Item No. 2965116

In this March 1863 letter to his brother, Private Joseph H. Corbin of the 44th Ohio describes chasing Confederate General John Pegram’s cavalry raiders through central Kentucky. The 44th Ohio was formed as an infantry regiment, but had recently been converted into mounted infantry and joined in the chase of Pegram, whose rebel cavalry had come within sight of Lexington. Corbin writes:

On 22d when we was going through Danville the order was that all men that their horses wasn’t shod to file right, and then that their horses was shod file to the left. This leaves eleven in Co. G in command of Lieut. [Anson N.] Thompson. We filed out the Richmond pike, hearing that the rebels was at Richmond in our breastworks.

He then describes joining up with other cavalry and mounted infantry regiments in the chase:

When we came to Lancaster we joined a detachment of the 7th O.V.C., 6th K.V.C., and a small detachment of the 45th O.V.M.I. Now, our party being about 8 hundred strong commanded by Col. Runkle of the 45th, we started for Richmond, but when reaching there the rebs had all skedaddled on the Boonesboro Pike. We stayed here all night and in the morning we started in pursuit. On reaching the Kentucky River at Boonesboro there was no way of crossing the river but on a ferry, which took us [the] best part of the day. The cavalry crossed the river first and pursued the rebs. A little after dark our cavalry had a skirmish with the rebels about four miles on this side of Mt. Sterling. We had three skirmishes with them but didn’t do much damage. We killed about eight rebels and took about 25 prisoners. They wounded a few of our boys but one seriously against [which] we returned to camp. We had traveled over three hundred miles.

Union forces would finally catch up with Pegram later that month, defeating the rebels at the Battle of Somerset (Dutton’s Hill) and ending the raid. The 44th Ohio would keep their mounts, and in 1864 would officially be designated the 8th Ohio Cavalry.

The letter was written on three pages of a four-page bifolium letter sheet. Measures about 4 3/4” x 7 3/4”. Light toning. Includes the original transmittal cover with postage due. The full transcript follows:

Camp Near Richmond Ky, Mar 14 1863

Dear Brother

After so long delay to answer your letter, I now take the present opportunity of answering it, which I would have answered before this time, but being on a scout of 19 days I have not had time. We left Frankfort on the 21st of Feb about 3 o’clock in the afternoon and at night we camped in the courthouse at Lawrenceburg. On the 22d about four o’clock in the afternoon we reached Danville and camped in an old barn till next morning. On 22d when we was going through Danville the order was that all men that their horses wasn’t shod to file right, and then that their horses was shod file to the left. This leaves eleven in Co. G in command of Lieut. Thompson. We filed out the Richmond pike, hearing that the rebels was at Richmond in our breastworks. When we came to Lancaster we joined a detachment of the 7th O.V.C., 6th K.V.C., and a small detachment of the 45th O.V.M.I. Now, our party being about 8 hundred strong commanded by Col. Runkle of the 45th, we started for Richmond, but when reaching there the rebs had all skedaddled on the Boonesboro Pike. We stayed here all night and in the morning we started in pursuit. On reaching the Kentucky River at Boonesboro there was no way of crossing the river but on a ferry, which took us [the] best part of the day. The cavalry crossed the river first and pursued the rebs. A little after dark our cavalry had a skirmish with the rebels about four miles on this side of Mt. Sterling. We had three skirmishes with them but didn’t do much damage. We killed about eight rebels and took about 25 prisoners. They wounded a few of our boys but one seriously against [which] we returned to camp. We had traveled over three hundred miles.

Well OK it is getting late and I must close. I will say that I like Mounted Infantry pretty well if it was necessary I could write you ten sheets of Foolscap paper full about our scout but I will close for this time. Write soon from your Brother

Joseph H. Corbin