Greenville Township (part 9 of 11)

"Well, Sergeant," said the General, "you'll do. When you rejoin the regiment, give my compliments to your brave comrades and the Captain, and Bay to him that I hope he may never be promoted."

The men were then taken back and remained as prisoners only about three weeks, when they were exchanged. Their prison life was made far more agreeable to them than the}' expected.

In 1878, a Major of the Confederate arm}' stopped for a few days at Greenville, Ohio, and called on Capt. Matchett, and said that he had belonged to the come west to look after Bragg's army, and went to Spring Hill Run about the 8th of April, 1863. and found Gen. Van Dorn a very genial and social fellow, who induced the Inspector General to go with him that day (April 10) and see how nicely he would take in the Yankees at Franklin.

The Major said that all the officers agreed that they had never seen " such a fighting regiment " as the Fortieth was ; and that he was free to say, that he never met with such coolness and determined bravery since. He detailed the conversation between Gen. Van Dorn and the captured Sergeant, substantially as given above, which, in the mind of the writer, confirmed the statements made by Sergeant Orin and his captured comrades, on their return from captivity.

About the 1st of May, 1863, the regiment exchanged their Prussian rifles for Springfield and Enfield rifles, which they carried until the war closed.

During the summer of 1863, the regiment were at Triune, Shelbyville. Wartrace and Tullahoma, Tenn., and participated in many skirmishes before the enemy were persuaded to give up Tullahoma and return beyond the mountains to Georgia.

On September 19. 1863. the reserve army corps of Gen. Gordon Granger (of which the Fortieth constituted a part), was stationed on the Ringgold road, to the left of the army of the Cumberland. They were attacked by a large force about the middle of the day. The Fortieth with some other regiments had been thrown forward to support the picket line. The}' held their position until the other regiments had retired on the main force, when they also fell back. The fight then kept up until night. In the morning there was no cnemj' immediately in front ot the reserve corps, and they were on the look-out with nothing to do, until the afternoon about 3 o'clock. Meantime. (Jon. Granger and many of his leading officers had been drinking "commissary" to the success of all the officers and divisions of the Army of the Cumberland generally, and to the success of Gen. Gordon Granger particularly. What the result of all this might have been may be better imagined than written, had it not been for Capt. William C. Russel, Assistant Adjutant General on Gen. Granger's staff, and the hero of Chickamauga. This gallant officer, from the clouds of dust and the noise of battle from the field of Chickamauga. became satisfied that the enemy were gaining advantage over Rosecrans' forces, and that the presence of the reserve corps was required on thai field. He urged his chief to give the order at once to move the corps to the field of battle, but his "chief" was as hilarious and jovial as Belshazzar was at the l'east of Babylon, just before the invisible handwriting flashed upon the walls of the banquet hall, and proposed only to obey orders, defend his front and - enjoy himself.

From 12 o'clock, Capt. Russel had been noticed, on that memorable day. in a of silent excitement, listening and looking at the signs from the battle-field. Sometimes on horseback, sometimes on foot, one minute on an elevation or in the ; >p of a tree, anxiously looking with his glass in the direction of the battle, and the next minute in the valley, with his face to the ground, trying to detect with the sense of hearing the progress of the conflict. He was confirmed in the belief that our troops were being beaten. His chief, alwa}Ts egotistical, never successful, was now useless. At 2:30 o'clock, Capt. Russel went hurriedly into the presence of his chief to again urge him to order the corps removed to the assistance of the Army of the Cumberland, but the military knowledge of the man, whatever it may have been, had given place to the joys produced by the " commissary " of the department. Capt. Russel, on leaving the presence of his chief, was heard to say : " Well, I'll do it any how ; I will take the responsibility, even though they cashier me for it.-' In a moment, two orders were written, signed. " By order of Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, W. C. Russel, Acting Adjutant General." one of which was delivered to Gen. Steadman and the other to Gen. Brannan. respectively commanding divisions in the reserve corps.

These divisions were immediately put in motion, with Steadman in the lead, on - double-quick," for the battle-field, a distance of four miles.

They passed immediately in front of the position occupied by rebel Gen. Forrest with his cavalry, then by the right wing of rebel Gen. Longstreet's force : then left and center of Gen. Thomas' command, and halted and fought on the extreme right of Gen. Thomas as they found it at 4 o'clock P. 31.. of that da}-.

For a clear understanding of that field at that time, lay a horseshoe in front of you, with the heels of the shoe next to you, and add one-fifth of the length of the shoe in projection of the right heel. The horseshoe, thus extended, is a semicircular ridge, and on the apex the last battle-line of Chickamauga ; inside the horseshoe. Gen. Thomas, his four divisions in line of battle along the inside slope of the ridge. On the outside of the horseshoe thus made is the rebel army. Longstreet extending from center to our left, and Bishop Gen. Polk from center to our right. Etossville is seven miles to the rear of Gen. Thomas. The position of the Fortieth in the morning was four miles to the left of the left heel of the horseshoe : now it is on the extreme right heel of the horseshoe. Two and three miles in front of our (the Fortieth's) present position arc Gordon's Mills and Crawfish Springs.

There was the position of McCook and Crittenden's Corps this morning : now they are beaten and scattered from the held, and the rebel regiments, flushed with an easy victory over them, are now charging and recharging our right to overturn the last obstacle - the "Rock of Chickamauga."

Here Thomas and every man under him distinguished themselves. Here Capt. Russel, ifu hero of Chickamauga^ died in a noble discharge of his duty, and, though his name and exploits of that day are uninentioned in history, yet they live bright in the memory of his surviving comrades. Here Lieuts. Van Mater, of Company Gr, and B. F. Snodgrass, of Company A. both Darke County boys, were killed and left on the field of battle. Here Lieuts. Allen Smith and Topping were wounded, also Darke County boys ; and here were left two officers and twenty-nine men, killed. The regiment also suffered the loss of five officers and one hundred and ten men wounded, and two officers and forty -three men captured.

Our captured men were taken at near Rossville on the following Tuesday morning (Chickamauga was fought Saturday and Sunday). Company H had been placed on picket-line, and were not ordered to withdraw, through some neglect at brigade headquarters, and, earl}" on Tuesday morning, the enemy surrounded them and took them prisoners. Among those prisoners was Second Lieut. John M. Wasson, promoted from Compan}' G. This officer did good service at Chickamauga. He was kept in prison and at Andersonville, and suffered all the horrors of prison-life until the close of the year 1864, when he was exchanged. He twice escaped from prison, but both times was recaptured - once by the blood-hounds, and another time by a wild tribe of Indians in the western part of North Carolina, about two days' march from Knoxville, Tenn.

On the night of the 20th, our army fell back behind Missionary Ridge, at near Rossville, and on the night of the 21st. they fell back to Chattanooga, the objective point of the campaign, and the " Iron Brigade."' as it was afterward known, was for a few week stationed at Mockeson Point. In a few weeks thereafter, they wei'e sent to Shell Mound, Tenn., the Fortieth being stationed at Nickajack Cave, Ga., about two miles south of Shell Mound.

On the 23d day of November, 1863, at break of day, the regiment (except a small detail to guard the quarters and property of the regiment at Nickojack), started with the brigade for Chattanooga, for the purpose of rejoining the division. They traveled until 9 o'clock P. M. of that day, and were then four miles from the division. The brigade received orders to report to Maj. Gen. Geary, whose division as camped near where the Fortieth were at that time. The}" accordingly turned aside and encamped within the lines of Gen. Geary's Division. The next morning the whole command of Geary was put in " battle array," and through the mist and fog of a damp morning, was hurled against the rugged sides and rocky heights of Lookout Mountain.

In attacking Lookout Mountain, Gen. Geary was directed to silently pass up Lookout Creek for a distance of four miles above the point opposite Chattanooga, thence to cross the creek, and push the head of the column up the side of the mountain until it halted against the perpendicular rock that caps the summit of the mountain, and then move in line of battle by the left flank, along the side of the mountain toward Chattanooga. Two and sometimes three regiments were all that could stand in line of battle between the summit of the mountain and Lookout Creek. As fast as the line of battle was formed it would be thrown forward toward the enemy.

The Fortieth Ohio and Ninety-sixth Illinois constituted the third line of battle at the commencement of this fight, and continued so until about threefourths of the side of the mountain had been captured. Gen. Geary's whole division (except Whittaker's brigade) belonged to Hooker's army, and had never 1 tefore met the enemy in battle in the West. "Whittaker's brigade were all Western men, and had learned battle at Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, Perryville, Stone River and Chickamauga.

The " Iron Brigade " of Whittaker demanded its officers to lead them to the enemy. This demand became so urgent that the officers, regimental and line, were compelled to place themselves in front of their companies to keep the Fortieth and Ninety-sixth from running over Geary's men in front of them. The men

I km more and more frantic when Capt. Matchett, in front of the left of the Fortieth, spoke to Col. Taylor in a loud voice. -Colonel ! the Fortieth is spoiling for a fight ; can't you let them have it ?" Col. Taylor spoke to Col. Champion, of the Ninety-sixth Illinois, and said, "Colonel, I can't keep my regiment back any longer: will the Ninety -sixth go with us ?" The men of the Ninety-sixth made answer. "Go in. Granny*^ we'll lie with you.'' Then the Eastern troops were taken by surprise. The battle yell of the old -Iron Brigade'' drowned the rattle of musketry in front, and reverberated in echo over Lookout Valley.

The Fortieth and Ninety-sixth, followed by the other regiments of the brigade, dashed madly past the two lines of battle and skirmish line in front of them, and charged desperately upon the foe. That charge was irresistible. The bright new flag of the Fortieth, which had been sent them by the ladies of the Episcopal Church of Greenville, Ohio, but a few days before, was seen and cheered by thousands of soldiers of the Army of the Cumberland, who lay in the valley belowT as it advanced on and on, for its baptism of blood, on the rugged sides of Lookout Mountain. Gen. Grant had anxiously watched the progress of the charge through his field-glass, from Chattanooga, and was heard to say, " Magnificent ;" ;- How that flag presses on ;" u Will it never stop ?" " That flag'ds invincible.'' But soon a cloud passed over the General and the valley ; its ragged edges dragging along the sides of the mouniain, and that bright flag and its gallant defenders were - above the clouds," sorely pressing the enemy and driving them from rock to riflepit, from rifle-pit to breastwork, and from breastworks back to our rear, as prisoners of war. After the face of Lookout Mountain fronting Chattanooga had been gained, Gen. Whittaker and his staff with difficulty halted the brigade, and what had been gained was held, although the enemy, by successive charges of a fresh division, vainly strove to regain their lost stronghold.

All that evening and night, a heavy firing was kept up, by strong skirmish lines of either army. Meanwhile, Gen. Grant sent a division from the Fourteenth Corps, and the other two brigades from the reserve corps, to the position occupied by Gen. Geary, on the face of Lookout Mountain, for the purpose of making a final assault upon the enemy the next morning ; but at 4 o'clock on the morning of the 25th, the enemy ceased firing, and our skirmish lines advanced without opposition. Bragg had evacuated Lookout Mountain, and the bright flag of the Fortieth was taken to its summit. " Jocund day stood tiptoe on the misty mountain top." Ere the shades of night were dispelled from the valley of the beautiful Tennessee, and as the first rays of that morning's sun fell aslant the summit of old Lookout, they were reflected back by the bright folds of the regimental flag of the Fortieth Ohio, and that grand sight on that morning was the roll-call of Grant's whole army. Though not heard by any, and only seen by soldiers then upon the sides and top of the mountain, yet their cheers and shouts of victory, as their eyes beheld that grand sight were taken up and repeated by every division of that grand army.

While the cloud of fog was dense upon the valley, the division from the Fourteenth Arm}- Corps was withdrawn from Lookout Mountain, and secreted with the other divisions of that corps, in the trenches at the foot of Orchard Knob, where we will leave them for the present.

On the morning of the 24th of November, Bragg' s army extended from Lookout Mountain, where his extreme left rested across the valley of Chattanooga to Rossville - a town without houses in the gap at Missionary Ridge - thence, on Missionary Ridge, for a distance of about six miles, where his right rested. After his defeat at Lookout .Mountain, he withdrew his line from that point to Rossville. and strengthened his line on Missionary Ridge.

The Army of the Tennessee, under Gen. W. T. Sherman, had been pressing the enemy's right for two days. On the 25th, Sherman attacked with increased severity, and threatened a general engagement. In the afternoon, when the day was bright and clear, the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, and the Reserve Corps, under Gen. Hooker, marched in solid divisions across Lookout Valley to Rossville. During this movement, Bragg withdrew a large force from his center to re-enforce his right and left. Just before Hooker arrived at Rossville, the cannons boomed the signal, which was the order to the Fourteenth Army Corps to charge the enemy's center. This grand army corps exceeded even its orders ; the enenry's center was broken, and the battle of Missionary Ridge was gained. The enemy were followed, on the 26th and 27th, to Ringgold, Ga., where the campaign for 1863 ended and the army returned to winter quarters, the Fortieth returning to Nickajack Cave, Ga., where they remained until February, and where, in December and January, 135 of the Darke County bo}*s re-enlisted as veterans, as shown by the reports in the Adjutant General's office of Ohio, as follows : Company E, 32 ; Company F, 27 ; Company G, 45 ; Company K, 31 - Company G being the first company in the brigade to re-enlist.

Some time in the winter of 1864, the Army of the Cumberland was re-organized, and was composed of the Fourth, Fourteenth and Twentieth Army Corps, the Fortieth being a part of the Second Brigade, of the First Division of the Fourth Corps.

In February, 1864, the brigade went to Cleveland, Tenn., and encamped near Blue Springs. They were engaged in that reconnaissance in force against Dalton by Gen. Palmer, about the 22d of February, and sustained a loss of a few men wounded. On their return to Blue Springs, Companies E and G started home on veteran furlough. They returned to the command at Blue Springs April 10, 1864. Companies F and K did not leave on veteran furlough until the latter part of March. The}' returned to the regiment May 16, after the battle at Resaca, Ga.

The wonderful campaign against Atlanta was begun May 6 and ended September 5, 1864. During all this time, there was not a day passed that the Fortieth Regiment did not hear the whizzing of rebel bullets. In the early part of that campaign, while the regiment was commanded by Col. Taylor, Company G did distinguished service on the skirmish-line. The official report of Col. Taylor, containing the military action of the regiment from the beginning of that campaign up to July 1, 1864, is before the writer, and he is now surprised to learn of the distinguished services performed b}' this company, as appears from that report. The following are quotations :

* * On the 11th (May), three companies on the left, B, G and E, were sent, under command of Capt. Matchett, to Mill Creek Gap (along the railroad), with orders to build breastworks along the crest of the hill, and hold the place at every hazard. * * * In the action on the 15th, the regiment lay with the brigade, only Company G, Capt. Matchett, being deployed as skirmishers. * * On the evening of the 17th, the regiment were ordered into position at Adairville. Companies B and G were deployed as skirmishers. They readily cleared the hill in front of them of all rebel incumbrances, and we quietly bivouacked there for the night."' In addition to this, the report shows that, a large portion of the time, the entire regiment was engaged as skirmishers.

" On the 14th, I was ordered forward, being on the right of the brigade, my right conforming to the movements of Col. Gross' brigade (Third). Skirmishers were deployed, and the line moved to the crest of the hill, in front of the enemy's works. At 3 o'clock P. M., the enemy made an attack on Gen. Craft's brigade (on left of Second Brigade), and, after considerable fighting, succeeded in flanking that brigade, and even turning the left of the Second Brigade. The enem}- rapidly followed up his advantages, and, with hideous yells, pursued our routed force, even to the right and rear of our brigade, to the distance of half a mile. The enemy's front lines of battle were rapidly followed up by his formidable reserve of three lines. At this critical time, the Fortieth was ordered to the rescue. I quickly changed front to the rear and ' right in front." and ordered the charge. We passed the Left and rear of the enemy's front line of battle, confronting and charging the three lines of reserves that were following up. Though his numbers must have been at least four times that of ours, yet he disorderly broke back to his intrenchments, leaving his front line to take care of itself, which line was entertained in a very chivalrous manner by the Fourth Indiana Battery and a brigade from Hooker's (Twentieth) corps. Gen. Craft here directed me to form on the main Resaca road - both for the purpose of holding the road and capturing as many of the enemy as possible. Soon after, however, I was ordered to the hill. where our brigade was collecting. I respectfully ask that the importance of the above charge be not lightly passed over, as it undoubtedly saved the entire division."

" Late in the evening of the 20th, while the men were at supper (it being after dark). I received an order to re-enforce the Thirty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. With the left wing of the regiment (the right wing, at the time, being in the works to the rear), I moved forward for that purpose, passing by the flank to the rear of the position occupied by the Thirty-fifth Indiana. I was surprised, here, to find my regiment exposed to a severe fire from both front and rear. I ordered the men to open fire to the front, but many of them executed this order under protest, saying that the Thirty-fifth Indiana was in front of them. These men. having been detailed on the skirmiskdine a few minutes before, and afterward ordered back to the regiment, had just left the Thirty-fifth in possession of the works. I ordered the regiment forward to the works, and was surprised to find them in the possession of the enemy. Their presence could not be detected until we got close to them. They then opened upon us with such warmth that the men fell back, and, momentarily, scattered. Though they fell back, many of them kept up a severe fire on the enemy, while others rejoined the remainder of the regiment in the works. I then brought up the right wing, but this time with a perfect understanding of the works before me, and, re-enforced as we were by nearly all of the left wing, we charged the works. A hand-to-hand conflict ensued* for a few minutes, but we took the works and held them. Next morning, the green earth in front of us was gray with the enemy's dead. We took one officer and twenty men prisoners. My loss, however, was severe - nine killed and thirty-one wounded, and we lost in prisoners Lieut. Col. Watson and twenty men."

The Fortieth Ohio was attached to the left of Harker's brigade in that disastrous assault upon Kenesaw, June 29. 1864, in which Cols. Harker and McCook. each leading brigades, were killed. Col. Taylor, in his report, describes the action of the Fortieth on that occasion in the following words :

" On the 29th, when, in the general assault on Kenesaw, the Fortieth Regiment was ordered to the left of Harker's brigade, with directions to conform my move ments to the movements of that brigade. We moved forward, exposed to the galling fire of the enemy, but moved with accuracy and precision. Harker's brigade having come to a halt, my line extended its right, adjoining Harker. and my left resting on the little brook, or Run Hollow. Within half an hour, I was, ordered to the front line of works. The Fortieth Ohio was the only regiment of this brigade that covered the front line of works. My loss was ten men wounded. one mortally."

- In the sanguinary struggles and hardships endured by our army in Georgia up to this date in the campaign, 1 am proud to know that the Fortieth Ohio Infantry has fully sustained her pari ; ever willing, she has done all she was ordered to do. without hesitation or grumbling. She has not been without the sound of hostile guns since we first met the enemy on Tunnel Hill. and. with the exception of four days during that time, we have been under fire. We have been in the trenches on the front lines more than thirty days and nights. We have built on the front line thirteen lines of breastworks, and we have lost, in all, one officer (Capt. Converse) and eleven men killed ; one officer and sixty men wounded, and Lieut. Col. James Watson and twenty-one men captured."

On the 1st of July, Col. Taylor was ordered to the command of the brigade, and Capt. Matchett to the command of the regiment. These officers continued in their commands respectively, until after the fall of Atlanta.

The Fortieth at Peach Tree Creek. - The 18th and 19th days of July had been severe on the Fortieth. They had been constantly in front of the brigade as skirmishers. The rebels were slowly falling back from Kenesaw, and the Fortieth had been contending on our advance with their rear guard, from eveiy hill and stream. On the morning of the 20th, the Fortieth were permitted to march in the rear of the brigade and expected to have an easy time, but how often are we doomed to disappointment. That was a day of the hardest fighting the Fortieth ever experienced.

On the morning of the 20th, Gen. Stanley ordered Gen. Craft, commanding the First Brigade, to press forward to find the enemy. At Peach Tree Creek, he found a skirmish line of the enemy who disputed his crossing. The bridge in the road crossing the creek had been fired by the enemy, and Craft's brigade had been held at bay by the enemy for some time. Gen. Stanley rode up to the" front and told Craft he ought to effect a crossing without delay, that the enenry were not strong on the opposite side. Craft replied, that he was not sure of the enemy's strength, but that they were advantageously posted, and he could not cross without severe loss. Stanley then in his peculiar way of using the English language when excited, said that he had one regiment in the Second Brigade, commanded by a Captain, who could effect a crossing and he should order that regiment up, unless Craft moved forward promptly. Craft told him to bring on his regiment and try it. Stanley turned to Col. Taylor, who was standing by, and said : '; Go send me Capt. Matchett and the Fortieth.

Col. Taylor came back and related to Capt. Matchett and some of the men what had taken place, and delivered Stanley's order. Capt. Matchett, with the Fortieth, immediately reported to Gen. Stanley, who was sitting on his horse at the head of the halted column, speaking in loud and unfavorable terms, and with many emphatic adjectives, about the First Brigade. Capt. Matchett said : " General, I am ordered to report to you with the Fortieth." i; Yes. sir," said the General ; ;' I want you to cross that stream and move those d - d rebels." "Have you any directions. General, as to how I shall go about that ? " said the Captain. "No, sir ; use your own judgment, but don't fail doing it." " Then I'll first reconnoiter," said the Captain, and immediately started and did so.

Peach Tree Creek, or that branch of it in front of the Fourth Army Corps, was a deep, still, sluggish stream, about fifteen feet wide. The First Brigade had made several unsuccessful attempts to cross the bridge, and were deployed to the left of the bridge for some distance, but had no forces on the right. In front of the First Brigade to the enemy the ground lay in its natural state and unfenced, and mostly covered with grass, alder brush and weeds. To the right of the bridge, the ground was fenced, and marshy to some extent, and covered with tall prairie grass ; and, a short distance from the right of the bridge, the creek had been ditched by a deep ditch about twelve feet wide. On the bank of this ditch was a fence, and the fence now grown up thickly with bushes. Across that ditch for a distance of eighty yards was a meadow stubble freshly mown ; across the meadow a corn-field in tassel, extending up to the top of the ridge and to a thick woods.

Capt. Matchett decided to make the attempt in that direction, that is, by the right of the bridge and via the corn-field. On returning from his reconnaissance, he said to Gen. Stanley, " All right, General, I will do my best." " But will you succeed ? " said the General, sharply. "We will satisfy you, General," replied the Captain. He then moved the regiment to the rear far enough to place a hill on the right of the road between him and the enemy in front of the First Brigade in order to hide his movements from the enemy. At the foot of that hill he found the bed of the old stream, dry. and with gravel bottom, leading to the ditch before spoken of. with grass along its banks high enough to conceal the movement from the enemy. The Fortieth moved in this channel until they reached the ditch bank, and then filed off in line of battle behind the bushes growing on the ditch bank. On the right of each company, a passage-wa}* was hastily cut through the " fence-row bushes," and these cut bushes cast into the bottom of the ditch, and on their top sufficient rails were thrown in to enable the men to cross. Each company was enabled to cross the ditch at the same time by " right flank file left." This brought them to the meadow stubble each company in column, and the whole regiment in line of battle by "company into line." The regiment charged up through the corn-field up the side of the ridge until they gained the wood. Then the left of the regiment was wheeled to the left, the right acting as flankers, and in this manner they charged on the flank of the enemy who had resisted the First Brigade, and killed, captured and routed them, taking them completely by surprise. The number of prisoners captured by this movement must have nearly equaled the number of men in the Fortieth. Gen. Stanley asked Gen. Graft if he thought his brigade was strong enough to guard the prisoners that the Fortieth Regiment had captured. Stanley's division then crossed the stream, and the Fortieth was again thrown forward, and, in a short time, found the enemy in force before them. The wdiole Fourth Corps was then placed in line of battle on the left of the Fortieth, for the final charge.

The enemy had been found to be in force opposite the left of the Fourth Corps, and Gen. Howard, who was in command of the Fourth Corps, directed that the advance of the corps should be in the nature of a left wheel, and thinking that no serious obstacle would be found in front of the right, that part of the command was directed to advance in heavy skirmish line.

Immediately in front of the Fortieth was a low swale, 200 yards in width and one-half a mile long, and covered with a growth of low alder bushes. To the right of this was a ridge of cleared land, extending along the side of this swale, and encircling the upper end of it, in the shape of an inverted letter £. Two hundred yards in front of this ridge, and corresponding to its shape, was another ridge, fortified by the enemy and hidden from view b}* a pine thicket. On the ridge, at the upper end of the swale, the enemy also had a line of breastworks, hidden from view.

Capt. Matchett, who had examined the ground, informed Gen. Stanley as to the true state of the enemy, but Stanley thought Matchett was mistaken. They. however, made a personal reconnaissance together, but nothing whatever could be seen to indicate the presence of an enemy, as indicated by Capt. Matchett. Gen. Stanley ordered Capt. Matchett to deploy his regiment in a heavy skirmish line, and await the signal for advancing. The Captain asked permission to throw the four companies on the right in column, to act as flankers, from the fact that every man who crossed the ridge would be sacrificed. Stanley said : " You have your orders, and you had better obe}' them ; extend your right, and with your left conform to the movements of the right of the Twenty -first Kentucky. Stanley then rode away, and soon the signal for advancing was given, and the movement commenced. Gen. Howard, who was near the right, seeing that the line of the Fortieth, though irregular, was as heavy as a line of battle, and protected by a column of flankers, directed Gen. Stanleys attention to it, and ordered it to be immediately corrected, without halting the advance. When an aid delivered this order order to Capt. Matchett, he returned for answer : " Give my compliments to the General, and say that I am acting on the evidences of my own senses, and that I assume all responsibility. If I don't develop the presence of the enemy before I

The Twenty-first Kentucky had gained the outskirts of a deep wood, and the Fortieth, in conforming its movements to the Twenty-first Kentucky, had passed up the swale, and within 200 yards of the upper end, when that familiar rebel yell greeted their ears, and a line of battle arose from the bed of the little stream at the edge of the woods and commenced firing. This line of battle extended in front of the whole corps. The Twenty-first Kentucky, and, in fact, the whole brigade, halted. The Fortieth could not halt on the level ground without being destroyed, nor retreat without subjecting themselves to a murderous fire from the enemy. Capt. Matchett, believing their only hope was in charging the enemy's first line of breastworks, gave that command, and the Fortieth executed it, though at a greater loss in killed than the regiment suffered in the two days' fight at Chickamauga. The enemy charged and re-charged, in front and left flank, but the order was, ':Boys, we must hold this position or die right here." In this engagement, Capt. C. F. Snodgrass and Capt. J. W. Smith, both Darke County boys, distinguished themselves. The enemy, in charging down upon our left flank, were enfilading four companies on the left and gaining an advantage over them, when Capt. Smith was ordered to charge the enemy in his front, and. if possible, to close in with them ; if not, to drive them back to their works. At the same time, Capt. Snodgrass was directed to face his four companies of flankers to the left, and enfilade the rebel line in front of the Twenty-first Kentucky. Capt. Smith drove the enemy back to their next line of breastworks, and Capt. Snodgrass, by his enfilading fire, cleared the line in front of the Twenty-first Kentucky. The commanding officer of the Twenty-first Kentucky, at the request of, and by the assistance of. Capt. Matchett. then advanced the right of his regiment to the left of the Fortieth Ohio. The regiment was then ordered to keep up an incessant firing.

At 5 o'clock, the regiment was relieved, with permission to bury their dead - twenty-nine killed ; none captured and none wounded. On their way back to the spot where the charge began, they met Gen. Stanley and staff, and Capt. Matchett. pointing to the alders on the swale, which were completely mown down by the enemy's fire, said : " General, is not that a beautiful stubble-field '?"' The General, after viewing the field with' wonder, said : " The Fortieth has distinguished itself to-day. No men could have done better, and I very much doubt whether any other regiment could have done so well. I wonder that so many of }'ou are left alive. Capt. Matchett, Gen. Howard directs me to say to you that he is pleased with your action and judgment, and he is now satisfied that, had you not taken the responsibility and acted as you did, his best regiment would have been destroyed. The General witnessed your charge with interest, and applauded your success. For my part, I am proud of you and the Fortieth."

The regiment then buried their dead - their noble dead ; comrades who had stood with us on many a hard-contested field, and here nobly fell, fighting in response to the command, " Men, we must hold this position or die right here." When we have said of our comrades. " They died whilst charging with their regiment," we cannot add to their praise ; and the writer has not language to describe the sorrow we all felt in parting with these brave men. Thank God, their death was not in vain.

The next morning at 5 o'clock, the regiment was again ordered to relieve the regiment that had relieved us the evening before, and we were instructed to keep up a constant firing and a sharp lookout for the enemy. That morning, Capt. C. F. Snodgrass was mortally wounded while observing the movements of the enemy. His last words were, " The rebels are preparing to charge ; don't carry me back, boys, until you have repulsed them." Capt. Snodgrass was shot in the thigh, the ball severing the right femoral artery ; he died within five minutes after he was struck. He enlisted in 1861, as private. On the organization of the regiment, he was appointed Sergeant of Company I, and from that position was promoted to Lieutenant and then to Captain, after which he was assigned to Company A.

When the charge of the enemy was repulsed, he was carried back and buried with military honors, on the same mound where his comrades were buried who had fallen in battle the day before.

Thai day, after 111 o'clock, A. M.. the Fortieth Regiment tired 28,000 rounds of cartridge at the enemy : the fire was kept up constantly in order to prevent the enemy if possible, from charging. Every tree for sixty yards in front of the Fortieth was cut down by bullets. At night the position was so exposed that they could not be relieved, and they continued to defend their position during the night, keeping up a constant fire. At 2 o'clock the next morning, Capt. Matchett directed Company E to cease firing, and, with two volunteers, passed out in front of that company to within thirty steps of the enemy's line of works and overheard the enemy say that they were falling back. At 4 o'clock A. M., the firing having gradually ceased, the Fortieth advanced without serious opposition to the enemy's works and found them vacated.

That day, in order that the Fortieth might have a day of rest, it was placed on the extreme left of the Army of the Cumberland, and we advanced to the outer works which the rebels had built around Atlanta. Our position being on an elevation, with a low prairie of half a mile wide between us and the right of the Army of the Tennessee, from which position, with comparative safety, we anxiously looked down on the fight between Gens. Hood and McPherson, which resulted in the defeat of the former and the death of the latter.

The Fortieth lay at Atlanta during the siege, doing duty as any other regiment ; swung around with Sherman, and fought at Jonesboro and Lovejoy. suffering a loss of three killed, seven wounded and two captured at the two places. Among the wounded was Capt. Matchett, at Levejov. He did not leave the regiment, however, although being unable to walk for several days thereafter.

On the evening of the 5th of September, 1864, the army was ordered back to Atlanta, the objective point of the campaign being won. For a few weeks they enjoyed quiet and comfort.

When October came with her balmy days, the rebel General, Hood, tried the experiment of his wonderful flank movement toward the North, and Sherman followed as far as Gaylesville. Ala., when he determined on his " march to the sea." leaving Gen. Thomas with the Fourth Corps and the Army gf Ohio to look after Hood. Considerable maneuvering was had and much marching done, when the Fourth Corps, about the 1st of November, halted at Pulaski, Tenn.

In the mean time. Lieut. Col. Watson had returned from captivity, and Maj. J. L. Reeves had gained strength sufficient to leave the field hospital, where he had tarried since June 22. and rejoined the regiment.

The three years for which the regiment was enlisted having expired, all the companies which had not re-enlisted as veterans, were mustered out. except such recruits as had from time to time been added to them. Col. Taylor. Surgeon J. N. Beech and Assistant Surgeon W. II. Matchett were mustered out about the 20th of October, and the Lieutenant Colonel and Major both declared their intention of being mustered out as soon as an opportunity could lie afforded them to make up their final reports and returns as such officers.

The term of Capt. .Matchett expired October 7. 1864, bu1 the Fortieth being a favorite regiment with (Jen. Stanley, he requested that officer to remain with it. and take command, promising to use his influence to have it filled by recruits and officered by its experienced men, or consolidated into a battalion of four companies.

While at Pulaski, thinking the regiment had gone into winter quarters, Mai. Reeves signified his determination to remain with the regiment, if Capt, Matchett did, or to be mustered out if Capt. Matchett was. This course would not only have prevented the promotion of Capt. Matchett, but also that of several other worthy officers and men ; and therefore Capt. Matchett, on his own demand, was mustered out on the 24th of November, 1864 - after having served three years one month and seventeen days with the rank of Captain.

The rebel General, Hood, having discovered that he could do nothing to prevent Sherman's march to the sea, concluded to strike our Government a counterhit by marching his army to the lakes. The Fourth Corps was marched rapidly forward and gave him battle at Franklin, Tenn., November 30, inflicting terrible punishment upon him. Here the rebel General, Pat Cleberne, was killed while charging our lines. The writer has reason to believe that Clebern's division fought the First Division of the Fourth Corps every day during the Atlanta campaign.

The Fortieth was not severely engaged in this battle, and suffered no loss. Gen. Stanley was severely wounded in the neck in this engagement, but did not quit the field until the enemy fell back.

That 'night the Fourth Corps fell back to Nashville. Here the Lieutenant Colonel and Major were mustered out, and Gen. Stanley being absent on account of wounds received at Franklin, the Fortieth was consolidated with the Fifty-first Ohio Infantry, against the protest of every officer and man in the regiment. Capt. Allen, and Lieuts. Fisher and Toner were placed under arrest by the Colonel of the Fifty-first for the manner in which they had objected to the consolidation. The Colonel of the Fifty-first ordered the regimental flag of the Fortieth to be thrown away or sent back to Ohio, but the veterans of the Fortieth signified their determination to die by that flag if necessary, but to never part with it while they remained in the service. The Colonel of the Fifty-first wisely took this hint, and after threatening and swearing much, he, like all other " men of words," did nothing. A former sutler of the Fortieth, who was then a citizen of Nashville, told the Colonel of the Fifty-first that he did not believe a single regimental officer would survive the fight unless the officers of the Fortieth were released from arrest. They were accordingly released.

On the morning of the 15th of December, 1864, Col. Wood of the Fifty-first told the veterans of the Fortieth that he should hold them accountable for their action during the coming fight ; that he had borne with their insults and insubordination as long as he intended to, and that he hoped he would have no more trouble with them. Lieut, William Potter, who had been promoted to First Lieutenant from Orderly Sergeant of Company G, Fortieth Regiment, replied in these words : " Colonel, the only trouble you will have with us in this fight is to keep your old regimental flag and flax pullers* up even with us." Then turning to the veterans of the Fortieth, he said : " Boys, Col. Taylor is not here, and neither is Capt. Matchett with you to lead you in this fight, but let us preserve the reputation of the old Fortieth, by showing these flax pullers how to go in a fight."

In the consolidation of the two regiments, the veterans of the Fortieth were made Companies E, K and H of the Fifty-first, and some recruits of the Fortieth and Fifty-first were consolidated in Company G, of the Fifty-first. This placed the Fortieth all in the left wing of the Fifty-first. The two days' fighting at Nashville demonstrated the truthfulness of Lieut. Potter's suggestion to Col. Wood, that the flax pullers would have trouble to go as far in the fight as the Fortieth. At one time. Col. Wood led the regiment in a charge on a rebel battery m such a way as to bring the left of his regiment squarely in front of the cannon's mouth, but without a moment's hesitation they charged and took it ; meanwhile the right of the regiment had become stuck because'of the warm reception they received from the rebel support to that battery. In the Fortieth there were several veterans who had been drilled in a battery, while on detached duty in that service, m 1862, and they seized upon the rebel guns and in a moment were enfilading the rebel lines right and left, and calling out to Col. Wood to bring up his " d - d^flax

When Gen. Stanley returned to the Fourth Corps, he asked Col. Wood how he liked the veterans' of the Fortieth. Col. Wood replied: " Oh, well, I never saw such devils to fight, but they are saucy and insubordinate." They were never insubordinate while the regiment existed as the Fortieth.

After the battle at Nashville, the Fifty-first pursued after the enemy, as far as Huntsville, Ala., thence to East Tennessee, and from there returned to Nashville, where they remained until the close of the war. In June. 1865. the regiment was ordered to Texas, the Fifty-first going as far as Victoria, and being stationed, for several weeks, at Indianola.

In October, 1865. they were mustered out and returned home, the veterans of the Fortieth bringing the flag with them, and on the 17th of November, 1865, pursuant to previous notice, they returned the flag to the ladies of Greenville. Not as they had received it. bright and beautiful to the eye. but battle-worn, bulletriddled, the spear broken, the shaft shattered, and with many bullet rents through its colors. The orator of the day, Dr. W. C. Otwell, the Regimental Steward of the Fortieth, closed his presentation address in the following language :

" To you then, ladies, we return these colors, riddled with bullets and stained with patriots' blood, who died that we might live to enjoy the rich boon of freedom, purchased with the price of rivers of gore. With this banner, we also return the thanks of its noble defenders to those patriotic women from whose hands it came to the Fortieth."

There were many noble deeds and acts of bravery done by other companies in this glorious regiment, from other counties outside of" Darke County, well worthy a place in history, and which are not within the purview and scope of this work, and are, therefore, necessarily omitted, and in fact, everything here found has been too briefly stated : but we bear witness to what we have written and had it placed here ; in order that the present and future generations may know that although Darke County furnished no distinguished Generals in the war to command armies, yet the deeds of valor, the acts of personal bravery of her soldiers, and the honor, ability and integrity with which they discharged their duties in many a hardfought battle, are unsurpassed by any and second to none.

The Forty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized and mustered into United States service at Camp Clark, Springfield, Ohio, in October, 1851. On the 14th, it moved via Cincinnati to West Virginia, and Company G, Capt. John M. Newkirk, were soon in active service on picket and on detail. After several expeditions, the regiment built winter quarters, provided comfortable shelter, drilled daily, and so'passed five months. On May, 1, 1862, the command moved up to Gauley Bridge, and was brigaded with the Thirty-sixth and Forty-seventh, under Col. Crook. The brigade moved to Lewisburg.'and from there the Forty-fourth and another regiment advanced to Dublin Station, on the railroad, destroying part of the track. Returning to Lewisburg, the brigade was attacked May 23, and turning upon the enemy routed them, captured three guns, many prisoners, and had the rebel dead to bury, their wounded to care for. They fell back to Meadow Bluff, and threw up works, and, August 15, set off toward the Kanawha. It was learned that a heavy body of the enemy was moving against the brigade, which had two regiments on each bank of the river. On September 9, the Forty-fourth and its associate regiment, being assailed, fell back on Gauley, and having made a stand to secure safety of the train, began their retreat. The Forty-fourth marched in the rear a day and the greater part of the night, and covered the retreat to Charleston, where the persistent foe again attacked on the 13th. The Union soldiers, greatly outnumbered, disputed the ground firmly, and finally crossing an affluent of the Kanawha, cut down the suspension bridge and cut off the pursuit. The regiment was now sent to Kentucky, and encamped for some time at Covington.

Moving to Lexington, it was placed in the Second Brigade. Second Division, of the Army of Kentucky, under Gen. Granger, and took part in various scouts ana marches until December 20. when, moving to Frankfort, it was there mounted and thence saw constant duty, advancing, retreating and skirmishing, and almost living in the saddle. The regiment dismounted, accompanied Burnside on his advance into Tennessee, and shared in the rigors of the campaign ; working in fortifications at Knoxville, and occupying the wet ditches day and night. The enemy were pursued eastward, and returning, the men went into camp at Strawberry Plains. January 1, it was proposed that the command re-enlist, under promise that the men would be armed and mounted as cavalry. Within four da}rs. 550 of 600 men had accepted the proposal. Their arrival at home was an occasion of enthusiastic and joyous greeting. On March 28, 1864, the veterans with numerous recruits were organized at Camp Dennison, as the

Eighth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. - Delayed in the receipt of arms and accouterments. six companies, not mounted, were ordered to West Virginia on April 26, and on May 8 the rest of the regiment was ordered to Cincinnati, to be transported to Charleston. Early on the 10th, without saddles or bridles, the men, each leading two or three horses, set out for the city, which was reached in a heavy rain, but by dark the}' had embarked and were on their way. At Charleston, they were supplied with carbines and saddles, and, the last of May, sent to Lewisburg over a familiar road. They were assigned to Gen. Duffle's brigade, and started with Averill on the raid to Lynchburg. On the night of the third day, camp was made in Warm Springs Valley. At Staunton, a junction was made with Hunter's command. A futile attempt was made to surprise the rebels at Buckhannon, where the Eighth remained till the 15th, when it crossed the ridge toward Lynchburg. Two companies skirmished with the enemy near Otter Creek Bridge, and, at noon next day, the enemy was met in force. The ground was disputed with uncertain result, and the rebels were forming for a charge, when infantry came up and secured the position. The night brought aid to the eneni}', and by dark next day the Union army was retreating rapidly, followed closely b}' the rebels. At Liberty, the Eighth was ordered to re-enforce the rear guard, and, in an action with a far superior force, lost seventy-one in killed, wounded and prisoners. Subsequently, the enemy having attacked and partially despoiled the train of artillery, the Eighth dismounted and recovered the guns: They retired to White Sulphur Springs, where the regiment was divided - the Colonel proceeding with the footmen to Charleston, while the mounted men, under the Lieutenant Colonel, went to Beverly. A march of 600 miles, occupying thirty-three davs, brought the mounted men temporaiy rest. Twice ordered to the Shenandoah, they each time returned, under counter orders, to Beverly. Four companies - A, C, H and K - were captured in August. On the morning of October 29, a body of rebels rode into camp, just as the men were falling in for roll-call. As the shots were heard at the picket line, the men formed, carbine in hand, behind the horse racks, and held the enemy temporarily in check, A hand-to-hand fight occurred, the men battling singly and in groups, and, in some cases, without weapons. Finally the rebels were routed, with a loss of seventeen killed, twenty-seven wounded and ninety-two prisoners, while the Eighth lost eight killed, twenty-five wounded and thirteen prisoners.

Scouting and skirmishing kept the men busily employed till December 1, when Col. Moore rejoined the regiment with his force. They had been in the cavalry charge at Winchester, had fought at Fisher's Hill, barely escaped capture at Cedar Creek, and followed Early on his retreat. Things put on a new aspect at this time. Five companies were well mounted, and four of these were ordered to Philippi, and 300 men of the Thirty-fourth came to replace them. On January 11, 1865, about 3 A. M., the camp was surprised; a few escaped, twenty-five were killed and wounded, most were captured. In seven days, they were hurried 163 miles, wading through streams, traveling through snow, and' half starved. At

Staunton, seventy men were placed in each of a train of stock cars and conveyed to Richmond. They suffered much in Libby and Pemberton till paroled, February 15. Some returned to Clarksburg, and some were mustered out as prisoners of war in June, and in August the regiment was mustered out at Clarksburg, Va., and was paid off' and discharged at Camp Dennison, Ohio.

History of the Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. - This regiment contained two companies of men from Darke County, under Capts. Eli Hickox and David Putnam. It was about the close of April, 1862, when the organization reported for duty at Nashville, Tenn.; was reviewed by Andrew Johnson, then Military Governor of the State, and, April 29, detailed to guard forty-two miles of the Nashville & Columbia Railroad. The companies were stationed at bridges within that distance. June 6, the regiment was ordered to report at Franklin, then to Nashville, and was then transported to Murfreesboro, where it joined three other regiments, two batteries and a bod}^ of cavalr}*, all under Gen. Dumont, in an expedition to McMinnville. The head of the column entered that town in twenty-eight hours after leaving Murfreesboro, and in twenty hours accomplished the feat of traveling fifty-two miles. They marched across the Cumberland Mountains to Pikeville. The ascent of the mountains is very steep, and the distance to the top shelf is three miles. The artillery doubled teams, as did the baggage trains. The road is covered with sharp stones, tying loose ; at the top of the road, it is covered with fine sand to the depth of four inches. Water was scarce ; trains were far to the rear ; haversacks were empty, and everybody was hungry. There was a small farm where the troops camped, and among the stock was a flock of fifty sheep, which fell victims to their necessities. There was no salt, and the mutton was roasted on sticks for supper and breakfast. On Sunday morning, the column had advanced but two miles, when scouts reported the rebels at Pikeville, and nothing to eat ; thereupon the column about-faced and set out on their return. Returning to Nashville, the Sixty-ninth was assigned to provost and guard duty until the close of July. Col. L. D. Campbell was appointed Provost Marshal of Nashville, and held the position till his resignation, in August. Morgan made a raid on Gallatin, and the Sixty-ninth Ohio and Eleventh Michigan, marching thither, drove out the enemy. While Bragg was engaged in his movement on Louisville, the Sixty-ninth, with other regiments, garrisoned Nashville. Duty was severe, and skirmishes were frequent. The army gathering at Nashville, the regiment moved out into camp, about five miles from the city. It was placed in Negley's division of the Fourteenth Army Corps, and advanced with the army, on December 26, upon the Franklin Pike. The vicinity of the enemy was reached on the evening of the 29th, and skirmishing was constant. On the next day, Negley marched to the right center, and, while a part of the Sixty-ninth lay in the cedars, the others were upon the skirmish line. On the 31st, it went to the front early in the morning. Companies A and D were sent out to skirmish with the rebel pickets, while the others lay upon the ground to avoid the exploding shells, and reserving»their fire for infantry. About 10 A. M., the crisis approached, and the Sixty-ninth fell back some thirty rods to an open field, and fell into line with the division. The rebel lines advanced, well supported, and maintaining a heavy, deadly fire. Col. Cassily was dismounted, and Maj. Hickox took command. The men were confused, and, being exposed to the leaden sleet without returning the fire, showed unmistakable symptoms of disorganization. The Major partially restored confidence, and the line was rapidly recovering, when a shot, striking his horse, threw him heavily ; and now the men stood without command, under a murderous rain of balls. They were becoming demoralized, when Col. Stanley, discovering their trouble, placed himself at their front, and, advancing them to support the other regiments, was called elsewhere. The men went in and placed themselves among the soldiers of other regiments, without regard to order. In a few minutes, Capt. Putnam began to re-form Company E, and the movement was immediately imitated by other companies. They fell back a short distance, halted, chose Putnam to command, and then, when nearly cut off, made their way out, with little time to spare, and the division marched to the rear of the left center.

The men felt chagrin at the part taken by them. They had been under fire for hours and hardly a man had fired a half-dozen rounds. January 1, the division was held in reserve. About 3 P. M., Friday, the enemy made a desperate attack upon the Union left wing. Negley's division was then tying behind a hill, hidden from their view. The foe came on in dense lines, driving before them a part of Crittenden's corps, and had almost reached the river when the Eighth Division was ordered forward in a counter charge. The line arose, delivered their fire and began their advance. As regiment upon regiment came in sight, the enemy, astonished, halted, wavered and then began to fall back. The Sixty-ninth, now well led, pushed forward and captured a section of the celebrated New Orleans Washington Battery ; Sergt. Wilson, of Company E, captured the flag. The fight ended some time after night set in, and the next day the regiment, with the division, entered Murfreesboro. Albright and Stopher, of Company E, were killed in this charge, and there were many wounded.

After the battle of Stone River, the Army of the Cumberland lay some time in camp, collecting new strength, accumulating supplies and re- organizing regiments preparatory to another advance. Re-enforcements had nearly doubled the strength of the army. Three corps were formed - the Twentieth under McCook, the Fourteenth, Thomas, and the Twenty-first, Crittenden. Negley's division was increased by the addition of a brigade of six East Tennessee regiments, and the Sixty-ninth Ohio now belonged to the Second Brigade, Second Division, Fourteenth Army Corps. The Tullahoma campaign began on June 24, and the Sixty-ninth advanced southward along the Manchester pike, and, having finally reached Cowan's Station, was detached as guard to the general hospital and halted at this place until September 28, when it was sent as guard to an ammunition train of 450 wagons, en route to Bridgeport, on the Tennessee, whence it marched to Chattanooga. In the various movements of the troops, the Sixty-ninth Ohio, with the reserve corps of Gen. Granger, moved from Rossville to Chickamauga Creek, whence, under orders of Col. D. McCook, brigade commander, it marched to Reed's Bridge, which it burned, thereby securing the rear of the army from attack. After this service, the regiment marched to Rossville and was placed in charge of the division trains, thus denied a part in the battle of Chickamauga. In the afternoon of the 20th, the command was sent to the front, near Rossville, and assisted to cover the retreat of the Fourteenth Army Corps to Chattanooga. When Mission Ridge was fought, the regiment was among the first to scale the mountain, under the efficient leadership of Maj. J. J. Hanna. In this action, Lieut. J. S. Scott, Color Sergt. Jacob Wetzell, Color Corps. D. W. Leach and John Meredith, Corp. E. J. Manche, and Privates Kluger, Elsom, Sewers, Vankirk and Helling were killed, and many wounded, a number mortally. Next morning, the command moved down to the Ringgold road and advanced along it until night ; were dela}red at the Little Chickamauga and another stream, awaiting the building of bridges. A number of rebel camp-fires were seen on a ridge ahead, whereupon the troops moved cautiously, and, about 8 P. M., made an attack, in which Ferguson's Battery was captured complete, without the loss of a man, and, on the 29th of December, returned to Chattanooga. The regiment veteranized March 16, 1864, and set out for Ohio on a furlough of thirtj* days. Most of the two Darke County companies re-entered the service, and came home looking well and hearty. Their short furlough ended, the men promptly reported at Camp Dennison, and, April 22, again started for the field, marching, for want of transportation, from Nashville to Cowan's Station, and joined the army before Buzzard's Roost on May 11. Three days later, it marched with the arm}' through Snake Creek Gap and bivouacked for the night. The regiment marched about 3 A. M., and soon arrived in sight of the enemy's position on a range of hills, half a mile distant. Looking across the valley, the rebels were seen busily working on their lines. Near nightfall, then' was heavy skirmishing for some time.

About 5 P. M., a battery opened briskly; there were heard occasional volleys of musketry, anil as night came the Sixty-ninth Ohio moved half a mile to the left and bivouacked. Skirmishing began at daylight, and shortly before 9 A. M. the command moved forward to the left oblique to the rear of a skirmish line, and at the corner of a field formed in front of this line and close upon the enemy. Two companies were deployed in advance, and shortly became actively engaged. The regiment then advanced and succeeded in driving the enemy within their works across the valley. On being relieved at 2 P. M., the men fell back into the second line. At this place. Color Sergt. John A. Compton. of K. and four others were killed, and twenty-one wounded. The enemy evacuating during the night, the regiment entered Etesacca at 2 P. M.. observing many rebel dead lying where the}' had fallen. Soon a bridge was thrown over the Oostanoula. and the troops rapidly crossing pushed on in hot pursuit through Calhoun. Adairsville. Kingston, and halted by the railroad a few days. On the morning of the 23d. the advance was renewed, and the troops halted at the banks of the Etowah, here three hundred yards wide and three feet deep. Next day. this stream was forded and the march continued till the 25th. when a spur of Altona Mountains was reached, and here the regiment remained all day. helping trains up the ascent. A march of twelve miles on the 26th brought us to the scene of Hooker's action of the previous day. The wounded lay in a house used as a hospital, and surgeons were busy amputating limbs on a table near by. Farther on. skirmishing showed the enemy near, as the men bivouacked in a wheat field where grass grew rank and luxuriant and the wheat was sparse and straggling. Moved next morning a halfmile to the left, and at noon advanced nearly a mile upon an open field and halted. About 5 P. M., two brigades directly in front engaged, and from then on till dark the firing was steady and heavy. Stragglers came back in squads, and there were indications of a repulse, while the force suffered severely. This action was denominated New Hope 'Church. The regiment moved up and threw up breastworks about one hundred and fifty yards in rear of the front line, which kept up a constant fire. During the night, the regiment occupied the front line, and made the works stronger while exchanging shots at 300 yards with the enemy. The enemy was engaged at Pumpkin-vine Creek and Dallas, losing five killed and nineteen wounded. Night and day the contest continued, one day in the front line, another in the second; marching forward as the rebels gave ground, and moving right or left as the swaying lines were influenced by obstacles. Awakened at dark hour of night by the crackle of the musketry and called to the lines, peering into the obscurity, awaiting a probable attack, working for hours building huge earthworks with head log and cover, the one to protect from balls, the other from the hot sun. Accustomed to the roar of artillery, the hum of balls : indifferent to the death or wound of a comrade ; cooking where bullets struck in the Are, and holding their lives in their hands, such was the experience of the Sixty-ninth for a hundred days of skirmish, fortification, march and battle. Kenesaw Mountain was reached in the evening of June 14, an elevation unknown before, but soon familiar to all the country. A glass showed men and horses, guns and tents upon the mountain four miles distant. The journal of a member of the regiment furnishes the following at this point :

"Late in the evening, we advanced half a mile and found ourselves near Big Shanty, on the railroad. The Fourteenth advanced one mile ; lay two nights here ; labored much of the last night throwing up breastworks, which we occupied next day. Our side opened with cannon, but received no reply. Part of the regiment was on the skirmish line and one man was killed. Moved back to second line at 2 P. M. A fight of two hours' duration occurred. A part of our line charged and drove the enemy from their rifle pits. A battle began on the 18th. and lasted till 9 P. M.. though rainy. Advanced the line a half-mile, swiiio-ino; right around and bringing us in line north and south. The rebels contested the ground fiercely, but were forced back, and next morning found they had fallen back to another position. In the evening, a locomotive ran down to the skirmish line, and drew several shots from cannon on the mountain. At 3:20 A. M. next day, we moved out to support the front line, which advanced upon the rebels, who obstinately held their own. Next day, firing was heavy till dark, and this continued until the 27th, when unsuccessful attacks were made with heavy loss. On July 3, the enemy retired and the regiment followed to the Chattahoochee. The next stand was made at the river, where no loss was sustained. On July 21, in the skirmishing near Atlanta, one man was killed and ten wounded, and next da}' the men began works for the siege of the Gate City. On the last days of summer, the regiment moved away to the right, and on the 1st of September was heavily engaged at Jonesboro, losing Lieuts. Jacob S. Pierson and Martin V. Bailey, Color Sergt. Allen L. Jobes, of D, and five men killed and thirty-six wounded, a number of them mortally, who died shortly after the fight.

The Sixty-ninth joined in the pursuit of Hood to the north, and returning to Atlanta, accompanied the corps in its march to Savannah, losing four taken prisoners and one by disease. On the lines near the city, the regiment was at the front. In the Carolina campaign the regiment was in action near Groldsboro, on March 19, 1865, in which, its last battle, the Sixty -ninth lost two killed and eight wounded. It moved to Raleigh, thence to and through Richmond, took part in the grand review at Washington, were conveyed to Louisville, Ky., and finally came the muster-out, and the final discharge at Camp Dennison of 536 men, veterans in truth, with long service upon the inarch, with the rifle and with the spade and soldier's awl.

Eighty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. - The former of these two organizations was recruited for three months, from various parts of the State, and Darke County supplied one company under Capt. Charles Calkins. It was mustered in at Camp Chase, and reported read}' for duty earl}' in June, 1862. Orders came on the 12th, to report at Baltimore to Maj. Gen. Wool, commanding post. Three days later, the men reached that city, and the regiment, 1,024 strong, was sent into camp near by, and drill and discipline occupied their time for some weeks. Late in July, it was ordered to report at Harper's Ferry to Col. Miles, and on arrival, was stationed on Bolivar Heights, and placed under severe drill. Its time had expired, when the enemy under Jackson compelled a surrender of Harper's Ferry, and the Eighty-Seventh was included in the forces captured. When the fact became known, the men were released from parole, and were transported home from Annapolis, Md., and September 20, 1862, mustered out of service.

The Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteers was organized at Camp Piqua, Miami County, under the following staff and line officers : Colonel, Joseph W. Frizell, of Greenville ; Lieutenant Colonel, Stephen A. Bassford, Xenia ; Major, David King, Springfield ; Quartermaster, Joshua C. Horton, Piqua ; B. F. Cooledge, Troy. The officers were appointed July 22, 1S62, and in one month, 1,010 men had enlisted and were mustered into service. Their camp was at Upper Piqua on the farm of the late Col. John Johnson, an historic spot. Three companies from Darke County were enrolled in this regiment, of which we give the following roster :

On the 28th of August, before being uniformed or supplied with camp equipage, and before a single regimental drill, the regiment was hurried to Covington, Ky.. and, on their arrival immediately dispatched to Lexington. The}' had been armed with Enfield rifles of improved pattern, and the Colonel, by energy, had succeeded in obtaining sufficient ammunition to supply each man with three rounds, when the command took the cars for Lexington, where it arrived at 9 P. M. Saturday night, and heard of the disaster of Richmond and the peril of the hour. Col. Frizell sought for the officer to whom he was to report, and found him incompetent, from drunkenness, to give instructions. Aided by citizens, quarters were found for the men, who bivouacked for the first time. Sunday morning found the town swarming with stragglers from the Richmond rout, each relating to whoever would hearken wild stories of death and defeat. These tales, the gloonry uncertainty, the lack of discipline in the town, all conspired to chill the ardor of the new troops and call out their fortitude. The regiment was ordered to march to Yates' Ford, on the Kentucky, fifteen miles east, on the Richmond pike, and at once began their first march over a dusty road, under a hot sun, with a limited supply along the way of water. Their destination was reached at dark, and while the Colonel was endeavoring to find a good position for defense, the men. being greatly wearied, lay down in and by the road to rest. A sudden volley fired by a rebel scouting party from the thicket skirting the road struck momentary consternation into the command, thus terribly awakening from deep slumber in the darkness ; but the men were soon in line, and withdrawn to a more secure and advantageous position, having by this attack lost two men killed and six wounded. Col. Frizzell remained with his vidette near the regiment, to which he had communication by Maj. King, Capt. Drury and the Adjutant posted at intermediate distances. Aware that an enemy was near, it was little surmised that the entire arm}7 of Kirby Smith was encamped but two miles north of the ford, with the intention of crossing in the morning. Night went slowly by, and at daylight the hungry men surrounded some wagons which had arrived from Lexington, in hopes of rations which had been promised. The wagons were found loaded with ammunition. 125 rounds to a man, and three sacks of green coffee. While the coffee was being issued, parched, and breakfast was being prepared from this scanty source, the vidette reported the advance of the enemy in sight, and presently a shell plunged into the earth near by ; a brief interval and then came another, and soon the}" fell more frequently as the battery over the stream in the woods found the position of the regiment. Col. Frizzell, from observation of the rebel movements, saw an intention to cut off his retreat, and gave orders to his Adjutant for the men to fall in and march back past a road by which they might be intercepted. The command was promptly executed, and as the rear cleared the road the enemy came trooping from it upon the pike, and opened fire upon the Miami company, under Capt. Drury, which had been detailed as rear-guard. The fire was returned and the rebels held in check, while the regiment, moving to a designated point, formed line of battle. The orders had been to " contest every foot of ground back to Lexington." and this was just what the Colonel intended to do. when orders, dated the previous evening, were brought from Gen. G. C. Smith, for the regiment to fall back to Lexington as rapidly as possible.

Their situation was critical, being twelve miles from possible support, new to the service, and an army close upon them ; yet the Colonel was not wanting in energy, nor his men in confidence and courage. As the regiment moved, one after another exhausted men fell by the way and were captured by the enemy. In this way. despite the efforts of the officers, quite a number of men were taken. The regiment reached Lexington at 4 P. M., and found that the troops, beaten at Richmond, had passed through the place, on their way toward Louisville, and that all stores left behind had beeD destroyed. The Ninety-fourth were hungry, tired and foot-sore, in poor condition for another more trying march. It was said that the line officers deemed it best to surrender, but Col. Frizzell declared in opposition.

and obeyed the orders to continue the retreat. At daylight, a halt was made, at Versailles, for breakfast, but the men had hardly got their coffee to boil when " fall in " was passed to the commanders of companies, and the disheartening journej' was resumed. There was a prevailing drouth, and water, of poor quality even, was scarce. The urgency of thirst may be gathered from the fact that the soldiers paid $5 for a canteen full of muddy water, $1 for a drink, and man}- drank from the slimy pools where horses would not. The sun shone hot from a cloudless sky. and the hard pike was deep with a dust which enveloped the person and entered the nostrils, aggravating thirst, while the blistered feet at each step seemed as if pressed upon a sheet of needles, so painful was the pressure. The march lasted from 3 A. M. till late at night. For food, the men gathered green corn from the fields near the bivouac, and partook of a few crackers issued. These discouragements caused many to straggle, and these were picked up by the pursuing enemy. Upon arriving at Louisville, they went into camp without tents, in the woods, having lost on the march 317 men, and so worn were the men that the greatest want was the opportunity to rest. The men presented a pitiable appearance, as well they might, after seven days of an initiation into military life which fell to few organizations. The command soon recovered health and spirits, the paroled men came back, and they were again read}* for service. As Buell was driven in, the regiment was set to work building breastworks, and when Bragg began to fall back, it followed after as a part of Russeau's division of McCook's corps. It took a conspicuous part in the battle of Perryville, where Col. Frizzell was wounded, and the command devolved upon Lieut. Col. Bassford. In general orders, the Ninety-fourth received honorable mention, and took their accredited position as a regiment to be relied upon.

The movement upon Murfreesboro began December 26, 1862, at which date the Ninety-fourth was in the advance from Nashville, and in the battle of the 30th and 31st acted as a partial reserve. The regiment was again in the advance on Tullahoma, and was in action at Hoover's Gap ; skirmished at Dug Gap. and engaged the enemy on September 19 and 20, losing two killed, twenty-two wounded, and a like number missing. At Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, the regiment again took a notable part, and was one of the many that made the historic charge upon the ridge. In the spring of 1864, the regiment was sent on a scout toward Dalton, to ascertain the situation of the enemy. They met and drove him through Tunnel Hill, both sides freely using artillery. An advance was desired and the infantry stopped for nothing, but pushed forward into the rebel works, where they found shelter for the night. Next clay, K was deployed on the skirmish line and advance continued. Here were seen the waste of war - fields fenceless, women wailing, mills gutted and ruin everywhere. The object of the reconnaissance being gained, the force retired, and the Ninety-fourth, as rear guard, reached Ringgold about midnight. The regiment went into camp nine miles from Chattanooga, on the railroad toward Knoxville, while a part of the regiment veteranized, were furloughed and returned home. The time soon went by, bringing back the veterans, accompanied by many recruits and imparting a buoyant and cheerful feeling to all.

It set out with Sherman on the Atlanta campaign, and was engaged at Rocky Face, Resaca and Kingston, resting at Carrville, May 22, at which date the casualties were thirteen killed and fifty wounded. They were familiar with the din of battle, and at Pumpkin-vine Creek, Kenesaw Mountain and the Chattahoochee River, took their share of the work and fighting. In action, July 10, twelve men were killed and fculy-five wounded. Again, at Peach Tree Creek, the siege of Atlanta and the hard battle of Jonesboro, the Ninety-fourth was called upon and did its duty well. It followed Hood in his mad rush northward ; marched from Atlanta to Savannah, and January 20. 1865, set out on its long, wearisome journey through the Carolinas. It was engaged at Bentonville, N. C, and encamped at Goldsboro, on the 23d of March. Again the column moved, heavily re-enforced, to sweep upward upon Lee. overwhelming Johnson on the way, but tidings of decisive battles caiiie to as, and the joyous, exultant troops swept rapidly toward Raleigh. The Ninetyfourth was the lirst infantry regiment to cuter the city, and soon after set out for Washington, via Richmond and Alexandria. It passed in review before the President and the thousands of spectators that thronged the capital, and was mustered out of the service June 6, 1 *';:>. with an aggregate of 338 men. out of an enrollment of 1,010. and was paid off and discharged at Camp Chase, whence they returned to home, friends and families, and speedily became merged in the population.

The Our Hundred <<nti Truth Ohio Volunteer Infantry.- - The One Hundred and Tenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized at Camp Piqua, Ohio, in August, 18G2, and contained two companies from Darke County. The regiment was officered by Col. Keifer, Lieut. Col. Foster and Maj. Binkley, all moral men, and the line officers were men of firmness and sobriety. Marching orders were received October 19, for Parkersburg, Va. On the evening of the same day, the regiment arrived by rail at Zanesville. Here it was embarked upon steamboats and conveyed down the Muskingum to Marietta, where it arrived on the evening of the 20th, passed the night on board, and next morning, the men caught their first glance of Dixie Land beyond the Ohio. The command disembarked, entered trains and were soon taken to Parkersburg.

They drew tents the same evening, put them up and named their camp, in honor of their commander, Camp Keifer. November 3, the regiment moved to Clarksburg; remained there three weeks and then took the cars for New Creek, where it arrived about 3 A. M., next day. and for over two weeks was occupied in drill, picket and other duty. The men felt great repugnance to camp guard, and this hated duty soon " played out," and the men went where they chose. A favorite resort was Queen's View, a rocky eminence, some three hundred feet above the surroundings. The men amused themselves, tumbling rocks into the river below, to the great discomfiture of those coming for water. Mulligan's Irishmen, espying men on the rock, would cry out : " Hello, phwat regiment areyez ?" If the reply was, " One Hundred and Tenth Ohio," they beat a hasty retreat. The rock-tumbling continued until an order was read on parade to arrest the first man seen on the rock. December 13, the regiment marched by way of Burlington and Petersburg to Moorfield. " At the close of the first day, the boys, being desirous of writing and desks being scarce, went to a neighboring farmhouse and returned with a box which was found to be filled with honey. It was dark, and they did not want to carry it back, so some of the men had honey and hard tack the rest of the march." Part of the regiment was sent toward Winchester, and the remainder with other forces toward Romney. The detachment was hurried through, and indignantly characterized the journey as -' an infernal forced march." The main body reached Winchester a week later, where the regiment was placed in the First Brigade, Second Division, Eighth Army Corps, while A and D were detailed as provost guards. A round of scout, raid, drill and other duty occupied the time during the winter. A party sent to Front Royal captured supplies ; another engaged in like work dispersed a party of rebels at Summit Point, and in May the regiment moved to New Market and back on a species of marching drill. On the 13th of June, the regiment was moved out to Kernstown, and engaged Lee's advance. This was the first time the regiment was under fire, but it fought bravely, disputing every foot of ground against far superior numbers. On the morning of the 14th, the command was posted in a light breastwork, about threefourths of a mile in front of the main defenses. The day wore away, and in the afternoon a crash of artillery ami a rain of projectiles announced the rebel onset. Twenty-six cannon were directed upon this thin line for a brief period, and then came the serried ranks of infantry moving in fine array upon the outworks. The regiment held its ground till the enemy were near, and then fell back. At night it attempted to retreat farther, and, meeting the enemy, a running fight of two hours ensued, during which it cut its way through and moved to Harper's Ferry. It encamped on Maryland Heights a short time, and then made its way to Frederick City, Md., where it was assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Division, Third Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. It took part in the pursuit of Lee through Williainsport, London and Upperville to Manassas Gap, there skirmished, and, finally, August 1, reached the Rappahannock, at Fox's Ford. Two weeks elapsed, when orders came to proceed to New York, and the cars were taken for Alexandria and thence by water on the steamship Mississippi to their destination. The camp was located for a time on Governor's Island, whence they moved to South Brooklyn and encamped in Carroll Park, where much kindness and many favors were received from the citizens. Early in September, the regiment was ordered back to the Ford, and marched in charge of an ammunition train from there to Culpepper, Va., where it remained quietly till October 10, when it was ordered under arms in anticipation of an attack, and stood to arms through the night ; and next day, crossing the Hazel and the Rappahannock, moved into the front line near the latternamed stream. A month went by, and November 7, the One Hundred and Tenth crossed the river, exchanged shots with the enemy, and, the day following, made a scout in the morning and took some fort}' prisoners.

Moving during the day somewhat to the front of Brandy Station, the regiment was made the target for the rebel artillery, but advancing, was one of the first to enter the position from which the rebels were driven. Subsequently four companies were detailed as guards to trains, and the others, being engaged at Locust Grove, lost five killed and twenty wounded. The united regiment, returning to the station December 1, went into winter quarters. In March, 1864, the One Hundred and Tenth became part of the Second Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Artillery Corps, and May 4 crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford, and on the day following occupied a position on the extreme National right at the Wilderness. Preceded by a lively skirmish, the regiment, charging, drove the enemy within their works, held the ground till after dark, and fell back by reason of deficiency of ammunition. Maj. William S. McElwaine was killed and six officers were wounded ; eighteen men were killed, eighty-two wounded and eleven were missing. May 6, the regiment held the second line under fire of artillery, and at dark the defeat of troops on the right compelled a retrograde movement for about a mile, when a halt was made for a day, and at night the retreat was continued through Chancellorsville to the vicinity of Spottsylvania Court House, where works were thrown up and skirmishing done until May 14, when it marched toward Spottsylvania, forded Nye River after dark, and took possession of works from which the enemy had been driven.

Several reconnaissances were made, the enemy was frequently encountered, and the regiment, moving via Guinea and Chesterfield Stations, crossed the Pamunky and threw up breastworks. The One Hundred and Tenth was engaged June 1 at Cold Harbor, and on the 3d advanced in the front line upon the massive rebel works, and when the line halted was ordered to push forward, and for two long hours held an exposed position, when ordered to retire. On this day, the last to so man}- in the assault, the regiment lost five killed and thirty-four wounded. Under orders the regiment left the works, crossed the Chickahominy, passed to Winona Landing, was transported to Point of Rocks and marched to Bermuda Hundred. On the evening of June 19, the Appomattox was crossed, and the vicinity of Petersburg was reached. Preceded by a day's rest, the regiment marched to the Norfolk & Petersburg Railroad, advanced upon the enemy, drove in the skirmish line, and, some days later, marched to the Petersburg & Weldon Railroad. On July 2, it returned to its post near Petersburg, then embarked at City Point for Baltimore, where it arrived on the 8th, and was taken on the cars to Monocacy Junction. It took post on the south side of the river, and advanced in the face of a heavy fire of cannon and rifles from all directions. Numbers threatened destruction, and the line fell back to Ellicott's Mills at noon of July 10. In this battle four were killed, seventy-four were wounded, and fifty-two were missing. The regiment proceeded next day to Baltimore, thence, on the 1 4th, by rail to Washington ; on the 15th, marched again, forded the Potomac near Edwards' Ferry, and. passing Snicker's (Jap to the Shenandoah, skirmished with the enemy. Soon after, the regiment returned to Washington. A few days later, march was resumed, and after moving from point to point they are seen on the morning of August 10 passing through Charleston, Newton. Middletown, and two days later arrived at Cedar Creek. Several skirmishes followed, and, August 16, they were placed in charge of a train proceeding to Charlestown. The regiment was driven to Bolivar Heights, returned to Charlestown, and on the 29th in turn attacked and drove the enemy. It marched, September 3, to Clifton Farm, and threw up works. Two weeks later, it crossed the Opequan, bore prominent, honorable part in the battle of Winchester, where it thrice charged, and was one of the first to reach the heights. It joined in the pursuit of the enenry, overtook and engaged them at Fisher's Hill, and there captured four guns and a hundred prisoners. Continuing the pursuit to Mount Crawford it then wheeled about and marched back to Harper's Ferry. October 6, it moved to Strasburg, and thence to the neighborhood of Front Royal, from which place it moved to Ashby's Gap. and almost immediately returning went into camp, on Cedar Creek. When the Eighth and Nineteenth Corps were surprised by Early on the morning of the 19th of October, the One Hundred and Tenth was posted in the front line of the Sixth Corps, formed to check disaster and hold the enemy at bay. Continually flanked, stand after stand was made, until a fresh formation being made, a daring, desperate charge retrieved the day, and drove the rebels in headlong rout. No regiment on that eventful da}r took more active part than did the One Hundred and Tenth. Two officers were wounded, one mortally ; five men were killed, twenty-seven were wounded, and an officer and one private were missing. At night the men occupied the camp whence the storm of battle had driven them, vainly resisting, in the morning, and here they remained until November 9, when the}* went into winter quarters near Kenstown.

They broke camp December 3, marched to Stebbins' Station, where cars were taken for Washington, whence by steamer, they were transported to City Point ; thence by rail at midnight of the 6th, and they were at the old front once more. They were located near the Weldon Railroad, and with prospects of a permanent sta}r, proceeded to erect substantial winter quarters. They moved February !>. 1865, to a position on the line between Forts Welch and Fisher, and again put up winter quarters and rested about six weeks.. On March 25, the brigade was called early to arms, and, line being formed, an advance was made upon the entrenched picket line, which proved too strong, and a check was experienced ; again the men advance with a desperate bravery that would not be denied, and despite the deadly fire met the works were carried, and a large number of prisoners were taken. A week passed away ; upon the National side in great preparations, while the rebels with few but devoted men stood defiantly behind works themselves almost impassable. On the morning of April 2. the lines were again formed for assault, and just before daybreak the Sixth Corps marched out and swept upon the entrenched lines in their front, carrying all before them and capturing many prisoners and guns.

The regiment joined in the subsequent pursuit, aiding to rout the enemy :it Saylor's Creek, and following on until the final surrender at Appomattox. Tin' command then marched to Burksville Junction, and, at a presentation of captured colors made to Gen. Meade on the 17th. the One Hundreth and Tenth was found to have taken more than any other regiment in the corps, and in consequence was selected as guard of honor to conve}' them to the General's headquarters. The regiment marched to Richmond, was reviewed by Halleck, marched to Washington and reviewed by the President at the White House. It was finally mustered out at the National Capital, June 25, 1865. and was discharged at Tod Barracks,

Columbus, having seen an arduous soldierly service in march and battle-field. It was in twenty-one engagements, and sustained a loss in killed, wounded and missing, of 795 men. It entered the service with but 797 men, received 625 recruits, and at the final muster-out 627 were discharged. These figures show the character of the men for bravery, and how dearly they bought their enviable reputation on a score of fields. It seemed the fortune of some organizations to be called upon in the most perilous times and thrown forward as a forlorn hope ; it was honorable though deadly, and inscribed a record of which the living may well be proud.

The EightJi Ohio Independent Battery was recruited in the counties of Darke, Miami and Montgomery, and organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, March 10, 1862. It was soon ordered to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Mo., and on its arrival reported to Gen. Halleck, Commandant. The battery did not go into quarters, but was at once sent on board of transports and taken down the river, under orders to report to Gen. Grant at Savannah, on the Tennessee. It reached its destination March 28, and. without disembarking, moved up the river to Pittsburg Landing, where it reported to Gen. Sherman and went into camp near the landing, where it remained until the beginning of the battle of Shiloh, on the 6th of April. The battery, during the two-da}-s fight, was in Sherman's division, and several times came into close quarters with the enemy, on Sunday morning especially, the rebels charging in mass down their skirmish line within a few paces of the guns. The battery lost in killed Sergt. Leonard Ullery, of Greenville, and three men wounded.