Columbia Democrat And Bloomsburg General Advertiser

Col. W. W. Ricketts,--This gallant commander of the Sixth Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment spent yesterday in our city, on his return to his regiment, now on the other side of the Potomac. He has been down with a complication of disorders for nearly two months, at home in Orangeville, Columbia county, and although now sadly crippled with the rheumatism, still weak from typhoid fever, and with weak lungs, the prospect of a brush with the enemy hastens him on to join his regiment. No regiment in the service has been so peculiarly unfortunate as the Sixth. At Washington, on its arrival, it was regarded as one of the finest regiments sent from Pennsylvania, and had the highest encomiums passed upon it by Gens. McClellan and McCall. Shortly after they encamped, the Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel and Major, as well as a majority of the company officers, and upwards of a hundred privates were taken sick. The deaths were not very numerous, but the progress of the regiment in attaining efficiency was sadly interfered with, at a time, too, when it had the most brilliant prospect ahead. It is this that disheartens Col. Ricketts; but, should he recover, he will soon bring his regiment from the background, and if engaged with the enemy, our word for it, it will be heard from.-Patriot & Union.