Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-07-26
1.otter froai1 x7ssss+n virginia.
tcogFssPoszs6Oe OF tbs Delaware Gaseiss.l
BEVERLY Va, July II, 1861,

Saettex from EYesksEu Virginia.
tcOyrssposzs6Oe Of tbs Delaware GAsstss.l
BEVERLY Va, July II. 1861.
Ma. EDrroR We have had lively
times in this part of Virginia since I
wrote Won last. We went +. ON
Grafton, where we then were, to
CIarksburg, from which point we
took up the line of march for Buck
hannon. On account of not having
a .ufficlent number of teams, we were
compelled to move quite slowly
We had to leave a portion of our
stores and send back for them each
evening consequently VIC could only
make from ten to twelve miles per
day. do not know but what this
was fortunate for our boys, as that
distanc with their heavy knapsa, ks on
their backs, and being unused to this
method of travelling, was about as far
"a they wanted to go. When We ar
rived at Buckhannon, our regiment
was placed with Col. McCook's 3 Ger
man regiment, and VIC are now part
of Gen. McClelIan's advance guard.
A scouting party of fifty from the
third regiment, under command Of
Capt. Lawson, went out from Buck
hannon in the direction of Beverly
They had went about sixteen miles
when they came in contact with the
enemy at a place known as Middle
fork Bridge Being out-numbcrcd,
after sharp skirmish. in which they
claim to have killed five of the enemy
and wounded several others, they
were compelled to retreat. They lost
one of their number, and two were
slightly wounded. The news came to
our camp late in the evening that they
were surrounded. In twenty minutes
our tents were struck knapsaeks pack
cd, and we were on our way to their
relief. We only went about three
miles that night, however, as We
learned om scouts had retreated be-
yond the enemies reach, and besides
there was great danger of an ambush.
We were of in the morning by three
o'clock, reaching the bridge about
one o'clock P. NJ. We were tired
and hungry, having had no breakfast
and but little sleep the night before;
our first lookout after pitching our
tents, was fer something to cat. As
our cook was going to the river for a
bucket of water, he discovered in the
weeds and underbrush the body of
Samuel r. Johns. lie was one Of our
boys from the regiment that had been
shot in the skirinisl the day before.
This was the first sight that we had
seen that seemed to wake US up to the
reality of The fact tl.at we arc in war.
| The effect vas electrical. More than
three thousand so1diers that gazcd up
on that dead form, turned away fully
determined TO avengc his death ifpos-
siblc. Thclc c was nothing more said
that day about wearied limbs and
long marches. Dinner was scarcely
over until there was an alarm in our
camp. We were surroun led by hills
and thick woods, and as one of our
teamsters was going to little branch
near by to water his horses, was shot
through the hat by rebel, the ball
Just grazing the top of his head. and
lit was thought that the woods were
| full of them, and that they were ad-
vancing upon US. Our regiment was
formed in q twinkling, and. altl ough
we expected a shower Of bullets every
I moment, there was not the slightest
Iconfusion. We were not, however
! attacked, and it was thought our best
plan was to scour the woods, danger
Gus as the experiment might be- NC
were divided up into small parties
and moved off in every direction. -
Our party killed two secessionists
and captured two guns and a horse.
We were kept in the woods all night
lest the rebels should conclude There
was victory in a dash and attempt
to surprise US, but this they did not
do, evidently, thinking it more pru-
dent TO adept that other and safer
maxim, that