Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-08-31

WESTON, VA, Aug, 19.-Our men have be
come SO exasperated at the assassiuations
which have been committed upon the road
hence to Sutton aud beyond, that it is almost
impossible to hold them within military rules
They are determined to commence a retalia.
ton which shall at least interpose some check.
Heretofore they have been restrained by the
officers but their comrades have been killed
or wounded by concealed enemies at almost
every rod of the road 1t is not strange,
therefore, that they should feel like avengng
them. Two or three days ago, Gaines
company, fifth regiment, who were engaged
in guarding the telegraph workmen, took an
old man named Stout and two sons prisoners
They had been the terror of the Union men
throughout the neighborhood, and good evi.
dence bad been lodged against them that
they belonged to one of the guerilla bands.
On Saturday, somehow, the guns of some
of the privates happened to go off; they hap
pened to be loaded with buck and bali, and
the Stouts, unfortunately, happened to stand
right in the range OF the muzzes, and the old
man and one son happened to be killed, and
the other happened TO be dangerously wound
ed I! Under what peculiar circums tances they
met their deserts, my informant who passed
their graves while the family were removing
their bodies for burial nearer home, did not
choose to relste but a jury would render
verdict of 'Justitiabe homicide" or visitation
of God"
1t is n horrible warfare; but what are we
to do? IT we take a ride out into the country,
some concealed enemy cracks away at our
bodies or heads with Squirrel gun" and if
we escape it is because the aim is bad, or the
mountain height too great for fatal execution.
Every man who has yet been killed or wound.
ed along the woods beyond us has been shot
from an elevation, The overhanging rocks
and hills afford breastworlls more secure than
any which could be erected by the hand of
man, while our volunteers are exposed to
open roads or closely walled passes. Count
the brstes upon the back OF hog, and you
may form some idea of the almost impenetra-
bic hill sides between which our troops are
compelled to march, exposed to murderous
fire from both sides An open foe can always
be met with equal weapons, but our brave
volunteers, ignorant of the country, fight
against odds through the hills ravines, and
passes OF Western Virginia. They trndge
along unmolesting, and are shot down in their
tracks. They seek the enemy, and find
scarcely footprint.
A company of the twenty-third regiment
went to Chenille, with a government train,
with orders to make detour via Butown
and scour the country. When four miles
from Bulltown, the rear guard was fired into
from an overhanging rock. The only evidence
OF the proximity of an enemy was the report
of their guns, the smoke of the powder, and
the rafting of the balls Not human beng
beyond the Union troops was to be seen.
Three men were wounded-one behind the
ear, another in the back, and a third in the
leg. Every shot ranged downward, The
boys instantly charged up the hill. The flash
of the powder showed where the shots came
from, but half hours search revealed no enc
my. They had fired and fled through the bri-
die paths.