting and floating limbs of trees into place.

At Atlanta, during the severest part of the fight, while the Seventy-eighth was behind some earthworks, two brothers belonging to one of the companies of the Seventy-eighth, of the name Cocoohnower, were so intense in their fighting hatred that they jumped upon the top of the works and loaded and fired until they were both killed.

Company C, under command of Captain Wiles, was the pioneer company of the corps, and had charge of the piining and sapping, in orde'r to accomplish which they were compelled to load up a long wagon with bales of cotton, and push it on ahead to cover them from the fire of sharpshooters. Many efibrts were made by the rebels to burn it, and they finally shelled it and set it on fire.

While pushing the mining and sapping the men who were so detailed were continually attacked; among other methods that of the hand grenade being employed, and, in numerous instances, our boys would coolly pick them up, burning fuse aad all, and throw them back into the rebel works, not without some fatal results however. -

Captain Search was then a staff ofiBcer, and was coming back on the road with orders to close up the sections of artillery on the road. As he was riding back he met a slouchy appearing man coming toward him, who, in the dusk of the evening, he supposed was one of the gunners or teamsters, when directly opposite Captain Search he seized the lines, thrust a pistol in his face, and, taking him off the road about three hundred yards, placed him in charge of 'a company of about one hundred.

Considerable badgering was indulged in about appropriating the captain's property, but, finally, vyhen they were ready to depart, he was allowed to mount his own horse, which, being a good one, as they struck the road in crossing he put spurs to and dashed off, succeeding in getting away from his captors, it being too risky for them to pursue him on the open highway. /