Maj. J. W. Chamberlin; 123d O. V. I.
Sir—Your favor of the 15th instant has been handed me, accompanied by “what remains of the colors of the 123d Regiment.” The custody of these tattered flags is thankfully accepted on the part of the State, and they will be appropriately placed among other and similar mementoes of the patriotism and courage of our soldiers in this great struggle to sustain the Government and unity of the country.
The 123d Regiment presents a record highly honorable to its officers and men, and ennobling to the State. These records have given to our State the high rank she now occupies in the annals of the war, and they constitute one of the brightest pages in the history of this wicked Rebellion. Thanking you for the presentation made by the regiment,
I am very truly yours.
John Brough.
The first six months we were in the service we did a great amount of picket duty, and for men who were then “spoiling for a fight,” it was not generally a very pleasant labor. Still, occasionally an incident would occur that would vary the monotony a little. One, that a few men will not soon forget, occurred while we were at Petersburg. A large detail from the regiment was on picket, and one of the captains—who had never officiated as “Officer of the Day”—was acting in that capacity on this occasion. When the hour at night came for “grand rounds” he started out on the Franklin Pike. When nearing the post he was ordered to halt, and to “dismount and advance one with the countersign.” He obeyed, and with his sword drawn and at a carry, advanced to the sentinel, whose authority he recognized by giving the salute, with drawn sword, due to a superior officer. Soon after, Company C was picketing on the Moorefield road, when Gen. Milroy was returning in the night with an escort from Moorefield, but without the countersign. He was halted, compelled to dismount, and, notwithstanding his assertions that “he was Gen. Milroy,” was conducted to the “officer of the guard,” who recognized him officially before he was permitted to pass.
On the 19th of October, 1864, when Sheridan, gained his famous victory at Cedar Creek, while the infantry were lying down in two lines, waiting for the advance, which was soon made, and while the enemy were throwing solid shot just over us, an enterprising newsboy rode up with the Baltimore American for sale. He rode along slowly disposing of his papers, until a solid shot struck very near his horse, when he turned his head to the rear and rode off with the remark that “it was getting too d—d hot for him there.”
Just after we had got fairly started on our Lynchburg raid, and when one day the men had got very tired of carrying their one hundred rounds of ammunition each and were grumbling much thereat, a cavalry officer rode by, and inquiring of one of our men, “What troops are these?” received the reply, “Troops? Hell, this is Gen. Hunter’s ammunition train!”
When the Regiment was lying at New Creek, November, 1862, Capt. Horace Kellogg, with his company (B), was ordered by Gen. Milroy to proceed at once to St. George, Tucker county, Virginia, and assess and collect enough money from disloyal citizens to reimburse the loyal citizens of that place, who had been robbed by guerrillas. Gen. Milroy’s order was as follows “If they do not pay the amount you assess them, at the designated time, you will proceed to burn their houses, seize their property and shoot the men.” As soon as the company arrived at St. George, Capt. Kellogg found out who were the disloyal subjects, and proceeded to issue circulars to them, in accordance with Milroy’s orders. It is needless to say that the money was forthcoming. Five thousand dollars were collected and disbursed to the Union men who had been despoiled of their property.