Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-19
CAMP AT ELKwATER, VIRGINIA, I
Septemher IL. 1861.

To The Editors Of the Daily Press;
AT last we have had an excitement,
although, as Sir Charles Coldstream saws,
there's nothing in it," yet the satifaction
was great for the time being At an early
hour this morning the entire Brigade was
alive with rumors in,regard to our pickets
being driven in, and the Seventeenth Indiana
Regiment being surrounded, only ten miles
from our position. The rumor of Captain
Erwin, of Company e, and part of Captain
Russells company, G, who were out upon
scouting expedition, being taken, added to
the excitement; but the whole Illuminated,
by the sounding of the long roll at the mo-
ment when we were about to partake of
sumptuous repast of pork and BEANS In a
the moment every dish was left and, without
even "hasty plate of soup" our boys shoul-
| dered the musket and were soon in line and
marching to meet tho expected advance of
the enemy. The Notifications here are su.
| perb, an can De Eolu against ten times our
number and with the aid of some thirty
tTumpe.-tongued cannon we have, there is
naughT to fear in this quarter. Our boys
soon reached the intrenchments. Captain
| Russell having command of the guns to the
extreme left of the valley guarding the en-
| trance, the rest of the companies were dis
tributed upon the hill-sides, in strongly forti-
| fed positions. The Third Ohio and Fifteenth
| Indiana, alsO being drawn up in line of bat
tie. After standing some four hours in a
| drenching rain, the pickets and advanced
| companies returned Captain Erwin being
compelled to leave his camp kettles, haver-
sacks and other fixiDgs, for the benefit of the
eremy. Colonel Anderson returned with
| his command to the camp this evening, with
orders that the boys be ready for an attack
at any moment.
Our camp is beautifully located upon the
| banks of Elkwater River, Randolph County,
in a classically situated valley-the mount
aims rising abruptly to the hight of three
ard four hundred feet. The scenery is
grandly wild, reminding me of many scenes
in Switzerland.
Our Camp at night is "scene of revelry."
Concerts dancing, chess, and card parties
being quite prevalent. If our old Cincin.
natl friends could drop in upon us some
moonlight night, they could see and have
fun enough. Take your partners for
"quadrille" is the rallying sound, and soon
fifty or hundred couples are up, the ladies
are represented by part of the company leav-
| ing the uRdeT-gdrments outside the panta-
looms, aud when the call Of promenade all
is heard, such fun is not to be described by
pen and ink.
Then such serenades-our popular officers
are kept awake listening to the warblings of
the chorsters, and woe unto those who have
displeased the aforesaid songsters, for they
are as expert in unearthly discores as in the
harmony of sound.
The card parties are distributed all over
the Camp, and "run all night" a soldiers
life, at times, proving a very lazy one in
deed. yet amid all dangers and all trials,
there is something so stimulating, so truly
novel, that it may be said to be enchanting,
and few would give it up, even were it
optional with them 10 do so.
Rattlesnake- hunting is a fayorite amuse-
ment with some, quite number having
been killed in camp. These hills are fa-
| ~ >
Last week Andy Hall and Phil. Cobb of
Dayton, were out riding and espied fine
looking specimen of sixteen rattles; and to
day l saw, and held in my hand, a nineteen
rsttler. There are in this vicinity hundreds
of nests of this species of deadly reptiles.
There is no use denying that there is a
great and undisguised Secession element
r throughout this portion of Virginia, People
may lay it TO the ignorance of the popuia-
ton, but that don't alter the fact. They are
0 our enemie and treat us as coollY as they
dare, and they take all the advantage they
q possibly can of the necessities of the sol
;, diers- charging twenty-five cents per dozer
for eggs twenty-five cents per pound fol
: butter; milk, ten cents per quart; thirty
five cents apiece for chickens; potatoes, 81
per bushel. These prices | have paid for the
above articles, and, in several instances, ever
higher; and, at the same time, our boys are
D put out, amid drenchipg storms night ant
/ day, to guard the corn helds, aud peach o.
other orchards, of these (excuse the phrase
p, d-n Secessionists. No, our boys must COM
u here and see the farmers, with half dozel
!. evergIown children, in the shape of lank
q mean men. They are idle" neutral the,
= call it-snd our men doing their work. the,
o reaping benefit from our tolls. 1t seems q
o me it would be nothing but right to let Ou
n boys have potatoes and corn from the field
a Of those VINO are known sympathizers will
the G. S. a., instead of making them guarC
: their fields.
# The news is this morning received that
Captain Bense, Lieutenant Gilman and Lieu
tenant Schieffer, with about forty of oul
1 boys, being taken prisoners. The creates
excitement prevails, and an immediate at
tack is anticipated. Our men have orders t
be up by four o'clock in the morning, they
having returned from the trenches.
SEPTEMBER l3.-The news of the capture
of Captain Bense is confirmed. 1t seems
, from the statement of Edward Hof and Au
5 gust Nischam, two Ct his men, who escaped
q that they were partaking of nice dinner a
a house near where they were picketed
while enjoying themselves the house wa
{ surrounded, and they demanded to surrender
? AS they were powerless, and their numbe
but small they of course aceeded to the de
nand. The Secession soldiers commenced
stripping the men of all valuables, wheI
K they were ordered by the Colonel in com
mand to restore every thing, excepting
weapons, to our men, and to treat then
: kindly, stating that in due time the mel
would be released and the officers sent t.
Richmond.
The names of the prisoners now in thei
hands are Captain James Bense, Lieutenant
Schieffer and Gilman, of Co. O. Sergeant
Wesley B. McLane, John Hauly, Ferd Nc
Donough; Corporals H. O. Ohoake, VIM. Lon
ienheim, John Williams, Thos. Long, ChaE
Fahboust, Henry S. Gibson Privates, Fran
Brehm, Adolph Drummer, Henry Buddenbau
Michael Council, James. Carson, Jos. Drehe
Fred. Ellerman, VIM. Forristall, Ed. Greer
Robt. Finley, Anton Frank, August Gros
H. Harmeyer, o. Hot, ]. Hauser, j. Hinfk
(killed), D. Hummel f. Hekert, S. Irmige
VIM. Jergens, G.. s. Lerue, John Littl
Jacob Lands, Jacob Lese, James Mach
Hiram Mosher, Eli Miller, Thomas Marsha
]. McGline, Fly. Northman, John 0ysterda
John Stoker, John L. Rea, Tim Ryan, Nj
Seibe1t, O. NJ Smith, c. Schweitzer, VIM.
Thoburn, VIM, G. Weber, of CovingtOn; s.
vester Webber, VIM. Mental, James WilsC
G. Yehle (killed( VIM. Yager, John ri
meIman and George Burner, making to
of one Captain, two Lieutenants, three S
geants, six CorpOrals and forty. six Privat
The men killed were those only who
l. tempted to run after being fully in possessi
of the enemy. All were as kindly trea
- as could be expected, no disrespeet bel
are a1lnmed