Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-09-09


we saw, and the impressions We have formed
during our trip up and down the KshaWhh.
The route to GRllipolis is about what any
one may experience by travelling 80 hours,
changing cars four or Eve times, and jolting
in broken down rockaway stage coach 25
miles between six O'Clock r. NJ. and mid
night
When we arrived at GallipOlis, Friday,
Aug. 3Oth, we heard a rumor that brighter
picture was turning to view, and that Capts.
Sterling, shurtleff and Asper, Adjutant De
Forest and serg. Maj. King were unhurt.
Capts. Cotter and Bagg were sent for and
confirmed the good news-"they knew it
was SO, for they had just left the boys"
The Government steamer GlengOod left
Saturday noon, Aug. Slst, for Charlestown.
The letters furnished US by Gov. Dennison
gave US pass, and we went plowing up the
Great Kanawhs into the midst of the enc
mics country. We were the better remind
ed of our position from the fact that the boat
was being barricaded, and every preparation
made for vigorous defence. Those everlast-
ing, dark, rough Virginia hills line the shore
from the source to the mouth of the Ka-
nawha. They look grand, but gloomy
They have none of the life and beauty of
the "hills of Now England" A solitary hut
here and there juts out on some cliff up the
mountain side, but no other sign Of life on
them. They want Yankee enterprise to
catch the mountain streams with their water
wheals, and send spindles and looms whirl-
ing and shutleing. When that good time
comes, and men of spirit and thrift can
bring out the vast resources of Western Vir-
ginia with free labor, "stocks will rise" in
the Ksnawha Valley.
Our steamer played we'll till midnight of
Saturday, when the fog became so dense
that we ran aground and couldn't get aAoat
till morning. If the enemy had only known
it, what a rich prize they might have OBJ
tAinedI For besides getting several Western
ReserDers, they could have found rich Gov
ernment stores on their way to provision the
noble Brigade that couldn't find Gov. Wise
at Gauley.
At daylight we were adoat, and soon with
beating hearts landed at Charlestown.-
"Where are the 7th2" inquired our Commit
tee. "Up on the hill, there" was the reply,
and soon we were in their camp and sur
rounded by 400 as noble fellows as our SER
vice can boast. The march of three days
ard nights had made them shabby looking
set. Some had no shoes, and went limpiDg
around with bruised and swollen feet; others
were minus caps and coats, and ragged con-
dition of some "trowsers," under other cir
cumstances would have made US slightly
Jolly. The boys took their lot like true SOL
diers, and awaited patiently the better suits
Government is sending them.
Maj easement, Adjt. DeForesi, Serg Mai.
King, and all the captains were here-ex-
ceptiDg shurtlef tprisoner) and Crane, who
was at Gauley, and Dyer (killed). Iur Com
mittee, being desirous of obtaining the
bodies Of the slain, and of looking 10 the
wants of the sick and wounded, hAstened on
towards Gauiey Bridge after an hour or two
spent at Charleston.
We were provided with government
wagon, and guarded by three soldiers, lone
Snake and two boys Of the 7th). The Snakes
attached to the 7th are mostly from the re-
gion of Wheeling, and acts as scouts and
spies. They are shrewd and active, and
have done good service.
Aub IOdU OudIlcolOu 70 Oduloy
Bridge was formerly much travelled, and
compares well with our best Ohio road'. 1t
runs between the river and the base of the
mOuuisins, and in many places the noun
tsins haYe been shaven down to make
passage sufficiently wide. To our saluta-
tions, we received from the whites generally
a sullen nod, but from the " contrabands"
smiles and bows that were right heal ty.-
Scarcely one failed TO touch his hat, and
that too with more grace than we of the
North have attained to. They evidently
feel pretty we'll, and think something is
up"
OF school-houses. did not see one while
| in Virginia. We passed one or two churches
however. Sunday seems to be a gala day
/ for the "great heft of them. Another re-
markable feature was the appearance of the
houses. Chimneys are almost without ex-
ception, built at the end of the house out
side. Many houses are deserted, while
others are swarming with " SeUereGl'' ma
irons and countless children. The little
ones " paps have gone to the war. Some
] few would give their little shouts for the
Union, but most of them looked sober and
full of "wonderment."
By the way, we tried our hand at csptur-
ing one coon" who was reported to be a
deserter from Wise's artillery, but we had
the satisfaction of learning that he got wind
of our approach, and made himself scarce
We were particularly pleased with the man
ner in which our young "snake" questioned
the Htboys" (negross) about the coon We were
after. They had to talk the whole thing
right out.
AZ CanneltOn Us m'l from Charleston and
10 miles from Gauley), We overlook train
of nearly forty loaded wagons bound fol
Gen. Cax's headquarters at Gauley.
The most dangerous part Of the whole
route is at and near this point. A rosd
from the north land it is the only road o.
~ importance crossed in the whole route)
AZ V n hsrs, which is open to the enemy
CONF -.+lvised to be especially cautious
and were rot scr. Oia aoms Tue ss resSon none
the train. that had i miIsS' can and -lT.s Tsr
We passed slowly on foL -6ieh had CON
then stopped by the train, " The pioket
cIuded to put up for the night. -ht ha,
of Gen. Cox were near by, but mig IN
overtaken us, and we had no countersls
and were thus obliged to stay with the Wag-
| ons. ..-..
| themselves about the enemy, and really
| believe that some Of them expected to be in
| the rebel camp before morning. One good
natured Dutchman, in whose wagon slept,
] y
erty belongs to the Government, and if they
will not give us any guns, shall not fight
for it. If the varmints como, shall jump
on the cid horse and run" told him had
n little shooter, and would let it speak for
| both of US. We finally fell asleep, 10 be
| well nigh rolled from our beds by the horses,
/ who ate the hay from under Us. Alter few
maps, morning came, and We rolled on
toward Gauley, passed two or three eompa-
MES of pickets, and finally, turning a big
rock; were in full view of Gauley. A dog
en- houses, dotting the shore for about mile
originally composed the town. Now, whitC
tents are pitched on the mountain side, near.
ly the whole distance. AS we passed within
the entrenchment, we expected 10 NEE
with some smiles and cheers, but nothing
but sly and sour glances greeted us. They
took US for sEsEsH PRISONERS. Finally :
Kentucky soldier on the hill side spied oul
friend 40. B., and shouted Justify, ''Hal'
loo, old auetioneer, how are yep The sslu
| tafion caused-a general shout, Our tFuC