Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-12-05
CAMP UNION,
FArErrEvILLE, FAYErrE co.. Va.
Nov. 10Th. 1861.

CAMP UNION,
FAYETTEVILLE, FAYErrE cosVa.
Nov. 10Th, 1861.
, NR. CAsKnT:-The monotony of camp
life was broken on the morning Of the 18th
inst, and we again took up our line of
march toward Gauley. The rebels had
been firing Al or trains from the South
west side of New river, for about three
weeks, and the object Of the moving was
10 'clean them out" Gen. Benham was
then across the river, and had silenced their
guns from firing over the river at our men.
Nothing of note transpired that day
We crossed the New river at the junction
Of it and the Gauley, and were soon on
the pike that passes through Fayetteville.
We encamped that night without tents on
the side Of a hill after marching about
fourteen miles, and ii was not long until
those who were not on guard, were sleep
ling soundly on the straw which was fur
nished from two OF. three wheat stacks,
that were near by. About midnight, we
were reused and ordered TO pack knapsacks.
I got up. but found myself so sore and
stiff, 0he effect ofthe previous days march
that l could 60 no farther, and. as the
knapsacks were left, was detailed as one
of the guard over them. With daylight
came rain and the news that Floyd was
again stealing away from Gen. Benham's S
brigade. On the morning of the I6th,
teams came TO haul the knapsacks to the
brigade, (Gen. Schenck's,) and l went on,
although about half of the knapsacks be-
longing to the 23d were left. About 8
P. N. l came up with the brigade at Fay
etteville, and found that they had follow
ed the rebels no farther than this place,
but Gen. Benham had followed them sew
ernl miles beyond here.
Several regiments Of Ohio boys had
come across the mountain from the Charles
ton pike. Among them were the 34th,
37th, and 44th. These were to attack
Floyd in the rear, but be was about half
an hour too soon in finding out the ar
rangcment, and "made off with himself"
The rebels had good position and were
well fortified on the pike between Gauley
and this place, and nearly opposite where
we were encamped previous 10 the 18th,
and it would have been impossible (if such
things be), for our troops to have taken it
in front, and from this pike which was the
only way, but it appears that they like to
back out before the way is closed. They
destroyed a great many wagons, tents,
cooking utensils, &c, and our troops cap
tured some stores, among which was a
wagon load of ammunition. There were
three of our men killed. I never heard
the rebel loss stated. saw one of their
Colonels (Croghan), who was shot by
three boys of the 18th. Both parties
were under cover watching their chances
when Col. Crcghan exposed himself and
ordered his men to advance. Gen. Ben.
ham shook hands with him before be died.
The Sd Brigade, (Gen. Schenck's,) is the
only one left on this pike, and they are in
comfortable quarters in this town. On
the 10th, 100 men from this brigade un-
der Col. Scammon, wen south towards Raj
eigh. On the morning following, three
companies of the 23d and about the same
number of the 26tn, went out to the same
place under Lieut.. Col. Hayes. under
stood that we were sent there to intercept
the retreat of body of 800 cavalry, said
to be between here and Charleston; but
they did not come, and lest night we re-
turned to::our quarters. While there, how
ever, some females came to where and
three others were on guard; they were in
search of their father who was taken pris-
oner. When they came up 10 us, one of
them inquired if we were Yankees. | told
her I was Buckeye. 3'"Are you northern
ers?" l told her we were Federal troops
She said she had heard very hard stories
Of us, that we were ragged-but all before
her disproved that yarn-and that we
would take all their cattle, horses, hogs
and, in fact, everything that we could get
hands on. She said she hoped we would
catch the devils and especially old Floyd.
Iassured her that was what should be
done; she hoped it was and that soon.-
This is pleasant place, and as neat VII
lage as l have seen in. the State. There
is more tillable land-and better what
there is-in the same number of miles
square, than have found elsewhere since
| have been in this wilderness, We have
got very little mail matter in the last four
weeks; but should we get to winter quar-
ters soon, think that will he remedied.-
We have been pretty we'll provided for, ev-
er since we came 10 Virginia. Good clos
and enough Of them; good pork and beef;
crackers nearly all the time, and plenty of
hard marching. The latter is the cause of
so much sickness in our brigade. OF $50
men with which We left Camp Chase, we
have now between four and five hundred
fit for duty, including the recruits. We
were paid up to Aug. 50th, which made
about three months for neatly all of the
23d regiment. The money used princi-
pally was Uncle Sans paper. None ap-
peared to be backward about taking it,
Hoping you may do much good in ridding
Holmes county Of treason, 1 remain your
friend, i J.N. R. CRAWFORD
Headquarters of the Army OF Occupa-
tion Of Western Virginia. Co, H. 2Sd
Reg't, o. Y. N. 80