Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-10-11
RIVER SIDE, Va, Friday, June IA, ist

RIVER SIDE, Va, Friday, June Ia, 1861.
| Ny Dearest jimmie: have written you twice
! this week, but my letters have failed to reach
you, and with the hope of hearing Of some one
going to the Ferry soon eagerly grasp my pen
this sweet morning TO send my loved one ''few
lines" Not thaving heard, through letters, from
any of us this week imagine your anxiety is al
most as great ours; indeed expect it is great
er, for you have, l know, heard of our town be-
ing in possession of the nasty Yankee boys; and
didn't your Southern blood boil with indigna-
tion to think that we should thus be trampled
upon-that our house should be so Shametu1ly
desccrGtcd2 Yes, know it did; and 80 did
mine. Oil never felt so perfectly indignant.
/ am not scared at all, and have not been; but l
did sincerely wish I was man, Just to fight
those MEAN Abolitonists. Oil Jimmie, if we
had only had some men here, and the pass above
Romney fortified, it would have been so much
better for us. Think it is dreadfM that we here,
so well fortified by nature, should let them come
in upon us and do as they did. Col. Cummings
surely acted with very little discretion; he saw
our condition, what men we had, how wholly
unprepared they We're to meet the enemy; and
he ought to have ordered forces here from the
Ferry the early part of the week, then they
would have been of some service; but now,
fear they will only bring the foe upon us with
double force for before our men can get here
and take the right stand, they, the good.toy-nots
ing dogs will put their threats into execution
and come upon our men again.
As you have not had the particulars of the oc-
currence of Wednesday, let me relate it as well
as can. ! was not in town. but had full ac-
count from Tillie. 1t was between and
o'clock that morning Mr.. Jennie Parker gall
loped into Romney, screaming at the top of his
voice, THE enemy arc upon US. Some were in
bed, some at breakfast, and some Just about to
hold morning prayers. The whole town was
aroused; the bells rung, and the general cry was
"the enemy are upon us" athe enemy are upon
u.s." Men, women and children fed to the hills,
and It was scene ofthe utmost terror and con-
steruation. Brother Hyde was at Mr.. Kens,
and leaving his military clothes, he told them
all to be calm, that the must go and take care Of
his men, who were unarmed and unprepared for
a battle; but by the time he got to the camp his
men,-shame upon them--had nearly all fed.
Col. @. had commanded them TO take their po-
sition, but they would not obey, He then with
with Capt. Lee and Lieut. Hyde mounted hor-
ses and went down TO the bridge but could sec
nothing of the enemy. Word then came that
they were right below the bridge, when the Col
ordered the Potomac Guards, from Springfield,
and the Hampshire Rifemen, from New Creek,
to retreat, which both refused to do, the Spring
field boys-how proud am Of them--swore
they would notleave Romuey, while the otters
went to the hill back Of Mr Gibson ) house to
fire uponithe Ysnlfees, which tkeydld, ana then
retrested ak their force was entirely too weak
to meet the enemy aud finally the Colonel pre-
vailed on the Others to go. and In less than an
hour from the time the alarm, was given, almost
every man had left Romney. Before the Nor
therners got across the bridge, Messrs. J. Park
er. and the two Willharnesses went down and
fired upon them. Henry w. had minnie rife
and he says he is sure he killed one of the dogs,
for he saw him roll down the bank; they fred
upon those three men fifteen times, but not a ball
took effect. They then came across the bridge
IN doubles file and vent right to Mr. eibson's
house which be had justieft to get his daughter
out Of danger Hannah would not go without
her father, They broke It open and went from
garret 10 cellar demolishing everything they
could lay their hands on; broke open every
trunk and drawer about the honss, took every