Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-08-14


they ought to have been called mountains
long ago. The Little Birch is still finer
than the Elk. l have no idea of finding
anything finer than this, as the degrees of
comparison are about ended, though l be-
lieye I have finest left nc yet. The next
stream I come to l will use that one and
drop the subject.
Saturday Ere,
Valley Of GREAT BIRCH RIVER.
We have again encamred for the night.
This morning We started up at al angle of
10 degrees, and walked for six miles. The
heighth we arrived at you can figure out if
you feel disposed. for l am not going to do
it for you, from the fact that believe you
have the most time. 1 thought we had
got high enough, but while on the one side
We could see the tree tops in the distance
below, the hills on the other side seemed
as high as in the morning.
All this point We began to descend, and
soon struck the valley Of the Great Birch !;
after crossing ii, (by pulling of our shoes
ard stockings, for there are no bridgcs,)
We proceeded two miles till We struck an
other creek, where we are now encamped.
We are now occupying the ground where
Wise's Brigade encampcd but a few nights
ago. We saw one box marked "Wise's
Brigade" He had thrown up a breast
work directly across the valley, intersect-
ing the read at right angles. This work
stopped our troops about two minutes. The
scenery on these moutain slopes is pictur-
esque beyond comparison Little rivu-
lets cross the road every few yards, and
then find their way down the steep noun
tain passes, swelling the streams of the
valley. l am told that there are spccklcd
trout in these brooks. These mountains
arc covered with q larger growth of tim
Der than those on the Kanawha, and IN
like those, abound in cool refreshing springs
The timber is Of many varieties; white
wood, oak, cucumber, the gum tree, and
hemlock, are the principal kinds. while on
the streams in the valleys is found cotton
wood, sycamore, and in fact almost all
kinds. Besides this large growth of tim
Der, the mountains are covered with a
thick growth of paw-paw and laurel, so
that we can barely pass through it.
We march again tomorrow at 4 o'clock
A. NJ. W. shall keep travelling till We
meet Gen. Cox at Gauly Bridge. Wei
have a long march before US, but VIC are
good for it. and anxious to be on the way.
As we desire to get out of this country.
There are no rebels here, and this walking
over mountains for pleasure is a humbug.
We have marched every Sunday but one
siIce we have boon in the service. Our
lays arc all alike. We would like to en-
amp every Sunday, but circumstances
will not admit. A messenger brought US
mail last night and tonight, but no War
ZEN papers. We got Cleveland papers as
ate as July 9Oth. Why is it We get no
papers? We are anxious to get
the Warren papers regularly. Letters
have come regularly thus far. Our friends
BY looking at the papers car learn our
whereabouts at almost any time. Letters
have invariably been forwarded to US, and
Will be.
Rev. F. I. Brown, our Chaplain, Joined
is to-day. We were ell glad to see him,
Is the repeated cheers that went up from
he regiment certified to. We are very
much attached to our Chaplain, he is a
courteous and kind. We
shall not consent to his leaving US again as
a messenger.
We have 10 on the sick list-more than
1t any time before. We had only 60 men
the ranks to-day. Four or five we're
teams, others were on various
kinds of duty. We furnish more men for
Extra duty than any company in the regi-
ncnt. l am going to enter protest soon.
You may get this letter in one week,
md you may not in three. 1 have no
conception of the way it will take to get
'ut of this valley.
Yours truly.
GEO l. WOOD