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Big Birch Bottom.  The remainder of the regiment moved forward and on the evening of the 10th discerned the enemy near Gawley River, at Carnifex Ferry, where a sharp encounter ensued.  Night coming on, ended the battle.  Early on the following morning it was discovered that the enemy had evacuated their position and retraced across the river.
     Colonel Ewing was the first man to enter the deserted fortifications.  He found, amid a multitude of camp and garrison spoils, two fine French dress swords, one bearing the coat of arms of Napoleon I, and a stand of colors bearing the following inscription:

" Floyd's Brigade."
" The Price of Liberty is the Blood of the Brave."

     The regiment was mustered into the United States service at Camp Chase, Ohio, on the 28th day of August, 1861, for three years, under Colonel John Groesbeck, who was soon succeeded by Colonel Hugh Ewing.  The regiment served in West Virginia in detachments until August, 1862.  On the 16th of that month the regiment started to join the army in Eastern Virginia.  The right wing reported for duty at General Pope's headquarters on the 26th, and after the engagement at Centerville the left wing joined the right, having been under fire but not engaged with the musketry in the battle at this place.
     On the 2nd of September the regiment was relieved from duty at General Pope's headquarters and joined its brigade — the First—at Upton Hills.  On the 7th it moved to Frederick City, Md., and on the 14th arrived at South Mountain, where a severe struggle with the enemy took place, with a loss of eighteen men killed and forty-eight wounded. In this engagement Company E suffered most severely, having one killed and six wounded.
     In the battle of Antietam the Thirtieth, lacking proper support, was thrown back into slight confusion and compelled to fall back.  It lost three officers killed and two wounded, eight men killed and thirty-seven wounded.  The National colors were torn in fourteen places by the enemy's balls, and

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two color-bearers, Sergeants Carter and Nathan J. White, fell dead on the field. A stand of colors was rescued on this occasion by David McKim of Company E.
     On the 10th of October the Thirtieth moved into West Virginia, and on the 13th of November went into camp near Cannelton.  A few weeks later it started on a march into Logan County, returning with seventeen prisoners and seventy-five horses. In January, 1863, it moved down the Ohio and Mississippi to join General Grant's army, and on arriving at Helena, Ark., was assigned to the Third Brigade, Second Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps.  On the 21st it landed at Young's Point, and for a few weeks worked on the canal at that place.  In March it moved to the relief of a gunboat in Steel's Bayou, returning to Young's Point on the 28th.
     On the 29th of April the regiment embarked on the R. B. Hamilton, and with other troops engaged in a demonstration on Haines' Bluffs.  In May it joined in the movement upon Vicksburg, and from the 20th until the surrender of this stronghold the regiment was constantly engaged either in fatigue or picket duty or in assaulting the enemy's works.  The loss of the Thirtieth during the siege was one commissioned officer killed and six wounded, six men killed and forty-eight wounded. After the surrender of Vicksburg the regiment pursued Johnson to Jackson, and upon the evacuation of that place returned and went into camp at Black River.
     On the 26th of September it moved with Sherman via Memphis to Chattanooga, and on the 25th of October participated in the assault upon Mission Ridge, losing thirty-nine men killed and wounded.
     In November the Thirtieth followed in pursuit of the retreating rebels, returning to Bridgeport, Ala., on the 19th of December.  During this time the men were compelled to subsist off the country, with the exception of two days' rations issued on the 29th day of November.
     In January, 1864, the regiment reenlisted, and after the furlough home joined Sherman's forces at Kingston, Ga., on the 20th day of May. On the 23rd it started on the march

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through Dallas and Acworth, and on the 19th of June arrived at the foot of Kenesaw Mountain.  During this march the Thirtieth was almost continuously under fire.  It took an active part in the battle on the 26th. losing thirty-five men killed and wounded.  On July 2nd the regiment moved toward Atlanta, and on the 22nd was attacked and thrown into some confusion at first, but soon rallied and succeeded in repulsing the enemy, not, however, without considerable loss.  On the 28th the regiment gallantly stood its ground and resisted four successive attacks of the enemy, losing thirty men killed and wounded. Under its fire the foe forsook a stand of colors and in its immediate front 105 dead rebels were found.
     The Thirtieth was transferred to the First Brigade on the 5th of August, and on the 29th the non-veterans were mustered out.  On the 31st the rebels attacked the line of the First Brigade, but were repulsed, the Thirtieth losing in this encounter twenty-five men killed and wounded.
     On the 2nd of September Jonesboro was evacuated by the enemy, the regiment pursuing them to Lovejoy's Station.  After spending several weeks in camp at East Point, the Thirtieth followed in pursuit of Hood's army into Alabama, returned to Atlanta, then marched to Fort McAllister and took part in the successful assault on that place.
     After the fall of Savannah the regiment passed through the Carolinas, having a sharp engagement with Johnson at Bentonville, and frequent skirmishes with the enemy.  It arrived at Goldsboro March 24th, 1865 ; then proceeded to Raleigh on the 14th of April, and aided in the capture of Johnson's army.
     The Thirtieth marched to Washington via Richmond, and after passing in review, moved to Louisville, Ky., and thence to Little Rock, Ark.  Here the regiment remained in camp until mustered out August 21st, 1865, having participated in twenty engagements and having its colors shot in almost every battle.
     The regiment had a most remarkable service, as it participated in great battles in the States of Virginia, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, Maryland and North Carolina. They

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marched and were transported by water and railroads several thousand miles.
      Of the commanders of the regiment, Colonel John Groesbeck was transferred to the 39th O. V. I.; Colonel Hugh Ewing and Colonel Theodore Jones were both promoted to Brigadier-Generals; Lieutenant Henry Brinkerhoff was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the Second Mississippi Regiment, U. S. C. T.  He remained in the Regular Army after the close of the war, had a long and honorable service, and was retired with the rank of Colonel but a few years ago.
      Captain Elijah Warner was promoted to Major and James D. Bain was promoted to the Captaincy of Company E.
     The total losses in the regiment, killed, died of wounds and disease, as shown by the official record, were two hundred and seventy-seven.
     One hundred and two soldiers served in Company E of Jerome Township, and the loss, killed and died of wounds and disease, was thirty-two, or about 33 per cent of the total enlistments.  Many others were wounded and a number were prisoners of war.