Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-09-27
atCorrs.pondsnoe of the Cincinnati Timss.i
The War in Western Virginia.

The War in Western Virginia.
A Ride 10 the PIckets-DangerOus
w0rk-Camp at Night-The Ser
TyveIfth.aard Times in the Moull-
GaIns-PrIsOners-A Devil Among
Them-TranspOrtat lon, sc.
CLARKsBURG, Va, September 20. :.
Yesterday, my friend, Cons. Millar, and
myself accepted an invitation from Lieut..
| HetFermun, who was officer of the day, to
accompany him, on horseback, in his day
Hight ronnd to the pickets. The ride was
one Of the most delightful I ever enjoyed.
\ The pickets are stationed far ont on all the
avenues leading to the city-some high up
on the towering hills, and otheps NWay
| down in the dark and quiet valleys, Free
/ queutly, when upon the highest points, we
were constrained to pause and drink
| in the grandeur of nature spread out be-
fore US.
where still remain the temporary works
thrown up by wallace's Indiana Zouaves,
at the commencement of the War in West
er6 Virginia. II commands the valley far
away ON either side, presenting at every
turn, the most picturesque and rapturous
scene imagined to myself how delight
ed those Zouaves must have been, after
working all the night in throwing up those
dcfenses, when the first rays of the morn
ing light, unfolded the beautiful picture to
their view.
Over that hill we went down its sleeper
| side iato dark valley, then into the pub
lie road, down again into a narrow path,
over another hill, more valleys, more hills,
over stones and turf, and mud, and through
creeks, until we completed the round of
some twelve or fifteen miles. Occasionally
we would come across squad of three
| soldiers, all alone.
They were the pickets. More than one
never leaves the spot, and they relievc
each other rs sentinels every two hours,
that is one of the three stands guard two
aud rests four aIternatively through the
81. They cook their rations and eat their
meals on the spot. We found them all ut
their posts As the officer approached,
the sentinel presented arms, then came to
a shoulder, and then TO support, in which
position lie remained until the officer took
his departure. The officer is required to
visit all the pickcts three times in twenty
four hours, one of which must be made in
the night. Where the enemy is lurking
about, the midnight visit IS hazardous
one, for at almost every step he might be
fred on from u concealed foe. So the
Honor of being officer of tile day has to be
paid tor in very unpleasant risks. The
officer, of course, always goes well prepared
for defense.
l spent the evening in tile camp OF Com
pany K, of the Ohio Fifth. 1t was a pleas
ant moonlight night, and the boys were in
very fine spirits. Only one of tue com
pany is on the sick list. First fiddle,
captured from the Seeessionists, was
brought out, and one of them, an excel-
l set cir a %
1 Away, over the turf in front of the Cap
tains quarters, skipped the gay young
volunteers through the dance. Tired of
that, they sat down, talked of home aud
the girls they left behind them, then of
marches, scouts, and other war ndten-
lures, and finally struck off in a stuiin of
melody that floated grandIy on the evening
air.
Song singing might have ended the
pleasures Of tie night, but into camp
puunced Sergeant Moonert, the Sergeant
Major Of the Regiment, just from Buck
harmon, where seven companies of the
Fifth are now stationed. Sergeant Ser
gcant'' shonted officers ard men, as they
ran to greet him, aud be WAS soon sur.
rounded. "What's the news2 Tell us Of
the regiment. How is the old Colonel ~
were among the questions put to him. He
was rushed into quarters, and while some
FASTENED to get good warm supper for
him and those who had come with him,
the rest gathered around 10 listen TO his
story.
Talk about climbing mountains" we're
the first words of the Sergeant, you ought
to have been with US down in French
Creek. Such scoutingl Snakes, rocks,
precipices, to combat, as well as the Sc
cesh."
"Gness you can't learn US anything" in
terrupted one of the boys, ''for we have
bad u little of that
The Sergeant went onto giVclthe news
/ of the Fifth, and ] repeat it:
Two of the companies were stationed at
iBuekhannon, with Col. Dunning as COM
mandeF Of the post Four were down in
Fish Greek, farther south and west
About eight or ten days ago, the local re-
bells began to be troublesome. Capt. Hays
went out with his company to look after
them. After an awful march of about 80
miles, he came across = company Of rebels
in house. He ordered them to surren-
der, but they leaped through the windows
and ran. Our boys fired, killed two,
wounded a number aud took seven prison
| ers, They then burned the house and
returned to town. y
Afterward, a scouting party OF thirty,
divided into tens, each under an officer,
went out. One Of the tens were surprised
and surrounded by some sixty rebels
They refused, however, to surrender, and
actually fought their way through, bring
| ing OF With them Bogart, of Cincinnati,
who was mortality wounded. They carried
him ten miles, lett him at house, aud
made their way to camp. When they re-
turned, the poor fellow had died. de was
buried with care on the farm of Union
man Aftnr thsa .n.n.II.. Ihn fnna ,.n.r,