Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-11-01
Amy Correspondence,
CAMP CBEAT MOUNTAIN SUMMIT,
0cto her 10 1851

Z
scribe the beauty and grandeur Of the scenery
I here-afountain SUBMITS and Intervening hol-
lows covered with stately Pines running their
lofty heads Heavcnward. while underneath their
dropping branches covering ground, rocks and
everything else, is moss from three to twelve
inchss5in slength,,- forming a picture atsonee
grand, gloomy, and peculiar. Often have l
| stood on some cminence and while viewing the
"a landscape Oe'r,' sighed for the genius of an
artist, that might paint the picture, or the
! gift of poetry, that might portray it. And,
as inhaled the free mountain breeze, L felt a
newneSs of lie. Then | did not wonder that
the mountain fiStuess was the cradle Of freedom;
that the tree OF liberty has its longest and
most deeply implanted root there. One thing
/ has struck me- while traversing these dense
forests. and that is there are no birds TO speak
o0'in Western Virginia. All is as silent as
a church-yard. But when its n1turai beauty
is described you are done speaking mits favor.
/ There are no pleasant farm-houses, ami well
cultivated farms, but in their stead are rude
huts. filed with poorly clad children, who exc
ont subsistence from poorly cultivated gar
den patches. p. tt' f. i.if .',s'
Our Camp is on the summit of Cheat Noun
! tnin, 4.500 feet above the level Of the sea. and
about 201 mics in the interior Of the State
The Regiments now here forming Brigadei
are the path, 25th and 32d Ohio, and the 9th
| Indiana. They are all at present very busy
t building winter quarters, which consist in two
houses 20 by 30 feet for each company, besides
an officers house. Any one unacguainfed with
the obstacles to be overcome might suppose it
IN % Sr S,,Ia FIR a S,,, rap 10 hf,iTd tyv,1 sch
| houses, Where a dozen stumps 10 the square
rod are to be dug out and the logs for build>
/ ing have to be carried quarter Of a mile up
the mountain side at an angle Of 45 ., it
requires the exertion of some mammal labor.
Gen. AIllroy, formerly Col. of the Indiana 9th,
i is commander of the post. The Ohio Regis
ments arc of the opinion that iliasmnch as there
are three Ohio and only ono Indiana Regiment,
| tits but fair that the brigade should have an
Ohioan for Brigadier. Accordingly all III,
officers have signed protest against being so
governed.
Most Of your readers have no doubt read in
the Western Virginia correspondence OF the
Cincinnati papers, detailed description Of our
attack on the rebel camp at Groenbriar, which
are in-the main very correct The pass where
the 32d was stationed was however 10 instead
of mile from this place The cannonading
was distinct, terrific and grand from where we
| were. The word brought back to US was that
our cannon were all taken and forces cnt to
pieces and in rapid pctreat. a flyirg cavalier
brought the news followed by half dozen
baggage Wagons full tilt. thought OF Ma
nasSas and thought we had its repetition =
Our regiment was immediately drawn up in
line OF battle, AMI would have giver them a
warm reception and good account of herself,
had the thing proved a reality instead of a
scare. There were however some cheeks paled
by fear and some knees that shook, but gen
orally a firm front was presented.
+ Tho SD formed the advance column, po-
, sition have since heard that other regiments
dare not accept, for the night was intensely
dark, and dense thicl1ets grew close 20 the road
!, on both sides most of the way, so that All en-
eTny in ambush might easily have cut US to
pieces. The 32d covered The rear as it had
formed the advance, in good order, and so ex-
ecuted its orders elicit the praise of botI
Gen. Reynolds and Col. Ford. Alter we had
got to bed that night, the word came that The
rebels were coming in full force to attack our
camp that night or early IN th1 morning, so We
+ slept On our arms, alarm gave way TO exhaust
ed nature, anlwe 81 pit souldly and were not
{ distnrbtd1 '-.a -. 7 ==---
The next morning another alarm was raised
by some OF our men being seen at distance
corsing in and taken for the enemy. The re-
! ginlent was ordered out and volunteer conIpa,
nies called for to go down to the bridge-ovcr
Cheat riYer-and meet them. Capt Dyer told
the Col. that Other captains were his seniors
and other companies better drilled than hi.
perhaps, bat that he was ready to go. And
he did go, but there was no enemy. 1t how
ever placed us high in the estimation Of tho
Col. Now when there is n delicate post 20 be
filled, our company is called on. Last Mon
day noon, the 1t. Col. informed Capt. Dyer
that Gen. AIilIroy had ordered a scouting cx,
pedition, to consist of one company from each
of the four regiments, for the purpose of bring
ing in some prisoners.
We started on the morning of the ] 3.h just
at day-break. Il company of the 9th Indiana
and one of the 24th Ohio started at O'Clock
a. H. deplOying to the left after going 5 niles
for the purpose Of getting in the rear OF the
picEets that VIC wished to fake The two re-
manning companies were to drive them in Just
at noon when the other companies being in
their rear, we would have them baggcd Ac.
curdingly, We haIte,l till near noon We got
within 400 yards of them before we were dis
covered, when one of them stationed at the
bridge over Grecnbi lar, fired ut us, his bullct
Thistling over our heads. About 30 OF them
then came pouring out of a house 200 yards
further on, when u squad of our men stationed
on a jutting ledge of rocks above us, opened
Gre on them, and the firing was brisk for few
minutes. the boys of 25th going iHro them on
double quick, closely followed by our boys
the rebels thought it getting hot and fed as
, fast as their heels could carry them. and that
, was faster thnn our tired boys could pursuc.-
The guide of the other companies having, as
they said, lost his way, they failed TO get in
their rear, aud they all escaped except one
sturdy gandcr that thought to show us fight, ,
and he did fight, firing his gun three times and
the loads out of his revolver, then ran like q
: deer, but was overtaken by a mounted captain
: lie was hearty. weldresstd d fellow, and ]
suppose is long ere this, safely lodged in Camp
r Chase. We reached our Gimp more than al
: hour before sundown, having Travelled q miles
, We were within sight of their camp, saw their
2 forces drawn up in line of battle in front ol
their works really to receive US. But they
. dare not follow us.
e An expedition goes out now every day and
4 keeps them stirred up, so you see we are hav-
, iny some fun. Col Ford has been absent
' more than two weeks, it is said he is trying to
t get us Off this mountain, our prayers are that
he will succeed.
G We have just received our ovcrcoats which
a we very much needed. Perhaps more at some
a future time.
--------- G. R. ADAMS