The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-09-11

been said. consists simply Of three or four
dwellings. No one would suppose it to
be town at all. ses---en
II affords me the greatest qualification
to be able to inform you that have with
me- every man who started with me from
Camp Chase, except one who is on de-
tached dry at Grafton; and he will join
us soon.
We were all not little surprised at the
6ne appearance of the valley through
which we came from Beverly. 1t has the
appearance. however, of being rather
badly cultivated. The valley is from one
mile to two miles across, quite straight,
and huge mountains are piled up on each
side, making q most picturesque scene.
Such blt ltckberries, and in such q1anti
ties certainly no other country ever pro
ldnced If should estimate the quantity
at one half of what 1 have seen, l would
hardly be believed. fga galsg a
Nearly all the farming land is devoted
to meadows and pasturage; the difficulty.
of carrying grain to market making that
branch of agriculture Improbable.
TOP OF CHEAT MOUNTAIN, Aug. 81, '61
Just as haG got to the above point
in my letter, Sergeant Manning entered
my tent with an order to strike tents aud
move on to the pass at the top of the
mountain, In short time our traps
were packed, and we commenced ascend
ing the grade. The distance to the top
by the road is about seven miles, but the
pass is ten miles from our camp near
Huttonsville We climbed onward and
onward toward the clouds, sometimes look
ing down into yawning CULTS far beneath
us, and sometimes overlooking ranges of
hills and mountains, the most picturesque
and msjestic that can be imagined. 1t
was one Of the most delightful walks
fever enjoyed. $3.50 s79geq 81 seoaA I
About four O'Clock we arrived. at the
pass. 1t is. simply gap between two
peaks Of the mountains, perhaps twoahu
dred feetloweri thsnthe peaks. Though
thisSgap passes the Staunton road, and
fitisaregarded as the key to Western Vir-
tginia, in othis brigade. There stands an
fold house in the gap aud when the Indi>
ana troops came here they found q few
acres1of cleared ground. therest being q
thick growth of immense pine trees, with
an undergrowth making the whole a dense
thicket But the men have been working
here for weeks fell g timber and cutting
down the underbrush. until there is now o
hundred acres or more partly cleared of
and partly covered with fallen timber.
l9iaOn The right of the pass, on the ridge
is heavy breastwork Eve or six hundred
yards inlength. near which the 24th Ohio
aud 9th Indiana regiments are eneamped
On the other side a fort, enclosing per.
haps an acre and half or two acres, is be
ling built of logs and stone and earth
4 When completed which will be done in Q
week OF ten days, it will be a formidable
work ed Our regiment is eucamping along
8 the hillside adjoining this fort 81 leasifn I
We had to clear off the ground on which
4 to pitch our tents believe there is moi
in Monroe county spot of ground of its
dsize which would require so much labor to
+ clear, aud yet this was selected as the
best that could be found. le gs<is8
q 90 Every precaution is taken here against
: a surprise. Pickets are stationed fol
many miles on the approaches, and in case
Z of danger they give signal previously
| agreed upon. = Each regiment and each
4 company has its particular place to form
Z The cannon are kept constantlysin posi-
tion for sweeping the road. No lights
{. or fires are allowed after nine O'clock, and
4 perfect silence reigns The men are re
> qnired to keep their guns where they car
) lay their hands on them at moments
4 warning, and number of men are KEEP,
constantly on watch to arouse the sleeping
soldiers. It is emminently dangeroust te
q move q rod beyond othe pickets. AL
travel on the roads is stopped, except
what is indispensably necessary for The
benefit of the army.ga0SI tfsas gFai
j { Last night we had an alarm. No mar
knows what an alarm at midnight in camp
means until he has seen it. At about
i eleven O'Clock "bang.n "bang,n chang
wrang the signal of the pickets., In ar
instant the whole camp was in motion
! Men are husrying from tent to tent arous
! ing the sleeping soldiers, ihurrying them tc
sltheir places in the ranks, and Whispering
Lin excited tones, tthey are coming ''they
are coming" All orders were gigen in 0
low tone of voice, but the excitement rem.
fdered the tone deep and impressive. ST.
leutly and cautiously our troops were sta,
4 tioped, and the cannon shetted- = Oui
\ regiment was formed in tue unfinished fer.
i Iti6cations, the y Indianians. .in- the center
Eacress the road, and the Ohio 2tsh on the
right. leQsietly and silently we waited in
our lines half an hour, and another half
but no enemy approached. After while
tthe cause of ahes salarm. was ascertaiued to
] l6avebeen the filing Of our spickets on 8