Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-09-18
For the Daily State Sentinel
Our Army Corresponde nce.--From
western Virginia..
.LKwArER. Randolph County,
August 81, 1861.

CAMP ELKwArER, Randolph County, Va,
August 81, 1861.
Mr. EpIroR Without describing our works
so minutely as to injure cause should this
communication meet the eye of the enemy, it may
be briefly stated tina. the 18th regiment, Indiana
Volunteers has been very busily engaged in field
Notifications, besides performing some picket and
outpost duty. But the men, are faml
liarly termed the "boys" discharge the duties as
signed, cheerfully and energeticaIly.
A few days since Company H., (Capt. Miller)
had quite brush, in which the Captain shot a
secession leader, while the killed eleven or
twelve of the enemy. Not knowing how soon a
| large reinforcement might arrive, the enemy s
pickets transmitting instantly the alarm along the
whole line to the "Big Spring Camp" Captain
Miller retired firing, having one man killed and
bringing away one wounded. The former was
afterwards found and buried by seven companies
| of the 18th Ind, volunteers, who were ordered
up to occupy the disputed locality, near Point
Mountain
A number of scouting parties have been out at
various periods two of the scouts we're out with
out provisions for three days, and one is supposed
killed, as he exposed to deadly fire from
some twenty or more muskets, when last seen by
his comrades.
Many of the prisoners formerly taken have
been sent to Columbus Ohio and one, who was
leader at Rich Mountain has been ordered to
Fort Lafayette, New York, because he was form
erly an officer IN the United States Army.
The policy of the enemy at present seems to
be TO outhank the Federal regiments, which are
in advance, and cut off their supplies but our
Gel erals are wide awake, to these chances, and
doubtless will provide against such contingencies
Our supplies chiefly arrive at present by way
of W ebster and Beverly. along which line sew
eral regiments. chiefly Ohio and Virginia troops,
extend. Carrick's Ford on Cheat river, at which
they had some skrmishng lately, and where Gen.
Gsrnett was killed, is about twenty miles east OF
this line of travel. The road followed by our
wagon trains passes over Laurel Hill close by the
breastworks thrown up by the secessonists; also,
bv Philippa, (sometmes improperly written Philip
p as if after the celebrated ancient town of that
name, whereas il is named after Mrs. Phlppa
Barbour,) where General Kelly had his engage
ment, and through small place called Prunty
town. near which good coal is dug, and thence to
the railroad at Webster.
The growth, including two species of Kalmia.
/ from which this subordinate ridge of the ALE
ghany range derives its name, is to be found
ON the Southern exposures, with the whortle or
huckleberry and some peculiar species of ferns,
&C. whereas the colder slopes have other spe-
cfcally different ferns. as aspidium and adam
1 tum also, vast quantities of MOSES and lichens,
besides very varied timber, including, at places
the umbrella tree, (magnoa umbrella with its
enormous letVes--twO species of pine and vast
quantities of chestnut. chestnut oak. black and
white oak, and sassafras. In the bottoms the
bemlock is the representative of the evergreens
accompanied occasionally by the elm and syca-
more.
On the brow of the hill which we are fortifyinf
il is curious to observe that the rocks stand al
most in vertical position, and are usually desti
tute of fossils while on the summit, not sixt,
wards from the first ditch, the rocks repose un
conformably in horizontal strata, where we arr
excavating and where we dig out many interest
ing relics of an early world
We hope soon to see our breastworks full,
mounted with the batteries OF the gallant Capt
LOOMS from Michigan, who is also qualifying
squads of our men to serve the guns
Our Captains are busy making out music
rolls, which we understand, if approved by th
; Paymaster as being in due form, will speedil
bring us the means of replenishing our httl
stock of exhausted varieties.
Being exceedingly busy at present, you mus
excuse the shortness ofthe present communicate
: from one of ..,s
iTHEl5rH RrepfESr INDIANA VoLuNTEERs
P.S. i'm the last communication, when d'
sired to say that we we're pleased with the pros
pect of Gen. Reynolds commanding our origad
(which wish has been realized much to our sa
2 isfaction) your printer made me say that "
h were ssplanning'' or chad planned" forg'
! which, &C., &c, whereas we leave all the 'piaI
!, ming" for Geuerah to do and only carry out the
y designs to the best ofour ability.
Prom kep Nr. Kclfulen, Pastor Of Roberts Chdp'
IxDdAsAPoLrs October 9, 1857.