Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-08-07

Iadtaaa Troops "a Western TTr7iaia-Brigadiev Gen.
esal Z u Rey4oSds IA corsofa ard az BE1sonsrizls-
Hsail u froops, dc, DC.

July -, 1851.
MR. EDrroR-After a long march from Par
kersburg to oakland, sd, by way Of Grafton,
Va; thence back 10 Grafton, thence 70 Webster.
west Of Grafton; from Webster to Huttonsvillc
camp, which IS about 81 miles from Grafton, the
I7th regiment under Col. Milo ;. HaScall, left
Parkersburg on Tuesday July the 23d. by rail
road for Webster. at which place we arrived at
P. NJ. When our regiment got TO Webster. in
stead of leaving the railroad for Huttonsvlle, il
was ordered on to Oakland. in Allegheny county.
Md, a distance of about 50 miles from Grafton.
When all WAS right We started for Oakland where
arrived on Wednesday morning, in time for
breakfast. At Oakland we found the Ohio 10th
under command of Col. James Irvine Of CoshOc
ton Ohio. This good hearted Colonel treated
fellow officer and myself most kindly TO a hos
pitably filed tent and a good warm breakfast,
afterwards turned out and helped the Indiana
boys to get good canning ground and cheer
ed them up all he could While at Cheat
river, between Grafton and Oakland, | got an
order to return and report myself TO Gen. Rev
holds. left Oakland for Grafton at about 10
O'Clock. A. NJ, and arrived at Grafton at about
p. NJ, where ] found Generals Reynolds and
Rosecrans. Gen. REYNOLDS and part of his staff
left Grafton a special train for Webster
When about a mile and a half from Grafton the
train came IN collision with Struggling lOcOmO-
tive. Fortunately both trains were al a low rate
of speed; and none injured by the collisio IA
except a Mr.. John B. Shaffer of Grafton He
was instantly killed. Mr.. Shaffer was m the
United States service and was acting a wagon
master to Gen. Morriss Brigade. | helped to
take him out of the wreck: among other papers
found on his person was his appOin'me from
Adutant Slime. General Reynolds, myself and
others walked back To Grafton. The unfoTtu-
nate mishap TO Mr.. Shafer cast a very general
and sudden gloom over all the railroad men n
Grafton, as he had been connected with the Bal
timOre and Ohio Railroad for many wears Next
morning July 25th) Gen. Reynolds, Capt. Cram,
of the United States army, and Others took the
train for Webster again, where they all safely in
a few minutes. After arranging matters and
loading wagons, Gen. Reynolds, Capt. Cram
and part of the Generals staff, escorted by Capt.
/ Keys and "a of his Pennsylvania RinggOd cav
airy started for Huttonsyile. All went WE'LL and
at about O'Clock come 10 Phillipp, the place
where Colonies Kelly, Milroy, Chttenam and
Others routed the SecesSiOnsts under POtterfeld,
some weeks ago This Phillippi is the county
seat of Barbour county, and is situated IN n nice
little valley, about twelve or fourteen miles from
Webster, ON the Beverly pike When looked
around and SAW the vacant houses and dapida6ed
state of things about Phillippi, could not refrain
from thinking of tie terrible and deva stating ef-
fleets of war upon this once happy portion of our
beloved country,-its blighting path is to be seen
here in lines too visible to be mistaken. IT, short
could not look over this place of PhillipUi with
anything but heavy heart. The next place of
note that attracted nv attention was the already
notable place called Laurel Hill. Here is where
our noble Indiana BOYS caused Gen. Garnett and
his rebel troops Ito flee the wrath TO come" |
took some pains to examine the position chosen
by that unfortunate and misguided general.
Though more than misguided, and n more than
bad cause, he was no doubt a brave man and A
pretty sharp general ] think his position was
pretty well taken and would have cost the lives
OF many noble sons of Indiana to have routed
him and his command. Yet, think that Gen.
Morris would have taken him. The intrench-
ments of Garnet have been leveed down by the
Union troops, but all the plans are visible. The
next place came TO was Beverly, the county
seat of Randolph county, Va. This Is tolerably
good sized village, situated in pretty good local
itv the land being rdth, better than further
to The north. Things look quite warlike about
this town of Beverly. There is quite number
of Virginia Union troops at this place. Beverly
is about AZ miles from Webster, and 81 from
Grafton Here had the pleasure of seeing my
old friend the gallant Capt James X. Bracken
of Rangers from your city. No man was
more pleased to see the captain than your cores
pondent; his face shines usual; all around him
seem to be happy and ready to work; his men
look finely, and appear cOnented. From Beverly
we came to this place, which IL huTTOnv1lie,
l think, about three miles distant. We are en-
canlped near the foot of Cheat Mountain, ON the
road leading to Staunton, Augusta county, va.
1t is about 80 miles to Staunton, from this camp
Our camp is on the east side of Tygarts Valley
River. We arrived here on Friday evening
about 9 o'clock. We made the march from
Webster to this place in a day and a half. about
90 miles Brigadier General J. J. Reynolds took
command of the forces i'm this region, to-day
Gen. Schleich, who was in command here. will
leave soon for his home in Ohio, so | learn
The troOps under the command of Gen Rev
nolds at this time, are the 18th IEdiana regiment
under Col. Sullivan, the 18th Indiana regiment
under Col. Wagner and the Sd Ohio regiment
under Col. Marrow, camped at this post, besides
the 18th Indiana under Col Kimball, which is
some or ~ miles from this point ON the Cheat
Mountains and some Virginia troops at Beverly.
Loomis's battery, from the State of Michigan, is
here; also a cavalry company from Cincinnati;
and since writing the above | learn that Capt
Bracken and his Rangers have arrived at this
post They will remain with Gen. Reynolds |
think hope so at least. The soldiers appear
to be in good spirits here, and all were very glad
TO see Gen. Reynolds arrive at this post. All,
both officers and men have all confidence in Gen
Reynolds a man and tactician-the reputa
ton of noble Indiana, and the Union. is safe in
his hands.
Col. Hlscall and his 18th Indiana regiment are
at or near Oakland, Maryland, under the com
mand, for the present, of Gen. ROsecrans. |
think so at least. from what / have learnel. The
good bows of the 18th we're all getting along
finely, when left that place. ] hope 60 see them
Join the 18TH 18th and 18th soon; then NC will
have nice little Indiana army in " estenn Nir-
ginia | will now say something about the Rich
Mountain battle j have carfully gathered facts
sufficient to induce me to think, and even believe
that some little injustice has been done to some
of our noble Indiana boys, in regard 10 that bat
tie and its details. The language, as reported by
some correspondent in some Cincinnati paper, 20
have been used by Col. Lander about the Hoosier
bows" learn is mistake. From what / can
learn from parties, never did men fight more
brsvely than the Indiana boys at Rich Mountain.
so much so that l think it would be wrong 10
make any distinction. A captured sentinel of the
rebel army. of Capt. Skpwith's company, saws
that Col Sulvan's ..blue coated men captured
the rebel cannon" as to which company or
companies took it, the mater appears to be be
tween those of Captains DObbS, Sales and Kirk
patrick. / care but very little about this matter
only that love to see justice done, and nothing
else. One thing is certain. the boys all did we'll
and are an honor to their State-may Others do
as we'll as the HOosier troops at Rich Mountain.
When Gen. Reynolds shall remove from here am
not advised at present; we may remain here sumo
time-say two or three weeks. Larz Anderson,
ESQ, of Cincinnati, brother of Major Robert An
derson Is here Two of his sons are connected
with the 9th Ohio regiment. one as Lieut.. Colo
mel and the other Sergeant Major They are at
Beverly Larz Anderson Is not connected with
the service but working outside tor the cause l.
most excellent man. think.
l will here remark that very melancholy cir