, 1861-07-18
FROM WESTERN VIRGINIA,


AtdtM o. tHe I troops II rat they 7lsEa-GfGt
discoee4.fd-1Aree months nae,i.
Especial Dispatch to the Cincinnati Commercial ]
BEEL1gaToN, Va, July IL.
It is really wonderful, considering the pri.
yations and tatigues to which our troops are
subjected, that their sanitary condition should
remain comparatively good There is not a
score confined in hospital quarters, and but a
few that require the attention of the physl-
clans. What the men need most are noW5pa-
pers and tobacco; neither Of which can be OBJ
tanned here, at present. Officers are reduced
to the necessity Of begging "a chew" from
fortunate priyates, those possessing the trea-
cure Of slab Of " "cayendish," or paper OF
fine cut, have to retire when they indulge in
the luxury Of quid. They don't know how
to refuse companion in arms, and are COM
PEELED to keep the secret, lest their limited
stock vanish like green fields before an army
Of loc1sts. The newspapers are sadly missed.
Even tobacco would be given up for daily
supply Of papers to keep them in commuuica-
ticn with the outside world. The few tha.
are brought over from Grafton are kept IN
circulation from tent to tent, till they are the
merest Ehreds, and blurred with much use and
Girt.
TIE suffers that followed the army to Phil
lppi have given out, though Two are expect
here to-day. But their stock is exceedingly
limited-confined to tobacco, sweet crackers,
nelAaASs u AeH 1a4suHh duu uSss auQ u HL[le SID
tlolery, which they retail with great discre-
tion and at exorbitant rates. The soldiers pay
for these extras in tickets, on which the suit
Ter fixes bis eign-n1anual. The soldier obtains
an order for one dollar, mot less,) which he
takes out in five and ten cents tickets, and
uses Them in place Of small change. Ofcouree,
when Fay day comes, these orders are deduct
cd out Of bis months pay, and the amount
they cali for handed over TO the sutler. We
all suffer for t'emall changen Tie sut1er is
suppose to be ''tlash ~ in that medicine, but
be will not change dollar bill on the b-st
bank in Ohio unless you will take at least half
Of it in his knick-knacks, and now that ths
suffers are missing, ne are unable to buy any
1htpE because change cannot be made,
There has been no skirmishing to-d1y; but
The lines Of our pickets have been gradually
advanced, till 1t Is easy and safe to reconuaiter
the camp and deIences Of the rebels.
On the right Of the pike they do not appear
picket lines have been extended pretty far
towards the face Of Laurel Hill on that side.
Tuning the right Of the hill where the FIRST
skirmishing occurred, you come out into
cleared meadow and pasture land, with an
old log building but little distance from the
pike. Our boys got too thick in that building
yesterday, and the rebels sent six.pound bali
that knocked off the chimney and scattered
them pretty quick. To-day, however, they
vent down again and looked about the prem
ises, and made discovery that astonished
them not little. There were four fresh
graves, each oser taccaty feet long, and Opposite
them, across the raVlne, other fresh graves,
but how many they could not determine, as
it was not safe to advance that far. Another
grave, in which six had been buried, was soon
atter found.
have been little cautious Ia receiving the
statements made by the soldiers Of the num-
ber killed by them in skirmishtpg, but the
silent attestation Of these grav& leaves no
doubt in my mind that the report Of their own
cavslry to farmer in this section Is true,
He said that they had had over fifty killed and
as many wounded.
They bare learned to fear the Mimic mus.
Eets Of the 9Th Indiana and the Enfield rifles
Of the Ohio 14!h--the two regiments that
hare, so far, been chiefly engaged in ssir'
mishiDg. In enc instance crack shot in the
l4th is known to have killed his man at over
500 yards, and l persona ~ know several in
the 9th who would not miss at that distance
once out Of ten times. The rebels are more
careful than ever how they show themselves,
and any unusual movement On our side IL
| stantlJ throws their camp into commotlon.
Our men are exceedingly yenturesome, and
frequently show their daring where there can
be no compensation for the risk Incurred.
It vas in ore of these expeditions that John
Houghton lost his life yesterday He raa
right into range OF thousand concealed mus
kets, and his lfe WAS the atoncment for such
recktessness. Houehton wus from South
Berd, Ind, and member Of company I, oh
Ind. He was buried to day By the side OF
Gerard and Smith. Another is missing from
tie 9th, who is supposed to have been either
| Killed or made prisoner probably the former,
This makes our loFs four killed and seven
wounded, ard one captured about one to
ten Of the rebels. They are discovering very
rapidly, that even in guerilla warfare, upon
/ their own chosen ground, they can ba and will
| be sadly beaten. Wise will have to resort to
i ecme other system o1 barbarous warfare, If he
expects to succeed.
| The time Of our three months troops is
| nearly up-that of the Indiana regiment or
the 24th, and the Ohio On the 2sth- II tbs
| question Of enlistiug had bean put to them al
| Camp Phillippi,f very few would hare offered
! but now 1t is sste to say that scven-clghths
| will enlist for the Wat. All they ask will be
/ the privilege of returning home for organiza
t lion, and to arrange their affairs which they
LEFT in such haste at the first cal Of the Presi
| dent. 1t is not their intention to 50, how
ever, till the present argument is decided, ani
the Stars and Stripes planted On the top o
| Laurel IIill as they now wave defaatly from
| the taliesI tree OF the hill from which th,
rebels were driven on Tuesday.