, 1861-07-19
xetser From = Chlcaeo nr.xoon.

tract from letter written By member of
Capt Barker's Company Of Dungeons, seryids
in Western Virginia under Cen, Mcclellan.
The letter Vas written in camp the day before
the battle at Laurel Hn], in which the rebels
\ were SO completely routed: = .>-s ~
RoAn1No cREEK, ten m11e4 ftom Deys1ly, /.
/ beiieye my last letter Was written from
clagkshurg. After remaining there few days
Bnrkhannon, % miles southeast, where It Fas
reported the secessionists were In strong force
and fortified, awaiting our. coming. Alter a
fatlgnizg march over precipitous hills-moun-
tains in iact-We reached the much talked Of
town Just IN time to find the rasca1s decam
ed. They bad been there the dhy before, and
had robbed and destroyed the property and
abused the families Of the Unionists, aud Va.
mosed before our arrival, which was the
healthiest thing they could have done.
-Ihe main body did not encamp in the vii
tage,, but sent down a detachment of $50 cav
airy to take what they, could Ind. After pIl-
terlng all thty could cary, thew retired across @
the creek to q mill where they halted to pack
Up Their booty. As soon al they retired from
the town the Untun men gathered up th cir
ehot guns and other atus and proceeded up
the opposite eide Of the creek to where the
tebel cavalry was crossing, and opened fire
Of their number dead or wounded behind, and
also all their plunder in wagons 'consleting in
part of 20 lbs Of -four aud q ton Of hans
which the rebel thieves had stolen. THIS
slirmish Was On July Sd.
In the evening Of the same day the rebels
camp, and abused the people Of Buckhannon
mosr outrageously. While they were GOING
it with perfect looseness. one Of their seonts
galloped up and reported our troops within
half an hours march, Without stopping to
do any further harm they seampered Oh to
clpitately some twelve miles further back On
the Beverly road, to q bridge on Elk Greek.
The people Of Buckhannon were oye,ioved at
our appearance. Union flags and Union
cheers greeted our entrance into the town.
There are but few :" Eeceahers II in the place,
and some OF them remained, preferring to be
arrested than to be subject to the piifering
ptopenstaies Of their rebal friends.
Our company remained ia Buekhannon
from the Sd to the 8th, gathering up wagons
and provisions for the onward march. Every
tnhing PIT a,P preparation pa u vas forgotten 4
honor Of the National birthday, was all the OBJ
selvance we could spare to give il. But thous-
ands OF the 1oyal men, women aud children Of
the nejghborhood focked to the town to cele-
brate the 9TH: Most Of their time was spent
IN gazing at the different companies Of soldiers
In our camp. They were greatly impressed
With the superior character Of our weapons
They were very sociable, communicative and
friendly: They are strongly attached to the
Union side Of the issue, as are nearly al the
people Of Western Virginia. There are very
few slaves hereabouts, which may account for
the loyalty Of the people. have discovered.
since coming into this State that those whQ
own slaves are almost invariably traitors. With
such others under their control as they can
influence. It may yet become question for
the American people to determine whether
tney Hil1 give up the Union or the system Of
slavery. The two aeem to be antagonists,
which I fear can never be reconciled to each
other.
On Monday last, e.. things being in readi-
nese, Gen. McC elan ordered an adyan ce Of
bis army. -Four regiments Of Ohio troops, 7th
Indiana, the Michigan Artillery and the Gin
The Chieage D5agoonE, Stnrges Rifles, . com.
pany Q. s: Flying Artillery, and another OF
regular Infantry, part Of the I'd Virginia vol.
unteers, come next IS the Generals bod F.
guard-al picked reliable men, and depended
upon to do desperate fighting when the chance
o1ered-formed the centre Of the column.
After them followed four Ohio and Indiana
regiments. We made rapid forced march,
intending to fall suddenly upon the enemy.
When We reached their, camp, to our great
sorrow and modification we found nothing
but their tracks, and evidences Of very
sudden and hasty re:reat, we encamp-
na,bsG na eyer night a1d +Sis Yesterday morning
sdvance guard crossed the lii above "Roar.
ing Greek Hotel" they came upon several hun
dred rebel pickets, all mounted men. The
Clnel1nat1 cavalry gave chase, in which our
Company Joined, but when We reached the
bridge over the creek We found It was gone.
We, but the scamps were too fast for us. By
the time we touBd fording place the rebels
Eere half a mile ahead and out Of our reach.
They got safely into their camp on the border
OF a wood but in their scampering up the
hill some left their horses and took short
cut. We captured six OF their animals in this
way, ana also wagon load Of oats and corn.
Some Of our boye, myself included, had good
warm supper which had been prepared for the
seceahsrs at the Roaring Creek Hotel"
d reconnaissance of the position Of the enemy
shows that they are strongly posted on the
viii come of tomorrow. We are ready aud
anxious to get at them Our Chicago boys
QaFe full Confidence TINT our army will lick
them to death. We intend to find ont "whtch
1s the best man"-a Northern freeman, or a
tho clustering Nigger.driyer: i we don't take
Tennessee ard Virginia gasccnsdes, then We
are tooled for the boys feel IS sure Of thrashing
the N as that the sun will rise in the morning.
Gen. Mcclellan has the confidence Of his
men We all believe him to understand flis
business; we have faith that be Is not q Pierce
or scnenek, and he has confidence In the
pluck Of his troops. Before this letter reaches
Chicago you viii have heard the news Of tall
t1Ght or rebel flight. We fear the traitors
WILL oecAmp and cheat US ont of our expected
enjoyment: Don't be afraid that the Chicago
boys Nin disgrace their friends.
Ny company will ha7e to tight to morrow
dismountec, as sharpslooters we will act in
conjunction With the sturgh' Riasa. Afser
We have stormed the rebels position va are to
return to our horses, mount, and join in the
pursuit. Gen. Mcclellan has sent ont three
ts1Ha eGtnmRs-one; rs: one under =; RosencrAnz to
Setback to cut off his retreat towards
the left, and the third under Morris to inter
cept them on the right. Mcclellan commands
the attack on the front, so you see the rascais
Will be caught whether they run or stand their
EIonnd: We are confident Of bagging good
lot Of them. In the fight tomorrow we will
be obliged to crawl through thick woods, and
unde1brush, over stones and rocks, up steep
hill sides, and finally scale their fortidcatinns
and all this in the lace Of their fire; b1t we
are confident Of success, though good many
o. o. nm as maJ nlle:the dust But ne are bound
I am writing this On the India rubber alr
pMoW which you sent NE. It makes very
tatr writing. desk, as well as IN exceIten. thing
to rest ones head on This may be my last
letter, but feel no fear Of the morrow. IfI
geI g kaeg, Others viii take my place, and bear
Our company are nearly all in good health,
It IS hard work, but We enjoy it. Most of us
VIII reenl1Rt for the war, after we have had a
short fur1ough home to see our friends, and
settle our personal business. Our term Of en-
astment 1n;t1 expires On The @th Of July; but We
any immediate prospect Of fighting to do.
Not man would think Of leaving If he can