Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-12
CAMP AT ELKwATER, Va, I
September B, 1861. [
TO n. Editor, o, a. Daily prs~.

CAMP AT ELKwATER, VA,
September 8, 1861.
To The Editors Of hs Daily Prss
The inactivity in which the Sixth Regi-
ment had SO long remained at Beverly was
finally broken last week, and since that time
we have been busy enough to suit the taste
of the most fastidious. Last Thursday after
noon the Regiment had orders to prepare for
marching Immediately, with two days pro-
visions in haversacks. All kinds of surmises
were made as to our destination, but every
one was satisfied we were going to have a
fight this time, sure. At five o'clock we
started toward Huttonville. It had been
raining, as usual during the day, and the
road was very slippery, though the mud was
not over three inchesdeep. We had travelled
the same road week previous, through both
mud and rain, and felt rejoiced that we only
| had the former to contend with on this occa-
sion. A night march never has the appear
ance of pleasure excursion, but impresses
one with the conviction that there is q
military necessity" for it. 1t has its attrac-
| tions, its impressiveness on the mind, and
| looks like business. About eleven o'clock we
halted two miles from Huttonville, in strip
| of woods on the margin of small brook, and
| prepared to get up q hasty lunch. Fires
were soon kindled in every direction, and
the woods that looked SO dark but moment
before, were lighted up with a beauty not its
| own, giving it grander appearance than it
ever had in the broad glare of the day. The
groups that gathered round the fires were
| picturesque and varied.
All were intent on getting something to
eat, the mode of cooking being primitive,
but quite sufficient for the occasion. "A piece
| of fat pork cooked on the end of stick is a
very savory morsel, especially when one lets
'good digestion wait on appetite" Num-
| bers were engaged in this all. absorbing busi-
ness, while occasionally parties of long
bearded warriors might be seen leaning list
lessly upon their guns-forming a not un-
| interesting back. ground to the picture. Hun
ger af1icts officers as well as privates, and
on these occasions the sword has to give way
to the toasting-stick. We had halted on the
same ground, on our previous trip, during a
heavy rain that had accompanied MS during
| the entire march, and remained there, muddy,
wet, and cold, until morning. The auspices
were more favorable on this occasion, and
after our midnight meal we started forward
with renewed energy, and arrived here in
the 1--WE sma' hours ayout the twal" We
had left our tents behind, and expected to go
shelterless to bed, but five companies of the
| Ninth Ohio had left the day before, and we
had four of their tents to each company.
We were rather crowded, but did very well
for the short time we had to sleep till day
light. Early in the morning the wagons of
| the Nlntn came up SO
"They folded their tents, like the Arabs,
And as silently stos away"
leaving us shelterless. The day was fine,
however and under the shade of some maple
trees we sought the repose we so much needed
after the tolls of our march. The day passed
by without raining, which is fact worthy of
note; at night we hsd large field in which
to make our beds. The sky was still clear,
and, if it did not rain, We would, by doubling
blankets, make ourselves very comfortable.
Our experience, heretofore, had been very
disagreeable in night bivouacs without tents
1t had rained invariably, and we had suf-
fered much ON this occasion. The stars
shone brightly, and we lay down with some
confidence of an uninterrupted slumber
With a party of congenial spirits, every
vicissitude Of the soldier is ightened, and
mishaps and discomftures turned 10 sources
of merriment. Our bed was filed that night
by three printers, one mason-Eho /: re-
| galded by every one as q perfect " brlck"
and an engineer whose siHIiIes invariably
partske Of bis profession. AL hsd seen the
elephant, in one shape or snother-one hay
| ing gone through the Mexican campaign
another had sailed for several years on the
! high seas; and another had been twice 70
Salt Lake; while the other two mad sloshed
around promiscuously.' The rule ia the
army is "early to bed and early to rise, -
| anu as We ulu not nave 70 WGlL LuaL evening
for tattoo, the first star had scarcely made
its appearance in the sky before we were
comfortably beneath our blankets. Oae by
one the stars came out, until the whole sky
was studded with them. The milky way
had unaccountably got turned round, and
Ursa Minor and Ursa Msjor had taken new
positions. The huge serpent was more than
half hidden by a steep hill that rose majestic
| ally in front, whose
| g. beauty hung upon the cheek Of night
Like a lich jewel in an Ethop's ear"
1t was a scene ye denizens of the city
| never behold. Nature had thrown up the
rock-ribbed hills" around, and the little
valley we were in was jewel set in emer-
aid. 1t had poetizing effect on one, who
broke forth with
| '0n such a night az this
Dido sat upon the wild ea'shore, with willow in
And waved her love to come again to oarthsge"
"That shows" said another, show little
Dido understood the god-like sex, to suppose
her lover would follow that will-o'-the-wisp
Now, had she held out inducements in the
shape of an oyster supper, should have held
her in high esteem, as understanding per-
fectly the wants and nature of man."
"Do you ever think of any thing besides
something to eat" queried the etheria
being who had made the quotation, anC
whose poetic nature can not be conquered
by fat pork and crackers.
ayes often think of something to drink
The gods used TO slack their thirst will
wine lager beer is good enough for me.
remember trying time had once out oI
the plains.
ave were about two hundred miles be
yond Bridger, and ] had not taken any
thing for a long time, when" Here
noise most sonorous drowned his voice, AM
? he had to stop, for we make point neve
to hear Salt Lake story. From seeming t
q sleep, slumber stole upon us in reality, an
o the grand panorama Of the Heavens abov
Z us passed on unnoticed, until the day-gO
had chased each twinkler from the sky an
d unsealed our eyes.
4 About ten o'clock in the morning oC
e tents arrived, and we had scarcely got thel
pitched when we were ordered to prepa
h ourselves with days rations and hold ou
i selves in readiness to march immediatel
t; This camp is eight miles from Huttonvil
is on the road from that place to HuntersVill
where 1t is saidsa considerable force of Il
enemy are encamped. We started in tn
direction, and were very sure we were goir
10 TO attack q Secession camp someWheI
re Companies b and X were left there, al
10 Company d is still at Leedsville, on L
other side of Beverly. Our force consisted
ID seven companies-A, O, e. +, g, H, and
q. under command of Lieutenant Colonel A
derson, Colonel Bosley being retained
ca Beverly, in command OF that post. T.
re miles above here we left the main road, q
M entered a ravine between the mountain
nd through which run a bridle-path. We h
been over some miserable roads, but this {
celled them all. Roots, stones, fallen tr'