USA > Ohio > Auglaize County > Saint Marys > Ninth reunion of the 37th Regiment O.V.V.I., St. Marys, Ohio, Tuesday and Wednesday, September 10 and 11, 1889 > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00825 1396
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/ninthreunionof3700ohio
VINTE
.- 9th REUNION
OF THE
37TH REGIMENT
O. V. V. I.
1889
. ST. MARYS, OHIO,
TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY
SEPTEMBER 10 AND 11 1889.
TOLEDO, OHIO: MONTGOMERY & VROOMAN, PRINTERS, 1890.
€ ..
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ZELLEWEEK
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1645463
The following Circular was sent to members of the Regiment:
NINTH REUNION
37TH REGIMENT.
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HE resident members of the Regiment will spare no efforts to entertain their visiting Comrades and make this Reunion as interesting and successful as any previously held.
Our members are steadily decreasing. We can- not expect to meet many more years. Every Com- rade should make a special effort to attend and re- port promptly.
" Our Old Flags will be Here." " Rally Once Again."
It will also interest many Comrades to visit the gas and oil wells around St. Marys, which are not ex- celled anywhere.
The reservoir is the largest artificial body of water in the world.
Our hotels are now ample to entertain all, and furnish excellent accommodations at reasonable rates.
PROGRAM.
Tuesday Evening, September 10th, 1889.
Reception in Town Hall, addresses by Comrades
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THIRTY SEVENTH REGIMENT, O. V. V. I.
and invited guests, appropriate vocal and instrumental music, followed by Banquet, and concluding with " Kommers."
Wednesday, September 11th, 1889.
Excursion by boat to the St. Marys Reservoir and Pic-nic.
COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
CHARLES PRANGE. HENRY WIENER. MATT BRODBECK.
FRED HEUSCH. HENRY SCHULENBERG.
CHARLES HIPP, President. LOUIS E. LAMBERT, Secretary
ORDER OF EXERCISES
AT REUNION OF 37TH REGIMENT, O. V V. I., ST. MARYS, OHIO SEPTEMBER IO AND II, 1889.
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Headquarters are established at the G. A. R. Hall ; all Comrades are requested to report there on arrival, to register, receive badges and tickets to Banquet.
Tuesday, September 10th.
Reception at the Town Hall ; doors opened at 7 p. m., entertainment at 8 p. m. sharp, when the doors will be closed. Banquet at 10 p. m;
Wednesday, September 11th.
10:00 A. M. Meeting of Regiment at Town Hall.
I:OO P. M: Boats will leave wharf for Reservoir and Pic-Nic Grounds.
3:00 P. M. Inspection of Gas Wells.
5:00 P. M. Return to Town.
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7:30 P. M. Kommers in Town Hall.
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THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, O. V. V. I.
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Reception to 37th Regiment, O. V. V. I., at Town Hall, St. Marys, Sept. 10, 1889, at 8 P. M .:
PROGRAM.
Overture-"'Golden Hours." Little Six Band Address of Welcome . E. F. Gross, Mayor Response . . Major Chas. Hipp
Song-"Tenting on the Old Camp Ground."- Quartette and Grand Chorus . . .
Misses Abbie Smith. Ella and May Manor; Messrs. Elza and Jas. Smith.
Music-In Memoriam-Zither Solo . . Albert Herzing
Song-"The Old Canteen"-Baritone Solo and Chorus Lieut. Fred Krumm Address-"From Camp Brown to Mission Ridge."
Comrade John S. Kountz, Fast Commander-in-Chief, G. A. R.
Recitation . Mrs. Elizabeth Mansfield Irving
Soug-Duett, Soprano and Baritone . Miss Nellie and Lieut. Krumm Address-"From Mission Ridge to Larkinsville, Ala."
Comrade Wm. Schulenberg.
Song-"The Vacant Chair"-Quartette and Grand Chorus
Music-Overture-"Buckeye State" Little Six Band Soug-"Just Before the Battle"-Soprano Solo and Quartette Ohorus . Miss Elia Manor.
Address-"Atlanta Campaign." . Comrade John H. Puck Song-"Marching Through Georgia."-Quartette and Grand Chorus . . Address-"From Atlanta to the Sea;" "Through the Carolinas to Washington . and Home.". . . Captain Louis E. Lambert.
Song-"Tramp, Tramp, Tramp."-Soprano Solo and Grand Chorus
Musio-Medley
Miss Abbie Smith. Little Six Band
BANQUET.
Members of the 37th Regiment began to come in September 9th, and by the evening of September Ioth, a lively and goodly number of them, many with their wives, assembled at the Town Hall of St. Marys, which was beautifully decorated with bunting, flags and flowers. The old soldiers and their fami- lies occupied the front seats, while the rest of the hall was filled with ladies and gentlemen from St. Marys and surrounding towns. All seats had been reserved for soldiers and ladies, and standing room was all taken up.
At 8 p. m. promptly the meeting was called to order by the President, Major Charles Hipp, and opened with the overture, "Golden Hours," by the Little Six Band, of New Bremen. The President .
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THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, O. V. V. I.
: then introduced Hon. E. F. Gross, Mayor of St. Marys, who made the following address :
MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE 37TH, AND LADIES AND GEN- TLEMEN :-
The warlike and warring times in which your regiment was formed have passed away, your army corps has dissolved, your brigade has disbanded, and your regiment long sinee has surrendered to family and home, the soldier boys that war and duty called away.
There are, gentlemen, the ties of good-fellowship which now unite and bind you together -- good-fellowship which grew up under sacrifices cach of you bravely made ; under dangers by you all together, fearlessly and heroically met, and in the discharge by each of you of patriotic duty. To promote that good-fellowship, to keep glowing in all your breasts that af- fectionate regard in which you justly hold each other, and in pursuance of your custom, you have met this evening. In obedieneo to the wish of the people of this village, as well as in obedience to my own impulse, as Mayor of the Village of St. Marys, and as an individual, I accept it as a duty and cherish it as a privilege, to bid you welcome.
This is a proud day for St. Marys -- proud because your committee has thus for a second time chosen this village for the place of your reunion ; proud that among your members 80 many of her sons have been enrolled.
I trust, gentlemen, that it is pardonable, because I know it to bo a fact, that the people of this village and county have ever regarded your regiment with a peculiar interest. In war times after every battle in which you were engaged, the ques- tion wo at home asked cach other was, " How fared it with the 37th ?" But, gentlemen, had we then seen that tattered banner, then gallantly borne aloft and fearlessly followed-had we seen it in the thickest of the fray, its sacred folds pierced and its trusty staff splintered by treason's bullets; had we seen it rising and falling on the waves of battle, but ever pointing on-
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الوز
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THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, O. V. V. I. 7 .
ward to victory-we could have been no more certain than we were that wherever it was, the 37th always did its duty.
Gentlemen, we are proud of your regiment's record, we are grateful to you for the preference shown our village, and we bid you a cordial welcome.
Response by the President, Major Chas. Hipp :
COMRADES AND FRIENDS :-
When, 24 years ago, we scattered from the tented field for home and fireside, when the martial bonds that held us for four long years were sundered, we carried with us that glorious feeling of Comradeship, cemented by common dangers and suf- ferings, and to-day we meet, once again, to live over the days when confidently we touched elbows toward the center, where these old fiags then proudly waved.
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None but family ties can surpass the cords of Comrade- ship; based on patriotism, tried by fire, proven true as steel, they hold us captive by the silken chords of devotion, respect and honor.
Strike from your lives the four years of 61-65, how . dreary and common-place appear the others, before and after those stormy times, when it was your good fortune to live and turn a spoke in the wheel of history; you can proudly claim a share in shaping destiny, in crushing national crimes, in es- tablishing national unity, in breaking the fetters of suffering millions.
Words are tame in expressing the joy we feel in meet- ing and grasping the hands of trusted comrades of many & camp, march and battle. We are now, once more, in camp.
Sound the reveille.
REVEILLE
Song-"Tenting on the Old Camp Ground." Quartette with Piano Accompaniment.
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MISSES ABBIE SMITH, ELLA AND MAY MANOR, 1
MESSRS. ELZA AND JAS. SMITII.
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THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, O. V. V. I.
TENTING ON THE OLD CAMP GROUND.
We're tenting to-night on the old camp-ground, Give us a song to cheer Our weary hearts, a song of home And the friends we love so dear.
CHORUS-Many are the hearts that are weary to-night Wishing for the war to cease ; Many are the hearts looking for the right To see the dawn of peace ; Tenting to-night, tenting to-night, 1:
Tenting on the old camp ground. 1
We've been tenting to-night on the old camp-ground, Thinking of the days gone by ;
Of the loved ones at home that gives us the hand, And the tear that said : good-bye.
CHORUS-Many are the hearts, etc. -
We are tired of war on the old camp ground ; Many are dead and gone,
Of the brave and the true, who've left their homes ; Others have been wounded long
CHORUS-Many are the hearts, etc.
We've been fighting to-day on the old camp-ground ; Many are lying near, Some are dead and some are dying, Many are in tears !
CHORUS-Many are the hearts that are weary to-night, Wishing for the war to cease Many are the hearts looking for the right, To see the dawn of peace ; . | Dying to-night, dying to-night Dying on the old camp-ground.
(ADDITIONAL VERSE.)
Since twenty-four years have passed away, And truest peace has come ; Remember to-night the dear ones gone, Who're sleeping in the grave's dark home.
CHORUS-Many are the hearts full of sorrow to-night, Thinking of the war's dark days ; Mourning o'er the brave dying for the right, Who won Columbia's praise. Who'er sleeping to-night, sleeping to-night, Sleeping on their last camp-ground,
They're sleeping to-night, sleeping to-night, They're sleeping in their last camp-ground.
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THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, O. V. V. I.
This popular old army song was beautifully ren- dered and enthusiastically received.
Music-In Memoriam-"Nearer My God to Thee." Zither Solo. ALBERT HERZING.
Song-" The Same Canteen." Baritone Solo and Chorus. LIEUT. FRED. KRUMM. -
WE'VE DRUNK FROM THE SAME CANTEEN.
There are bonds of all sorts in this world of ours Fetters of friendship and ties of flowers, And true lover's knots I wean,- The boy, and the girl are bound by a kiss, But there's never a bond old friend, like this, We have drunk from the same canteen.
CHORUS-The same canteen, my soldier friend, The same canteen,
There's never a bond, old friend like this, We have drunk from the same canteen,
The same canteen, my soldier friend, The same canteen, There's never a bond, old friend, like this, We have drunk from the same canteen.
It was some times water, and some times milk, Sometimes apple jack fine as silk,
But whatever the tipple has been,- We shar'd it together, in bane-or bliss. And I warn to you friend, when I think of this, We have drunk from the same canteen.
CHORUS-The same canteen, etc.
The rich and the great sit down to dine, And quaff to each other in sparkling wine,
From glasses of crystal, and green,- But I guess in their golden potations they miss The warmth of regard, to be found in this, We have drunk from the same canteen.
..
CHORUS-The same canteen, etc.
We've shared our blankets, and tent together, And marched, and fought, in all kinds of weather,
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THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, O. V. V. I.
And hungry, and full, we've been,- Had days of battle, and days of rest, But this mem'ry I cling to, and love the best, We have drunk from the same canteen.
CHORUS-The same canteen, etc.
For when wounded I lay on the outer slope, With my blood flowing fast, and but little hope, On which my faint spirit might lean,- O! then I remember, you crawl'd to my side, And bleeding so fast, it seem'd both must have died We drunk from the same canteen.
CHORUS-The same canteen, etc.
Address-"From Camp Brown to Mission Ridge." COMRADE JOHN S. KOUNTZ, Past Commander-In-Chief, G. A. R.
DEAR COMRADES :-
WISH I could tell you how my heart rejoices, as once more I look into your faces, and the pleasure I feel in greeting the remnant of our dear old regiment.
When Major Hipp, whom we all love, wrote me that I was on the list for an address, I concluded I could do nothing better than give some of my personal observations and experiences from home to Mission Ridge-an undertaking by no means easy, as I kept no record during my service. In going back through the scenes in which we were participants-the camp, the march, the bivouac and the battle-neither time nor occa- sion will permit me more than a brief outline.
At the breaking of the rebellion I had just passed my fif- teenth birthday. In our town ( Maumee, Ohio,) many of the young men promptly responded to the first call for volunteers. How I envied those whose age made them eligible. Those who first went from Maumee enlisted in the Fourteenth and Twenty- first regiments. I watched with much interest the service of those commands in West Virginia; was present in : Toledo when the Fourteenth returned, and regarded every man as indeed "a hero."
In August 1861, the Thirty-seventh regiment, under the
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THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, O. V. V. I.
call for 300,000 men, was organized at Cleveland, being re- cruited among the Germans of Cleveland, Toledo, St. Marys, Youngstown, Columbus and Chillicothe. A goodly number of Company G were from Maumee. Toward the end of Sep- tember several boys returned for a brief time, previous to the departure of the the regiment for the field. On the last Satur- day in September I met a number who bad "donned the blue," among them being Lieutenant Hamm, who said to me, "We will take you with us as a drummer." I was delighted, and going home I asked my father's permission. At first he hesi- tated, but finally gave his consent. On Monday morning I bid adieu to home-to my father and sister it was the last good- bye, both dying while I was in the army; and taking the train for Toledo, where we changed cars for Cleveland, arriving at Camp Brown the same evening (September 30, 1861). I was pretty tired from the day's experience. A short time after our arrival in the camp the bugle signal notified the men that supper was ready, and we formed in single file, marching to the kitchen, where I was given a large tin cup and a tablespoon. The cook with a long-handleu dipper filled my cup with coffee, and I was given a slice of bread and a piece of baked salt pork, which constituted my first army meal.
The second day after my arrival we broke camp and took the train for Camp Dennison, were we remained about ten days, were mustered into the service and the regiment (Col. Edward Siber commanding) armed and equipped. The drums not having been received, I was given a musket and did guard duty for one night. A mere boy, I must have been an interesting figure, marching up and down in front of the commissary department, with a heavy Springfield musket upon my shoulder. At first, I felt very proud of my position, but the novelty soon wore off, and I was glad when relieved.
From Camp Dennison we moved to Cincinnati, where we took steamers for Camp Piatt, on the Kanawha river, arriving there and reporting to Gen. Rosecrans a few days later. This camp was located about twelve miles above Charleston, West
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THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, O. V. V. I.
Virginia, and had been occupied by the Thirty-fourth Ohio, for whose colonel the camp was named. A day or two after our ar- rival the drums came, when the drum corps was obliged to put in four hours a day of practice. It was in this camp that I first saw the "Johnnies"-a couple of captured "bushwhackers." They where dressed in homespun "butternut," and to us a great curiosity.
At this time the country south of the Kanawha was over- run with squads of rebel cavolry of Jenkins' command, who oc- casionally fired upon passing steamers and then took to the mountains. Col. Siber, determining, if possible, to break up these raids, crossing the river with part of the regiment and occupied Brownstown, from which place scouting parties where sent into the surrounding country. One had started out under Capt. Hipp, with three days' rations, but was recalled by Gen Rose- crans, who considered the expidition too hazardous. About this time there was a report that Capt Hipp's command had been defeated, and Col. Siber reported to Gen. Roscrans that he was going to the rescue of his scouting party, which, a day or two later, returned to camp.
Recrossing the river, the regiment proceeded to Cannelton where the forces where organizing for driving the rebel Gen. Floyd out of the valley. This was my first march, and as I carried knapsack, haversack and drum, it was very tiresome although the distance was but about eighteen miles. The col- onel subsequently permitted the drummers to put their knap. sacks on the regimental wagons. We remained in the camp for a few days, then crossing the river, went into camp on the Mont- gomory farm, opposite the oil works at Cannelton. Consider- ablo excitement was soon occasioned in camp by the report that a member of company C had been shot by a bushwhacker, but when comrade Kopf was brought into camp, it was learned that he had accidentally shot himself.
From Camp Montgomery the regiment moved up the val- ley to Loup creek, against the rebel forces under Floyd, and succeeded in forcing them to evacuate Cotton Hill. The per-
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THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, O. V. V. I.
suit of Floyd was continued several miles beyond Fayettville, notwithstanding heavy rains, which made the expedition one of great hardship. The streams where high, the men often be- ing compelled to wade deep water; and as it was impossible to get wagons through the mud, troops were without rations for several days. The comrades of the thirty-seventh who parti- cipated in the pursuit of Floyd will never forget the hardships and privations which attended that short campaign. Soon after the return from the expedition, we went into winter quarters at Clifton, where drill, discipline, guard duty and occasional scout- ing occupied the time.
In January, 1862, a portion of the regiment went on an ex- pedition to Logan C. H., east of Guyandotte river, where, after hard marching and brisk skirmishing, with rebel cavalry, the · place was captured and the war material found was destroyed. This was accomplished with the loss of Capt. H. Goeka and Corporal Behm killed. When on the Guyandotte river our men were occasionally fired at from the opposite side. when Corporal Maulen, of Company B, discovering a small boat, swam the river, (the water being at freezing point,) and brought back the canoe. Several of the Thirty-seventh crossed over in this boat and cleared the woods of bushwhackers. On reaching Logan C. H. the town was found deserted, except a few drunken women, one of whom was the wife of one Hatfield whose sons have recently gained notoriety for lawlessness in that region. The energetic measures of Col. Siber resulted in the suppression of these bands, and many of those who had been engaged in bush - whacking came into Charleston and took the oath of allegiance
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Clifton was a delightful place, and as the duties of the men were not arduous our boys were quite content to remain there during the winter. Our Sutler, Mr. Carl Lenk, one of the best in the army, was an excellent provider. I am sure no .s"t- ler could have been held in higher esteem then was he. His assistent, Christ Nopper, was also very popular. My company for a time was quartered in an old frame store on the Hansford
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14 THIRTY SEVENTH REGIMENT, O. V. V. I.
place, not far from a stable in which were kept several cows whose milk, through carly rising, I was enabled to supply for breakfast coffee.
When news of the fall of Donelson was received, many of us felt that the war was about over, and we were not to have an op- portunity for a battle; but our ambition in that regard was fully satisfied as shown by subsequent record. During April my company performed guard duty at Loup creek returning to Clifton toward the end of the month. About this time the Thir- ty-seventh was assigned to the third provisional brigade of the Kanawaha division (Gen. J. D. Cox), and ordered to accom- pany the same on a raid to southwest Virginia, with a view of destroying the Virginia & East Tennessee railroad.
Early in May, 1862, we bade adieu to our pleasant quarters at Clifton, and again resumed active campaigning. After the . first day's march we went into camp near Loup creek. The next morning we continued our tramp over Cotton mountain and on to Fayetteville where we bivouaced for the night. The following day we made a long and tiresome march to Raleigh C. H., resuming our march the next day over Flat Top mountain to Princeton, and on to French Mills, the regi- mont arriving there May 14, 1862. Meantime the day before we reached, Princeton, it rained very hard, and being obliged to wade through streams of water, I became quite sick, and was placed in an ambulance. That night we halted on Blue Stone river, about fifteen miles north of Princeton. Not having proper cov- ering, Liout. Hamm gave me his double blankets. These I re- tained when left at the hospital in Princeton, and a day or two later they came into possession of the "Johnnies." Our hospi. tal was a large frame building on the main road, a short distance from the ruins of the court house. Gen. Cox established his headquarters here, and the few soldiers left behind were placed under command of Maj. Ankele, of the Thirty-seventh. On the afternoon of the 15th the rebels, under Humphrey Mar- shall, advanced on Princeton and attacked our small forces which had taken a position behind the walls of the burnt court-
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THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, O. V. V. I.
house. Our men held the rebels at bay until after dark, when they were driven from their position, some being made prisoners and others scattering to the woods. During this little fight Maj. Ankele was seriously wounded. Well do I remember the men bringing him in and the peculiar sensation I felt at the first sight of a bleeding soldier. About this time Gen. Cox and staffhastened to join his command at French Mill. When the report reached us that our men were driven back, I left the hospital, and with other inmates ran to the woods, a short distance from the town, where wo remained un - til morning. It was one of the most unsatisfactory nights I experinced during my entire service. But for the kindness ot a comrade of the Thirty-fourth Ohio, whom I met in the wood, and who permitted me to share his blanket, I would have suf- fored still more. Most of the sick were made prisoners, includ- · ing the comrade last referred to.
Gen. Cox who had left Princeton the evening before, reached French Mill about 9 o'clock p. m., and the troops were ordered back to Princeton, where, much fatigued, they arrived early in the morning. The rebels had destroyed our stores and retired about an hour before the arrival of Gen. Cox's command. The previous day, four companies of the Thirty-seventh, five of the Twenty-eigth and two of the Thirty-fourth, under command of Lieut. Col. Von Blessingh, were sent up the East River and . Wytheville road, to ascertain the rebel forco at Rocky Gap, to return the following day. but on learning that the enemy had attacked and driven our forces from Princeton, Col. Von Bless- ingh was notified by courier to march direct to Princeton. About 10 a. m. on the 16th, his command came upon the rebels under Gen. Marshall, and after severe fighting, in which the four companies of our regiment lost one officer and 13 men kill- ed, two officers and 46 men wounded, and 14 missing, our forces were compelled to retreat. We heard the heavy musketry fir- ing, and the troops were eager, but were not allowed to go to Von Blessingh's assistance. At 3o'clock the next morning the di- vision commenced the retrograde movement, and reached Flat
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THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, O. V. V. I.
Top mountain the 19th. What was left of Von Blessingh's command joined us at Blue Stone river, to our great delight.
We remained in camp on Flat Top until August, having built comfortable quarters from the bark of the large chestnut trees on the mountain. The camp was cool, and the water was excellent.
August 1st the regiment was again on the move, and after a day's march reached Raleigh C. H., remaining there about three weeks and scouting the surrounding country. During the stay at Raleigh a number of our men made an ex- pedition to Wyoming C. H. where a detachment of the regi- ment fell into ambuscade and was surrounded, but cut .ts way out, with loss of two killed and seven captured. The last of August the regiment removed to Fayetteville, where in con- junction with the Thirty-fourth Ohio, it garrisoned that impor- tant outpost. On September 10 it was reported that the ene- my was moving on Fayetteville. Col. Siber, in command of the union troops, ordered two companies of our regiment out on the Princeton road, but the men soon encountered the rebels in . heavy force, and were obliged to fall back. At noon Col. Siber's entire command (six companies of the Thirty-fourth and the . Thirty-seventh Ohio) were engaged with the confederates, led by Gen. Loring. The fight lasted until dark, but as most of our regiment occupied the breastworks, which had been con- structed the previous year, our casualties were light. During · this engagement the drummers carried water to the men from a well on the Fayetteville road, an exceedingly hazardous em- ployment, as we were obliged to pass an open space exposed to the enemy's fire. The Thirty-fourth on our right fought gal- lantly in an open field, and charged the rebels several times, sustaining heavy loss, one-half of the officers and fully one-third of the men engaged being either killed or wounded. During the night Col. Siber, learning that the enemy was threatening our roar, ordered the buring of government stores, and at 2 o'clock a. m. we moved back on the Gauley road. Gen. Lor- ing's command, consisting of Williams', Heath's and Echols,
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