On the 27th of February, 1862, the Regiment left Huttonsville, and marched to Beverly, where it remained in camp until the following April.  Here the old "smooth-bores" were turned over to the ordnance officer, and the men armed with Vincennes rifles, splendid guns, carrying two-ounce balls, and having sabre bayonets.  They proved very effective pieces, but were too heavy, and gradually were exchanged for regulation Springfield rifles.
     On the first day of April, the Regiment, under command of Major George Webster, proceeded on the Seneca scout, and going via Ludesville, crossed the Cheat and Alleghany Mountains, passed through Circleville, and arrived at Monterey April 10th, having marched over almost impassable roads  one hundred and twenty-five miles, and through a country entirely new to Union troops.  At Monterey the 25th Ohio was joined by a similar expedition sent via Camp Alleghany.  On the 12th of April, Gen. Ben. Johnson (rebel), who had retired from Monterey upon the Federal approach, made an attack upon the Union troops.
     He was gallantly repulsed, and Gen. Milroy's arrival with reenforcements, compelled him to fall back to McDowell, thirteen miles south of Monterey.
     On the morning of the 18th of April, Gen. Milroy advanced his command to McDowell, without serious opposition, the enemy retreating towards Staunton.
     The troops went into camp at McDowell.  Everything remained quiet until the 7th day of May, when a large rebel force under Gen. Johnson appeared in front of McDowell.  Heavy forces of skirmishers were sent forward, and held their ground gallantly, against heavy odds, preventing a general engagement until the arrival of Gen. Schenck with his excellent brigade of Ohio troops, when it was decided by the Union generals, to attack the rebels who were advantageously posted on the summit of Bull Pasture Mountain.  The attack was made late in the afternoon of the 8th by the 25th supported by the 75th Ohio.  By a gallant charge, the enemy was driven from his first position.  The Confederates made desperate attempts to regain the lost position, but each charge was repulsed with heavy loss.  Reenforcements were sent forward on both sides, and very soon the engagement assumed a rather formidable character.  On the Union side were engaged the 25th, 75th, 73d, 32d, and 82d Ohio regiments, the 2d and 5th Virginia regiments, and the 12th Ohio battery.  The battle raged until after dark with unremitted fury, and without apparent advantage to either side.  Finally the Union troops were ordered to fall back, the 25th Ohio being the last regiment to leave the field, bringing off all the wounded that had not previously been removed.  It was claimed that this engagement had been brought in to cover the withdrawal of the division to Franklin that night.  At least, while the battle was being fought, all the wagons were started to that place, followed the same night by the troops, without molestation from the enemy.  The whole division was in camp at Franklin on the 11th.
     The following extract from the official report of Lieut. Col. Richardson, commanding 25th Ohio, gives a list of the casualties in battle of Bull Pasture Mountain, or, as called by the rebels, battle of McDowell:
     *   *   *   Company G was commanded by Serg't Milliman, in the absence of all commissioned officers of this company.
     Every man in the Regiment seemed inspired by the same resolution to do his whole duty, and acted accordingly.  I was under the immediate command of Col. N. C. McLean, of the 75th Ohio, a brave and efficient officer, who will probably report more at length.  The engagement lasted about two hours, when night prevented further contest.  The Regiment returned in good order to McDowell, bringing off their dead and wounded.
     The whole number engaged in my Regiment, 469.

KILLED:
Co. B:
Wm. D. Driggs
Co. C:
James B. McPeek
Sylvanus S. Williams
Thomas E. Coalwell
Co. E:
Josiah Fought
Co. F:
Theodore E. Lodge
Co. H:
Brazelia M. Eveland
Co. I:
Thomas Smartwood
Co. K:
Neil Cameron

MISSING:
Co. E:
John Loose

WOUNDED:
Co. A:
Lieut. Arthur Higgins
Corporal Wm. H. Spear
Privates:
Samuel Beall
Wm. F. Bloor
Hiram S. Hahn
Geo. W. Iden
Drewer C. Iveson
Henry Lambert
Samuel McCrum
Robert H. Miller
Henry Meek
James Russell
Geo. W. Verbeck
Henry C. White
Co. B:
Sergeant Geo. W. Martin
Sergeant Slater B. Brock
Corporal Chas. G. Troy
Corporal Samuel Trigg
Corporal Chas. Twinum
Privates:
Wesley B. Sultzer
Nathan Morris
Co. C:
Corporal Samuel T. Hutchinson
Privates:
Jacob H. Bailey
Jno. Tisher
Co. E:
Corporal Orlando L. Mills
Privates:
Geo. Algyer
John Schell
Fred Gillyer
John Everingham
Co. F:
Corporal Leander Provines
Private Samuel M. Forrester
Co. G:
Private Gilbert I. Ogden
Co. H:
Privates:
Henry W. Outcalt
Wm. M. Metcalf
Geo. W Reed
James Williams
Co. I:
Sergeant Wm. B Teters
Corporal James W. Houston
Privates:
Howard Hallett
Wm. H. McBride
Aspberry Stephens
Wm. West
Wm. H. Brown
Samuel J. Brooks
Co. K:
Privates:
Wm. Vickery
Christian E. Evans
Thomas O'Neal
Charles A. DeBolt

     Major General Fremont soon joined the forces at Franklin, with reenforcements, and assumed command of the army.
     On the 18th of May, 1862, the Regiment lost the services of an excellent officer, by the resignation of Col. James A. Jones, who for some time had been too ill to attend to regimental duties.  The command of the Regiment then devolved upon Lieut. Col. Richardson, who was soon afterwards promoted to colonel.  Major George Webster was made lieutenant colonel, and Capt. James F. Charlesworth, Company A, promoted to major.
     On the 26th day of May, the 25th Ohio accompanied the forces under Gen. Fremont on his march from Franklin to Strausburg, and thence up the Shenandoah Valley in pursuit of Stonewall Jackson, which ended in the battle of Cross Keyes, on the 8th of June.
     The campaign in the valley will always be remembered by those who took part in it; the severe storms, cold weather, and lack of clothing and provisions make up a sad tale of suffering.  The idiotic orders issued preventing the burning of fence rails, the killing of hogs, chickens and cattle, when the troops were absolutely without rations, will remain a wonderful specimens of the "kid glove policy" advocated during the early part of the Rebellion.
     Gen. Jackson was closely pursued by the army under Fremont to Cross Keyes, where he was to cross the river to Port Republic.  The indecisive engagement, known as the Battle of Cross Keyes, commenced about nine o'clock in the morning, and continued with unremitting fury until four o'clock in the afternoon; the balance of the day and early hours of the evening were taken up by skirmishing and artillery firing.  The battle was fought without a plan, and resulted in no advantage to the Union cause.  The bivouac of our army on the battle field, the retreat of Jackson during the night across the river, and his battle the next day with Shields, are well known to the students of history.
     The 25th was still in Milroy's brigade, and behaved with its usual credit, receiving praise upon the field from the commanding general.
     A severe loss to the Regiment was the wounding of Capt. Charlesworth, who was shot through the bowels, and at the time considered to be mortally wounded.  He recovered in a measure, and afterwards returned to his Regiment as lieutenant colonel, but after a few days' service was compelled  to resign on account of disability.  He was a brave and efficient officer.

CASUALTIES AT CROSS KEYES.

KILLED:
Co. B:
John Easthorn
Co. C:
James L. Hopper
Frederick Woodtler
Co. E:
George Whitson
Co. I:
Friend J. Wilson
Reuben E. Gant
Co. K:
Conrad Daum

MISSING:
Co. E:
William Mackey
Co. I:
Andrew J. Collins

WOUNDED:
Co. A:
Capt. James F. Charlesworth
Sergt. Israel White
Privates:
Joseph Acres
William Harrison
Co. B:
Corporal James D. McMunn
Private Samuel White
Co. C:
Sergt. Alonzo P. Henthorn
Private Amida Province
Co. E:
Privates:
Joel Spohn
Charles Slaughterbeck
Co. F:
Privates:
Joseph H. White
Michael Cantwell
Patrick Burke
Co. G:
Sergt. Alfred A. Lamkin
Corporals:
Herbert Ogden
Samuel Baughman
William J. Kyle
Privates:
Conrad Smith
Eli F. Beard
George Longstreet
Leonard W. Gaddis
Melvin O. Robinson
Adolphus Meyer
John N. Kline
Simon L. Kahn
Co. I:
Sergt. Joseph Perry
Privates:
William H. Wharton
Seneca O. Rogers
Daniel McCullock
Samuel Calland
Ed. T. Lovett
Co. K:
Charles A. Smith
Charles M. Cass
Michael Herbert
Wesley H. Cooper
Reginald Crawford
James Jones

     After pursuing the enemy to Port Republic, on the morning of the 9th, the army was halted, marched back to Harrisonburg, and thence to Strausburg, having marched during the campaign two hundred and fifty miles.
     While lying at Strausburg some important changes took place in the Regiment.  Lieut. Col. George Webster was promoted to the colonelcy of the 91st Ohio, and shortly afterwards, while commanding a brigade, was killed at the battle of Perryville, in Kentucky.  He was a chivalrous gentleman, and a natural soldier.  Had he lived he would undoubtedly have taken high rank among the notable leaders of the war.  Major Charlesworth was promoted to lieutenant colonel, but was still kept at home by the severe wounds received at Cross Keyes.  Capt. James Washburn, of Company B, was promoted to the colonelcy of the 116th Ohio, and served with credit, becoming a brigade commander.  Capt. Jere. Williams, of Company C, was commissioned major, vice Charlesworth promoted.  Capt. Lewis R. Green, a young and promising officer of Company H, died of typhoid fever, after a short illness.  Lieuts. Askew, Haughton, Bowlus and Jones were promoted to captains, and Sergeants N. J. Manning, C. E. Randall and Edward C. Culp were commissioned second lieutenants.  A number of non-commissioned officers of the Regiment were given commissions in new regiments, and a large number of recruits were received from Ohio, and some from Virginia.