Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-07-26
For the Pomeroy Weekly Telegraph
Letter from a Volunteer.


M'. Elitu"-Last Sunday night a
week ago our Company was ordered to
march to GleNville to dislodge coin-
pany Of Sscessionists. The order was
received at eleven clock at night. BY
II the whole Company, except few
left to guard the bridges, were under
way. The distarce marched is fifty
miles. During She whole Of that pight,
all of the next day, and part of the fol-
lowing night, our men continued in one
steady march, halting only for meals and
an occasional rest The fatigue was
very great. Some of the Company gave
out and halted by the way, only for
short time, however, as they caught up
with the Company before they got to
Gleayillc.
The object Of this hasty movement
Was net fully apparent until all hands
had arrived at the town. There we
learned THAT regiment of the enemy,
nine hundred strong, had taken posses
sion Of the place, but lefS a sew Aou1s
before our CelRpaty and ths Ohio 7th
Reg. arrived. Strar &c it is, indeed, that
our enemy will net wait for Hs, but al
ways manages to keep Is CT 20 miles
ahead Some of the citizens Of the
town of Secession procliyities left en-
learning that Union troops were coming
in. Their retreat was SO rapid that they
left their meals, and tables already set
for the benefit of Uncle Sans boys.
1t is a source of regret to our whole
Company that we were not granted the
opportunity of fighting our Secession
triends
After resting one day at Glenville,
our men started on the march back to
West Union, where they arrived on
Thursday night safe, but very badly
used up.
On Saturday, orders were given for
our whole Reg. to hold itself in readi
ness to march via r. r. at moments
notice. At midnight our Company was
taken aboard the train, en- route for the
East. At daylight we arrived at Clarks-
burg where we learned our destination
to be Rowlesburg, Va. At about 2
o'clock p. NJ, we arrived at the stop
ping place, as we supposed. But be-
fore we got off we were ordered l miles
farther to Oakland, Maryland, where we
are at present. Here we formed in line,
as soon as we had cooked and eaten a
supper, to march to some point in Va.
After two mile march, a messenger
from Gen. Hill met US and counter
manded orders. We returned to this
place and spent nj ght in Maryland for
the first time to many of us.
Our Regiment, in company with the
9TH, Goth, I'D, and a few scattering Com
panies of other Regiments, were ordered,
thus hastily, to this part of the country
to head the enemy routed at Laurel
Hill. 1t was said they were running
via Of Cheat river.
Three Regiments, one day ahead of
ours, met nd chashed them back to Va
yesterday, about the time We landed
Fortyf prisoners, and few camp
equippages, were taken by our for ees.
The fear Of Gen. Mcclellan, ''that we
would not meet with an enemy worthy
Of our steel, is realized. Two quail
ties of great Importance are absolutely
required by those who enter Davis army.
! \ good soldier in the service of the
Southern Conted. must be thorough
thief, and a good tootosan. He must
know how to steal, from the rich as we'll
as the poor, and must be able to run
with his booty, so az to keep it out Of
the hands of ''Northern Vandals.'
To-day We march to Piedmont-where
we go then, "deponent saith not A
soldier is expected to obey orders, "ask-
ing no questions for conscience sake. "
l have been rushing from officer to Off
Ger to learn what the order is after we
get to Piedmont. They are all know
nOthings on the subject.
1 hastily write this, that our friends
may know where we are. 1 think it best
not to write us now, as letters will hardly
follow in our route.
We are in fine spirits, and ;'eager for
the fray" The prospect of something to
do in the way of fighting seems to be the
very thing for our men, to cheer them
up.
1 will write again as soon as 1 have
opportunity. Yours Truly,
! J. NJ RIFE.