Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-06-27
Extract Of a letter, dated

hILIIIl, IL June iOIn, IOUI.
Ny Dear Br0Mer-When last | wrote to
you | promised that would write in few
days again, but have not had an opportun-
lty of doing 50, as we have been wandering
about the country and not staying long
enough IN one place to get my mind fixed on
anything. The last letter | wrote you | be,
ileVe we were at Columbus. After leaving
Columbus we were ordered to Bellair, Bel
mont county, on the Ohio river, about four
miles from Wheeling, Va. The people there
received US very kindly and gave US an ex-
cellent supper, which was very acceptable -
While there nothing particular transpired
until one Sunday evening, when the report
was the enemy were coming up the river. 1t
Is not necessary to say that we were very
much excited, but after an investigation it
was nothing more than Dan Rice's Circus
On the same Sunday night, about II O'Clock,
orders came from head quarters that we
should be ready by daylight to march, con
sequently we all prepared, and were ordered
on steamboat, an3 crossed the river on to
the Virginia side; from thence we got into
the cars. Our company being in ignorance
as to where we were gong-we thought pro
baby to uarper's Ferry.) After travelling
some time we came to place where the SC,
cesslonlSts had burnt the railroad bridges SO
we had to 60 on foot. After marching about
II miles over ridges (as this part ef Virginia
Is noted for its many ridges, for there is not
one acre of level ground for miles, and ex
pectInS every moment to be fired on by the
enemy whom we supposed were III ambush
waiting for us, we arrived ut II small town
! named FairmOnt. Before entering the town
/ we raised the stars and stripes, and some of
the people thought we were God sent Some
wept, others shouted for JOY, and | myself
wept to see the old women clap their
hands and thank God that we came to protect
them and not to do them any harm. y great
many Of the people of n. w Virginia are
for the Union, and are very much imposed
upon by the traitors. We were in town but
a few hours, when the inhabitants formed
committees to 90 out in the country for pro-
visions for US; never did live better than
did there We had everything you could
think of, and plenty Of it. After leaving
Fairmont We went short distance to a Rail
Road Bridge which crosses the MUnongaheia
river and encamped. While there we heard
that 1000 traitors were going to cross the
bridge and 20 10 Fairmont to press the in
habitants into the southern army. Quick as
possible our company and three others sta
toned themselves near the bridge some at
the end others along the bank of the river,
ready to fire on them.
They were expected to come at night, and
we lay on the ground till daylight, expecting
every moment to be ordered to fire. Can
you for moment imagine about 400 men
lying in ambush waiting the approach of
1000. | can tell you but my own feelings
under such circumstances. / felt as though
| would like to see them coming, for we were
placed in such position that we could have
killed almost every man before they could
hoyn a.,lE Ia
them, they did not come. After leaving the
bridge, we were ordered to 90 to Grafton, to
take possession of the town, which was then
held by the rebels, but when we arrived there
they were gone.
You have heard l suppose Of the hattie at
Philippi. Our regiment, with two Of the In
diana regiments, made an attack upon Phil
lppl about t O'Clock Il. NJ n few days ago. -
The rebels al! Ged great many ran in their
night clothes, leaving all behind them. Some
of our men ran into the town, perfectly wild
and uncomfortable, after them, and captured
and killed some of them.
SUNDAY, June 10th, 1861.
have not had the privilege Of finishing
my letter as soon as | expected, but will en-
deavor to add something more this morning
On last Friday morning at O'Clock the pick
ct guard about miles from town fired a gun,
dLu NL1C uSNS SdhlS W lONIl lnaG the enemy
was coming. The cry was to armS to arms!
but the report was false. This Sunday
morning we are building breastworks for our
cannon, and expect an attack upon us to-
night. The report is that several thousand
rebels are about l6 miles from US, and will
be upon Us, There are between nine and ten
thousand of us, and we would like if they
would make US visit We will endeavor to
give them warm reception.
One young man ofsour company shot his
arm off accidentally. An officer was shot by
one of our men few days ago, and died il.
stantly and several similar accidents have
happened frequently. We are compelled to
endure some hardship. was one of twenty
that marched SO miles and had only one
meal Often we have only one cracker and
a potato, and often neither, as we are IL
miles frum the rail road and so many of US
they cannot supply as. But we endure it all
with patience. We have to sleep in the
woods, and take cur turns in guarding.-
But Notwithstanding the exposure, there is
no sickness.
john w. HENDERSON.