COL. RICHARDSON, still remained in command of camp Chase, and Major Nat. Haughton retained command of the Regiment, which left Columbus on the day of the presentation of the flags, and arrived at New York via New York Central Railroad on the morning of the 19th.
     In New York the Regiment was quartered in the city park, and while there old Companies B and C were consolidated as "C" company, both being below the minimum.
     While awaiting transportation to South Carolina, the orders were countermanded, and the Regiment ordered to report immediately to Maj. Gen. Casey, at Washington, and in compliance with that order left New York on the morning of the 21st.
     Philadelphia, always among the foremost cities in patriotism, furnished the Regiment a royal meal at one of the soldiers' homes, and Baltimore did the same the next morning, near the place where the mob fired upon the Massachusetts soldiers, on the 19th of April, nearly three years previous.
     The Regiment marched through Washington on the 23d of March, passed over Long Bridge, and was once more on the soil of old Virginia, and in great good humor at escaping more service in South Carolina.  This feeling was short lived, however, for without participating in any of the movements towards Richmond, orders were received to return to the Department of the South, and on the 22d of April the Regiment was embarked at Alexandria on the "Admiral Dupont," and after an unusually pleasant voyage reached Hilton Head on the 26th, and the same day anchor was dropped in its capacious harbor. 
     After two or three days of delay, and a variety of conflicting orders, the Regiment was taken to Seabrook Landing, on Hilton Head island, and five miles from the Head, where it relieved the 52d Pennsylvania.
     The headquarters of the Regiment were established at Seabrook Landing, and in the house on the old Seabrook plantation.  The picket line extended for nine miles along Skull Creek and Calibogue Sound.  Those waters varied in width from seventy to three hundred yards, and the immediate islands on the opposite side were considered neutral territory.
     On the 29th of April the following disposition was made along the picket line:  Companies A, I and C at Seabrook; Company E, Capt. John T. Wood, at Fort Mitchell; Company H, Lieut. Wm. Maloney, at Pope's Plantation; Companies F, K and G, Capt. C. E. Randall, at Jenkins Islands; Company B, Capt. L. B. Mesnard, at Spanish Wells.
     Seven companies of the 32d U. S. C. troops, were ordered to report to Major Haughton, and were placed in various detachments along the line to assist in the arduous duties.
     During the hottest part of the summer, the 32d was removed, and the heavy duties of the entire line devolved upon the 25th.  Although the various posts were reduced to the least number, the men were on duty every other day, and frequently for several days in succession.  This constant strain upon the energy of the Regiment, combined with the poisonous malaria from the swamps, that surrounded all the detachments, produced much sickness, principally malarial fevers, and before the cold weather came nearly every member of the Regiment had been prostrated.
     Lieut. Col. Jere. Williams, who had been taken prisoner at Gettysburg, returned to the Regiment, but almost immediately resigned, and was succeeded by Major Haughton, who had well earned his promotion, having served with gallantry and distinction in the Regiment since its first organization, when he entered with Company K, being junior first lieutenant in the command.
     On the 6th of May, Capts. N. J. Manning and E. C. Culp were sent to Florida for the members of Regiment who did not reenlist as veterans, and were temporarily attached to the 75th Ohio.  The men were found at Jacksonville, having just returned from a raid into the southern part of the State.  They were anxious to rejoin the Regiment and meet their old comrades.  They had seen some service and behaved creditably, always keeping up their identity as "25th Ohio men."  The detachment did not reach the Regiment until the first of June, and did not leave the Regiment for Columbus, Ohio, where they were to be mustered out, until the 17th of July, several weeks over their time.
     Several officers went home with the detachment, being honorably mustered out of service.  They were Surgeon Louis G. Meyer, Capts. N. J. Manning and John H. Milliman, and Lieutenants Joseph H. Hollis, Samuel W. Houston, Wm. F. Bloor, John S. Snyder and Wm. Maloney.  They had all served honorably, and with the exception of Surgeon Meyer been promoted from the ranks.  The loss of the latter officer was universally lamented by the entire Regiment.  He came out as its first surgeon and remained faithfully at his post until the expiration of his term of service, never having accepted a leave of absence.  The self-denial he exhibited at Chancellorsville, when he allowed himself to be captured in order to take care of our wounded who were left upon the field, will never be forgotten by those whose lives he saved, or by the comrades who sorrowed for their wounds.  After a few weeks vacation passed in traveling on the Pacific coast, he returned to the field with a new organization, and remained on duty until the close of the war.
     He was succeeded by Assistant Surgeon Wm. Walton, who had joined the Regiment shortly after the second battle of Manassas; and E. M. Wilson came to us from Ohio as assistant surgeon.
     Captain Manning also returned to the field, after a short vacation, as field officer in a new regiment, and served with credit until the close of the war.
     On the 22d of August Lieut. Col. Haughton went north after recruits, and the command of the Regiment devolved upon Capt. John T. Wood.  He retained command but a few days, when a severe family affliction caused him to resign, and he left the Regiment on the 2d of September.
     By Captain Wood's resignation the Regiment suffered another severe loss.  He entered the service as second lieutenant of Company H, and was the only remaining line officer of the first organization.  He afterwards entered the service as major of the 180th Ohio, and served with honor and promotion.
     After Captain Wood's resignation the Regiment passed under the command of Capt. C. E. Randall, who was soon afterwards promoted to major.
     On the 25th of September, Capt. E. C. Culp, Company A, was ordered to Fort Pulaski with Companies A, K and G, and remained there until October 23d, when he was ordered to rejoin the Regiment with his detachment, and the next day the entire Regiment was relieved from duty on the picket line, and ordered into camp a short distance from Hilton Head, for the purpose of recuperation.
     On the 2d of November Lieut. Col. Haughton returned to the Regiment, bringing nearly 300 recruits, including one entire company, which was assigned as D.  The following is its roster:
Captain: Wm. W. King
First Lieut. Maurice S. Bell
Second Lieut. Wm. McFee
First Sergeant, David H. Connell
Sergeants:
David M. Hammond
Robt. Thompson
Theo. Van Guntly
George Wasoner
Corporals:
Wm. Cornwell
Daniel Fox
Oliver V. Haycock
James L. Kemper
Jacob B. Keyser
Wm. S. Porter
Manual Stevens
Judson K. Taylor
Musicians:
James A. Combs
Jefferson Schloott
Wagoner:
John E. Oyer
Privates:
Henry Bixler
Wm. Bixler
John Bixler
Benjamin F. Bixby
M. Walland Batty
Geo. M. Beaty
Samuel Baker
Wesley Baker
David Bandy
Geo. N. Borgart
Haynes Burkhart
James W. Barnhart
Album Cluff
Wm. A. Cluff
John Burns
Wm. Cook
Charley Coy
Amos J. Connell
Frederick Corbian
Hiram C. Copper
Thomas S. Crawford
John Carrigan
John Carruthers
Ezekiel Eklerberry
John Evans
Jacob Eddy
Isaiah Edgey
David Flower
Joseph Faulk
George Fagen
Linford Fisher
Samuel Harley
Isaiah Harley
George Hardinger
John S. Hague
Barclay B. Haycock
David Henderson
Zacharias Harrison
Jacob Hoover
David S. Marsh
Wm. H. Jones
Tish Jackson
Alpheres Keller
Daniel Kramer
John E. Kobb
John Koonse
John Kauble
Joseph Love
James P. Legin
Geo. W. Long
James Langan
Julius H. Laughlin
Godfrey Myer
Joel Minlen
John Miller
James Martin
Thomas L. Manley
Richard B. Manley
Wm. H. Mann
John R. NElson
Louis Olovet
Emmit D. Porter
Harris Peters
Wm. Patterson
Geo. Peaver
Martin Perkins
Wm. Reading
Thomas Riddle
John Ralston
Matthew G. Ritchey
Benjamin Right
Orlando Shine
Geo. Sunholder
Michael Shaffer
Levi R. Stump
Walter B. Taylor
Jonah Terflinger
Benjamin Walton
Wm. Weber
Thoams Northington
Newton Whetstone
Jacob Ziller
     By the energetic recruiting of Lieut. Col. Haughton, the Regiment once more presented a good line, and a systematic course of efficient drilling soon placed it in excellent condition.  In addition to the regular camp duties, the Regiment furnished daily fatigue details to work on Fort Howell, which was situated a short distance from camp.