The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1861-08-01
Letter from a virginian.

CAMP PooArAHLIco July 10, 1851.
Mr.. W. BAuEY.--Your Wood county bows are
here and we thank God for It, They have been in
the Kauawha Valley six days. and have cheered up
the Union cause in Western Virginia As Viz
gnan for the Union, it has been my good fortune to
become acquainted with some of your boys. On
the 26th day of May last, was assailed by guer-
rilla band of secessioniss, with cooked rifles pre-
scntcd at me, the cap clustering ON the tube the
finger the trigger, and with the most horrid oaths
they said they would blow my heart out of the
wrong side of me if attempted to plow Southern
soil; that man with free-soil or northern prnci-
pies should plow JEFF. Davis soil. |, as YOU would
suppose took the only alternative and lett for Ohio
the " land Of the free and the home of the brave"
Scarcely conscious of my course, came to CALI
polls, where found your regiment, had an intro
ducton TO Col. Norton, whose sympathy and manly
treatment of me and my couutrymcn in the same
condition, has placed under debt of gratitude
we can never repay or find words to express
have been more or less with your boys ever since
was with them on the 4th of July, when they made
a rush upon Ripley, the county seat of jackson
county, Va. They made gallant descent on the
town in double quick time surrounded the place.
but to their utter astonishment their game was
gone. Spies gave them timely notice of danger
and they went in such hurry, that they left their
breakfast on the tables in the court house. After
close examination of the place. they uulurled the
stars and stripes from the lofty sprc of the court
house; and may they wave in the breeze Of the Old
Dominion as memcnto of the gallant sons of Ohio
as well as to the Union of common country. On
this expedition your boys signiliZcd themselves
with noblcncss of soul commonly unknown in
warfare. They were often seen to almost weep
when cheered by the matrOns of cXilcd sons and
husbands, which occurrence was common. They
appear to be made Of the best materials of nature
They have, as by instinct, every qualification that
is necessary for the station they are filing. with
full appreciation Of what is right, aud a strong
sentiment against all wrongs. have followed chem
on TINS expedition to capture Charleston, the main
seat OF the rebel army in Western Virginia. They
are camped within l5 miles of Charleston and 13
miles of the main fortress, which is two miles be-
low Charleston. | must now digreSs for few
lines to give you an explanation of the of my
having to leave my family in the mountains of
Virginia. The sacesSionist calls me Southern
man with Northern principles. So far is truth.
They also say | am Abolitonist, which is abSo-
lutcly false, far as understand the term. | am
for leaving all the in the world in the book of
fate where they are placed and, claiming TO b. of
the anglo-saXon or European race, think more of
that race than of all the other races on the face of
the earth. am against the extension Of slave ter
rery or slave Labor where it comes in competition
with white labor or the Interests of the white race
am a Nirginian by birth, have been raised in Nir-
ginia, have never claimed citizenship in any other
State; it being the place OF my torefithcrs graves
But living in that portion Of Virginia whose prox-
Unity to Ohio and her sister Free States the lights
of their arts and science have shone upon us they
have sent the spelling book with its instructor
among US they have sent their steam mills to
grind us our bread they have shown us the equal
ity of society, and have let us see that have an
equal right with our aristocratic brethren. And
now, we of Western Virginia bound by these fra
tarnal bonds of brotherhood to our sister State of
ONO with the love OF common country, our in
terests are insepartble. Yet the "rucrs," as they
term themselves have transferred us to jeff. Davis
from whom we look to your generous chiyalry to
interpnse to keep us from being swallowed up in
this great Southern vortex. While am wiring
| am amidst your boys. They appear to be intent
on sweeping secession from the face of the carh
whilst they, joking iG all the gay vvacitv of YOUTH
innocent in their diversions manly in their depnrt-
mcnt, yet terrible in battle Well may their moth
ers be proud Of such offspring and may their cnl
be III peace. must give you some of the expert
ence Of your noble boys. The enemy placed
masked battery at ScAry Creek, miles above this
place, with the intention OF destroying boats as
well as to ambuscade the advance of the army.
But the vigilance Of the pickets discovered it in
time TO keep us from being cntrappyl, and there
was move made to destroy the works. The as
slult was nude with two companies of the u lst,
backed by part of the l2th regiment The action
lasted upwards of two hours, in which the rebels
lost between sixty and hundred killed anl their
battery knocked to pieces. So they fOundby cxpe-
rcncc that free boys can fight ON Southern soil
and teach them lesson they have long wanted
instructions in. The time for which your boys vol
untecrcd has uSt expired. and they are coming
home. In as much as it must BE- source of jOv to
welcome them to the b0spms Of friends and rela-
tives, who would be glad to keep them as friends
and citizens as well As soldiers, have cceriully to
submit. May heavens blessing follow them to the
bosom OF their friends. JOEL CUNNINGHAM.