USA > Ohio > Knox County > History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present > Part 60
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Colonel Joseph W. Vance was born in 1809, in Washington county, Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1840 he removed to Mount Vernon, Ohio. He was admitted to the bar in 1842, and soon took a position among the ablest advocates in the State.
. 325
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
He made a profession of religion, and united with the Old School Presbyterian church of Mount Ver- non in 1846, and in 1850 was ordained a ruling elder. He continued a devoted Christian until his death. He was an earnest, true man, a devoted patriot, a faithful friend, an affectionate husband and father, taking a lively interest in whatever tended to promote the welfare and prosperity of the community in which he lived.
With his military history the reader is already familiar, as it is part of the history of his regiment. He was a nervous, active, courageous man. At Arkansas Post he stood up continually encouraging his men amid the storm of battle, while all others were closely hugging the ground. He was unfitted to accompany the Red river expedition by reason of ill health, and was hauled in an ambulance to the battle field, where he mounted his horse, and commanded the brigade. He was literally without fear, and made of himself a conspicuous mark for the enemy's sharpshooters.
He was ever is the fore front of battle, where bullets flew thickest, and died a heroic death do- ing his duty.
To his family, who urged him to resign and re- turn to them, he thus wrote in February, 1863, from Young's Point, in sight of Vicksburgh:
You really distress me by urging me to resign, and if you properly understood the matter, you would not think of it. Would you have me disgrace myself by tendering my resigna- tion in the face of the enemy? No, my wife, I would rather die in these hated swamps than do so; I know and fully ap- preciate the interest you and my aged mother, my children and all my friends take in me, but all this was very fully considered by me before I took the field in defence of my country and its constitution. The sacrifice, I felt, was a great one, yet I felt that it was my duty to make it, and I feel so yet. And if the Great Ruler of the universe intends that my life shall be sacri- ficed in the great struggle between freedom and despotism, then so it will be. In His hand I am willing to leave the issue. If I fall, he will be the God of the fatherless and widow, and a way will surely be provided for you. Then ask me, my wife, no more to resign. God Almighty will take care of you and me, and until the last foe to freedom and free institutions shall succumb or bite the dust I shall not sheathe my sword.
Captain Coulter, a brave and valuable officer of the Ninety-Sixth, was wounded in this battle, fell into the hands of the enemy, and subsequently died in a rebel hospital. In the terrible and ever memorable retreat to the Mississippi river, the Ninety-sixth was fighting and skirmishing most of the way.
The regiment went into camp at Morganza ; from there to Baton Rouge, where it remained until the twentieth of July, when it proceeded to Algiers, from which point it embarked and landed on Dauphin's island, Alabama, August 3, 1864. At this point the Ninety-sixth formed part of the forces in the siege of Fort Gaines up to its capit- ulation on the eighth of August. It then moved to the rear of Fort Morgan, and engaged in the siege of that fort until its capitulation, August 23d.
On the first of September it moved back to Morganza, Louisiana; thence on November Ist, to the mouth of White river, Arkansas. By special order No. 21, the regiment was consolidated on the eighteenth of November, into four companies, and a company of about seventy-four men transferred from the Forty-second to the Ninety-sixth, making five companies, designated as the Ninety-sixth battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Brown, commanding.
The regiment remained at the mouth of White river until the fourth of February, when it moved to Kennersville, Louisiana ; thence on the sixteenth, to Mobile Point. It was engaged in the operations around Mobile, taking part in the siege of the Spanish fort until its evacuation on the eighth of April, 1865, and in the capture of Mobile April 12, 1865. Shortly after the capture of Mobile, the regiment was sent on expeditions to Namahubbel Bluffs on the Tombigbee, and to McIntosh Bluffs. On the ninth of May the regiment returned to Mobile, where it was mustered out of the service July 7, 1865, and embarked from that city for Camp Chase, Ohio, via New Orleans, Cairo and Cincinnati, where the men were paid off and sent to their homes. At the date of muster-out the regiment numbered four hundred and twenty- seven, including the company transferred from the Forty-second.
The Ninety-sixth marched one thousand six hundred and eighty-three miles; was transported by boat seven thousand six hundred and eighty-six miles, and by railroad five hundred and seventeen miles, making a grand total of nine thousand eight hundred and eighty-six miles.
326
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
WAR OF THE REBELLION CONTINUED.
COMPANIES F AND G ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT-ORGANIZATION AND OFFICERS-OPERATIONS OF THE REGIMENT IN SERVICE.
TN the summer of 1862 President Lincoln issued two calls for volunteers for three hundred thou- sand men each. War had become a stern reality, and the Nation appeared to be struggling in the throes of death. Under these calls Knox county im- mediately sent forth four companies of her young men,-those of Captains Mitchell, Leonard, Stephens and Yager. The two former being the first completed entered the Ninety-sixth; the two latter, the One Hundred and Twenty-first. These companies were more than full, the whole number being four hundred and sixty-three, drawn from the different townships as follows:
Jackson
Union .16
2
Brown. IO
Harrison. I
Morgan 19
College 20
Pike, 14
Morris. . 14
Miller ..
5
Liberty
26
Middlebury.
16
Butler .. 3
r2
Howard. 4
Clay
24
Pleasant ..
12
Monroe 19
Berlin . . 24 Clinton. .20 Milford I8
Wayne. .43
Hilliar .. 48
Mt. Vernon, First ward.
15
Second ward. II
Third ward. II
Fourth ward I6
Fifthi ward. 28
These men were mostly farmers and without a knowledge of the first principles of military tactics. It will be seen how rapidly they made of them- selves good soldiers. Captain John Yager's com- pany was raised mostly in Berlin and Wayne town- ships, and was composed of his neighbors, he be- ing a resident of Berlin. He was a brave, noble fellow, and gave his life for his country in the
thunder of battle at Kennesaw Mountain, having been first promoted to major. The officers of this company-which became company G-besides the captain, were John Denny, first lieutenant, and Thomas Benton Cotten second lieutenant.
The officers of Company F were Captain Har- rison Stephens; First Lieutenant William Mc- Gaughey, and Second Lieutenant William B. Dunbar, all of Mt. Vernon. This company was mostly recruited in Hilliar township, where Cap- tain Stephens had formerly resided many years, en- gaged in teaching the high school in Centerburg, and was largely made up of young men who had attended his school, and who knew and respected him. This company, of ninety men, left Mt. Vernon Monday, September 1, 1862, for Camp Delaware, Captain Yager having left the Satur- day before with his company for the same place. Under the excitement and pressure of the time, these four companies had been raised and put into the field in less than two weeks, and within six weeks of the date of organization Companies F and G were confronted by the veterans of Bragg's army at Perryville. The following rolls were copied from the muster out rolls of these companies, and therefore includes the names of those who were transferred, discharged, deserted and killed in battle during the service:
. Muster-out roll of company G, One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio regiment, mustered into the service September 11, 1862 :
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Captain John Yager, August 14, 1862.
Captain Joshua Van Brimmer, September 1, 1863.
First Lieutenant John Denney, August 14, 1862.
First Lieutenant William B. Dunbar, April 20, 1863.
First Lieutenant John J. Miller, July 29, 1864.
First Lieutenant Milo H. Lewis, April 18, 1864.
First Lieutenant William J. White, May II, 1865. Second Lieutenant Thomas B. Cotton, August 13, 1862. Second Lieutenant William Lemon, April 20, 1863. Second Lieutenant Mahlon E. Willoughby, May 24, 1864.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
First Sergeant William Clark, August 22, 1862. Sergeant C. M. Taylor, August 15, 1862. Sergeant Abner M. Caywood, August 22, 1862. Sergeant George H. Ewers, August 22, 1862. Sergeant William L. Drake, August 22, 1862. Sergeant James H. Ball, August 15, 1862.
Sergeant Jefferson O. Irwin, August 15, 1862. Sergeant Anthone B. Raymond, December 8, 1863. Corporal Ayres Kisonger, August 18, 1862.
Jefferson.
327
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
Corporal David Dwire, August 22, 1862. Corporal Paul C. Wheeler, August 19, 1862. Corporal Alexander Rhodes, August 18, 1862. Corporal Harrison Farris, August 22, 1862. Corporal Byant Mitchell, August 20, 1862. Corporal John Wells, August 22, 1862. Corporal John M. Dunn, August 15, 1862. Corporal Edward Bixby, August 22, 1862. Corporal John Fry, August 15, 1862. Corporal John Moore, December 9, 1863. Corporal Kinsey Cullison, August 18, 1862. Corporal Lewis Durbin, August 17, 1862. Musician David Henderson, August 15, 1862. Musician John Strong, August 22, 1862.
PRIVATES.
Anderson, Robert, August 16, 1862. Ayres, Thomas D,, February 8, 1862. Ayres, David, August 19, 1862. Ayres, Jacob, February 19, 1864. Adams, Arthur A., December 27, 1863. Adams, James, August 20, 1862. Baily, Madison, August 20, 1862. Bigbee, John G., August 16, 1862. Baile, Abraham, August 20, 1862. Brown, Jacob B., December 2, 1863. Beaty, George, February 24, 1864. Baile, Augustus E., August 20, 1862. Brophy, Edward, August 15, 1862. Brown, George W., August 15, 1862. Beech, James M., February 6, 1864. Black, Jacob, December 20, 1863. Bradfield, A. Baker, Amos. Crider, Abraham, December 28, 1863. Ceill, John, February 11, 1864. Cornell, John T., August 18, 1862. Davis, Clinton, August 19, 1862. Durbin, Leander, August 17, 1862. Davis, H. H. William, January 4, 1864. Davis, John W., August 19, 1862. Dalrumple, Lafayette, August 22, 1862. Ebersole, William, August 22, 1862. Erdman, Charles, August 20, 1862. Eaterbrook, John, February 8, 1864. Erdman, Charles, August 20, 1862. Earl, William, December 26, 1863. Fry, Richard C., August 20, 1862. Frawley, Thomas, December 11, 1863. George, James W., August 22, 1862. Hoffmire, Job, August 22, 1862. Humphrey, George W., August 19, 1862. Hartley, Lewellen, August 22, 1862. Henry, Samuel, February 29, 1862. Hoag, Wesley, February 16, 1864. Huey, George W., August 22, 1862. Hannah, W. A., August 18, 1862. Harden, William, December 11, 1863. Hardin, Job, December 28, 1863. Harrold, B. D., December 18, 1863. Haller, James M., December 8, 1863. Hoar, Thomas T., February ro, 1864.
F
Hogle, Jacob, August 18, 1862. Jones, Lewis, September 1, 1863. Kinney, George H., August 20, 1862. Kemmer, Martin, February 14, 1864. Lett, Alfred S. August 19, 1862. Lafever, Eli, August 20, 1862. Lambert, Nathaniel F., August 22, 1862. Lauppe, George, August 22, 1862. Lewis, Richard, December 11, r863.
Lockwood, Leander T., December 10, r863.
McDonald, Joseph Z., August 9, 1862. Marts, John C., August 22, 1862.
McKee. William, August 22, 1862. Moore, Mathew, September 1, 1863. Modie, Martin, August 22, 1862.
Picard, William H., December 12, 1863. Phifer, Melvin G., December 29, 1863.
Purin, James, August 17, 1862. Rhodes, Jacob, August 18, 1862. Rowley, Melvin B., August 16, 1862. Ross, James, February 27, 1864.
Ross, Lemuel, February 6, 1864.
Ross, Samuel, February 6, 1864.
Rowley, A. F., August 16, 1862. Reed, Lewis, August 16, 1862.
Rowley, William H., August 16, 1862. Ross, William L., January 21, 1864.
Reevell, Henry, December 12, 1863. Struble, John D., August 19, 1862. Sutton, Richard, August 20, 1862. Sims, Heber, August 20, 1862. Scarbrough, George, August 19, 1862. Sands, D. B., August 22, 1862. Sprague, Silas A., August 15, 1862. Snedaky, W. T., August 21, 1862, Scott, Charles W., August 22, 1862. Strouse, John, February 29, 1864. Stofer, Henry, December 25, 1863. Summers, Cartes P., January 27, 1862. Simson, John, February 21, 1864. Tobin, George W., August 22, 1862. Tavener, Hiram H., August 19, 1862. Thorne, James, February 25, 1864. Tobin, George W., August 22, 1862. Wood, Johnson, August 22, 1862. Wolf, Jacob, February 14, 1864. Watkins, Isaac, August 19, 1862. Wicks, John H., February 8, 1864. Wilson, Emanuel, August 20, 1862. Wilkins John O., August 22, 1862. Wells, Robert, August 22, 1862. Wood, Sidney, August 22, 1862. Wilson, Hodges, February 29, 1864. King, David, December 15, 1862. Horn, L. B., February, 14, 1864. McFarland, David, December 14, 1863.
Muster-roll of company F, One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, which was mustered into the service on the eleventh of Sep- tember, 1862 :
328
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Captain Harrison Stephens, August 13, 1862. Captain Theodore C. Fitch, April 19, 1864. Captain James A. Moore, January 23, 1865. First Lieutenant William McGaughy, August 13, 1862. First Lieutenant Jefferson J. Irwin, January 23, 1864. First Lieutenant Alfred A. Corrello, July 28, 1864. First Lieutenant Orlando M. Scott, January 23, 1865. Second Lieutenant William B. Dunbar, August 13, 1862. Second Lieutenant Benjamin A. Banker, March 1, 1863. Second Lieutenant James H. Ball, July 27, 1864. Second Lieutenant Benjamin B. Smith, May 11, 1863. NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
First Sergeant Arnold Bishop, August 22, 1862. Sergeant Josiah McClelland, August 22, 1862. Sergeant Calvin Shaffer, August 22, 1862. Sergeant Jesse Headington, August 22, 1862. Sergeant Samuel Sutton, August 22, 1862. Sergeant Mitchel F. Bushfield, August 22, 1862. Sergeant L. P. Riley, August 22, 1862.
Sergeant Amos P. Robertson, August 22, 1862. Sergeant M. Skilin, August 22, '62. Corporal Andrew J. Fergueson, August 22, 1862. Corporal George Hupp, August 22, 1862.
Corporal S. S. Woodruff, August 22, 1862.
Corporal William McClelland, August 22, 1862. Corporal Joseph S. Sutton, August 22, 1862. Corporal Sylvester Best, August 22, 1862. Corporal Robison Frazier, August 22, 1862. Corporal William W. Borden, August 22, 1862. Corporal Henry D. Loff, February 26, 1863.
Corporal George R. Breckenridge, September 13, 1863.
Musician Washington Clutter, August 22, 1862.
Musician George Litzenberg, August 22, 1862.
PRIVATES.
Anderson, Isaac, February 29, 1864. Avrill, John.
Bushfield, John O., August 22, 1862.
Barnes, Wheeler H., August 22, 1862.
Bird, John H., August 22, 1862. Buck, Joseph, February 22, 1864. Bishop, Charles, August 22, 1862. Babbs, Joshua C., August 22, 1862. Burkholder, Morgan, August 22, 1862. Bradfield, A., August 22, 1862. Barr, Thomas, August 22, 1862. Barr, Lyman P. S., August 22, 1862.
Bricker, Marshall, August 22, 1862.
Brickwell, John, August 22, 1862. Baird, William J., February 26, 1864. Black, Eli, March 31, 1864. Black, Robert, February 13, 1864. Brentlinger, Lorenzo, March 8, 1864. Camp, Albert A., August 22, 1862. Carey, James, August 22, 1862. Chauncy, R. F., August 22, 1862. Craig, Alexander, August 22, 1862. Collins, Austin, August 22, 1862. Crable, Elijah, August 22, 1862. Carry, John, February 26, 1862. Critchfield, Alexander, August 14, 1864.
Chafant, Thomas, March 9, 1864. Dunbar, Robert P., August 22, 1864. Debolt, Reason, August 22, 1864. Davidson, Edwin, February 26, 1864. Devalt, James, February 8, 1864. Eyster, Thomas, February 27, '64. Evans. B., August 22, '62. Eddy, Peter R., August 22, '62. Ewing, Abraham, August 22, '62. Ehrencrook, Charles, August 22, '62. Edgar, Orland P., August 22, '62. Earl, Samuel, December 26, '64. Eyster, Jesse, March 14, '65. Fletcher, Francis M., August 22, '62. Feaster, Peter, August 22, '62. Ferguson, Alexander J., August 22, '62. Fullbright, John, February 29, '64. Fisher, William, February 23, '64. Gearhart, John, August 22, '62. Gearheart, Smith, August 22, '62, Green, Charles, February 23, '64. Gibbon, Francis M., March 8, '64. Harris, William, August 22, '62. Hyatt, Alfred, August 22, '62. Hardesty, George, February 29, '64. Hupp, George, August 22, '64. Hammond, Gideon, February 27, '62.
Hicks, Martenbro, August 22, '64. Hamil, William, February 29, '64. Hollister, Ferman, February 27, '64. Higgins, Perry, August 29, '62. Heart, James D. Hannuil, Zachariah, February 29, '64. Hedge, William, February 27, '64. Hollister, Almond, February 26, '64. Harrington, Ormer, February 26, '64. Hoar, Jesse, February 29, '64. Jewett, Abram, February 6, '64. Lepla, Michael, February 8, '64. Lore, Marshall B., August 22, '64. Linti, James, February 29, '64. McGraw, Martin, August 22, '62. Moore, Martin, August 22, '62. Morris, B. F., August 22, '62. Marble, Silas W., August 22, '62. McManis, Levi, August 22, '62. Melsmore, James, August 22, '62. Mowl, John, August 22, '62. Messmore, Harvey, August 22, '62. Mitchel, Lewis, August 22, '62. Markham, Amos, August 22, '62. Majors, Fletcher, August 22, '62. Mack, Michael, August 22, ,62. Neil, Benjamin F., August 22, '62. Neff, John, March 31, '64. Patterson, Harris, August 22, '62. Pendleton, Edward P., August 22, '62. Pierce, Isaac, February 27, '64. Philips, James. Riley, William A., August 22, '62. Reinheart, Mahlon, August 26, '62. Reed, Reece, February 29, '64.
. 329
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY
Ross, James, February 22, '64. Rosenberger, Henry, February 26, '64. Riley, Miller, February 27, '64. Rockwell; John, February 1, '64. Stull, Philip, August 22, '62. Sinclaire, James, August 22, '62. Severe, Amos, August 22, '62. Shaw, William H., August 22, '62. Smith, John J., August 19, '62. Severe, Jefferson W., August 22, '62. Sinclair, James, August 22, '62. Starkey, Cyrus, August 22, '62. Simpkins, Stiles, March 19, '64. Sprague, Silas, February 22, '64. Smith, Henry, March 14, '65. ยท Slayman, James, March 21, '65. Taylor, Thomas B., August 18, '62. Turner, William H., March 8, '64. Titus, Henry, February 26, '64. Turbett, John, March 14, '64. Toby, Jacob, August 22, '62. Thomas, Henry, August 22, '62. Thomas, Morgan, August 22, '62. Updyke, Charles, August 22, '62. Webster, Charles, August 22, '62. Wheeler, George, February 26, '62. Warteube, Daniel C., February 26, '62. Wistlake, John, April 8, '64. Waltz, Isaac L., March 27, '63. Williams, Jackson, August 22, '62. Woods, James, August 1, '63. Yarman, George, March 14, '65.
On the tenth of September the regiment, nine hundred and eighty-five strong, left Camp Dela- ware for Cincinnati, where it was supplied with worthless Prussian muskets, and placed on guard duty about the city. On the fifteenth it crossed over to Covington and went into camp. Remaining there only five days it proceeded to Louisville and was assigned to Colonel Webster's brigade of Jack- son's division, McCook's corps.
Up to this date the regiment had not been drilled an hour, was without discipline and of course un- fitted for active service. In this condition it joined General Buell's forces in pursuit of Bragg, and thus became engaged at Perryville. It is not to be won- dered at that those farmer boys fresh from the plow, never having heard the sing of bullets or the snarl of a shell, could not stand up in line and be shot down like veterans. When they observed the near approach of the long grey lines of Bragg's veterans, with that peculiar, steady dare-devil stride, with bright muskets and glistening bayonets, they simply threw down their worthless Prussian muskets and fled from the field. Captain B. F. Oder, of com-
pany K, was killed in this battle. Looked at in the right light this retreat was no disgrace, but it was keenly felt by the regiment, and gallantly did the men redeem themselves on many a bloody field. "Wipe out Perryville" was thereafter their battle cry, and Ohio did not send to the field a braver or more efficient regiment,or one with a better record.
After the battle of Perryville, the regiment was detailed to remain on the battlefield to bury the dead and look after the wounded. It remained in Kentucky doing guard duty and looking after John Morgan's guerillas, up to January, 1863, and was then taken, in transports, to Nashville, Tennessee, leaving Louisville about the last of January. From Nashville it went to Franklin, arriving there in February, where it performed service in watching and protecting the right flank of the army of Gen- eral Rosecrans, then at Murfreesboro.
March 27, 1863, on application and petition of all the line and field officers of the regiment Lieu- tenant Colonel Henry B. Banning, of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio, was detailed by General Gordon Granger, to take charge of the regiment, and under his management it soon be- came one of the best drilled and disciplined regi- ments of the brigade to which it was attached. Colonel Banning was soon after transferred to this regiment by order from the War Department.
When Rosecrans' army moved forward from Stone river, the regiment moved with it and was attached to the reserve corps, under command of General Gordon Granger.
At Triune, on this march, the regiment was at- tacked by the rebel General Forest, and after a sharp fight Forest was driven back. This affair gave the men confidence and taught them the value of drill and discipline. On the third of July the regiment occupied Shelbyville, Tennessee, remain- ing there three weeks, and being drilled incessantly.
About the twenty-fifth of August the regiment was ordered to occupy the town of Fayetteville, Lincoln county, Tennessee, a strong rebel district situated twenty-five miles from any post. Colonel Banning barricaded the public square and went in- to camp, notifying the citizens that in the event of being attacked he would burn the town.
September 5, orders were received from General Steedman to proceed to Cowan, on the Chattanoga
330
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
railroad, by way of Winchester, where it joined the reserve corps under General Gordon Granger, and proceeded to Chattanooga, and on the fifteenth went into position at Rossville, eight miles south of Chattanooga.
On the seventeenth the regiment, in company with the One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio, under General Steedman, made a reconnoissance to Ring- gold, reaching that place in timeto witness the arrival of reenforcements-Longstreet'scorps. The next day at IO A. M. it fell back to Rossville, and at 6 P. M., marched to the relief of Colonel Daniel McCook's brigade engaged with the enemy at Rossville. The enemy withdrew during the night, and the regi- ment returned to camp at Rossville. In the after- noon of the nineteenth the regiment was ordered to support General Whittaker on the Ringgold road. It took up a position on the left of the road and bivouacked for the night. At 10 A. M. on the twentieth it became fully engaged in the battle of Chickamauga, forming the right of Steedman's di- vision of the reserve corps.
In this action it was commanded by Colonel Banning, and acquitted itself with much honor. Colonel Mitchell, who commanded the brigade, made special mention of the regiment, as follows:
At one time during the early part of the engagement, the right of the line became endangered by a bold move on the part of the enemy to capture our battery, which was doing most efficient service for us. To counteract this movement another bayonet charge was ordered, and the tripple line of the enemy fled in disorder. During this splendid charge the One Hundred and Twenty-first captured the battle-flag of the Twenty-second Alabama and bore it with them from the field.
Regarding the action of the regiment in this bat- tle General Gordon Granger had occasion to use the following words:
The action of Colonel Banning came under my personal ob- servation during the late battle of Chickamauga. To him as much as to any other man is owing the remarkable obstinacy with which the two brigades, one of which was largely com- posed of Ohio troops, for more than seven hours held the key of the position on that battlefield, repulsing the repeated com- bined attacks of more than five times their number, and saving the, army of the Cumberland from destruction. This cool bravery and gallantry was more conspicuous at a time when it was supposed all was lost, and nothing was left to our gallant soldiers but to save their honor by falling beside their dead com- rades.
The following is Colonel Banning's report of the operations of the One Hundred and Twenty-first,
from September 17th to the evening of the twen- tieth inclusive:
The One Hundred and Twenty-first moved from Rossville, Georgia, on the morning of the seventeenth, with one day's rations, on the road in the direction of Ringgold. At rr A. M. we halted to lunch four miles from Ringgold, and drove in the enemy's pickets. The regiment was held in reserve with the One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio, and two pieces of artillery, to cover the withdrawal of the troops who had crossed the west Chickamauga creek. General Steedman having finished his operations in front, and ascertained the strength and position of the enemy, his division returned in the direction of Rossville; the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio brought up the left; the command retired without incident, except the firing on our rear by pursuing cavalry. Major Yager promptly brought a company into line and delivered a volley which punished them so severely that they left our rear unmolested during the re- mainder of the march.
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