The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-11-13
Army Correspondence.
From Cheat Mountain Summit,
A Hazardous Expedition.
OUT RECONNOITERING.
November End 1861.

Oedr Splrtf:--On the evening OF the 3oth
lit, just after dark, received an order to re-
port myself and company to the head qua rters
IT Gen. Milroy, forthwith provided with one
lays ratious. As l had no Lieutenant in my
company able for duty (Lieut. Riehnsr having
resigned, and Lieut.. Sinclair being quite un-
WE'LL l invited Lieut.. Jones to accompany me,
took 40 Of my company, who volunteered to
accompany me, and Lieut.. Jones Joined me
nth 80 from his command, and with this force,
at 8 o'clock, reported to Gen. Nilroy. was
direeted to report to Major Bell at the "Gum
road, !" which intersects the road leading from
here to the Secssh camp about miles from
here, and about from the enemy; and was
that company from each of the
other regiments, the Oath and 32nd Ohio, and
9Th Indiana, would follow.
On our arrival at the Gum road We found it
pioketed by an orderly and two men, and were
told that Major Milroy was at barn about
miles nearer tbs enemy, and that he had left
orders for us to join him at . barn. We were
told that firing had occurred few minutes
before, down the road, but the cause had not
been learned. As . precautionary measure,
six men, who volunteered for the purpose,
were sent before as an advance guard, to pre-
vent our forces from falling into an ambus-
cade. After going down the hill perhaps half
a mile our advanc guard met Major Bell who
halted them. When we came up, l reported
myself and command to him for orders. He
directed Us to proceed to the barn and await
his arrival; and ordered our advance guard
back to their places in the ranks, stating that
there was not the slightest necessity for "feel-
ers." as he had the road closely pieketed all
the way down. We procseded, aud were not
q little surprised to find that there was not
single picket upon the road.
Wa orrivod dok ha harm r,bopo found
Major Milroy. brother to the General,
with about go men, aud awaited the arri-
val of the other companies, and of Major
Bell. In the meantime Ienquired of Ma.
jor Milroy the object of the expedition
He informed me that we were to proceed
down the road, drive in the Secesh pick
cts, part of whom had been chased in
some hours before, to within mile and q
half of the Sscesh camp, drive the enemy
from the old "hospital building" and re-
main there until daylight, During the
forenoon parties were to reconnoitre the
mountains on each side of the camp, and
on their return, were to drive away lot
of cattle. which were said to be between
the hospital and the camp. This would
keep our men in sight of the enemy for.a
least 12 hours, they being fully aware of
our arrival and our numbers. ss
I at once told Major Milroy that / re-
garded the expedition as an exceedingly
hazardous and foolish one. and that it
would be far better to take the men imme-
diately back to our camp, as nothing but
idiocy or the most arrant cowardice would
prevent tho enemy from cutting us to
pieces, or surrounding and capturing u.s.
We had out neither pickets or scouts to
inform US of the approach of an enemy
until they would be within few rods OF
US, and our huge ires would make as an
easy mark for their guns. All l could
say ayaied no,hiEs, aad when Major Bell
returned, Az about one o'clock. be. imme
d.aleiy put US in position for advancing
The company from lhe Gath was to deploy
as skirmishers on the right; my command
was ordered, to enler the woods on the
left. deploy, and advance in line; the com.
pany from The 9th Indiana was to advance
in the center, while one half of that from
the 32ad was posted al, pickets at the
Gum road, aud the other half stationed
behind fence near the barn During
the placing of the troops, I thought 1
observed something suspicious in the con-
duet of Major Bell. After We started to-.
ward the woods. Icopsulted with Lieut..
Jones, aud we determined that our men,
at least, should be run into no deadfall
When we arrived at The woods we found il
a deuse thicket utterly unpenetrable, but
knew that it was not for soldier to say
be "cou!d not" until he had tried We
made the attempt, some succeed
ing in getting 20 or 80 PAGES, while 9TH
ers had found it impossible to move 3
PAGES It was dark as Egypt and the
bushes and brambles we're equal to Mis-
sissippi canebrake. The men were falling
down. pluuging in the mud. and sticking
in the briers when called halt, and
moved them by flank into the field. We
proceeded along the border of the field to
another point, where contemplated max
ing auothera attempt to obey my instruc-
tions. Before ordering the men into the
woods, halted them, and attempted to
make reconnaissance myself, to learn xheth-
er it was possible for the men to enter.
I penetrated perhaps ten yards when l
stuck in. the swamp. and could get no
further. After struggling out, and just
as got back to the company, I heard
some one at5fsw PAGES from where | had
been, cry ont "hals!' l enquired what he
was doing there. He replied that be Was
q picket. asked whstlresiment he be.
longed to. He answered ..the 22nd. Col.
Jackson's.'' He sas Sscesh. did not
disturb him, but pass d to the other end
of the line to consult with Lieut. Jones
While converting We heard some one steal
ing through the bushes about rods from
Us. lie was another Secesh picket /
had no time to devote to him. as the 9th,
er companies bad gone ahead, and must
report the impract.cabiiisy of my route,
and getfurther orders. siai Esig aa
Ia q little time / fopld, the Major who
Ia L. IL