Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-11-25
Army Correspondence Of the Daily
Press.
HEAD QUARTERS OF LOOMS BATTERY,
CAMP RLKwATER, WESTERN VIkGINIA,

November IA, 1861 J
EDITOR PREss-Dear Sir: Times here are
very dull at present, the enemy having left
us in possession of this valley, but large
force are still encamped on Greenbrier Hill.
IL is not probable that we will attack them
until next spring.
Major SlemmeT, of Fort Pickens notoriety,
has been here for the past few days, inspect
ing the troops, which proved entirely salts
factory 10 him. He was pleased to see the
regiments well disciplined and in fiue con-
dtion, and remarked that Captain Loomis'
Battery is the best that he has seen. He was
satisfied that Loomis' Battery is second to
none now in service. ...I
The Guthrie Grays presented fine ap-
pearapce with their new overc ats This
regiment is pronounced the second-best in
camp-the Third Ohio being considered the
best drilled regiment in this part of the
State.
We have pleasant times here occasionally,
in hunting ard fishing. Fish are quite
plenty-the largest size will measure be-
tween three and four inches, and are sup
posed TO be more cunning than those in the
Ohio River, for they will manage to get
with safety the bait, and their appetite not
being grat6ed they will attempt to swallow
the HOOK, which insures their capture.
| A night or two ago, one of the Indiana
| boys was approaching a sentinel, and was
crossing small stream, on log, when he
slipped and fell, filling his shoes with mud
and water; at the same time he was chal-
! lenged with "Who comes there"
! Maddeued at his misfortune, and not hear
| ing the challenge, he muttered, 1.-THE Devil l'
| The exclamation having reached the ears Of
| the sentinel, he lowered his bayonet and eX.
claimed, Advance, Satan and give the
connteTsign."
general Reynolds head. quarters is at Hut.
louisville, six miles distant from here Some
ofthe regiments have received orders to build
winter. quarters, and the men are kept busily
engaged in telling trees, building log huts
&c. 1t is astonishing to see how fast the
trees are disappearing from the surrounding
| mountains The other day a person re.
| marked to the owner of the land, on which
| we are encamped, who is a strong Secession.
list, that the Government will have heavy
bill against him for clearing his farm.
There is very little sickness here, consid
eriDg the weather, for it is seldom that We
bave fine day. 1t is sn affecting sight tc
witness funeral of departed brother sol
dier, in this mountainous country, away
from those dear ones at home, whom he lef
for the purpose of fighting for his deares
rights, and for a Government to which evel
proud England humbles herself. A deceased
soldier is always followed to the grave b,
the company to which he belonged, accom-
panied by the Chaplain, the band playin
"The Dead March," Arriving at the grav
in which the coffin is lowered, the ministe
proceeds with a brief funeral-sermon, whil
his hearers, with heads uncovered, and leau
ing on their trusty rifles, stand like statue
around the grave of their departed comrad
"He sleeps in peace at last,
The storms being DER;
Life's hateful struggle past,
He rests TO rise no more"
As some of your readers would like to hes
how artillery is worked in battle, I will say
few words on this subject. The pieces al
brought into line of battle" the guns bain
about fifteen yards apart. There are fourtee
men to each piece-ten cannoneers and fou
drivers. The several duties and posts of eac
cannoneer are as follows No. stands at th
right of the muzzle of the piece, while No.
is stationed on the left, for the purpose of il
sertipg the ammunition, while the torme
! with rammer. staff in his right hand, ram
the cartridge home. No. stands behind NJ
], at the tfeech of the piece, for the purpos
Of stopping up TIE vent with his thuml
while the latter is sponging, &c.
Opposite No.-3 iS stationed No. 4, for th
purpose of firing eff the gun. No. 8
posted midway between the timber and gul
\ who, having received the ammunition frol
/, No Z, runs with it to No. 2, who inserts
into the bore No. stands behind the liu
: ber, and takes out the cartridge and -hanC
it to No. Z, who is stationed on his left. N
stays by the caisson, whose business IL
| TO keep the timber well supplied with an
munition from the csisson. He and Il
gunner are ranked as corPorals. During q
ton the gunner gives all commands, sigh
the gun and watches the effect of his sho
Every movement in artillery is done on IL
"double Quick"
Loomis' Battery is composed of six tel
FOUNDER Parrot guns. They will do exec
: ton at distance Of three miles, and vi
stand successive firing three times as long
the old brass guns. The company, numbe
ing one hundred and fifty men, are tho
oughly drilled in every branch, of artillel
E tactics. The Sergeant Major, O'Riordan,
q competent military officer, having serV
ten years in the British Army and is one
the survivors of that brilliant f'OharRe
Balaklava." He is busily engaged twice
day in drilIinglths IoompAnyHin the 'sWo
y exercise, to the perfection Of which they a
rapidly progressing. The men are vi
l. clothed and disciplined and present q fl
/ Oaptain Loomis is highly esteemed a
1 respected by the whole company for his i
Z tiring energy Rpd perseverance, in behalf
" his men. At the battle Of Greenbrier
was the object of great praise and admil
tiop, both by the General and other pFon
, nent officers, for the coolnesB and coura
p displayed by him, and the bravery shown
, his men, on that occasion, Captain Loon
> has been promoted to Chief Of ARTILLERY
this department., with the rank of Maj
.I It-is toibe hoped that higher honors aw
y him. e.. IA. a n
(" will have to close, as have given all
4 news for the present. In my next l m
s' haEe something more interesting to &
= YOU. WM J.,PATTISON