E SB'S ,^^^^^^^_^^ TMNKSCxIVlNG SEMON, PREACHED BEFORE THE li. Sii; m s i. ^., m. ♦ (*^;* -» I AT CAMP TODD, MVOON, MrSSOURI, NOV .28, 1861^ | AND A SKETCR OF THE REGIMENT. ESV. B. W. OHIDLAW, CHAPLAIN. C I N r N X AT 1 : I' (' p. M s ij K It I? Y a Ko n .,- K V n o s u y filflSS t: 6-2. 5 Book iT 3«J^ THANKSGIYING SERMON, PREACHED BEFORE THE MUthj'gMl #. t,, m, f . 31., AT CAMP TODD, MACON, MISSOURI, NOV. 28, 1861 AND A SKETCH OF THE EEGIMENT. REV. b; ¥. OHIDLAW, CHAPLAIN. CINCINNATI: PUBLISHED BY GEORGE CRO;SBr. 1861. 2 SERMON 0, give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good. — Ps. cxviii : 1. Every duty which God requires of his creatures is perfectly reasonable. As moral and accounta- ble beings, we are the subjects of the Divine gov- ernment; our homage, and our obedience to God's authority and law, are righteous and reasonable demands. As dependent creatures, receiving every good and perfect gift from his kind and bountiful hand, gratitude and thanksgiving should flow from every heart, and burden the utterances of every tongue. To-day, in nineteen of these United States, in accordance with a time-honored usage, the people, by the Governors of their re- spective States, have been invited to lay aside the cares and business of life, to think of the manifold blessings of Divine Providenee, and at their homes and Christian sanctuaries, to ofi:er fervent prayer and grateful acknowledgements to our Heavenly Father, for his abundant goodness and plenteous mercy. We are assembled this morning under peculiar circumstances : far from our peaceful, happy homes, and in the midst of all the dreadful reali- ties of civil war. Kesponding with glad hearts to the proclamation of our honored Governor, we have marched from our homes on the tented field, stacked our arms, and in this house of God, we would pay our vows unto the Lord, and adore with thanksgiving his great and holy name. Individually, we are the constant recipients of Divine favors, for, in God we live, move, and have all the blessings, which render existence such a privilege, such a boon. The great expounder of the constitution, nearing to life's last mile stone, appreciating the blessings of life, exclaimed, "I still live." In the midst of death and its harbingers on the battle fields and in the hospital, we are all of us here, alive, before God. Life, health, and reason, are divine favors inestimable in value, and indispensable for the enjoyment of life; these we have shared in rich profusion. Our days and nights have been crowned with never ceasing be- stowments of Divine goodness. Our time has not been spent bed-riden, and sorely afiiicted, our rea- son has not been dethroned, the vacant stare of the idiot is not seen in our countenances, nor the ra- vings of the maniac l.eard from our lips. What a blessing is a sound mind in a healthy body. Think of it, my hearers, appreciate its Avorth, and with humble, grateful hearts, give thanks unto the Lord your God. Call to rcniem])rance, also, the moral and spiritual blessings we have personally enjoyed. What power, unseen but real, has preserved you from the degrading dominion of those lusts and passions that war against the soul ? Why has not habitual drunkenness dragged you down beneath its iron heel, brutalized your humanity, crushed your mental faculties, and hurried you into a drunkard's dishonored grave ? While others have fiillen, you have maintained your ground against this monster foe. God helped you to stand, and to the integrity of your moral principles, and the fear of God, you owe this deliverance. Then thankfully acknowledge his goodness, and anew pledge fidelity at the altars of temperance. While the libertine, trampling on the law of moral purity, the debauchee reveling in guilty pleasure, the gambler gloating over his ungodly spoils, have yielded to the destroyer, God has ena- bled you to stand unscathed ; your moral courage has resisted temptation ; you are this day monu- ments of God's preserving care. Young men, beware of the seductions of vice ; beware of vile and polluting conversation, of books and pam- phlets that are vice-engendering, lust-inflaming, and soul-destroying. Keep your minds and hearts pure ; trifle not with temptation ; set your face like flint against the thoughts of sin. Licentious- ness has brought to the dust, diseased and dis- honored, thousands of manly forms, carried misery and woe to many an innocent and bleeding heart. Beware, then, of the "strange woman which flat- tereth w ith her words, which forsaketh the guide 6 of lier youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God ; for her house inclineth unto death, l^one that go into her return again, neither take they hold on the paths of life." The soldier, free from vicious habits, fortified with good principles, devoted to moral and intel- lectual improvement, holds in his own hand a God-given passport to respect, usefulness and honor, wherever he goes. Napoleon, from his rank and file, gathered up Generals, Field Mar- shals and Kings. Your country will not fail to recognize and appreciate the moral, the intellec- tual, and the heroic claims of her gallant sons. Then amid the difficulties and trials of camp life, Joseph-like, maintain your moral purity unstained, avoid the snares of guilty pleasures, turn away from the gamblintr table and the gilded saloon ; devote assiduously your time and talents to mili- tary duty, moral and mental culture ; then God will enrich you with all the treasures of his love, shield you with his arm, guide you with his eye, and in the camp or on the battle field, with you all will be w^ell. In our social and domestic blessings, we find al )undant reasons for thanksgiving. Never before, on such a day, have we looked at our homes and our loved ones there, with such emotions of interest and gratitude. Ilere we are surrounded with homes desolated, society loosened in all its ties, uj^heaved with mutual distrusts and bitter ani- mosities — the sad work of secession. In our dis- tant homes ])eyond the Father of Waters, the prairies of Illinois, and the hills of Indiana, in the valleys of the Miami, the Scioto, and the Muskin- gum, all is peace and harmony, ISTo rebel hordes, in the madness of treason, pillage and destroy. As the shield of Divine Providence is over our homes, our families and friends, while onr beloved Commonwealth is blessed with peace and plenty in all her borders, let us joyously and gratefully give thanks to the Lord our God, and serve him all our days. In this day of our national peril, while armed treason is lifted up to destroy the life of a nation, to subvert law and order, to break up the tried foundations of civil government — to stay its ac- cursed blows, to crush its malignant power, is a duty, an honor and a pi*ivilege, for which every loyal heart should give devout thanksgiving to the Kuler of nations. Did not the fathers of our nationality thank God for their high calling in behalf of human freedom, vindicated on every battle field of the Revolution? They, by sacrifices that we have read of but never experienced, laid broad and deep the foundations of a free govern- ment, and eighty-five years of trial has proved it to be the best the world ever saw. The men of '76 laid the corner stones of our free institutions, ordained of God, and the men of '93 reared the well compacted and glorious edifice. The world has gazed upon it with astonishment and hope. In 1861, all civilized nations beheld with horror a bold attempt to destroy it — to raze its holy foun- dations, and build on its ruins a "Confederacy," 8 founded on human slavery as its chief corner stone. Is it duty to save your life from the assas- sin ? Is it a privilege to aid in arresting the lurid flames sweeping over your dwelling ? So, in the preservation of your Government, which God has founded, and favored for eighty-live years with his approving smiles, it is our duty to pray that '' God would arise and scatter its enemies, and hring them down," and to gird on the sword in his name, and as his agents to crush the foe ; and thus re- store the Union, maintain the supremacy of law, and bring peace in all our borders. We should thank God that he has given us a strong arm and a willing heart to strike our manly blows in this second war of independence. We are defending the principles, the actions, and the success of the men of '76. If truth and right were on their side on the battle-fields of the Kevolution, they are equally on our side in the struggles of '61. What an enormous crime is secession! An attempt to destroy national life when millions, tens of millions, through it are enjoying life, lib- erty, and the pursuit of happiness. In ill-fated Mexico, w ith its internal feuds and guerrilla wars, its anarchy and barbarism, we can see the ripe fruits of secession. There, where life, property, and liberty are in constant jeopardy, could you give thanks to God as you can to-day under the protection of the star-spangled banner? Then, as you regard the rule of law, and the operations of a just government^ stand manfully in the breach, and smite the ambitious demagogues, the unprin- 9 cipled adventurers, now engaged in the work of destr action. To-day, with the great heart of loyalty in all its pulsations beating in perfect harmony to put down this wicked rebellion, so broad in its dimensions, and disastrous in its purposes, let us give thanks to Almighty God, that in this great conflict we have not only right on our side, but might. Our resources to carry on this war of self-preservation are abundant. In the loyal States, to say nothing of the Union men, like spirits in prison, under the galling power of the double-dyed despotism called the " Confederate States,"— we have near 20,000,- 000 that have never bowed the keee to this politi- cal Baal, which is worshiped by traitors and their sympathizers. These 20,000,000 believe in the Divineness of human governments, and that the temple of our freedom is not to be undermined at pleasure, and a free people hopelessly crushed in its ruins. We have 3,800,000 lighting men, wor- thy of their sires and their brethren now in the field, out of which the grand army of deliverance may be formed. Already 500,000 men, brave and true, are in arms, and on the field. A million more, in the spirit of the freedom-loving Bohe- mians, are ready to follow Tiska's drum whenever it beats. Our own beloved, honored Ohio, has already sent out to the battle-fields of right against wrong, 61,000 of her valiant sons. She has sent twenty- three gallant regiments to Vir- ginia^ to rescue the Old Dominion from the grasp of the destroyer. Eighteen regiments are in Keu- 10 tucky, glorious old Kentucky, repelling the inva- ders of her soil ; and in Missouri, two of her regi- ments have stood before the sweeping tides of re- bellion and ruin. After this first fruit of loyalty to the Union, and confidence In the government — this sacred offering on the altar of patriotism — she has a reserve of 400,000 of her sons, that she can send to the rescue. Ohio weeps over her gallant Lowe, and all her brave troops that fell on the battle-fields of Virginia, Kentucky, and Missouri. Kobbed of her worthy sons that are cold In death, or treated as felons in loathsome prisons, she will not withhold her treasures of men and money. All her energies, all her resources, will promptly respond to the call of our country in every time of need, and let our hearts rebound with thanksgiv- ing to the God of our fathers, that our great Com- monwealth is so highly distinguished. The amount of subsistence for the support of our vast armies is truly wonderful, and demands our grateful recognition and humble thanks. Our enemies look at their hoarded cotton ; they can convert It to no available use ; there Is nothing to eat or to wear in it. This King Cotton — their all and in all — their strong deliverer — their bribe to the nations of Europe — Is virtually In chains, help- less and hopeless. But what of the grain and pro- visions of the West, the commerce of the Atlantic coast, and the manufactories of the East ^ Like mighty giants aroused, they are advancing to the contest. We can feed our five hundred thousand noble soldiers with abundance of the choicest 11 food, and send an immense surplus to feed the famishing millions of France and England. And this supply of food is a bond that these nations shall keep the peace with the United States — a security against foreign interference — an assu- rance that we shall do our own work in our own way, none molesting or making us afraid. The clothing needed by our army we shall soon be able to supply. The wool crop of the United States, in 1857, was 18,000,000 pounds, and our hills are still covered with flocks, so that the 15,- 000,000 yards of cloth needed annually can be manufactured. Thus, in the providence of God, we can feed and clothe our vast army. The na- tion is not impoverished by this righteous war. The producing and consuming is among ourselves. The balance of trade is in our favor, and the pre- cious materials are reaching our shores from almost every part of the civilized world. We need send no bogus financial agents to the capitalists of England to obtain money or stolen property, as rebel finan- ciers are wont to do. The nation is really strength- ened in its material interests and vitality by this demonstration of strength in self-preservation. A national debt will be a light burden, compared with the dismemberment of the Union, and the subversion of the constitution. Money invested in the national loan will bind the people to a com- mon interest in maintaining the integrity and perpetuity of the general government. In the prosecution of this war, we have suffered some reverses. These have been mercies in dis- 12 guise, trials of our confidence in the justness of our cause and the integrity of our purposes, for which we find reasons for thanksgiving. Our de- feats have humbled our pride, taught us lessons of wisdom, and really made us stronger. They have aroused and consolidated our military power, as nothing but such momentary defeat could do. The barren victories of our enemies at Bull's Kun and Lexington have not settled the question that the Union is to be dissolved, and a new dynasty erected on its crumbling ruins. But they have gathered an army, with a young leader, on the banks of the Potomac, whose advance will soon be felt at Richmond and Nashville. They have sent forth an armada that has leveled to the dust the strong holds of rebellion in the xQvy center of its strength — the pledge that ere long the starry ban- ner shall wave on the battlement of Moultrie and Sumter ; and they are now marshalling on the banks of the Mississippi a force, which, blessed of God, is destined to plant the old emblem of our nationality over the Crescent City, and the plains of Texas. As a regiment, the Thirty-ninth 0. V. Infantry has shared largely in the benefactions of Divine l*rovidencc. The God of the armies of Israel has been our sun and shield. General good health has blessed our ranks. Only ten of our number have died. The maintenance of good order and sound discipline has elevated our regimental character, and given us a reputation worthy of reliable and gentlemanly soldiers. Let the morale of 13 ment be sacredly maintained; yea, let our stan- dard of moral and military excellence be elevated higher and higher, so that no honored parent, no lovnig wife, or afiectionate child, shall be sorrow- smitten or disgraced by our conduct, or our fate. ihe division and separation of our regiment, a necessary evil from which we have all sufiered is soon to end, and a pleasant reunion is at hand • and the Thirty-ninth, reunited, shall go forth un- der her gallant leader wherever duty may call Irue to each other, our country and our God in trials and triumphs, in joy and in sorrow, we shall aid our comrades in arms till victory shall rest on our banner, and. our Government vindicated and sustained-the Union indivisible now and forever I add one other cause of our thanksgiving. While we see around us the blighting curse of secession, on once happy homes-on the altars of religion, the temples of learning and the marts of trade-our loved Ohio is blessed with peace in all her_ borders. Her 2,860,000 of inhabitants have their sanctuaries opened for the worship of God Over 12,000 school-houses echo the sweet hum of our children quietly pursuing their education. Our helds have teemed with an abundant harvest- the dm of industry is heard in our shops, and all departments of business give signs of activity and thrift. The majesty of law gives security to our homes; social life is not embittered by mutual teuds and rankling animosities. While we are re-establishing law and order, maintaining the Government in Missouri, we can rest assured that 14 no JeiF. Davis nor Claib. Jackson, with hearts and hands steeped in the black guilt of treason, is driv- ing the plow-share of destruction over our happy firesides, stealing our property, and filling our State w^th weeping, lamentation and woe. These that are dependent on us, are not ojily protected, but they will not suffer from want. Peace and plenty bless our distant homes. J^o accursed re- bellion has brought gaunt famine to stare them in the face. Starvation prices are not there ; the necessaries and comforts of life abound, and none of our loved ones need suffer for the necessaries of life. Enjoying the blessings of a benignant, just and free Government, and now in the day of its peril, called to defeud it from powerful and inveterate foes, let patriotism and religion nerve you for the confiict. As a soldier, maintain the position and character of a true gentleman; exemplify the stern bravery of a gallant hero, combined with the vir- tues of true goodness. Always act under the authority of enlightened convictions of the good and true; cheerfully obey your superiors; study your duty and do it with pleasure ; honor the law in all its requirements. Wliile you serve your Gov- ernment, let prompt, constant and cheerful obedi- ence be your thank offering. In this warfare against lawlessness, stand up for the majesty of the law and its supremacy. In every thing be regu- lated by its authority; never let lawlessness stamp with its l)lack stains the fair record of your soldier life. Give to God the homage of 3^our heart; be- 1 b lieve and study his holy word ; rest on his gracious promises ; delight in his holy law, and lay hold on eternal life, the gift of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. MORAL AND RELIGIOUS ASPECT OF THE REGIMEA^T. A thousand men in a military camp, gathered from almost as many different families, with every shade of character and every grade of culture, present a heteroge- neous mass, and a peculiar field for philanthropic and religious labors. From the best analysis of the moral and spiritual condition of our men, it appears that a very large number seldom attended divine worship before they entered the service, yet the religious element had con- siderable strength in the ranks of the 39th. The Chap- lain has always met a cordial reception by officers and men. The circulation of good books and tracts has been a means of usefulness. The public worship of God on the Sabbath has been regularly maintained and well attended. The social religious meetings have been sus- tained, and afforded the opportunity of cultivating per- sonal acquaintance and brotherly affection. Our Sol- diers' Sabbath School, on the Bible class plan, has been vigorously and, we hope, profitably sustained. The evening religious service at dress parade has been con- tinued to the present time. A religious organization, called the " Christian Brotherhood of the 39th," its motto, " One in Christ," its object, " to live for Christ," has been formed, and near one hundred names enrolled. A camp library of 50 volumes in the Chaplain's quarters, is appreciated and used by many of the men. We feel that the moral influence of these various means of in- struction and religious improvement is felt through the camp. Yet, we mourn over the prevalence of immorality 17 and vice. We find it difficult to bring divine truth home to the intellect and heart of those who in early youth had no moral and religious training, and adult depravity is too often repellant to our best efforts to reach the heart. The general conduct of our men has been good. Dis- cipline and good order have marked our encampment, and the character of our regiment has stood fair and respectable wherever we have been, and we hope for con- stant improvement in our moral, intellectual and spiritual condition ; so that, when we have faithfully served our country in this time of its peril, we shall return to our homes, like the soldiers of Oliver Cromwell, better men than when we left. ^ The preservation of our soldiers from the demoraliza- tion of camp life, requires the aid of the officers, by pre- cept and example— of good books— the faithful discharge of pastoral duty by the chaplain, and the Christianizing and strengthening of good principles and a pure life, by the correspondence of loved ones at home. These agencies and the blessing of God will save our noble army from the vice and sins that degrade and ruin the bodies and souls of men for time and eternity. STAFF, FIELD, AND BAKD OFFICEES OF THE Thirty-ninth Regiment 0. V., U. S. Infantry. Colonel, JOHN GROESBECK Cincinnati, 0. Lieut. Colonel, ALFRED W. GILBERT Cincinnati, 0. Major, EDWARD F. NOYES Cincinnati, 0. Adjutant, CHARLES T. SEDAM Cincinnati, O. Surgeon, OLIVER W. NIXON Cincinnati, 0. Chaplain, REV. B. W. CHIDLAW Cincinnati, 0. Assistant Surgeon, T. W. McARTHUR Wilmington, 0. Sergeant-Major, H. A. BABBIT Cincinnati, 0. Quarter Master, H A. EDWARDS Cincinnati, 0. Q. M. Sergeant, SAMUEL HALL Clerm't Co., 0. Hospital Steward, LUTHER HATHAWAY, Marietta, 0. Drum Major, G. L. PAYNE Marietta, 0. Co. A, from Scioto Co.^ 0. Co. B, fj^om Marietta, 0. Capt. N. T. McDowell, Capt. J. C. Fell, 1st Lieut. J. C. Musser, 1st Lieut. W. H. Edgerton, 2d Lieut. L. Sontag, 2d Lieut. N. W. Shepherd. 5 Sergeants, 5 Sergeants, 8 Corporals, 8 Corporals, 84 Privates. 81 Privates. Co. Q, from Athens, 0. Co. D,from Cincinnati, 0. Capt. G. W. Baker, Capt. W. P. Stoms, 1st Lieut. J. F. Welsh, 1st Lieut. W. Webber, 2d Lieut. T. W. Minton, 2d Lieut. J. B. Ryon, 5 Sergeants, 5 Sergeants, 8 Corporals, 8 Corporals, Y5 Privates. 73 Privates. Co. E, from Clermont Co. 0. Co. F, from Marietta, O. Capt. J. Jenkins, Ca})t. J. Konig, 1st Lieut. J. Hooker, 1st Lieut. C. Hurd, 2d Lieut. J. Davis, 2d Lieut. C. Miller, 5 Sergeants, 5 Sergeants, 8 Corporals, 8 Corporals, 79 Privates. 72 Privates. 19 Co. G, from Cincinnati, 0. Capt. C. W. Pomeroy, (dec'd.) Lst Lieut. W. H. Latlirop, 2d Lieut. Wm. Williams, 5 Sergeants, 8 Corporals, 90 Privates. Co. Uyfrom Wilmington, Capt Adam Kooorfe, 1st Lieut S. H. Rulon, 2d Lieut. J. F, Drake, 5 Sergeants, 8 Corporals, 88 Privates. Co. 1, from Adams Co., 0. Capt. D, R Benjamin, 1st Lieut. F. Hypes, 2d Lieut. A. J. Sawell, 5 Sergeants, 8 Corporals, 79 Privates. Co. E^from Athens Co., 0. Capt. J. Rhoads, 1st Lieut. J. M. Paulk, 2d Lieut. C. G. Knowles, 5 Sergeants, 8 Corporals, 81 Privates. NECROLOGY. Aug. 20. Accidentally killed on the 0. & M. Railroad, near Olney, 111. , Weber, Co. D. , aged 22 years, from Clinton Co. 0. Oct. 2d. At Chillicothe, Mo., of typhoid, fever Capt. C. W. Pomeroy, Co. G., aged 44. His remains were buried with Ma- sonic honors, in Spring Grove Cemetery. Oct. 18. At the General Hospital, St. Louis, of fever, Sergt. E. A. G. Barrows, aged 27, Co K., and the same day and place, his brotherArtemas Barrows, Co. K., aged 22, from Athens Co., 0. Nov. 15. At the Hospital in Quincy, III., of fever, Elijah Dye, Co. B. aged 21. His remains were taken to Marietta, 0. Nov. 22. At Macon, Mo., shot by a citizen, John Wining, Co. E., aged 23. His remains were taken to Harrison, 0. Nov. 27. At Macon, Mo., of typhoid fever, Henry Rother, Co. H., aged 18, from Clermont Co., 0. Nov. 27. At Macon, Mo., of typhoid fever, Alvin Blair, of Co. K., aged 19, from Decatur Township, Washington Co., 0. Nov 29. At Macon, Mo., of typhoid fever, John Fitch, Co. D. aged 23, from Hamilton, Butler Co., 0. Dec. ]2. Near Richmond, A. Manahan, Co. K, aged 19, from Athens Co., 0., buried at Richmond. The deaths in the other parts of the Regiment at Sedalia, and St. Louis were as follows : Capt. Koogle, Co. H., Wilmington, 0. G. W. Wear, Co. D. David Hook, Co. C. Jas. Rheiner, Co. G. Jas. Brown, Co. H. H. Leonheart, Co. F. John Lark, Co. D. Wm. May, Co. D. J. C. Hildreth, Co. D. HISTORY The Thirty-ninth 0. V., U. S. A. Infantry, was formed as an Independent Regiment, by Col. John Groesbeck, under the authority of the Secretary of War, on the 8th of July, 1861, at Camp Colerain, 14 miles north of Cin- cinnati. Here, by Lieut. Walker, U. S. A., the regiment was sworn into the service of the United States, and on the 1st of August, marched through Cincinnati to Camp Dennison. In this Camp we were pleasantly situated, uniformed, equipped, and armed with the rifle musket. Our time was delightfully employed in acquiring the knowledge of drill, the manual of arms, and learning the realities of camp life and duty. Aug. 17th, we received marching orders for St. Louis, Mo. Rations for two days were carefully prepared and deposited in our new haver- sacks, and early on the morning of the 18th, we slung our knapsacks, and were ofl' for the war. Our reception in Cincinnati was very enthusiastic, and thousands of admir- ing friends were gladdened by our soldierly appearance and gentlemanly conduct. A thousand brave hearts were cheered and strengthened by this approbation and sym- pathy so warmly expressed by the Queen City. We em- barked on two steamboats, amid the shouts of manly voices, and the waving of cambric in the fair hands of true-hearted ladies. At the patriotic town of Lawrence- burgh, our arrival was hailed by the people en masse; men, women and children did us honor, and supplied our wants. We reached St. Louis on the 20th. No shouts of wel- come greeted our arrival; no stars and stripes were wav- 21 ing in the streets. Orderly and steadily led by our gallant officers, we marched four miles, and pitched our tents near the State Fair ground — the first encampment of Ohio troops in Missouri. Here our officers and men devoted their time assiduously to regimental and battalion drill. Our only mission on the soil of a sister State, cursed with rebellion, was the maintenance of the author- ity of law, and the honor of the star-spangled banner. In a few days, our drilling and dress parades, and the religious service of reading the Scriptures and prayer, by the Chaplain, in front of the regiment, attracted large crowds of spectators from the city, and hundreds returned to their homes with improved views of the character, dis- cipline and conduct of the " invaders " of their soil. We made many friends, and honored our noble State. The grog-shops erected around our camp threatened to do us an injury. But Col. Groesbeck at once and efficiently demonstrated his purpose, then and always, to suppress the traffic in intoxicating drinks, and we suffered no ma- terial damage from these strong allies of secession. As we marched through St. Louis on the 6th of Sep- tember, under orders for Mexico, on the North Missouri Railroad, a wonderful change was observed. The Union men of the city openly avowed their loyalty, and no sad- dening gloom overhung the people. Pulsations of sym- pathy with the government and its supporters, were now felt in unmistakable throbbings. We reached Mexico on the 8th, having left Co. K., Capt. Rhoads, at Benton Barracks, in charge of our prop- erty and the sick. Now dates the beginning of the un- fortunate separation of our regiment — a necessity de- plored by the Colonel, his officers, and all the men. The enemy made good their escape before our arrival; no rebel soldiers or bridge burners could be found. ^s>. On the 12tli, ordered by Gen. Pepe, Col. Groesbeck and Major Noyes proceeded to Macon; from thence, Col. G. and Maj. N. started with Co.'s A, B, D and I, for Platte bridge, recently burned by the rebels, and some forty in- nocent lives lost by the wreck of the train. From thence, Gen. Pope detailed Major N., with Co.'s A and I, 40 of Capt. Vanbergen's Hussars, one piece of artillery, and the Sixteenth Illinois Regiment, Col. Smith, in pursuit of a rebel force under Gen. Patten, some 1,500 strong, who were marching to cross the river at Liberty Landing, to join the Confederate army under Price. The enemy made good their flight, and our men returned to St. Joseph. Col. Groesbeck, with Co.'s B and E, were ordered by Gen. Pope to take possession of St. Joseph, where Col. G. issued a proclamation, placing the city under martial law, and appointing Capt. Fell Provost Marshal. Hence, Col. G. was ordered to Chillieothe, where he remained five weeks, in command of the post. Thence, on the 6th of November, he was ordered to Macon, Mo., having with him Co.'s A, B, E, I and K. Lieut.-Col. Gilbert left Utica Sept. 17th, with Co.'s C, D, F, G and H, with nine Companies of the Twenty-sev- enth 0. v.. Col. Fuller, a force in all of 1,100 men, with- out cavalry or artillery. Brig. Gen. Sturges in command, to reinforce Col. Mulligan at Lexington. They left at noon on a forced march of 55 miles in 32 hours. They were within nine miles of Lexington. Here a " contra- band " informed them that some 6,000 rebels — infantry, cavalry and artillery — had crossed the river, and were in ambush awaiting our advance ; and that they had seized the ferry boats, within four miles of Lexington, at day- light the 20th. The information given by the colored man was found to be perfectly reliable. Gen. Sturgis at once diverged to the right, escaped the enemy, reached 23 Richmond at noon, rested, and dined on the crumbs found in their haversacks. At 6 P. M. they reached Camden, camped on a hill ; they were then 9 miles from Lexington, and could see the Stars and Stripes still flying over the besieged ramparts, and could hear the Cannonading, but it was utterly impossible to render relief to the beleagured. On the 20th, by steam boat they left for Kansas City, reaching their destination at sun-set. Their escape from an enemy five or six times their number, was a providen- tial deliverance, reflecting honor on the gallant Greneral and his brave men. On the 15th of October, Gen. Strugis in command, the brigade, consisting of five companies, C, D, Gr, F, and H, of the 39th, Lieut. Col. Grilbert and Major Noyes in com- mand, the 27th 0. Y., Col. Fuller, Col. Nugent's Missouri Regiment, a battery of artillery, and a small force of cav- alry, marched to join Major Gen. Fremont. At this date, Dec. 4th, this detachment of our Regi- ment is at Sedalia, and Col. Groesbeck with the five com- panies at Macon, are ordered by Gen Prentiss to St. Joseph now threatened by a strong force of the enemy. We sling our knapsacks and take a special train for St. Jo., and the field. This movement prolongs our separation from our comrades — a necessity regretted by us all. When the Thirty-ninth was ordered to North Missouri, on the 6th of September, it was not contemplated that it should be so divided, and separated. When our mission to capture and disperse the hordes of marauders who burnt railroad bridges, persecuted and pillaged Union men, was accom- plished, we were to return. The Thirty-ninth did its duty nobly in this direction, secured safety to all trains on the railroads, and arrested the progress of lawlessness. Why a part has been continued on the northern field, 24 9tf^!^/r. and a part has been sent to the south, is a mystery not to be solved, but regretted by the gallant regiment and all its friends in our loved Ohio. December 5th, under Gen. Prentiss, the five Companies of the Thirty-ninth, Col. Groesbeck, and parts of the Illi- nois Sixteenth, Missouri Sixth, with cavalry and artillery, total force, 1,700 men, left St. Joseph, and marched through the counties north of the Missouri River, through Liberty, Richmond and Carrolton, taking many prisoners and destroying the ferry boats along the river. The ene- my fled before us, but the mcral effect of the expedition was eminently successful. On the 19th, we encamped on Grand River, near Chillicothe, having marched near 200 miles. On the 21st, we reached Palmyra, Mo., where we are to remain until our Regiment is united by the wel- come arrival of our comrades from Syracuse, Mo., from whom we have been so long separated. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS iririiii iiiniiffifll j I i 'i 1 ill ili 111 III 013 704 280 ^