Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-07-10
LETTER FROM THE SEAT OF WAR,
CAMP MASON & DIXON, !
June 30th 1861. I
DEAR REPUBLICAN :

Since my last hur,
ried epistle, penned on the eve of our has.
, ty departure from Camp Curtain, our
movements have prevented me from in
forming you Of cur whei eabouts, or de
, failing any of the incidents of our hur-
ried march towards the southern border
OF the State. presume you are already
Informed, through the medium of the
press, that the critical situation of Col.
Wallace Of the Indiana Regiment of Zou %
aves, stationed at Cumberland Nd, in
duced the Gov. of this State TO order two
OF the regiments in Camp Curtin TO march
Immediately to his support In fact
believe that Col. Wallace had actually
> pushed on to Romney Va, but finding
that he would be unable to hold the place,
with large secession force in its vicinity
he fell back upon Cumberland q town on
the north bank of the Potomac, within
the borders of Maryland, where he is still
encamped. We left Camp CurLin-that
is, the Isl and ID Regiments, P. V. r.
Corps, commanded by Coils. Biddle and
simmons, or Saturday morning of the
22nd inst as day was dawning, and at 5
o'clock Of lovely June morning we were
leaving Harrisburg and our cid Camp
where we had almost become domesticao
ted together with all their beautiful sur.
roundngs, in the distance. 1t seems n
misnomer to call transportation on the
cars 4 march, but it will doubtless be un-
d-rstood by the intelligent readers of the
Rpwlicm. By one o'clock ?. NJ. we
reached Huntington, where the citizens
did their best am convinced to fur
nish the whole of the troops with ample
refreshments; hut their generous inten-
tions were partially defeated by the con,
temptble conduct of the conductor of
the train on which our regiment (the 2nd)
was shipped, who backed it so far down
the road that 1t was beyond the reach Of
those who brought provisions, many of
whom were ladies. The train which con
veyed the lst regiment was permitted to
remain in i.ont of the depot, and they of
course Jared sumptuously. The front of
our train also received some of the refresh
ments, but three Of the rear companies in
cluding the "WaShington Cadets" were
scarcely furnished with drink of water
to the tenth man. We supposed that
when the lst regiment left, as it had trav-
elled all the forenoon in advance OF us,
we would be moved up and be treated, at
least, as we'll as what they had left would
permit, but instead of that we were trun-
died on, hungry and thirsty rs we were
none but the officers having been permit
ted to leave the cars. True we had two
days rations of hard biscuit and cold pork
in our haversacks, and if we had not, to
view our fellow soldiers, Ito which Gis-
tance lent but little enchantment,) ems
joying the luxuries provided for the whole
/ Il Iato OH n,,I oh hnu co1
ed with our camp fare. However, no
blame is to be attached to the hospitahle
citizens of Huntingdon, who intended
treating all alike, and would have done
So had it not been for either the stupidity
or ma!ignity of the conductor Of the train
that had us on board.
At Huntingdon we took tho Broadtop
Railroad, arrived at Hopewell, its South
ern terminus about ?. NJ. the same day
we left Camp Curtin, and encamped for
! the night in q beautiful little valley Or
nook, surrounded by lofty hills or noun
tains clothed to their SUBMITS with dark
green foliage, situated about one fourth of
a mile east of the village, Which is a thri-
wing little place of about $50 inhabitants.
At three o'clock on the following morn
ing Sunday we were aroused by the Or
der to take up our line Of march for Bed
ford At half past four the first regiment
was put in motion, and at five, IL second,
(ours) bid adiew to Camp Biddle, the ap-
( pellation by which our nights resting
place had been christened. And here |
will correct al error | have observed in
some OF your CotemporarieS, and inform
your readers Of what companies the first
and second regiments consist. The error
| refer to is q statement, that the first
regiment was commanded by Col. Sim,
mons and the second which contained all
the "Buoktails," by Col BdIle. The
first regiment is commanded 6y Col. Bid
die, and contains all the "Bucktails, "
while the second is commanded by Col.
Simmons who holds the rank OF Captain
in the U. S. Army, and has been about
twenty five years in the service. This
regiment is composed Of West Branch
companies with four exceptions, one, a
company from Bradford county, two COM
panes from Huntingdon county, and one
from Lancaster; the latter being scarcely
an exception. The other six are the
"Centre Guards" from Centre, the "Jer-
seyshore Rifles" from Lycoming, the
pollock Guards" and the "Northumbers
land Infantry" from Northumberland,
the "Slifer Guards" from Union and the
washington Cad cts" from ClearGeld co.
The first regiment is composed of the
"Raftman Rangers" Clearied, the Raft
man Guards" Warren, the ELK Rifles, +"
Elk, the "Irish Infantry" Carbon, the
"Wayne Independent Rifles" Chester,
the "McKean Rifles" Mexican, com.
pany from Perry CO., and the balance
"Bucl<tails from Potter and Tioga couns
ties.
A little before neon we reached Bloody
run, famed in the annals of our country's
carly warfare for desperate engagement
between a party of deserters and their
pursuers where u hastily prepared but
handsome and most gratifying collation.
furnished 10y the patriotic citizens of the
place awaited us. After despatching the
refreshments provided for US and resting
short time, we resumed our march be-
meath broiling sun ard amid az almost
suilocating dust for Bedford las we sup
posed, } now eight miles distant. About