Showing posts with label 123rd OH INF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 123rd OH INF. Show all posts

Monday, June 26, 2017

Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes to Sardis Birchard: October 31, 1862

Columbus, October 31, 1862.

Dear Uncle: — Lucy has had a pretty severe attack of diphtheria. For three or four days she was in a good deal of pain and could neither swallow nor talk. Yesterday and today she has been able to sit up, and is in excellent spirits. We expect to return to Cincinnati next week, and in a week or ten days after I shall probably go to the Twenty-third. My arm has improved the last week more than any time before.

You are glad to hear so good an account of Ned! Lucy says you ought to be glad to hear so good an account of her! That she drove him so skillfully, she thinks a feat.

Unless you come down here by Monday next, we shall be gone home. Laura is looked for with her spouse tomorrow.

Sincerely,
R.
S. BlRCHARD.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 363

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Major Rutherford B. Hayes to Lucy Webb Hayes, August 25, 1861

Beverly, Virginia, August 25, 1861, Sunday A. M.

Dearest: — Supposing I might have to go on towards Cheat Mountain this morning, I wrote you a very short note last night I now write so soon again to show you how much I love you and how much my thoughts are on the dear ones at home.

I never enjoyed any business or mode of life as much as I do this. I really feel badly when I think of several of my intimate friends who are compelled to stay at home. These marches and campaigns in the hills of western Virginia will always be among the pleasantest things I can remember. I know we are in frequent perils, that we may never return and all that, but the feeling that I am where I ought to be is a full compensation for all that is sinister, leaving me free to enjoy as if on a pleasure tour.

I am constantly reminded of our trip and happiness a year ago. I met a few days ago in the Fifth Regiment the young Moore we saw at Quebec, who went with me to see the animals at Montreal one Sunday. Do you remember the rattlesnakes?

Young Bradford goes to Cincinnati today. — We have our troubles in the Twenty-third of course, but it is happiness compared with the Guthries — fine fellows and many fine officers, but, etc., etc.

We saw nothing prettier [last year] than the view from my tent this morning. McCook's men are half a mile to the right, McMullen's Battery on the next hill in front of us. The Virginia Second a half mile in front, and the Guthries to the left. We on higher ground see them all; then mountains, meadow, and stream. Nothing wanting but you and the boys.

I want to say to you it will be impossible often, as we get further in the hills, to write, and when I do write it will be only a few lines. Don't think I am getting weaned from you and home. It is merely the condition of things compels me.

I saw young Culbertson, looking strong and healthy, Channing Richards, the Andersons, etc., etc., all ditto. Young Culbertson is now in a scouting party that is after guerrillas who murdered some of their men in an ambulance.

I have got a new boy — a yellow lad in Guthrie Gray uniform, aged about sixteen, named Theodore Wilson.

Sunday evening. — Just got orders to go to Huttonsville. Look on my map of Virginia and you will see it geography style, but the beautiful scenery you will not see there. We are to be for the present under General Reynolds, a good officer, and then General Benham or General Rosecrans. All good. The colonel takes our one-half and the German half of McCook and the battery of McMullen. The soldiers are singing so merrily tonight. It is a lovely sweet starlit evening. I rode over to Colonel Sandershoff (I think that is the name of McCook's soldierly and gentlemanly lieutenant-colonel) to tell him about the march, and from his elevated camp I could see all the camps, “sparkling and bright.” I thought of the night you walked with me about Camp Chase.

Good-night. Our most advanced outpost is connected by telegraph, so that in Cincinnati you will know what happens at an early date; earlier far than any letter of mine can reach you. Kisses to all the boys. Love to Grandma and affection enough for you, dearest.

Affectionately,
R. B. Hayes.

P. S. — It would do mother good to know that I read three chapters in the Testament she sent me. Send a quarter's worth of postage stamps in your next.

Mrs. Hayes.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 76-8

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Diary of Private Charles H. Lynch: February 1-5, 1864

This month so far has brought snow and cold rains. Regular duty kept up from day to day. Our regiment has been without a chaplain for several months. The Rev. William C. Walker, a Baptist clergyman of Putnam, Connecticut, having been appointed chaplain, arrived in camp and began the duties of that office. Believe that he will make a good chaplain. We all welcome him.

The 123d Ohio Regiment having received orders, left our brigade and camp. Ordered to New Creek, West Virginia, following the 3d and 4th Pennsylvania Regiments. Andrew Washburn, 1st Sergeant of our company, having been appointed a Captain in the 29th Connecticut Colored Regiment, left us to join that regiment. Albert Green, Company A, organized a singing school in town. It is very much enjoyed by the townspeople and the soldiers, passing the evenings very pleasantly. I attend once in a while when off duty. Enjoy it very much.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 39-40

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

123rd Ohio Infantry

Organized at Monroeville, Ohio, and mustered in September 24, 1862. Left State for Parkersburg, W. Va., October 16, 1862; thence moved to Clarksburg October 20. Attached to Railroad Division, West Virginia, to January, 1863. Defences of the Upper Potomac, 8th Army Corps, Middle Department, to March, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 8th Army Corps, to July, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Dept. of the Susquehanna, to July, 1863. McReynolds' Command, Martinsburg, W, Va., to December, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Dept. of West Virginia, to April, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, West Virginia, to December, 1864. 1st Brigade, Independent Division, 24th Army Corps, Army of the James, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.--March from Clarksburg to Buckhannon, W. Va., October 27-30, 1862, and to Beverly November 3. Moved to Huttonville November 8; to Webster November 16, and to New Creek November 18. Duty at New Creek till December 12. Moved to Petersburg December 12. March to relief of Moorefield January 3, 1863. Duty at Romney January 10 to March 4, and at Winchester, Va., till June. Reconnoissance toward Wardensville and Strasburg April 20. Operations in Shenandoah Valley April 22-29. Scout to Strasburg April 25-30. Battle of Winchester June 13-15. Regiment surrendered by Colonel Ely, Commanding Brigade, June 15, 1863. Exchanged August, 1863. Provost duty at Martinsburg, W. Va., October, 1863, to March, 1864. Duty along Baltimore & Ohio Railroad from Harper's Ferry to Monocacy Junction till April. Sigel's Expedition from Martinsburg to New Market April 30-May 16. Battle of New Market May 16. Advance to Staunton May 24-June 5. Action at Piedmont June 5. Occupation of Staunton June 6. Hunter's Raid on Lynchburg June 10-July 1. Lynchburg June 17-18. Moved to Shenandoah Valley July 12-15. Snicker's Ferry July 15. Battle of Winchester, Kernstown, July 24. Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Berryville September 3. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Fisher's Hill September 22. Cedar Creek October 13. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Duty at Kernstown till December. Moved to Washington, D.C., December 19; thence to Aikens' Landing, Va. Siege operations against Richmond and Petersburg December, 1864, to April, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Hatcher's Run March 29-31. Fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Rice's Station April 6. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Duty in the Dept. of Virginia till June. Mustered out June 12, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 1 Officer and 90 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 Officers and 92 Enlisted men by disease. Total 187.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1548