M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1861-07-04
Letter frsm B,ash LodwlcIk.
CAMr NfAR FALLs Carmen, VAL
"Wednesday, june 10, 1851.

lust two months to q day from the time
we left home, at 10 O'Clock we wero
ordered to march. The order spread
around the camp like wild.fire, and
every man in the let Ohio Regiment
had his place in the ranks long before
the long roll had ceased itS sound
After the Lattallion was formed we
marched to the Alexandria, London
and Hampshire Railroad, q distance
of about fifty Farda, where we- found
tho Iron Horse with some flly plat
form cars, ons Baggage ear and one
Passenger car, awaiting to carry US
to where we last expected certain
death. We embarked with about TOO
men oil told and darted out for the
purpose Of guarding tie Railroad. At
last we started and began to distribute
our men along the way, company at a
time; we had gone about 10 or 10
miles over Virginia's sacred soil, and
distributed all Of our men except four
companies, which were composed Of
240 men, among which was our COM
pany. We sat on ths 3rd platform
cal and were going at the rate Of about
Ave miles an hour. At about five
O'Clock we were informed that there
were seven hundred of the enemy but
a short distance ahead; but alas! such
information as might have saved our
company was needed as a mere rumor,
and on we glided---nearer and nearer
the jaws Of death; and when within
about three. .fourths Of o mile Of Wen
ma, we heard tho cry Of "tbsre are the
rebels-take of your Havelocks.". :
Then we turned the carve in the Rail-
road and came in range Of o masked
battery, from which q fire ofshot and
shell was poured into US very freely,
though considering the position they
held over us it was not very effective.
At the first fire our brave Col. Nc.
Cook ordered; in a loud and comman.
ding voice, to "rally or the reserve
and on the right and left"--wh:ch the
men obeyed promptly. At the same
time The enemy were giving us grape
and six pound shells rs fast as they
could send them to us. When they
heard the command given to US they
Thought we had a large force in the
rear, and did not advance. They had
$500 men and 500 cavalry against our
little number Of 240 infantry, and at
the time we retreated, they did the
same thing in the opposite direction;
but Notwithstanding, we saved the
wounded we carried them about
seven miles, when we stopped for the
night. Our dead we got the next day.
We lost six men and had three
wounded - as follows among the
killed were Dan. Sullivan, Tom. Fen.
ton, Eugene Burke, Philip Stroade,
John r. T. Barnes and j. G. Smith,
and among the wounded were Frank
q. Lauman, David @. Gates and a
German by the name of Volmer, who
is mortally wounded-will die to-day.
Gates is in the Washington City In
firmary and doing well. lie lost his
right hand. He was a brave soldier.
We miss him much. Lauman is from
Waverly--he is only slightly woun-
lded.
Our men acted bravely and gave
entire satisfaction to our commanders.
The rebels proved themselves COW.
ards, or else they would have taken
or killed every one of us. We have
our guns beside US all the time. Can,
not tell when we shall see another en-.
gagement; but. my dear parents, re-
member that am in q good cause
feel prepared to die, and am ready ia
do my duty at any time and in any
place. still have bright hopes ol
once more seeing home. Do not be
uneasy about me. / am now well
; and able to stand many more hard
ships.
We are now about eight miles from
Fairfax @. H., at which place there il
said to be about 10000 secessionists
all we'll armed; but they are too COW.
ardly to meet us on fair ground at the
point Of the bayonet. They depend
entirely on the gerrilla warfare, and
expect to defeat us in that way, fol
we arc in q contrY that they know all
about, and we know nothing about
But the last fight will learn our men
la lesson. Whenever we advance
la1ain we will! always have o large
force and plenty Of artillery. If we
could have had four or Ave pieces
with US day before yesterday We
would have licked them badly.
The above account is correct, for
saw all the fight. The balls came
whizzing over me, around me, and in
fact, under tne; but as Providence
guided me, ! escaped without the least
Injury. 1t is beyond my power to des
crihe the feelings Of one in battle
when he knows not what second thai
he is totall. All that | can say 10 thai