Battle of Dumfries.
On the 10th of December, Geary's brigade struck tents for Fredericksburg. Hearing of Burnside's defeat, the four Ohio regiments under Col. Candy, encamped at Dumfries.
At 2 P. M., December 27, the signal to fall in was sounded, and the cannon on the side of the town, opposite the camp, signified that there was work to be done.
The brigade hastily marched through the village and concealed themselves on each side of the road. The enemy, consisting of a brigade of Stewart's cavalry, with two pieces of artillery, finding his shells were ineffectual, divided his force, sending one detachment to the right, to flank the Federal soldiers. It was gallantly repulsed by the 66th Ohio.
The other detachment moved around to the left and rear to attack the camp. Col. Creighton had drawn in the pickets which he that day commanded, and had concealed them behind a thicket. Putting himself out in full view and range of the rebels, with his loud voice, he dared them on. As they advanced, a severe, unexpected fire from these men put them in confusion. A repetition of these charges proved ineffectual, and night, the soldier's ally, closed the contest. The rebels kept up the appearances of a large force present, by building large fires, but the feint brightness was intended only to conceal their withdrawal. In this action, Corporal Condit and Philip Grigsby were severely wounded.
At this town the brigade spent the winter. Lieutenant I. C. Jones took command of Co. C, March 1, 1863, and held it until his death at Ringgold.
Battle of Chancellorsville.
In obedience to orders to march with eight days' rations, these troops set out on the Chancellorsville campaign, April 20.
Marching by Aquia Landing, Stafford Court House, and Kelley's Ford, they reached Chancellorsville on the 30th. The battle opened at 12 o'clock 15 minutes of the next day, but the Seventh took no active part, except to move to the support of a battery in the south-east corner of the large, open field in and around which the fighting took place.
At 5:20 A. M. of the 2d of May, the firing was renewed. At 10 A. M. the enemy undertook to silence the battery supported by the Seventh, but their own guns were soon silenced by the blowing up of two of their caissons. A fine opportunity was given to the regiment, in the afternoon, to show its valor. It was ordered down the plank road through the middle of the battle field, to support a regiment of skirmishers. These became frightened and rushed back to the rear, while the Seventh pushed firmly on in column, one half the regiment being on each side of the road, under the command of Col. Creighton and Major Crane. A green, Pennsylvania regiment, at the rear, gave them a severe volley and thus put them between two fires; but in good order, the men retained their places until they were ordered to retreat.